I (22f) am half-Japanese but grew up in the US with my white dad after my mom passed when I was little. I never learned much Japanese or about the culture, so I decided to study abroad in Japan this semester to connect with my roots.

My roommate Emma (21F) is a white girl who's obsessed with Japan. She's studied the language for years, watches anime 24/7, and basically has created this whole "Japanese persona" for herself.

At first it was whatever, but it's gotten super annoying. She constantly corrects my pronunciation, explains Japanese customs to me like I'm a tourist, and has even told our Japanese friends that she "feels more Japanese" than I do because I don't know the language or customs.

Yesterday at a cultural festival, I was talking to my host family when Emma interrupted to explain to THEM (actual Japanese people!!) the "true meaning" of the festival. When I called her out later, she said I was gatekeeping and that I'm "basically American" while she's "dedicated her life to Japanese culture."

I lost it and told her she's just fetishizing a culture that's actually part of my heritage and identity, even if I wasn't raised in it. I said no matter how many anime conventions she attends, she'll never understand what it's like to be Japanese.

Now the other exchange students are divided. Some think I'm jealous of her language skills, others think she's being a total weeb. My host mom gently suggested I should learn more about my culture before judging others' interest in it.

AITA for telling my white roommate to stop acting "more Japanese" than me when I'm actually half-Japanese?