"YO!!! LBC!!"
I heard someone shout. Yes, a long time ago, when I was walking alone in Shibuya. I happened to be wearing a hoodie from CSULB (California State University, Long Beach), which I used to attend. Someone saw it and shouted at me.
"YO!!! LBC!!"
When I turned around, an American guy was approaching. I could tell from his accent. He was Black. So I replied, "What's up!", and he started talking to me cheerfully, like a typical stranger.
He was happy to see someone from Long Beach when he saw my hoodie. So, I asked him (as a courtesy, you know, haha) how long he had lived there. He started talking enthusiastically.
So I asked him a question.
"What about racial discrimination in this country?"
Then he said something interesting. "When you come to this country, it doesn't matter if you're white or black. We're all foreigners, GAIJIN. So we're all in the same boat. So, how should I put it, it feels comfortable. Regardless of skin color." Wow. That's interesting. When I was in America, I sometimes felt discrimination even among foreigners.
Speaking of racial discrimination... this is a bit of a digression, but
Well, how should I put it, national policies and administration are a separate issue, but whether you experience racism on the streets... that's pure luck. It's the same for people of the same race; it's about whether you meet good people or not. Even within the same race, there are many bad guys. In such situations, you can move yourself, create distance, ignore them, or find a place where you feel comfortable.
I don't believe in stubbornly staying put and saying, "This is my place!". I'll yield right away. Because there's no point in wasting time with people who are not worth talking to. Because I think it's more fun to move around and experience things I don't know about than to be unable to move.
So, it's all about luck. If you don't feel lucky, first move to a place where you can feel lucky.
That's what I think.