[JTM]

This sounds a bit suspicious. I'd question that type of living arrangement. Unless you're staying with a good friend or relative, I find it hard to believe that a stranger would be willing to put you up for half a year, rent free in exchange for translation work especially if you haven't done translation work previously.

I agree with MMM, I would think that just as in other countries you need some sort of agent or agency representation to work as a magazine/commercial model. Have you done modeling in the past or is this your first time? If foreign female models are having a hard time finding work in Japan, I would think it would be even that much more difficult for a male model just starting out.

While it may have been true in the past, foreign models are not all that uncommon in Japan and there are dozens of tall, mixed and exotic caucasian models living and working in Japan and most are fluent in Japanese or have lived there for quite a while so you have a lot of competition.

I think you should reconsider or have some sort of backup plan in place because Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live and you will need a lot of money to make ends meet even if you have a rent free room.