[Nyororin]

MMM replied to you and broke it down very well... But I`ll do the same just having done something a bit similar to what you want to do. I also want to comment on a few things he said.

Originally Posted by KyokoRai

However, after moving we are determined to never go back. Which also means we will be changing out names. Providing we do everything right, we wish to become Japanese citizens.

Why is it necessary to change your names?
If someone wants to find you, changing your name doesn`t help as it leaves a nice paper trail. Name changes mean very little in terms of leaving a life behind.
Just being far away is all that it takes to cut you off completely from anything in the past. Trust me. Japan is close to the limit to how far you can go, but to be quite honest the next state over would probably be good enough just to escape. Of course, I realize that it`s not just a matter of "escape".
As for citizenship, that is much much later in the game so is not really anything you can plan for or need to be thinking of now.

After breaking this down, we feel as though there are less opportunities to seek out happiness in this country. By not going to college in America is to ensure we have the money to create an education for ourselves in Japan.

In either place, you will need an education. Where this education comes from doesn`t really matter - what matters is that you have one.
A university education in Japan is generally cheaper than one in the US... If you are a resident. Otherwise there are all the foreign student fees and the amounts you have to prepare before enrolling. If you DO have 4 years of cash in hand, then it is not a problem. If you don`t, you can`t really count on being able to work enough while on a student visa to save up for the following years (just to get a student visa I believe you need to have close to a year of tuition and living costs already in hand...)

In terms of money and logistics, it is easier to attend a community college in the US and then come to Japan.

Will having only a high school eduction make it extremely difficult? (Ex; getting an apartment/job) I know it will be hard, but not impossible.

Your education has nothing to do with getting an apartment. It has everything to do with your job opportunities and your ability to secure a visa allowing you to work in Japan. Without an education, you cannot get a visa. Without a visa, you cannot get a job. Without a job you cannot get an apartment. There is no way around this.

Originally Posted by MMM

Keep in mind that "roommates" is not common living situation, and often unless you are married you are not going to be allowed to live together with a mate.

I don`t really think this is the case at all. Roommates is a fairly common arrangement - especially for university students away from home. A same-sex roommate gives parents comfort that their son or daughter isn`t going to be all alone in a new city. Also, mixed gender sibling roommates seem to be pretty common too.
"Never met before moving in with eachother!" roommates are the type that is uncommon. Two friends living together is quite normal. Basically as long as the landlord knows that there will be two of you living there, your relationship doesn`t really matter.

Continuing on that note, would it be hard to enter community colleges?

As said, there are no "community colleges". And unfortunately, with the way the Japanese education system goes... The easier to enroll the university is, the higher the price tends to be. Public universities are very low priced but have notoriously difficult entrance examinations. Private universities are all across the board, some low priced but extremely hard to test into... Some very easy to get into but extremely high priced. "Easy to enroll" and "Low priced" sort of rule each other out.
If price is not the issue though, there are easy to enter universities all over the place that have a "community college" sort of atmosphere.

If not a Japanese citizen, can we apply for loans?

Student loans? A resounding NO. You need to have the money in hand to enroll as an international student before even getting your visa.
If you mean general loans, like a home loan or car loan - yes, but only if you have a proper visa to do so.

Would having basic to conversational Japanese language skills impair our ability to get a decent job?

In every way. Even as a dish washer.
The economy took a nosedive.
The estimate is that only 50% of the new university graduates this year were able to secure a real position. When this happens, the ones that have not will be looking for a position through the next year or two... Working at all the nice non-permanent positions. The people who would have been working in the nice non-permanent positions will be pushed to work part-time. The people who would have been working part-time are pushed down and will be working the bottom jobs.
To put it simply, everyone has more qualifications than you, plus can speak fluently.
The only place your lack of education and Japanese skill wouldn`t matter would be in teaching English. But that still doesn`t help with the visa situation as you would still need to have gotten one somehow.

Should we worry about things like health insurance?

If you do find a way to be a resident in Japan, you will be required to enroll in the Japanese national system. The payments are calculated based upon the tax you paid in the previous year - the first year is generally very low (due to having not paid any tax the year before) but it changes once you have been working for a year.

What are the rates for shipping items(No furniture) to Japan?

Much more than it costs to buy a similar item in Japan. Bring things with sentimental value that cannot be replaced. Otherwise you can replace everything.

In addition, we have a cat that neither of us wish to leave behind. Do many apartments allow cats?

The number of apartments allowing pets have increased a hundred-fold in the past few years. They cost a bit more each month, and there is a larger deposit at the beginning - but if you are not too picky there are plenty out there these days.

As for the cat... Find a good place for it and leave it. When your tears have dried, take in one of the countless kittens needing a home in Japan.
To bring your cat to Japan, you will need to have documentation of age, vaccinations from birth with details regarding all the rabies vaccinations that should have been received on the proper schedule. The latest booster will need to have been done no less than 31 days and no more than 90 days before arrival in Japan. You will also need to have your cat tested for all the feline diseases before receiving permission to board the plane... The transportation itself tends to be around $1000~$1500 and is incredibly stressful for the animal - cats in particular as they have a strong attachment to their territory. I have heard of particularly fearful cats actually dying from the stress of a 10~15 hour flight.
And... Once you get here they will still need to be quarantined for a long period while the documentation is verified, they are given blood tests, and monitored for the development of any illnesses with extended incubation periods.

If you love your cat, do you really want to put it through all that?

We are incredibly good with English due both of us being writers and poets. If we could teach English in Japan, what schooling on our part would that require?

Education? Not much. But as noted, you`ll still need a visa. Assuming that somehow this huge wall has been removed... Being "good with English" really means nothing in terms of being an English teacher if you are a native speaker. What matters is charisma. They will choose a peppy cheerleader who failed English classes their entire life over a quiet poet who has won awards.