[Sangetsu]

A lot of good advice has already been given, you have to keep in mind that reality is often very different than our expectations. The Japan you dream of could quite possibly be only a dream.

The real Japan has it's good points and it's bad, but once you come to live in Japan you quickly realize that, as interesting as Japanese culture may be, it is not your culture. You will never be a part of it. Even if you are a participant in cultural events, you are still an "outsider".

I like living in Japan, but I have my own country and culture, both of which are great. When I visited my home in America last month, I once again realized what a great place it was. I enjoy Japanese culture as a spectator, which is the best I can do. Many Japanese enjoy American culture, and more than a few Japanese have moved to America. The ironic thing is that in a country like America, they can quickly find their part in the culture, and make it their own.

Before taking the plunge and moving to Japan, spend a little time there. I visited three times before I made the decision to move, so I knew what I was getting into.

BTW, I saw a few ads in the foreign classifieds today from companies looking for game developers, so there are such jobs available for foreigners. But conversational Japanese is required, so you'd better start studying now.