What I Learned After Returning to America After a Life in Japan
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- Recently, I hung out with Brenden, almost 5 years after our first interview. Brenden who spent three years of his life living in Japan, decided to move back to America. This interview reveals the reasons why he left and the lessons he has learnt since moving back to America after having a life in Japan.
Watch our first interview here:
• "I Kinda Downplayed Th...
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Thank you for watching!
#blackinjapan #japan #mfiles
Thanks for watching!
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Nothing to see down here...
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Seriously, no need to keep scrolling.
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You are at the end. Nothing more exists beyond this.
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What are you looking for? There is nothing else here.
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OK, since you are persistent....
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Might as well check out this video as well 😂 👉czcams.com/video/6J_CQdKNzVY/video.htmlsi=-UPFDN5QDE9poSXi
This man said a whole word when speaking about the freedom foreigners feel in Japan due to enjoying the benefits of the society without being held to the same standards that Japanese people are held to that allows the culture to exist. I just came back from my second trip, even more enamoured than I was the first time and this made me appreciate the privilege I had as a foreigner even more, that allowed me to feel a sense of peace in Japan that I've yet to find anywhere else.
peace without gaijin especcialy
I tell my American friends but with my black friends even more, I try to drive it in them that they need to get out of America and live abroad for a good while. So that they can see what American behaviors they need to leave behind
As American this can very be subjective how people in my country has very different way of lives and community with each other, and when living abroad can change our ideals and behavior, but not really because some cultural similar in lifestyle and behavior to what we use to normally.
Yes!!! This!!!
As a Japanese person, I believe that "shoganai" is a mindset that is deeply ingrained in many Japanese people. One of Japanese expression that is difficult to translate into English. It can be used in a variety of contexts, but it generally expresses a sense of resignation or acceptance. It can be used to express that something is beyond one's control, or that it is simply not worth fighting against.I think At its core, "shoganai" is a sense of not wanting to inconvenience others. I feel guilty if my opinion or actions causes someone else to be disadvantaged. That is why I have a sense of "shoganai".The Japanese word "shoganai" is often translated as "it can't be helped" or "it's too late." Sometime, it also has a deeper meaning of consideration for others.
Sometimes 'shoganai' also operates as a "get out of jail free" card in the sense of an excuse not to bother. It's a way of getting out of doing something people don't wish to or can't be bothered to do without losing face by actually rejecting an idea or looking to create something better than the status quo. In that sense it can simply be laziness along with fear of being the instigator or one who is different. Essentially it becomes a way of saying 'no' in a culture that doesn't like to say the word 'no.' It ranks with that hiss of the teeth and the statement that something is "very, very difficult."
Japanese people will understand that as 'no' and let it go. A Westerner will hear it and double-down. "It's difficult?" Westerners hear a challenge in the statement and say. "It can't be done?" Well, actually it can. Here's how. Difficult? We'll simply have to be more creative, work harder and make it happen."
@@lynda.grace.14 thank you
Nailed it. Being around the tourist areas of Okinawa, I see this happen too often. As someone who has worked and thrived in the high demand, high end tourism industry in Hawaii and the Outer Banks of NC, I can appreciate the "no" in certain occasions (let's face it tourists can be annoying), but I can also see the "no" as being detrimental to themselves in the business sense especially if they operate a small business. I want to see the communities thrive, have their own small businesses and enjoy life.
まるで「しかたがない」だよね？日本人はこれを理解している
That’s why I like Osaka, they are very ambitious and take risks speaking from a business mindset.
I have lived in Japan for 22 years and haven't had any issues. Returning to the states a few times a year is stressful .
I've been in Japan for 8 now, and each time I go back to the US it feels like a greater and greater culture shock.
The cost is lack of social security contribution, and equity building.. Have to find alternative ways if you stay in Japan. Returned after 20 years for retirement planning.
You got too comfortable
@@jerrybooker-gn5xu Never got comfortable just living a better life with no regrets. I will not have to return to the states anytime soon.
