Over the past few months, I’ve taken a break from teaching English conversation to teach middle and high school at an international school in Japan. The student body is a mix of Japanese kids who have lived their whole lives in Japan, returnees, and kids from many countries around the world. I’ve had lots of chances to talk with them and hear their thoughts.

First things first

I’ll stay true to what I’ve said all along about kids, and people in general, in Japan: they’re much the same as everywhere else. Spending enough time in another country teaches you how similar people are across cultures. Of course there are differences, but they’re usually smaller than we expect. If you take time to listen and observe, you’ll notice it quickly. Kids are the clearest example. From a small child saying “look, look,” to a teenager testing the line between appreciation and indifference, or the way they dive into something once it sparks their interest. These are universal behaviors.

An openness to international culture

So what about these international kids? I’ll generalize a little, because any description comes with some generalization. The first thing I noticed was their appetite for diversity. I didn’t expect it to be so strong. Adults in Japan often show a “polite” interest and ask only the expected questions about your country. Sometimes they ask things they already know the answer to. These kids were different: they wanted to understand and experience, in some way, my language and culture. It didn’t feel like something external they wanted to watch from afar.

I was also surprised by how deeply they think about diversity. I’ve often struggled to get adults to explain the intricacies of Japanese culture, because many don’t spend time reflecting on it. To be fair, that’s common in most countries. These students didn’t share the blind admiration their parents sometimes have for Western culture. Instead, they pick and choose the aspects they feel are better in each culture they’re exposed to. And that allows them to see and discuss Japanese culture in a more detailed way than most adults. I personally enjoyed a lot of interesting conversations with those kids!

The social need for conformity

That said, I have to mention a common feeling among some of my students. A noticeable number of them struggle with what they see as the negative consequences of their international education. They worry that they will always stand out in non‑international contexts. A few told me that although they appreciate this special education, they’re afraid they’ll feel like outsiders for the rest of their lives in Japan. It’s not my place to say whether they’re right, but I find this duality interesting and worth sharing.

In conclusion

The relationship between Japan and the West is fascinating. If you come and stay in Japan, you’ll experience first-hand the range of viewpoints among Japanese people. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying kids are more interesting than adults. I strongly encourage you to work with adults in settings that allow for deep, honest conversations, because those exchanges are exactly what helped me appreciate the different situations I’ve been in. After meeting these kids, I’m sure things will keep evolving in the coming years, and I can’t wait to see how.