[Tsuwabuki]

I'm not jumping into the middle here, but I will say that I understand both Nyororin's points and Noodle's points. I have no idea what the engineering industry looks like, so I cannot say who is right, but both arguments have logical structures, if you accept initial premises. The issue at hand is, whose premises are correct? I don't know.

I know that I would not take 20万 a month. I make quite a bit more than that, and did starting out of the gate. I do know, because I have been told, that one of the reasons I get bonuses and salary increases each year is because it is hard to get someone out where I live who is willing to live in rural Kyoto for extended periods of time. We're short a teacher right now. We have two schools that don't even have AETs. A damn shame, because one of them was the school I was at for two years, and I wish they hadn't transferred me.

So while I would not take the salary, (because I know I could get a higher paying position elsewhere), if I was the OP, I would have to make my decision based on what I know to be true about the market, and what my priorities are.

Also, very personal opinion, accepting a lower salary for the "thrill" of living in Japan is utterly silly. Accepting the only salary offered because you have no other options, and none in your home country, and Japan offers the only economic opportunity you have? Go for it.