Wow GTJ;
Sounds like things have changed.
I knew nothing about English teaching when I first arrived in Japan and I definitelyw wasn't qualified coming from a retail background.
My first full time job in Nara was teaching. My first day with ten child students was an absolute nightmare!
They were swinging on the light shade, on the table, jumpig all over me, I did not have a cracker of an idea what to do.
My colleague Dave from California was also no help as he was in the same boat as me.
I would ask him what to do, and he would reply, "F*** MAN! I have no idea"
Luckily his guitar along with his skills came in handy for the classes. I think he ended up getting locked away for stalking the end of work hosties around the small town!
We had a great Japanese boss who became good friends, and indeed most of his friends were non Japanese.. he took us on many Osaka and Nara nightly tours
I ,always loved kids, so I strived to learn what I could eventually quietly studying ex Nova coleagues who were tteacher trainers, other foreigners who were good at what they did, and eventually I became good and all the kids, mums, and schools wanted me.
Once I was at this goodness level, I had no problems at all and could pick my own jobs. At this time In Japan, 5-6-7-8-9 years back, the English Teacher position jobs were many..
their were of course many teachers employed wo were bascically shie, and you wondered who was controlling the teaching market..
Sounds like things have definitely changed, degrees or not..