Dating a foreigner can be romantic yet challenging due to language and culture differences. But many were able to survive the barriers during the dating stage and the relationship even progressed towards marriage. I have a friend who is married to a Japanese guy for more than 8 years and I’ve asked her how it is for a Pinay to date a Japanese. So here are the dos and don’ts for Pinays dating a Japanese guy according to her:
image from happierabroad.com
If it is your first time to date a Japanese guy, it is very important to understand that they don’t show too much affection when you are in public places. In other words, they are not fond of PDA or public display of affection like most of us Pinoys are guilty of. They are not used to holding hands while walking (HHWW), throwing their arms around your shoulders, hugging, and mostly kissing that are very evident for other couples outside Japan. So don’t ever doubt his love if he doesn’t publicly profess his affection because it’s basically not accepted as part of the norm for the Japanese.
Another important fact to bear in mind is the ‘work first before girlfriend’ mentality. So don’t be mad if your Japanese boyfriend prefers working before you. Again, this is another norm or custom in Japan that you should get accustomed with. My friend even confessed that during their dating phase, her husband was assigned to travel at work for more than a week without even contacting her because he needed to work very early and went home very late. They are not used to e-mailing, texting, or calling if it is not necessary.
Japanese men are also shy guys. Like my friend’s husband, most Japanese men do not speak often and will rarely initiate physical contact. So don’t ever think that he doesn’t like you just because he wasn’t very physically or romantically affectionate. Make the first move and I’m sure he will reciprocate the effort.
These are just some of the dos and don’ts for Pinays dating a Japanese guy. Heed these and your relationship will surely last long.
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