so i wanna move to japan and/or s.korea
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Alcotholic
Banned
hmm... I hope you aren't holding japan in high regard. It's not some fantasy land where everyone acts like anime characters and interesting things happen all the time. You'll pretty much feel alone a lot, because the japanese only really socialize with people within their own society or race. But if you get past that, you should be fine.
But don't go if you think it'll be the fun, happy land you dream it to be. You'll be severely disappointed.
And no, I haven't been myself, but I have heard lots of stories from people who moved there.
But don't go if you think it'll be the fun, happy land you dream it to be. You'll be severely disappointed.
And no, I haven't been myself, but I have heard lots of stories from people who moved there.
Brofist
Member
What attracts you to Japan if you don't mind me asking.
Gentleman Jack
Member
You only asked two questions and answered none of those posed at your skills, language proficiency or overall budget. Moving to Japan is an expensive proposition no matter where you end up and something as simple as finding housing is incredibly challenging unless you already have an employer willing to sponsor a visa and make the necessary introductions on your behalf. If you are not already fluent in business Japanese you can forget even getting an interview with companies that even do business there, let alone a Japanese based corporation. As for the lifestyle, it's expensive and cramped. I hope you like eating rice porridge and cooking fish stew.
The reason you're not being taken seriously is that you are somehow 'bored' of the United States and are seeking excitement rather than a long-term commitment to living in a tremendously different country. Have you even visited before? Do you even know where and when to take a test like the BJT or JLPT?
Based on your short OP it isn't obvious at all.
What are you planning on doing over there? They won't take you just because you're bored...
Well there's English teaching. Military bases...
Trolls? You asked a one sentence question with no more information and you call people trolls? Jesus.
Blood Diamonds
Banned
a weekend is not a long term plan
Have fun learning Japanese.
solid mike
Member
It may seem like they give so much respect to everyone including gaijins but I've read some personal accounts that deep down, some of them really want to keep Japan full of ethnic Japanese, if there is such a thing.
But that's just what I've read, I myself would want to move if I had the money.
But that's just what I've read, I myself would want to move if I had the money.
And was of age
super-famicom
Member
Absolute minimum to move to Japan:
A degree from a 4 year university
A successful job interview with a English language school (eikaiwa; they will sponsor your Visa)
Valid US passport
Money for a plane ticket: ~$700-$900
Money to survive the first month (since you won't get your first paycheck until after your first month of work, usually your company can help you find a place to live): ~$1500, but more is better
This is the absolute minimum, doesn't guarantee you'll be happy with your job or new apartment (it will be really tiny and the walls are thin).
And no, knowing Japanese is not an absolute requirement to live in Japan. BUT IT IS VERY USEFUL AND THUS RECOMMENDED.
I've had new coworkers come in with 0% knowledge of the language or culture and some managed to stick it out for over a year or two,but A LOT of them only stayed for one year and were generally not happy due to not being able to make friends/culture shock/etc
A degree from a 4 year university
A successful job interview with a English language school (eikaiwa; they will sponsor your Visa)
Valid US passport
Money for a plane ticket: ~$700-$900
Money to survive the first month (since you won't get your first paycheck until after your first month of work, usually your company can help you find a place to live): ~$1500, but more is better
This is the absolute minimum, doesn't guarantee you'll be happy with your job or new apartment (it will be really tiny and the walls are thin).
And no, knowing Japanese is not an absolute requirement to live in Japan. BUT IT IS VERY USEFUL AND THUS RECOMMENDED.
I've had new coworkers come in with 0% knowledge of the language or culture and some managed to stick it out for over a year or two,but A LOT of them only stayed for one year and were generally not happy due to not being able to make friends/culture shock/etc
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Unless you are in the military, good luck with getting an actual job on base. As most of those go to folks within the system already / live on base as a spouse / relative etc. The budget cuts too also effect the job situation for whats available with work on base.
And as for English teaching, unless you have an actual degree in teaching and what nots, you are not going to get the best of jobs and really isnt going to help your career at all in the future if you do decide to move back to the US and putting down English teaching on ones resume when one in fact has no degree for it. You would be screwing yourself over in the end.
