[Jonat]

Hello, i'm new to the forum, and i've got some questions about planning and moving to japan, since i've asked about and got many different answers, i think it's time to get an "official" response. (I mean that as a majority opinion of people who have done it.)

First, a little about myself. I'm 21, male and looking at the tokyo (Chiba province?) area. English, and studying a world-renown computer repair technician course. Jobs in my area are pretty much non-existant, thanks to the credit-crunch, and i'm wondering if it's better abroad. (I'm also considering america.)

1) Do i need to speak japanese? - I know this is a silly question, but i havent studyied the language, though i have a good friend who is moving out there come january. And i've heard there are a majority of english-speaking workplaces, though if this remains to be true, i'll soon find out.

2) Do i definately need a work permit, and if so, which government do i get it from? I'm brand spanking new to the idea, and there's a large gap of information in my opinion.

3) Do employers *really* require you to have a permit, or is this just a false image of the correct way to go about working abroad?

4) How much money, is it recommended you'd need? Current exchange rates are looking bad for the english, and an estimate is just what i need. Also, how much is the living costs of japan? I actually don't know what something like a loaf of bread equivilates to. (£1.25 for a loaf should equal 175.5 yen?)

5) What's the easiest way to get in contact with an employer so many miles away? Any ideas how i could find the kind of employer i want?


Thanks all, i may have some more questions later. <3