'I am Japanese': my new identity

*Japanese ver

"I am Japanese"

This is a "relatively new" self-identity of mine

I acquired it, only after
my first foreign visit & met non-Japanese people

"Identity" is always born, only from
being aware of differences

---

"I am Japanese"

I was wondering

"What does guarantee this self-identity of me?"

And I quickly realised

"It is my appearance"

---

Because of my face
Because of my body
Because of my "appearance"

Europeans judge me "He is not local"
Europeans categorise me as "Asian"
Europeans wonder "I think he is Japanese, but not sure. Let's ask"

And say

"Where are you from?"

And I answer

"I am Japanese"

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...........how many times has my mouth constructed this simplest sentence so far?

The more I say,
The more it makes my "relatively new" self-identity
firm
solid
& enforced

And now
this identity is guaranteed by
my appearance