At a glance: 30+ ways to differenciate between peoples in Korea and Japan.

Having lived for an extended period in both Korea and Japan, people have asked me on several occasions if I can tell the difference between both peoples on sight. In response to that, (and more or less as an act of intellectual masturbation), I decided to write out all the different ways that I've come to tell the two peoples apart, and then publish the list on this blog.

I don't think there's anything in here that either side will find to be offensive, but if anyone notices anything, I would appreciate their saying so. Also, in reading it, please keep in mind that these are simply generalizations based on observation. I didn't do any research into this, and as is always the case with describing people, there are always exceptions to be found.

Also, please keep in mind that 3 out of these 4 categories are only directly relevant in their respective countries. Fashion generalizations, as with Body Type and Mannerisms, can (and almost always are) modified by the country one lives in, regardless of what nationality we may be. I know I, for one, have picked up all kinds of mannerisms from both Koreans and Japanese people, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a 6' 2" black male, I might have ended up being mistaken for either. At least my Korean and Japanese friends seem to think so.

In any event, the hardest group I've found to differenciate are Koreans raised in Japan, but even so, a lot of the criterion for faces and body types still hold true. In riding the trains in Tokyo, I still see enough and can differenciate enough Koreans (which I can verify once I hear which language comes out of their mouth) that I feel comfortable publishing my thoughts on it. Who knows how many I may be silently missing though. Anyway, keeping all that in mind, I hope that you all enjoy reading this list, and may, in some way, find it helpful.


Facial Features:
1) Insomuch as I've seen, between the two, outwardly curved nose bridges are only found on Japanese people. Both peoples occasionally have freckles, but I've seen them much more commonly (and much more pronounced) on Japanese people.
2) Koreans tend to have higher cheek bones and flatter faces. Japanese faces are generally rounder. (Although not always).
3) The epicanthal folds around the eyes tend to be more pronounced in Koreans, making their eyes, on average, appear narrower. Japanese people tend to have rounder eyes and also larger pupils.
4) In Korean eyes, the upper epicanthal fold comes down to meet the lower fold in the inside corner of the eye (as opposed to the lower fold coming up to meet the upper fold across the median of the eye), giving the inside edge of the eyes of Koreans a really distinct curving "wedge" shape.
5) As a function of this unique shape, when many Koreans smile, the shape of the eyelids makes an upward curve that peaks in the center of the pupil.
(*And interestingly enough, For those of you who have ever seen a traditional smiling Korean mask, this is how the eyes are always portrayed)
6) Also, in Koreans there is an extra crease along the lower outside of the eyes that is also distinctive. I have seen that feature on some Japanese people, although not nearly as commonly or as pronounced.
7) As a function of the amount of tea that people drink, browning of the teeth is more common in Japan.
8) Raised Canines are more commonly seen in Japan.


Mannerisms:
1) Culturally, as a function of the percieved importance of social harmony, Japanese people tend to be outwardly less emotionally expressive around people who they know, but not very well. Particularly when it comes to negative emotions. At the same time however, they can very expressive around total strangers (i.e. 'outgroup' people who's opinions are of no relavance) or very very close friends (in-group). Koreans (much like Westerners) are generally quite expressive regardless of who is watching.
2) In addition to this, the Japanese style of communication is usually quite indirect, and requires a lot of reading between the lines, while Koreans tend to be quite expressive about their full range of emotions.
3) Koreans are generally more outwardly physically affectionate, whereas Japanese tend towards being much more reserved in public.
4) Koreans friends (both Men and Women) tend to hold hands a lot. Oftentimes as they are walking along, and or when talking to each other. In Japan, although one does see couples holding hands from time to time it's not common, and for friends it's even more rare.
5) Koreans tend to drag out the last final syllables more when they speak.
6) Japanese people move their mouths much less.
7) Koreans tend not to be offended at getting poked fun at, and can see humor in their eccentrisities. Japanese people tend to be much more serious about their outward appearance.
8) Although in both countries, people tilt their head when they are confused, in Korea, that tilt is usually accompanied with a hissing sound as the breath is drawn in through the teeth. In Japan, it is usually accompanied with the word 'a-re?' spoken in a short breath.
9) The sense of privacy is also quite different between the two countries. Koreans seem to absolutely share everything, but as a function of that, there is little in the idea of privacy. In Japan although when in groups of friends, they share everything, much like in the west there are very well defined limits to what is shared and what isn't.

