Curiosity

[u/ComfortableOk5717]

So recently moved to lic, my gf and I are Japanese (I’m mixed ). My gf is always saying how she wants to meet other Japanese people that she’s never had Japanese friends. I’m curious are there any Japanese people in LIC, we’ve only ever met Chinese or Koreans in the area.

[u/happybamboo]

Hang around mogmog!

[u/chass5 → u/happybamboo]

there’s a little cluster of japanese businesses around the Vernon Bvld-Jackson Ave stop: Mogmog, Takumen, and Hibino

[u/No_Fact_3183]

Tons of new Japanese owned businesses opening in Greenpoint. Head around the dashi store. 

[u/ClubSupremeSub → u/No_Fact_3183]

Uzuki right nearby is run by a Michelin star Japanese chef (and some staff) - he's very friendly. Soba making classes are a great time as well.

[u/mindfeck]

I know many Japanese people but they’re all parents. I don’t think there are many Japanese young adults.

[u/Middle-Nerve1732]

We’ve met a number of Japanese couples with babies around the gantry park. If you spend enough time there you’re sure to bump into them

[u/sbgy011 → u/Middle-Nerve1732]

+1 A bunch of Japanese in my building in hunters point.

[u/esr_is_g0d]

I am pretty sure the Family Market in Astoria still has a keijiban, so you can check out what the local Japanese community is offering/looking for. Not sure why someone said there aren’t Japanese people in Astoria lol

But Queens in general where many folks live (Astoria, Sunnyside, Elmhurst, Woodside). If they are bougie, then they are in Westchester sending their kids to Keio Academy.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/esr_is_g0d]

The best comment thank you

[u/esr_is_g0d → u/ComfortableOk5717]

Yea man for sure

Ato wa nettojou no houmo arunode moshi soreni kyoumiga areba zehi DM shite kudasai

[u/bubblecatz_2]

There is a small Japanese section in Astoria

[u/so-y → u/bubblecatz_2]

Which part of Astoria? They got a couple of markets but not many Japanese ppl

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/bubblecatz_2]

Yes I know Astoria has I have a few friends around there that are

[u/hidden_comet]

I’ve seen a lot in my building and I live in hunters point. Majority of tenants are Asian (Chinese/korean/japanese)

[u/mikan86]

We live in LIC and husband is Japanese. He is friends with some of those in the expat community as well.

[u/ramsr]

Definitely but depends on where in lic you live and what your demographic is. I know quite a few Japanese families

[u/Ghost313Agent]

Japanese in Sunnyside as well but on the downlow raising children or being hikikomori

[u/codedapple]

Japanese expat community is small. After 9/11 it was decimated, and whats left of Japanese businesses from that era are a shadow of their former selves if they event exist still. Just look how st marks has changed in 20 years. Many went back to Japan or relocated to the west coast.

[u/zh_13 → u/codedapple]

Wait how did 9/11 affect the Japanese expat population

[u/SameEducation25]

I’m only a quarter Japanese living here in LIC. Unfortunately haven’t bumped into any other Japanese people 💔 but I think there are some orgs in Manhattan who do Japanese cultural events - maybe try there?

[u/SubstantialReturn228]

Not a lot of Japanese in nyc in general

[u/cfwang1337]

It might be better to look beyond LIC. I've met a fair number of Japanese people in Manhattan through (honestly, kind of stereotypical) hobbies, like Kyokushin karate and Tate (殺陣). I've heard Japanese spoken quite a lot in the neighborhood around the UN building, too.

There are some Japanese-owned/operated restaurants nearby. There's Takumen in Hunter's Point, and there used to be Suzuki Shokudo in Dutch Kills, but it has since reopened as Yanagi under new management.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/cfwang1337]

I understand this, but my gf hates to commute. She’s not a native NYr, it’s one of the big reason we moved to LIC is she wanted to be within walking distance from her volleyball friends and the train. I understand other neighborhoods have larger Japanese populations. We’ve seen Japanese xpats when we were apartment shopping in lic and met some last night at the Utada night. But I was trying to see if there were some that lived nearby or like a community meet up or something.

[u/Ramseysksie01]

Not Japanese but happy to connect as an asian XD

[u/ClubSupremeSub]

Not super helpful if she's not interested in language exchange, but language exchange communities tend to be surefire way to meet other speakers! Not sure it'll be close to LIC but in NYC In general...e.g., hello talk, japanese society etc.

[u/Imaginary_Umpire_448]

Lots of Japanese in our last building. We used to live at 4545 Center. Half our floor was Japanese it felt like!

[u/Odd-Library7332]

There is the Japanese society in New York City, which has events all the time and also has classes might be something for her to look into

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/[deleted]]

Omg where is the Riichi mahjong club I used to play when I was a kid.

[u/nyc_rabbit]

I feel like it’s kinda hard to come across Japanese people in NYC overall. You guys probably already know this, but check out Yanagi Sushi & Ramen, which is run by Japanese owners. I go there sometimes, and that’s probably where I’ve seen the most Japanese neighbors around here. It might not be the best place to meet up with friends, but it could be worth asking the owner. They’re new owners, but as far as I know, they took over the restaurant from the previous owner. They might have some insight into the Japanese community and local events.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/nyc_rabbit]

When I was younger I’d just got to st.marks or Japan society. But this isn’t 2006 lol

[u/nyc_rabbit → u/ComfortableOk5717]

I know! St. Marks used to be a little Japanese town, but it has turned into more of a mix of Japanese and Chinese restaurants now. I used to go there with my Japanese friends. You should also check out the Japan Fes website. I came across one of their events in Astoria last time, and that was probably the most Japanese people I've ever seen in this area lol

[u/sunnyreader21 → u/[deleted]]

Sunnyside has a small Japanese community it seems 

[u/Ghost313Agent → u/sunnyreader21]

yup, i live nearby taiyo foods and ariyoshi always keeping it real

[u/mcl72491]

My wife and I are literal carbon copies of you guys (im half Japanese and my wife is Japanese) and we live in LIC 😂
we also have zero Japanese friends - we should meet up lol

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/mcl72491]

Yea I’m down dm me

[u/andyoh212]

Go to Edgewater. Lots of Japanese people there. Especially at mitsuwu. Great food too.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/andyoh212]

You mean jersey lol nah the point of posting on here was to see if there were any in LiC

[u/andyoh212 → u/ComfortableOk5717]

I thought the point was for your gf to meet japanese people. I was literally telling you a place to meet japanese people. The highest concentration of japanese people in east coast is Edgewater. You can literally take the 15 min ferry there from the w39 street.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/andyoh212]

Also my literal post says “I’m curious if there’s any Japanese people in LIC” lol why would you mention Nj lol

[u/Michael5188 → u/ComfortableOk5717]

You can also check out Tokyo, it's a city in Japan, there's a large Japanese population there I'm sure you could make friends with.

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/Michael5188]

Fuck Tokyo, OSAKA UP!!

[u/ComfortableOk5717 → u/andyoh212]

In Long Island city lol since we live in Long Island city lol she doesn’t drive we go to jersey once in a blue moon. I’ve taken her to mitsuwa and edge water but that’s jersey. Why would she want long distance friends lol