Height

[LovableLeo]

I'm a little curious as to what sort of reactions one experiences in Japan because you're tall. I'm a 5'10" sixteen year-old female, and that gets me strange reactions here in the USA sometimes; what will it be like in Japan? I remember when I went there at age nine many adults were surprised that I was taller than them, but the reaction was not negative. Will it be different now that I am older? If anyone has any insight into this, I'd appreciate it.

[nice gaijin]

it might make you stick out a bit, especially for being a tall woman, but probably not as much as being a foreigner. I'm taller than you but I didn't tower over everyone as much as I was led to expect.

[gaijinalways]

Ha ha, I'm 6' 6" and I tower over many here (if not all). But some of the stares you get are not just because of your height. But it does depend on how long you want to stay.....comfortably, that is.

[LovableLeo]

Ha ha, I'm 6' 6" and I tower over many here (if not all). But some of the stares you get are not just because of your height. But it does depend on how long you want to stay.....comfortably, that is.

Well, when you put it that way, I guess I don't have much to worry about! :p

[Mars Man]

My educated guess, would be that your height will draw the pleasant attention of some, if not all, Japanese people, but nothing negative. Japanese guys may even subconsciously feel a tinge of respect that they would probably not for a girl just under or at their height. . .you will likely be a bit taller than the average.

You may have to battle it out with some door frames, depending on what type of place you'd be living in, if you were to come here. . .maybe you could tear them down and build new ones, like I did at my house, or, you could just wear a helment.....or, just bow every time you come to a door. (in the long run, the latter may be the best, because then you will really become Japanese at heart, learning to bow instinctively and easily. . .)