Body Type:
1) Koreans tend to be taller and thicker (I'm assuming as a function of the fact that they eat more protein). Japanese tend to be a little shorter, and thinner.
2) Japanese people tend to have thicker legs and longer torsos than Koreans.
3) Koreans have wider feet.
4) Some Japanese tend to have more body hair. (which I'm guessing is a result of having a mixed ancestry with the indiginous inuit people who were actually caucasian- which I'm guessing is also why they tend to have bigger eyes)
5) The funny thing about this however, is that as a function of the fact that they don't have much, Korean men tend to admire body hair. Japanese men don't.
6) As a function of their diet (i.e. the fact that they tend to eat much more garlic, and saltier foods)Koreans tend to have a stronger natural body odor than Japanese people do. (Which I don't mean as 'BO' or in any negative sense whatsoever).
7) Again as a function of the difference in diet, (Korean food is a lot saltier)people in Korea will at times have a faint white residue left on their clothing after sweating. (Although for the most part, you can only see on dark clothing).
8) Bowed legs and pigeon toes (the latter especially in women) are much more common in Japan.


Fashion:
1) Koreans tend to wear baggier, looser fitting clothes. (both men and women). Japanese people tend to wear much closer fitting styles.
2) Japanese men tweeze and shape their eyebrows. Korean men don't.
3) On average, Younger Japanese women wear higher heels (and shorter skirts) than Korean women. (Which I'm guessing is a function of the fact that they are shorter and they do so elongate their figures. (Not that I mind that or anything ;)
4) Koreans tend more towards wearing their hair in it's natural color, whereas dying hair is much much more common in Japan.
5) Also, when they do die hair, People living in Korea tend to do so in streaks, whereas in Japan, it's much more common to die hair uniformily.
6) Korean women, when wearing their hair in buns, do so with a bun on the back of their head, and the 'scrunchies' they use (if that's what those things are called), tend to be more elaborate and/or formal looking.
Young Japanese women usually use a simple rubberband, (if anything at all), and make the bun by winding the hair around itself. Also, more often than not, they make the bun on the top of their head instead of the back.
7) 'Funky' and/or alternative clothing styles are more common in Japan than in Korea.

Making the weight: How I dropped 8kg (17 lbs) in a month

Wassup folks.
My apologies for being MIA for so long, but Chuck's been a busy brotha. It's frustrating because it feels like there's a lot of different things I'd love to sit down and write about, but the past half-year has been a busy one. In any event, in response to those of you at home and abroad who've spoken to me about weight loss and maintainence, I decided to write out and post exactly how it was that I lost 8kg in a month's time while preparing for that kickboxing match. (See "A fighter's tears" in my other blog, "To chase a dream").


As you can see, I've posted three images on this blog, the first was taken January 9th, 2006. When I first put together this plan with one of my best friends, personal trainer, Chad Johnson. (Whom I also mention in the blog on sex & success). The second picture was taken on March 9th, 2006- 2 months later. The last image at the end of the blog is how I look right now. It was taken immediately after my second run on this diet (unfortunately, I got lazy in April, and strayed and after a trip back home to the states that summer, had gained the weight back). At the time, I had one month to lose 7kg for a kickboxing match in Tokyo, and the photo was taken immediately after that fight. The second time around, as I had to lose the weight in half the time, I introduced the fast I mentioned at the end. At this point, it's been over six months, and I still look more or less as I did in that final picture.

Anyway, I hope those of you who asked find it helpful, and for the two personal trainers who helped me put the program together, please feel free to comment with tips, corrections or additions.


1) Eat 4 or 5 times a day (this will speed up your metabolism) BUT make sure they are small meals (under 500 calories). This will give your body the green light to burn food quickly (instead of trying to store it) because there's a constant source of food coming in.
*If you want to lose weight, DON'T eat less frequently. This will actually trick your body into thinking that there is less food available, and it will slow down it's metabolism in response.
*Also, in you starve yourself, your body will burn it's muscle first to hold on to it's fat reserves.

2) Always eat something for breakfast. Think of the literal meaning of the word: Breakfast.
When you are sleeping you are going a long period of time without eating. Your fasting. If you continue that fast into the day, again, your body will think it's because there's no food available and slow it's metabolism. Also, make sure that breakfast is high in protein.

3) When you eat stay away from a lot of slow-burning carbs. (i.e. breads, pastas, potatoes, and rice. For the sake of balance, I usually will eat some, but not very much. Instead, make sure your diet is high in proteins, and you get all your viatmins and minerals from dairy products, and fast-burning carbs (fruits, vegetables).