This country is expensive and the job situation is shit just like most other places in the world.
So if you dont have the language abilities or some sort of actual useful set of job skills that would make yourself seem like an asset to the country good luck. (This is pretty much the same for most modern countries)
Sounds just like America. AMERICA FOR AMERICANS. Its the same with almost any country really. Those types of feelings exist anywhere.
Lee Chaolan
Member
lol. <3
Yeah...I studied it for 4 years in high school and then a semester in college, and I think I just barely had enough to get me around. It would be difficult to go there with nothing at all.
Lee Chaolan
Member
Oh god, the second part almost made me spit out my drink xD
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Depends on where the OP is from though. For the US its 90 days so about 3 months.
http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/d/03.html
I know this American girl who was born and raised in Japan going on about how America's not so great any more because of all the Mexicans stealing jobs. Or a guy complaining about how Costco was just full of japs now. Lol
I agree with the rest of your post. But it does seem like a lot if people do it. The teaching route.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Id have to talk to a friends thats still connected with that side of things as the whole industry isnt what it used to be anyways. So from the last time we talked what I understand is that its a lot harder to get a job teaching english at a legit place since they are looking for more qualified candidates. The heydays of Nova and such are long gone.
Its why realistically I say if one wants to do that and have a good chance at getting a decent paying job / position that can also help them further their career is to actually have a degree for it.
Just showing up as another foreigner in country who thinks hes gonna land a job teaching english because he can speak it is gonna learn from the school of hard knocks thats not how it goes here anymore.
Amory
Member
Good luck, OP.
I heard many people lived and worked there as an English teacher for private English schools. Should be a viable option. I don't know how they got the jobs, but it seems to me like it's the easiest way to move to Japan. This is not a forever thing though (in fact all I know of came back in a year or so), but it's a first step.
I'm trying to move from Germany to New York, which seems impossible. I know the pain of not being able to move freely.
I always see your posts about wanting to move to NYC and find myself rooting for you. You'll get there someday if you truly want to!
come to boston it's better and doesn't smell like garbage
brianjones
Member
what's the homeless situation like in Japan ?
I have no prospects here but enough money to travel somewhere
I have no prospects here but enough money to travel somewhere
op I want to move to Japan too so I can watch all the animes
you don't want to be homeless in Japan, I assure you.
you don't want to be homeless in Japan, I assure you.
Angelus Errare
Banned
ギルガメッシュ！！！！
From reading your OP Im not surprised that many people here are laughing at you.
I'm in Japan so let me sum it up for you (sorry but you need to take note of most of the people's responses here because they are correct.
These are the things that you need to complete to be successful in Japan:
So before thinking about money, how live and so on, please nail down the above first because those are the basics. Also, go to Japan as a holiday first before you think about relocating there. Its not smart to jump head first into water without knowing how deep it is first which some poor gentlemen has literally proven bless his soul
I'm in Japan so let me sum it up for you (sorry but you need to take note of most of the people's responses here because they are correct.
These are the things that you need to complete to be successful in Japan:
- You NEED to speak the language at least daily conversational level and above, no less. Just speaking a little bit that will allow you to eat will NOT do unless you can fulfil some of the key points below. Also, you NEED to be able to Read and Write the language.
- You need to have working skills and experiences that makes you stand out.
- You need a degree if you have limited work experience: Japan is very systematic so you need to have a solid degree or you will be ignored.
- You need to love and understand the culture: No point going to Japan if you only like just a FEW things about Japanese, and I'm not referring to the women.
- You need to either be married or be incredibly exceptional with two of point 2, 3 and/or 4: Not all companies want to deal with the paperwork of providing you with a VISA, so if you are married and already have a resident in Japan then it will make things easier for you. Always remember that you will be one of thousands of people that is trying to get into Japan if you are not already in the country.
- Research research research on everything you need to do! I cannot stress this enough; if you do not already have people or a partner that is a resident in Japan and can look after you then you need to research everything and be thorough on all that you do. I will not lie, this is HARD work! If you are not going to put the work in, even if you marry a Japanese women and move to Japan and have none of the points above, then DON'T bother.