I love his mindset about life but the ability to always to remain humble regardless whenever you are and never to lose focus on what’s important is truly astonishing.
When Trump becomes president again keep that same humble energy
@SasNara being humble is truly an attractive quality in people but some doesn’t value as a high priority. It does take maturity to appreciate such a rich quality in people in general.
Im happy he came back to America. He's brilliant. We need him.
This brother is awesome. Definitely seems to be a role model-worthy person.
I love what he said about supporting the community over the brand!
This brother is about something. Mad respect to him👏🏾✊🏾
My wife bows all the time she's on the phone. At first I tripped out over it...but then I realized its the respect for the other and being humble in her being. And she has a lot of things to be proud of but she and many people I've met here are very humble. Not always nice, but they are self-aware of their faults. No one and nothing is perfect, but you can make yourself the best you can be at any point in life.
This channel been so dope for so many years at this point! whenever i catch a full video its something to learn from everytime
🙏🏿👊🏾
I appreciated hearing him talk about balancing individualism and being part of the community. It's something missing in a lot of the communities in the US.
Individualism is killing black people. A sense of collective ness is what makes Japan and South Korea the unique place to live and raise families.
@@yvesderival634 Individualism is killing the majority of Americans
@@yvesderival634The Japanese people aren't a monolith, though....Or, are they?? Is there room for self in a collective?
I just think of why individual freedom is so important, especially to American ideals. Do you completely disagree with that individual freedom?
@@ChristopherX30 fortunately American ideals are not everywhere ideals. I will be a little bit hesitant to come to that assumption. I was in Miami specifically Litle Havana. It seems to me everybody is fighting a dollar for their benefits and the community is gradually turned into a playground for corrupt politicians. The most prevalent element of individualism is selfishness and selfishness breeds greed and greed leads to corruption. As a society, this is the biggest problem we face in Jamaica and certainly in all countries in Africa.
I was stationed in mainland, Japan, Camp Fuji near Gotemba 92'- 94, and before that was deployed twice to Okinawa on 6-month deployments' back in the 80's and get what he is expressing. I found an inner peace that I did not feel being in the U.S.A. That inner peace initiated a desire to one day leave the U.S.A and resettled abroad, some placed detached from the culture of the U.S.A which all of my life has kept me in a state of feeling trapped, depressed and restrained. Like him it was family why I am still here, primarily my children that I am trying to help maintain stability before I can feel comfortable with departing forever.
My African American military veteran father once said something way back in the mid 1960s that is still true today. He said that America is a great country to work and make a living. And maintain connections with family. But We have to travel abroad to different parts of the world to clear our heads. He said for us,America can never be our true spiritual and ancestral home. So there can never be any lasting peace and tranquility. Because of all of the negativity that is baked into our culture against Black people. By him making sure that his three children spent ten straight summers abroad was a beautiful thing. I THINK we began to understand what America has in abundance and what it is lacking. Even the decision whether us three children wished to raise our children on American soil. Three countries that had a profound effect on me was Japan and Cambodia and Zimbabwe. This was before the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975.I swear when we visited Angkor Wat I had an out of body spiritual experience. Listening to the music of the shona people of Zimbabwe allowed me to think in a spiritual sense of the forest. And in Japan the ancient shinto and Buddhist ceremonies are so connected to the land and the mountains that it is extraordinary.
Glad you found your peace in Okinawa, too bad can’t say the same for us locals, especially after all those sexual assaults incidents.
@Thekidisalright I heard about those incidents when I was there. Glad I had no involvement, those are worries for the perpetrators who came with American culture
Gotemba was beautiful. Me and a few other marines got caught in a huge snow storm valentines day weekend in 2014. We all came from okinawa on an SMP trip. I've been itching to get back to Japan since I left. I'll be back in September.