Your body uses slow-burning carbs for energy, so if you cut down on them, (but eat enough of everything else so that 1) your metabolism doesn't slow down and 2) you're still getting everything else you need), your body will turn to it's fat for energy.
For myself, the only time I eat slow-burning carbs is approximately 2 hours after a workout. At that time, I've read your body needs everything.

4) Drink lots and lots of water. At least 2L a day if you can. The more water you drink, the more effeciently all of your body's systems run. When you are well hydrated:
-Your workouts are much more effecient
-Your sleep is much more effecient (and your body produces more of it's fat burning chemicals while you sleep)
-You aren't as hungry (half the time you are hungry, you're really just thirsty, and your body isn't differentiating).
-Your skin even looks better (from what my model friends tell me).
-You wake up feeling fresher and more energetic. (at least I know I do).

5) Get as much sleep as you can. Remember that everything in your body is a part of a whole system. Like drinking water, getting a lot of sleep makes everything run smoother. As I've mentioned before, I've also read that your body produces a lot of it's fat-burning chemicals when you are sleeping.

6) Exercise 4 times a week if possible. Giving your body 48 hours of rest, (every other day) is optimal. 72 hours rest should be the most you give it. Working out every day doesn't give your body a chance to heal properly. But on the other hand, keep in mind that your body will only adapt to change as necessary. If you wait too long between work outs, your body will heal everything in it's basic form instead of thinking "I need to grow stronger to handle this" Because of this your chances of hurting yourself are greater. (Which is why weekend warriors tend to pull and tear things so much).

7) Your exercise should be at least 40-60 minutes. Keep in mind that your body has to use the food it's holding before it can use it's fat. Again, this does NOT mean you should starve yourself before a workout, because if you do, 1) your muscles will have no energy to run on, and 1) you'll be really tired, and 2) you're more likely to injure something.
(Believe me on this one. in being out here chasing my athletic dreams on a shoestring budget for forever, I've gained extensive experience in both starving myself, and injuring things, and they always go hand in hand).

8) If you do injure a muscle during a work out, ease off of it immediately BUT don't give up on it. Finish the workout if you have to, but don't push it. Also, let it heal to the point that you can begin to feel comfortable (up to you) and then start lightly stretching and strengthening it again increasing the degree that you push it with each workout.
DON'T stop working it out completely. 1) Because it will take forever to heal that way, and 2) because when it does, it'll heal with lots of thick and inflexible scar tissue. If you go back to lightly exercising on it (but not pushing it too hard) the tissue that will grow back will be stronger and more pliable.
Also, again, drinking lots and lots of water, and getting lots of rest makes a substantial difference in the healing process. Not coincidentally, that's also the case with recovering from colds (or anything else for that matter) a lot faster. It's all about water & rest.

Lastly, check your weight regularly- if possible, everyday, and if possible on the same scale. The fact of the matter is, when you are losing weight the change happens gradually. So much so, that chances are even when you are losing wieght, you won't notice it for a while. For me, I don't see a difference until I've dropped about 10 lbs or so. As a function of that, the only way to gauge your progress is to wiegh yourself regularly. Aside from the fact that it's a great (and steady) source of encouragement when you are starting off, it will also tell you if what you're doing isn't working, and after you've achieved your goal, if you are backsliding at all.

About fasting: While training for that kickboxing tournament, as I mentioned to you guys in my other blog, I was expected to lose about 17 or 18lbs in 4 weeks. I lost the first 9 or 10 lbs in about 3 weeks doing all this. Still being 7 lbs short, I did my homework on how to do it, and went on a semi-fast for the last week.

Here's what I did:
Morning: Yogurt, with whey protein mixed in to keep muscle strength.
Afternoon: A 12 oz of vegetable juice to keep vitamins, and minerals in your system and to keep sugars up.
Evening: A half of lemon mixed with honey in a single cup of water. (Eating the whole thing, rind and all).
==> This is because from what a personal trainer friend told me, oz per oz, lemons have more vitamins and minerals than almost anything else you can eat, and he suggested it.

Believe it or not, insomuch as I stayed really physically inactive, and didn't move around much, I actually felt fine. Just more tired than usual. No headaches, stomachaches or anything. (I was given the idea from a former roommate who for political reasons did a 3 week fast in Costa Rica. He also told me he felt fine the whole time.)

In general, I think the dangerous thing is letting your bloodsugar drop and/or being too physically active while you're doing it. Beyond that, it's probably a good idea to drink more water than I was, but at the time, I was trying to make a wieght cut, so I wanted to lose water weight too.

Beyond that, after the fast, eat 1 or 2 meals with tons of slow-burning carbs to replenish your system, and then from there, go back to only eating fast-burning to keep it off.