Here is a Japanese video lesson on common questions. These are the top ten questions Japanese ask foreigners in Japan. The first question might surprise you, but it was definitelty the question I was most asked by Japanese.  Japanese generally think that most foreigners are American.  It can be a little frustrating or annoying  if you are not American, when the people around you assume you are American all the time.  So, if you go to Japan expect to be asked this question all the time.

My Japanese uncle in-law even gave a speech about his idea of American lifestyle how it related to my wife and I on an important family occasion.  He thought he was doing me a great favor with his speech. I was somewhat frustrated and wanted to tell him how ignorant he was. Even though he knew my nationality, Australian, he just amsumed we shared the same culture. I certainly don’t have anything against Americans. I have many good friends who are American. I just got sick are being asked if I were American by almost every Japanese I met for ten years.

Japanese will also speak to you s if you are new to the country. This can be a little annoying, too, if you are a long term resident.  You end up having the same conversations all the time. I would occassionally avoid conversations with the locals just to have a break from the top ten questions you will hopefully memorize.