Earlier in the video I was like, "This dude is well spoken." Later on when he said he was a poet I was like, "Makes sense." Seems like a very intelligent and humble person. Thanks for the video Ranzo!
This was a great interview. I went to school with Brenden (middle school) and after watching this he is still the nicest and dopest person. Good luck with everything and thanks for this interview.
I'm gonna be real, as black people it's really really hard to leave our parents and family in the states and Canada when things pop off in bad ways back home. Its seems we're the only group that can't really be allowed to disconnect from America/Canada without deep consequences and a burden over longer periods of time. For us, we often have to abandoning your dreams as a sacrifice to family and community, even if the situations are not in our favor back home
Asian kids get this, as well. Havr you ever seen an Indian or Filipino friend try to move away from their families? Its crazy.
@@MonkeyHeroI saw a short movie about a philipino kid leaving for college that was about this
@@user-tx6zl1yq5s that sounds pretty interesting to watch. For me, a lot of my lifelong friends are filipino, and so is my wife. Ive been really immersed in these family dynamics from a semi-outside view. Ive seen it happen so many times.
That's not just black people
I'm allowed. I allowed myself. What are the deep consequences? I wish I had disconnected sooner. Now my family is trying to get to where I am.
Wish Brenden the best in his endeavours!!
There are not many hosts like Ranzo. He's one of the greatest. He's so humble. I remember your interview with Brenden in Japan. It was delightful. Every country and culture got their own set of problems. I admire Brenden's reasons for moving back to America. I do wish sometimes in the near future; he will consider moving back to Japan. Japan suits him. People love him there also. Brenden is an intellectual. Thanks for the video, Ranzo. Take care and be safe.
I enjoyed this. He seems like a great guy.
For those who don't know, when he says 'CT', he is saying the abbreviation for the state of Connecticut in the US
As another black person who lived in Japan for 3.5 years and came back in 2019 I really appreciate this video! Keep it up. 👊🏿
what inspired/influenced you to move back?
@@emilyavery5970 I had entered my 30s and I was thinking about marriage and raising a family. It's easier to get financially ahead in the US than in Japan.
You don't need as much money to live middle class in Japan, but if you're thinking about a wife, child, and house, it's more challenging over there. Not to mention, I wouldn't want my potential child growing up with a racial or cultural identity crisis. If he/she knows straight-up they're black and American, it's one less yoke around their neck growing up.
@@xonhpei Don't forget it would be extremely difficult for someone like you to find a partner over there. Glad to have you back where you belong man 👍
Man it’s great to see how much you’ve improved as an interviewer. Just watched 5 of your recent interviews yesterday and today and it’s crazy how much better they’ve gotten. You look so much more relaxed and involved. I started seeing this after your video where you spoke about your faith. Now you seem 100% you. You’re channel has a unique Christlike perspective while still being about the Black experience.
Well spoken Brother. Great follow up interview!
Wow! Yes you are needed here! Blessings to you Young Man much success! 🙏🏾
Beautiful mindset - love to see young people with insight impart knowledge on and uplift their communities
Really Nice Interview. Wish both of You the very Best. God Bless You.
Brandon knocked this interview out of the Park.🙌🔥
What a fantastic interview! Wow
Sense of self should never be tied solely to the country you live in and how people treat you because you’re a foreigner. Going back home should not make you scared. What you should be afraid of is going back not having a real sense of self that comes from everything you want to be within yourself.
I think its easy to loowe yourself when youre not around the things that make you you. I used to hang around with black people and started to hang around with Asians and the culture was so diff I lost myself. But now I aldo have a new side of me my old friends wouldnt be able to satisfy. Ita about not losing yourself but sadly that can happen if you stop hanging out with the ppl youre used to.
Love this interview by him.. Definitely somebody the youth can look up too. Making serious moves.
good interview, good to see him sharing his positive growth on home grounds.
