STEREOTYPES DISCREDITED BY JAPANESE PUPILS

Food, school and personalities are obvious differences for Japanese kids living in America.

On a Saturday morning, when most school buildings are empty, Orchard Country Day School on Indianapolis' Northside is busy. From early morning, kids begin to appear in the building. The bells ring and students rush to make it to class on time.

To some kids, this might sound like an episode from The Twilight Zone.

After American students go home to spend the weekend, about 270 Japanese students living in the Indianapolis area spend their non-school time in the classrooms here to learn the language, calligraphy and other Japanese customs and cultural traditions. The school meets year-round except during August.

Children's Express recently interviewed Naoitki Napheaw (male), Kenithi Makino (male), Haruko Mantho (female), and Tomo Natsumeda (female) to find out how these Japanese students living here see the differences and similarities between their country and the United States. All of the students are sophomores and juniors at local high schools, and all are 15 years old. Their time in the United States varies from two to 10 years. Naoitki has been here for two years, Kenithi for three, Haruko for five and Tomo for 10 years.

Wide-open spaces

"I've never seen such huge cornfields before I came to the United States, so I guess that had a big impression on me," Haruko said. For her, the fact that Japanese cities are overcrowded makes wide-open spaces seem a luxury.

Tomo agreed.

"America is a lot bigger and not as crowded," she said. "When I first went back to Japan, the first thing I noticed was that the clothes were different."

Most students, even in high school, wear uniforms. That isn't the only difference with American schools.

"The rules (in school) were a lot stricter," Haruko explained.

"Almost everything is different," Haruko continued. "Like, pizza is real popular here, but the last time I went to Japan they had like octopus on it.

"The first time I came here I thought all the food tasted so sweet, I couldn't eat it. But when you get used to it, you like it."

Personality differences

Striking personality differences between the two cultures are obvious to these kids.

"Americans aren't embarrassed to talk about their feelings, but Japanese people don't do that," Tomo said.

"I think that Japanese are very shy," added Naoitki.

"(Americans) are outgoing. They know how to express themselves. They are friendly. It is very easy to understand them _ a lot easier than understanding other Japanese people," said Haruko.

At first, the differences made Haruko feel uncomfortable.

"When I first came here, I really thought I was different, and I had a hard time getting along with people," she explained. "But after getting used to the American way, I like it and (being Japanese) doesn't matter as much now."

It is obvious that these kids have spent time thinking about allegiance and patriotism.

"If I hear (critical) things about Japan here, I am more loyal to Japan because that is my home country and all my relatives are there," explained Tomo. "But if I heard bad stuff about Americans in Japan, I'd probably be more loyal to America."

Where to live: Japan or U.S.?

Tomo isn't sure where she wants to live when she gets older.

"I want to continue high school and go on to college in America and maybe have a job here, but I also want to go to Japan. I want to be in both places at once," she said.

Haruko feels loyal to Japan "because I know more stuff what's going on in Japan and how different the culture is," she said.

What advice would these teens give to a Japanese youth who is moving to the United States?

"I'll probably tell them to prepare," said Haruko. "Things are really different here, and don't expect that anything like Japan is going to be here. . . . (Americans) are different, they think differently. Just try to accept all the stuff as it is."

These kids haven't always felt welcomed here.

"Some people think we are different just because of our hair colors and things like that, and they make fun of us for it," said Haruko. "There are certain people who just don't like me because I'm Japanese. And I guess their family doesn't like me, and sometimes we get these phone calls and stuff, but most of the people are not like that."

Japan bashing hurts

Haruko has been hurt by some of the Japan bashing in the United States. She said it is unfair that some Americans blame the Japanese for auto layoffs here.

"They sometimes say stuff like `Go back to Japan; you don't belong here.' It is really hard when we get those phone calls because we try to get into the community as much as the Americans do and we really try to do things the American way," she said.

Since this interview, Naoitki and Haruko have moved back to Japan. Before she left, Haruko said her experience in the United States has given her insight and hope.

"I can see it from each side. I think that I know both sides of the story and what they are talking about," she said. "Just work out the problems between America and Japan decently."