I am planning on moving to Japan, what would this entail?

Question

I've heard that the Japanese are not so tolerant of foreigners, so i will include my ethnicity and what job i was hoping to do. What i would really like is for someone with the experience of living and working over in Japan to possibly share their first impression and what I would need to do in order to 'live my dream' so to speak, in fact anything remotely relevant will be of great help.

So, I am 15 going on 16 female, born and raised in Wales (which is in the United Kingdom :P). I have very fair skin, blue eyes and dark brown/ red hair. I am about 5"5 and a size 12 (It would be nice to know what size I would need to buy if I do move there XD). The reason I am including this is because I have read a few articles which state that the Japanese are not so tolerant of many people.

Also, I am in the process of completing secondary school. The subjects I have taken (apart from the compulsory English, Maths and Science and a little less important P.E. and Guidance) are Graphics, Art, Expressive Art, Additional Science and Religious Studies. I have already achieved a B grade in English and an A* in Art. Upon entering college I would like to take English, Fine Art, Graphics and Psychology. Moreover, i would like to go onto university and maybe take a TEFL course or any other course that would enable me to teach english as a foreign language, or just teaching in general.

Alrighty, as you've probably already guessed I'm hoping to teach. English preferably but art is a back up plan. I was hoping to teach secondary level children, so any information on teaching in Japan would be great.

I have very little grasp on the language as it is at this moment but I will be trying to learn in the near future.

So in short, HELP!

All answers will be appreciated!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You actually seem to be going about this the right way. Unlike many people.

Go to your University, stay there for 4 years and graduate with whatever you want, but to be taken seriously in the long term as an English teacher it sure as hell wouldn't hurt to do the TEFL.

If you stay as a UK size 12 you should be okay buying most clothes, maybe an L or in some cases an M will be okay. But bras are freakish here. If you don't like being upholstered like a sofa and decorated with frills and ribbons buy them before you come here. You've got plenty of time though, and if you get to be a bigger size than 12 bring plenty of clothes too. There's a lot less choice once you go over an L.

When it comes to learning Japanese, I'd say go for it. It's much better for YOU if you can communicate with people around you. But if you go for a job with one of the usual schools like Nova is or used to be, Benesse etc, then make out you only know one or 2 words. They like to have the upper hand, and if they know you can speak Japanese they'll think you might look for a better job once they've sponsored your visa and they'll have wasted their money, so they might pass you over and hire non-Japanese speakers instead.

Japanese are actually very tolerant of foreigners for the most part, but to aid you in your lessons make sure you bring photos of home. Not your actual home of course, but photos of your country to show them how beautiful it is. They'll like it and may want to visit as tourists, boosting your local economy in the process.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you this was very helpful.

Answer 2

I don't know what the case is for UK citizens, but Americans cannot get a work visa in Japan without a minimum of a B.S. or a college degree. I think I remember meeting some people from England that were exceptions to that rule.

It depends on where you are going to a certain extent. People in major urban centers such as Tokyo are used to interacting with foreigners and most people in these areas can speak a little English. In rural areas the opposite tends to be true, but people also seem to be more polite there.

Make sure that you take plenty of basic clothing items. Bras, underwear, socks! I am about your size and I had trouble finding clothes that fit me in Japan. Don't forget that you can order clothing through a catalog. Clothing there also tends to be much more expensive (at least compared to the U.S.) and the cost of shipping it there is balanced out by the fact that you are paying much less than you would at a local boutique.

Learn as much Japanese as possible before you go and take a class if possible. Even if your Japanese isn't very good people will respect you for trying to learn the language and will be so much more willing to help you out.

One last piece of advice. Try to locate an english speaking physician that works with foreigners before you go our as soon as you get there. Japanese hospitals can be a little rough on foreigners. At a minimum work out an arrangement with a doctor in UK to get a consultation over the phone and medicine air mailed in the event of an emergency before you leave for Japan. I won't relate my personal horror story, but I lived in India in 2003 and I would go back to the clinic at my village before going to a Japanese hospital again.

Japan is a really great country, it takes a little getting used to, but I am sure that you are going to love it there.

P.S. if you can get to the Saitama prefecture they have the BEST strawberries I have ever eaten anywhere.

Source(s):

I lived in Tochigi prefecture near west Nasu at the Asian Rural Institute. In my opinion ARI is the best place in Japan to be. I might possibly be going back to Japan in the near future as a newly commissioned lieutenant. II find out in may if they approved my request

Answer 3

You just can't move there.You need a reason to be there,work or student,usually.In most cases you need a four year degree to work there.Being a Brit, I think you can go there on a "working holiday", but that wouldn't be long term.Outside of teaching English and high tech jobs, there is little available to non-Japanese.The jobs that go to non-Japanese are usually the ones a Japanese can't do.Most all
other jobs will always go to a native Japanese first.
Since you're only 15,that means what you want to do is likely 5 years in the future.A lot can change in that time period.I've seen it happen.Try the site below.It will explain in more detail about visas and more.

Source(s):

www.mofa.go.jp

Answer 4

Is there a prize for the person who asks this question the 5,000th time ? Just curious.