So before thinking about money, how live and so on, please nail down the above first because those are the basics. Also, go to Japan as a holiday first before you think about relocating there. Its not smart to jump head first into water without knowing how deep it is first which some poor gentlemen has literally proven bless his soul
You WILL be screwed. Japan is not like UK. If you are homeless then you'll be a mess and because you are a foreigner, no one will bother with you because the first thing they will think about is the high possibility that they can't communicate with you.
You seem incredibly motivated and it looks like you really thought about this for a long time.
I am 100% confident that he will go through with this, help him the best you can GAF! I'll vouch for him!
Oh yes... I can see the fire in his eyes.
Well, here's hoping that someone who is actually serious about moving to Japan would read my post for I think it will help them.
TheBryanJZX90
Member
Hey how true is this? I guess there are a ton of different ways you could look at it, but which country is more culturally "in" in the west right now? Samsung is kicking Sony's ass, Toyota is still on top but has lost a ton of ground to Hyundai and Kia, Psy was a one-time pop culture event bigger than probably any one thing to come out of Japan, but is that the kind of thing that will lead to a "KoreaGAF help me plan my trip to Korea" thread every couple of weeks?
sasimirobot
Junior Member
These would be helpful, but you don't NEED any of them to move and live there. I think I only had one of those things on your list before I lived there. Japan is not that impossible/incredible/baffling/weird. And if you want to use it as a springboard for surrounding countries you don't have to acquire that list again to move to almost any country in the region. Its good to have plans I guess... but it doesn't have to be for everyone.
Discotheque
Banned
life isn't like lost in translation. you're not gonna find your scarlett waifu there.
come to canada brah we can drink together and shit.
Devolution
Member
What honestly makes you think shit will be different there? Anime or something?
Haha. Thank you. I really hope that someday I will make it. By the looks of it, Boston is a great city. Never been there, but the architecture and vibe that comes across in movies, pictures, Google Streetview, etc. really resonates with me. (Like all major cities on the East Coast)
I was raised to think so as a kid, then I looked at a lot of pictures and videos and man, you can count the amount of smiles with one hand. Hehe, my cousin actually visited some urban part of the country maybe a year or two ago and said it was pretty, gray, so I suppose plain and depressing? Regardless, such a shame that the great Nippon isn't the land of rainbows and mahou shoujos as I was exposed to.
That's interesting. Can you share your experience?
Too tired to elaborate ?
Nathan Muir
Member
The U.S. might interest you quite a bit more if you were to learn English.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
I used to want to move places but now I get culture shock just from leaving my state.
sasimirobot
Junior Member
year 0-1.5
Moved to Japan with only the plan to check it out after finishing my minor in Japanese. Ended up with a job getting paid to drink beer with Japanese women.
year 1.5-8
Moved to Thailand, didn't know a word of the language or even that it was famous for sex tourism. Ran a game shop and bar, ended up fluent and can read and write Thai and Lao.
year 8-12/13
Moved to China with a sketchy job offer off the internet with people I didn't know in a town I never heard of. Asked the stewardess how to say "beer" in Chinese. Now I am the Director of an International School and my boss is begging me to stay another 3 years. My Chinese is good but at this point I'm in no rush to learn more Asian languages because I feel I will spend the rest of my life in this part of the world.
Only visited the states once in this time and it was "meh"
Moved to Japan with only the plan to check it out after finishing my minor in Japanese. Ended up with a job getting paid to drink beer with Japanese women.
year 1.5-8
Moved to Thailand, didn't know a word of the language or even that it was famous for sex tourism. Ran a game shop and bar, ended up fluent and can read and write Thai and Lao.
year 8-12/13
Moved to China with a sketchy job offer off the internet with people I didn't know in a town I never heard of. Asked the stewardess how to say "beer" in Chinese. Now I am the Director of an International School and my boss is begging me to stay another 3 years. My Chinese is good but at this point I'm in no rush to learn more Asian languages because I feel I will spend the rest of my life in this part of the world.
Only visited the states once in this time and it was "meh"
teruterubozu
Member
Might wanna visit the place first.
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