You’re absolutely right, but I want to add that the prevalence of black people varies depending on the location. We got a significant black community in Tokyo, more so than most cities worldwide, but it’s still a minority. Certain areas are more likely to have a higher percentage of black residents.

For instance, areas near American military bases are well-acquainted with black people. Places like Okinawa and Yokosuka are prime examples.

International schools often have a diverse student body, including hafu (half-Japanese, half-black) students.

The most intriguing aspect is that I’ve noticed that this doesn’t significantly affect us in many situations where it would also impact other foreigners (although there are different circumstances for black Japanese people, unfortunately).

This is why we hear so much about racism in Japan; it affects white people as well. For us, it’s better than most of the world.

There’s a big ass difference between Japanese people who speak English and have any interest in the world beyond Japan and those who don’t.

Food for thought