Respectfully Japan welcomes and needs more guy like you brother instead of rude Americans like Johnny Somali
I don't even understand how these "content creators" are allowed in the country to begin with. There's a bunch of them in JP now -_-
I'm from NY, moved to Tokyo almost 2 years ago and I haven't made any friends in Japan yet 😅. It's surprising to hear him saying about a group of ppl that he miss. I love love love the safety of Japan but other than that I want to move back. This interview was very helpful. Thank you ❤️
Plz explain, why do you want to move back? I’m from DC and considering going to Japan.
Meetup groups are a great way to connect and make friends
Very good interview guys! I’m loving the introspection!🎈👏
Peace to you and this interview ✨💜 Thank YOU Both💯
Great interview … it’s so heartening to hear people talk about so many important values, & ways of being for them … so sad to think there is a ‘war’ happening, but it certainly is … here in Australia as well. Thanks Ranzo & Brendan👍❤️
👍♥️🙏🙏🙏 Two special young men. Great chat.
one of the best interviews by far
Excellent interview! 💯
Great Interview!
7:53 hes right. Humilty goes a long way. I had to learn this from my japanese friends. That also come from reading the room. Or reading the “tea leaves”.
"Reading the tea leaves" as far as i know, is not a term used to define social patterns/habits. It means to use an abstract method such as fortune telling, or even to "read between the lines" of a situation to try to divine an outcome. Tea leaf reading was a form of fortune telling. So reading the tea leaves would be trying to figure out the outcome of a situation using abstract methods.
@@MonkeyHero you missed everything i said….
@@zmcknight319 no i didnt.
You compared reading the tea leaves to "reading the room" in the context of practicing humility. My reading comprehension is usually very good so help me understand what i missed.
@@MonkeyHero you did. But whatever man.
@@zmcknight319 i mean i dont know what i missed in the 3 sentences you wrote and i also listened to the interview.
But yeah whatever man, sorry i tried to help you utilize a known phrase perhaps correctly. Clearly it bothers you. Peace out.
So happy for you man. Glad to hear you're back where you belong ❤🦅
Great interview.
What a sharp young man. All best things to him!
I was stationed in Japan from 84-86 and returned for a six month deployment in 88. When I returned to the US I haven't been right since. lol still trying to fit in 😊
I loved what he had to say, but tbh it does pain me to think that foreigners might feel like they can play the foreigner card and not follow the structure of Japanese society. I experienced Japan recently and loved it, and would hate for that sort of sense of social responsibility to allow itself to be diluted in any way. Great interview, and I hope he gets to go back to Japan soon and perform his work.
Great convo
Very well rounded young man...
Thanks for your content. I wasn't aware of the term しょうがない. Very interesting and makes a lot of sense when i consider how Japanese people are. My mother especially. Also I'm glad Brenden was able to get away from home for a while and grow without his parents. With black parents it feels hard to leave them or go very far from them.
very insightful young man
Very admirable brother. APTTMH
Fantastic!
Story sounds familiar. I was in Japan from 2010 to 2017 working in the film industry and teaching on the side. The first few years were rough as I had limited language skills and my spouse a Japanese native was difficult at times. I built my network up worked on major commercials, music video and even deejayed weekly in a few clubs. I finally returned to the states to finished my master degree in Education while I had planned to return but I was offered a job teaching and creating a media program. My ex came with me and after 5 years in the states we decided to split our son who is non verbal and autistic and while we gone our own ways we decided he would get a better education in Tokyo. While I miss him he's doing great. The one thing I can agree is Japan will open up your mindset and show you that things you think are great in the states are really. I visit yearly as my son is there but once my parents are gone I plan on leaving the U.S again.
_ Good on you! Kids are not responsible for their well being … their parents are. You chose the right priority.
You left your kid.
Japan is the last resort for introverts, so it's good for your son.
