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Is anyone else starting to feel... anger or disdain towards them?
Even though I speak Japanese, most people think I'm American (well, I am, but I've lived here for most of my adult life). I've noticed that young men in particular seem "pissed off" at my presence. Of course you'll experience some sort of discrimination living here as a white person, but it's gotten really bad recently.
I think this is due to the weak yen, and their perception that we're just coming here to enjoy it like a playground... which of course is happening to a degree. I get USD from rental properties in the US so my Japanese income is definitely padded a bit. I can easily spend 3,000-5,000 yen on lunch, and sometimes when I do this I'll notice the (male) staff or cooks glaring at me. Kind of like "enjoying yourself? fuck you"
I mean, I get it, Japan is starting to seem like a bunch of poor and desperate people clinging to a half decent lifestyle that's long gone. Few people seemed genuinely happy behind the mask. I see tons of competent, clean cut 30 and 40 year olds working menial service jobs that would normally be relegated to teenagers or burnouts in a place like the US.
What are other's thoughts on this?
You might be picking up on something specific to certain neighborhoods. I've noticed the vibe shifts a lot depending on where you are. In places like Koenji or Shimokitazawa, younger staff in independent shops often seem more relaxed with foreigners, maybe because those areas attract a more alternative crowd. But in Ginza or Roppongi, where the money is flashier, I've seen that tension you're describing, especially at lunch spots where the bill hits 4,000 yen and up. It could be less about you personally and more about the context of the transaction, like they're tired of serving people who treat the place like a theme park.
i think part of it is also that younger japanese workers are just burned out in general, not just at foreigners. the service industry here has gotten way more tense since covid, and a lot of those guys in their 30s working konbini or kitchen jobs probably didn't plan on that being their career. it's not an excuse for the glaring but i've seen them act the same way toward japanese customers who seem too picky or take too long ordering
yeah i think you're onto something with the weak yen thing. i've been here about as long and noticed it too especially in areas like shinjuku or shibuya where tourist crowds are thick. feels like some younger staff are just tired of dealing with foreigners who don't bother learning even basic japanese, and we get lumped in
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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