We’ve all heard the term “yellow fever” before. No, not the mosquito-borne disease, but the social phenomenon where a non-Asian individual has a romantic or sexual preference for Asian, or “yellow,” people. On the flip side are gaijin hunters—Asians, typically Japanese, who actively seek relationships with foreigners, usually Caucasians. They are essentially the opposite of someone with yellow fever. If you’re a foreigner dating in Japan, you’re likely to encounter one of these gaijin hunters.

For some controversial topics about unspoken Japan, find out more about love and sex in Japan, cheating in Japan, cheating without cheating in Japan, and sexualisation of young Japanese girls.

Gaijin Hunters: Japan’s Version of Yellow Fever

We want to point out that just because an Asian person dates a foreigner doesn’t mean that they’re a gaijin hunter. We’re talking specifically about Asian people who want to date only foreigners. In this blog post, we’ll share what we know about gaijin hunters. We’re not here to yell “racism!” or pass judgement, just here to share some observations and experiences. 

If anything in this blog comes across as racist or harmful, that is not our intention and we apologise! 

The Gaijin Hunter

The term “gaijin hunter” is derived from the words gaikokujin (外国人) and “hunter.” Gaikokujin, shortened to gaijin, means foreigner. If you’ve seen Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift (2002), you might remember one of the characters translating gaijin as “outsider.” Although the word literally means “outside country person,” it has fewer negative connotations in Japanese society and simply refers to foreigners.

While there are gaijin hunters of various Asian ethnicities in different countries, this post focuses on Japanese gaijin hunters.

The Predecessors of Gaijin Hunters

The predecessors of Japanese gaijin hunters were known as “yellow cabs.” The term referred to Japanese women, often well-off, who were easily “picked up” by foreign men—similar to how one hails a yellow cab in the U.S. During the 1980s and 90s, these women travelled abroad, mainly to Western countries, for romantic or sexual escapades.

The shift from “yellow cab” to “gaijin hunter” is uncertain, but it likely happened because “yellow cab” had more explicitly sexual and controversial connotations. Nowadays, the term used for Japanese individuals seeking foreign lovers is gaijin hunter.

Where Gaijin Hunters Hang Out

Japanese gaijin hunters often frequent bars popular among foreigners, called gaijin bars. Some well-known ones are the British HUB chains, Tasuichi in Shibuya, and Champion in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai. Additionally, bars near U.S. military bases are common spots for gaijin hunters, though these are harder for civilians to access.

Despite the word “hunter,” gaijin hunters are generally not aggressive. To fit the stereotype of reserved Asian behaviour, they’ll usually just stand around with a drink, making eye contact with foreigners until one approaches them for a conversation.

Communication with Gaijin Hunters

Some gaijin hunters aren’t concerned about language barriers. They might not speak the same language as their partner, or their partner may not speak Japanese, but this doesn’t stop them from pursuing a relationship. For these gaijin hunters, the relationship tends to be more casual, often a short-term fling rather than a long-term commitment.

Other gaijin hunters may prefer a shared language. These individuals, who may speak some English, often target foreigners who have lived in Japan long enough to speak some Japanese.

There’s a common debate about relationships where both partners don’t speak the same language. Some argue that these relationships lack depth due to communication challenges, while others point to couples who make it work and even go on to marry. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Why Are Gaijin Hunters Attracted to Foreigners?

What’s behind the fascination that gaijin hunters have for foreigners? The reasons vary. Here are a few common explanations:

1. Half-babies: Some Japanese women are attracted to the idea of having half-Japanese, half-foreign children, believing they will be more attractive.
2. Escape from sexism: Some gaijin hunters think foreign men are more romantic or chivalrous, especially compared to Japanese men, who are often seen as less attentive to women.
3. Visa/green card: Others are interested in dating foreigners as a way to leave Japan, hoping that marriage will help them secure a visa or citizenship abroad.

Here, an anonymous interviewee offers up yet another reason she wants to date foreign men. 

Other reasons include the belief that foreigners are better lovers, or that they think foreigners are “exotic” and that dating one would be “pretty cool”. The latter is what adds controversy—are gaijin hunters actually interested in the person, or just their foreignness? 

If you have any friends who date only foreigners, ask them why and share their answers with us! 

The Progressiveness of Gaijin Hunters

Interestingly, while Japanese gaijin hunters enjoy dating or having flings with foreigners, many still choose to marry a Japanese partner. They seek out foreign relationships for adventure and excitement but see Japanese partners as providing stability for the future.

Some argue that gaijin hunters represent a feminist movement. By choosing foreign partners, they are taking control of their sexuality and challenging societal expectations.

What Do Asian Men Think of Gaijin Hunters?

It appears that female gaijin hunters face more criticism than their male counterparts, particularly from Asian men. As the Fung Bros mention in their video, many Asian men resent Asian women who exclusively date white men, feeling it implies that Asian men are not good enough.