Eccentric, zombie-loving, nerdy: a few things I ♥ about expat dudes in Japan.

By Cynthia Popper Apr 25, 2013 2 min read

Expat guys have a lot of the qualities I look for: complicated, geeky, and slightly dark. They are eccentric, zombie-loving, and nerdy. Here’s a few things that I love about expat dudes in Japan.

1) They’re weird.

They tend to be way into computers, sci-fi, and play first-person Zombie shooter games more than they’ll admit, but they’re also here for a reason. Sure, it might be a JP culture-addict thing, but chances are they might have been a little socially awkward back home and came here to experience something more fun than furtive glances of distain from random blind dates.

2) They’re handy translators.

Not being able to speak Japanese yet, I LOVE this. It’s so comforting to be able to roll into a restaurant and try something new without mystery. Language proficiency is really the keys to the castle here, and if he speaks Japanese, it’s a major dating bonus.

3) They’re not all up in your face.

Unless they’re the über-creepy hermit type, these guys usually have a lot on their plates. Teaching, music, art, starting their own businesses: expat guys tend to keep a full schedule and aren’t going to be texting you every little thought in their heads thirty times a second. And if you’re a solo female here, chances are you’re the independent type who can smell needy from fifty paces.

4) They’re adventurous.

I realize this one sounds like every OK Cupid profile in existence, but if we’re here it means we all love to travel off the paved road of homogeneous tourism. Want to go eat bizarre shit in Nowheresville, Malaysia? These guys are down. They’ll even help plan the trip.

5) They dig us, despite being surrounded by gorgeous local babes.

Especially the ones that have been here a while and are looking to chat about old movies or pop culture references that local girls might not get. It’s fun to see a guy’s eyes light up when you mention David Lynch or punk rock (when punk rock was really punk rock… crap I’m getting old). Local girls are foxy, no question, but when an X-man wants to have a deep, meaningless conversation, gaijin girls hold the number one slot.