For Citrus’ abundance of international students, culture shock comes in many forms: from language barriers, to mannerisms, and of course in fashion. Coming from countries like Japan, the general attitude toward fashion in America can be quite shocking. To some international students, American fashion is bland because it mostly consists of jeans and t-shirts.
Music major Yuuka Tokaji, 21, and theatre majors Noelle Miyata, 20, and Makoto Moriyuma, 20, all agree on one major difference between Japanese and American fashion—the importance of it. The international students said that fashion is valued much more in Japan than it is in America.
“Japanese people really think about trends and what is popular,” Tokaji said. “American fashion is too casual.” All three students agreed that Americans handle daily fashion with less care than Japanese people.
“In Japan, I really had to worry about what I wore. In America I don’t have to,” Moriyuma said. Although it is nice to not feel pressured in getting dressed, Moriyuma still thinks American fashion can be too simple at times.
Miyata, enjoys the laxed attitude Americans take toward fashion, and says that even in Japan, she shopped at stores like H&M which featured the more laid-back styles of American fashion, such as hoodies and graphic tees.
Her only complaints are that American fashion is less modest than Japanese fashion and much more expensive. Miyata says that some clothes are “too sexy” for her, and the same name brand clothes we buy in America can be bought in Japan at a much lower price.
Fashion is a large aspect of culture, and the lower standard that fashion is held to in America comes as a shock to those coming from countries like Japan. It can be a relief for some, but it also seems to come as a disappointment in most cases. This disappointment adds to the culture shock that international students feel, and makes it that much more difficult for these students to try to blend in.
