Bari Jo - if you're about to travel to Japan, no worries. My experience with Japan is locals tend to assume foreigners ...are not local. Visitors to Japan generally don't blend regardless, sort of a "don't bother trying to perfectly conform" mindset. Previous generations conformed very cautiously but the newer generation can get pretty wild - I recommend stopping by Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood if you want to see what I mean. Or Shibuya, or Kabukichō next to Shinjuku, or the central walking mall in Osaka.
After your piercing heals and you want to try hoop earrings later on, be patient. The first few times I found those incredibly frustrating to put in - one time I literally wasted a half hour and gave up. Finally got one in, went to the other ear and the first hoop earring fell out. These days I can do hoop earrings in about ten seconds. Some things that look easy take practice.
