But we're speaking Japanese!

[IronLionZion]

[Nitram]

1. When I first started living in Tokyo in 1977, this happened frequently.

Starting in the mid 1980's, when fluent Japanese-speaking foreigners began appearing regularly on Japanese TV shows, that started to change. By the 90's, many Japanese expected foreigners living there to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the language.

[yuiyoshida]

2. It only makes sense if one is living there to learn the local lingo

My parents are Part Japanese and don't speak a word of Nihongo. They are part Native Hawaiian and don't speak that either. They never cared to learn, but I wanted to, and took classes so I am fairly bi-Lingual and try to communicate with many Japanese i meet on line.

[Nitram]

3. Yes, it is always best, if not just good manners, to learn the language of you host country.

That said, it used to be it very discouraging to study Japanese and then have Japanese people ignore you because they couldn't imagine you are actually trying to speak Japanese. I've actually experienced the situation in the video. My American friend and I were travelling in Hokkaido with a young Japanese -American woman from Chicago who spoke not a word of Japanese. My friend and I both spoke Japanese. When we sat down in a restaurant to order food, the server would look at the JA woman and ignore the two of us, who both spoke Japanese. It was funny but rather frustrating.

[JuJuYoshida]

4. That would drive me crazy lol