Am I Really Look Like Japanese?

Since my hair become longer and after I dyed my hair, this case happen...
The first case happened when I and a friend went to Penang Hill. In the way, we met many foreigners. Some came from Thailand and some came from Japan. The foreigners didn't say anyhthing about me. The funniest things is when I am on the way to go down from hill, a local man asked me, "Are you a Japanese?" I just smiled and say "no, I come from Penang, Malaysia. I am a student."
The second case happened when I am in trip too. It was a trip to National Park. During the trekking of Gua Telinga, I met two foreigners. I think they are from Europe. One of them greeted me in Japanese. "Konnichiwa" he said. I replied, "Konnichiwa". After his friend ask where I come from, he apologised to me. It is quite a funny things happened during my trip. Even though the foreigners also confused. I and my partner joked the tour guide as I am a Japanese, comes from Tokyo. They believed it. I know to speak Japanese language and this convince them I am a Japanese. Haha...
So what do you think of? Just let me know...