@@TimeIsFire000 This is you assuming I left my kid. As adults we agreed that attending school in Japan is 1000% better then in the U.S I know because I been teaching in the U.S system that last six years. He's learning life skills in school versus being place in a room all day with a teacher and a paraprofessional who checks their phone more then they check on students. If you had taken time to fully read and process the information you would have understood that my son is non verbal and autistic and the different the way the countries deal with those type of children is night and day. When someone post about life experiences do you really feel the need to judge people you have never met and have no idea how they live? Then again that's the internet people feel they need to comment on everything the fact you replied with a very limited borderline fragmented sentence speaks volumes about you. In the future try to focus on the topic it makes the replies more useful to subject ok love? 💜
Wow 👌 you sound Like a very brilliant lady intelligent 👏 I would love to work with you learn some things about professional production & filming 🎥
Wow, this young man is so impressive. What a lovely human being!
prob the best video yet
Hopefully when I live in Japan I can get a interview 🙏🏽
Sooooo great. I identify on several levels.
Excellent.
This homie is very wise.
Ok,okay, the young brotha droppin facts!🫡
Great conversation. Model brotha.
✌🏿❤🙂
Hey, you guys were in my neighborhood. I wish I knew I would’ve love to meet up with you both. This was a great interview! As a former Tokyo resident I feel he was spot on, on a lot of subjects and explained himself pretty well.
Great video
What a powerful interview! 🎉 You're inspiring me to reach out to young kids about careers in Healthcare other than just medical doctor 🤔
Thanks!
Thanks Carol!
Inspiring
One issue is that as a minority in the USA the generational stereotype mentality exists that is extremely hard if not impossible to change. It's worse (IMO) than shoganai and similar because people can murder you, harass you, etc. for not being part of the toxic mind hive. I've seen it happen with relatives and friends. They tried to be different because they refused to be in a gang, sleep with women, or use drugs but failed. So people complain because it's a way to vent or "It is what it is."
My dream is to teach latin dance in Japan.
QUEENS! haha, that's where i'm from! Love this conversation!
Very intelligent man ❤
Seriously the channel needs to be more acknowledgement of it's influence for Black people in and out of Japan.
Needs to be more acknowledgment?
I mean there are literally like 10 black people in Japan so it's not going to change much honestly
The guest encapsulated what Muhammad Ali famously said in Zaire to his fans while preparing for the fight against Foreman: "Me. We."
Implying that he was just one person in a collective and that strength came from a collective rather than one.
私は日本が大好きで、日本語を勉強していますが、食べ物はとても美味しいです。そこにいる間、私は自分自身について多くのことを学び、孤独を楽しみました。ミス日本ですが、私はまだ日本を訪れています。軍関係については同意する
Hello Ranzo , What brought you to the USA? I have been off YT for a while.
This Brudda seems mad cool.
Big Up to him on his poetry.
Ever since I was a kid in the 90s watching my 1st manga/anime movie:Akira
I've always wanted to move to Japan. Particularly the countryside.
I'm full blown introvert who despise small/gossip talk, unless it's with locals who begin to remember my face lol, so I'd be in my element in Japan, but, I would still like to mix and mingle with brothas and sisthas fortnightly from the States, Afrika, UK and other parts of the world who moved there.
My only selfish thing I'd like them to implement is: legalising/decriminalisation of cannabis.
Japan got ALL the good foods and munchies but no herb to enjoy it with 😅
What can I say... I live somewhat Ital and Rasta lol.
Blessings & respect for sharing & uplifting the community. FUBU is absolutely where it's at - why buy brand names that DO NOTHING FOR YOU & YOUR COMMUNITY?! Invest that money instead!!
Hello I enjoy this video new sub here ❤️❤️👍🏽👍🏽
"Japan ain't going nowhere" I kinda disagree. Went in 2019, and thought I was going back in 2020, and for obvious reasons it didn't happen. Didn't get to go back until 2023, and Japan were near last to open, and only did so for financial reasons. They did not want to open and would be still closed if they could.
This is why I went for a whole month, if something happens again it's out of my system.
