Interesting. I've kind of been dreaming about Okinawa while here. The people I've met from there seem very different from the people I've met in Tokyo. I've imagined it like a mini Hawaii but on Japan.

I've heard a lot about this fixation on being fair-skinned. It becomes obvious as you see the prevalence of people walking around with parasols on a sunny day, or the use of creams and makeups that work to whiten one's skin.

I never thought of the implication here that dark skin--on a naturally dark-skinned person--would then be seen as undesirable. But I suppose that tracks.

That's good that its relevance is not socio-economic. However, perceived beauty is a gateway to a lot in life as well.

I also have wondered about the "hafu". From what I've heard, they have it pretty rough. To be ostracized as a foreigner is one thing; to be ostracized in your homeland is another entirely.

Thank you for sharing your experience!