I am a teacher at a private school here in Tokyo. I can tell you that the answer to your question is YES ! Adults and children will stare, point at you, whisper loudly, laugh, and even speak loudly to you. In addition, they will move away from you on the train or bus. Let no one tell you otherwise - and this is in the "big city" as opposed to a rural farm town where foreigners are rare.

In the US, you are among fellow fat western folks - your body type is common. Japan is a nation of very similar looking people, and the "norms" are quite narrow.

That being said, I have enjoyed my time here in Japan. No one has pointed or snickered at me about my weight, but I am quite conscious of the amount of space I take up and sometimes the seats on the bus are really narrow.

Overall, the Japanese people I have met have been courteous, curious, helpful. Cultures are very different, but a smile and a few words of kindness and a sense of humor can do wonders, no matter where you are.

Come and visit, check it out before moving here. It is a long way from the Western world, $$$, and can be very foreign. It can also be great fun and a lovely adventure. I have been here 6 years and have no plans to leave anytime soon.

Tokyo has become my home.

CStone





QUOTE=1teacher;92390]A friend of mine is quite overweight and she said that there is a lot of prejudice in Japan toward obesity. She said a Japanese man actually yelled at her about it. I want to teach in Japan and have 25 years of teaching experience, but I, too, am about 70 pounds overweight. I know this sounds like a strange question, but is there more of a prejudice toward body type in Japan, than in most countries? Is it worse in Japan than here in the USA?[/QUOTE]