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I think ur dreads will be fine. It might be good to kinda "pull them back" when you make ur first appearance. Like in a loose ponytail type of style.... just at first.
I personally think dreads look great on most people who maintain them and dont let them become matted and smashed looking.
Japan is a very traditional society, despite all of it's modernity. Being African American with dreads should not bar u from a job teaching English, just keep in mind u want to present urself as a professional, first. And u want ur hair to not necessarily make any statements or be the main focus of ur identity. Focus on ur education, your qualifications, ur mastery of the English language and ur rapport in the classroom.... not ur hair.
I have witnessed first hand African American girls with braids/dreads teach english, no men tho.
I've known black men living in Japan who had dreads, but I'm not familiar with the English teaching system. If it's neat and maintained well, you might not run into a problem.
Just my observation, but I've noticed Japan is less welcoming to beards actually. Of all the fashion trends popular in the West today, heavy beard growth didn't catch on in Japan, and most foreigners don't have them either.
I think dreads are fine, and Japanese English schools may be looking for diversity, but I think a clean cut appearance would be a real asset to finding a position.
The Japanese may find the appearance of dreadlocks interesting, but balk at having a teacher sporting the look.
I am not intimately familiar with the dynamics of intercultural human resources in Japan, however, so take my words with a grain of salt.
I lived in Japan for 8 years, and one of the guys I went to college with in Tokyo was african american and had dreads no problem. You probably want to stick to Osaka/Tokyo instead of tiny little places in the country side will likely be more accepting.
There are many youtube vids by African Americans teaching English in Japan. I'm sure they'd be able to give you advice. I don't think it would be a huge thing, but I can't say for sure. It's probably not as bad as having tattoos or a lot of piercings. Having tattoos in Japan is associated with being a thug and a criminal.
Having tattoos in Japan is associated with being a thug and a criminal.
First of all they don't really equate it with being a thug as much as specifically a member of the Japanese Mafia (the Yakuza)
However, this is all really changing. If I would have to compare it to something here in the US I would put it with gay acceptance here right now. You'll find more resistance to it in the rural areas then the urban. But more so then anything, it is not a big deal to the younger kids, where it is the older generation still held up about it.
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