Im sorry black men we have always put others first because we are expected to instead of putting ourselves first. I would never go back to America and have to deal with an environment like that. People dont want to see you make it an be gone permanently. Black men we are seen as workhorses, tools and disposables. A Straight up asset to others when others never benefit us but always want to guilt and shame you to come back. But if he feels the need to go back go ahead its his life and his decision
文化の違いについて、それを（面白い）と感じるか（耐えられない）と感じるかは、その人次第ですね。
まだ若いし （会わないなあ）という結論なら 早く気がついて 良かったと思いますね。
個人的には（面白くなる）ところまで深く理解する前に、興味を失って終われたのが残念ではあります・
What is CT? Relocating from CT.
Totally fascinating and truly compelling. What a unique voice, beautiful mind and decent man, and all wrapped up in a poet! It's almost too much! 💯 So articulate too: could we be seeing the next Obama? 😁👀 Whatever, I wish him success , for him and his community.
Refreshing video. Gives me hope in humanity and the future.
Shoganai and Hone tatamae
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Its so fresh to see inspiring kings like this brother.
Its so rare to see kings of asia. Really rare..
But this brother is 1 in a few diamond brother. He reminds me of a few of my friends back n the states. Black, educated, articulate, intelligent , wealthy n proper. 🙌
dude sounds awesome. Romeo former guest bro old guest makes it seem about age:)
Japan is alright bro
Like the video pps
👍🏾😎👍🏾
Ranzo: “old guest from 2019”
Me: “Old? 2019 was only a fe-…..5…..5 years ago…”
Is dude in the Midwest or East Coast? With his experiences, he needs to hit up the WestCoast where there's a bigger Asian population that would vibe with dude. Also, dude said he's a speaker, but he didn't say about what, or what makes him qualified or an authority on the topic.
Motivational speakers are B.S peddlers. This cat doesn't seem to realize that.
I remember they used to bring these types in my high school auditorium.
The only people I listen to are happy old people. They are the truly wise.
It would be interesting to hear what he speaks on, but not to prove his qualifications to you.
Weird thing to expect him to explain.
@@MonkeyHero cuz you don’t know much homie
@@tulta3631 truth
I've lived in Japan 8 years. You could not pay me any amount of money to move back to America from here. America is wholly rotten, apart from the actual people. The culture and government are beyond saving.
$1 Billion smackaroos?
@@TheBlackExJp Can't buy happiness my friend :D. Great videos by the way keep it up!
@matthewmammothswine4395 Appreciate it 🙏🏿
AMEN!
I don’t feel the need to return personally
Wrong time, America is falling apart over here.
Exactly, more of us need to leave it rather than come back to the belly of the beast
BUT HE WANTS "TO SAVE IT" and not build upon his future because he has people that "RELY" ON HIM. SMDH........but I understand his parents the minute he said "poet" I stopped the video.
s
Why the 33?
Masonic
I've noticed a sadly increasing American trend towards choosing to use very poor English in the current generation. Brenden is a shining example of how stylish and classy you will be when you speak well, and say things that matter.
I can't relate to talking about spirituality. For me, the word is meamingless. People who use that word never define what they mean by it.
The most basic knowledge is that Japan's fundamental policies are not decided by Japan, but by an American-led institution above the Japanese Diet. Several prime ministers who tried to implement their own policies have died under suspicious circumstances. In other words, politics is not working. The government and media don't tell the people that. If our intentions were reflected in society, no one would say ``it can't be helped (syoganai).''
Culture of shoganai cmon man that’s not a culture lol newbies miss the mark
wtf you talking about, that is part of the culture.
@@greg.peepeeface kaizen is part of the work culture too but honestly thinking back on it the company I was at only used it for product and profit, but never for organizational change or better work environment
you're missing the braincells
@@greg.peepeeface shoganai is part of the culture? Stop being such a tourist newbie Scott //edit Greg
@@uwishiwasutypical gaijin 😂😂😂