Quote:
Originally Posted by rizu
Visas, are what allow you to live in Japan legally. In order to work full time, you have to have a work visa. For the work visa, you have to have a four year degree, or the required work experience for the work visa type. Personally, having a degree is the best bet. And to get a work visa, you ALSO have to have a company sponsor you. I believe after a few years you can sponsor yourself though (or just apply for permanent residency). Some countries also qualify for the Working Holiday Visa. Unfortunately, if you're American like me, your S.O.L.
If you want to visit, you can enter on a visitor visa which is good for 90 days and is given to you when you enter the country. Have you ever been to Japan? If not, I HIGHLY recommend you go give it a visit before you move. I wouldn't move somewhere permanently unless I have visited it. If you are wanting to work, the business etiquette of Japan is very different from the U.S. (I am going to compare from U.S. since that's where I hail from, and not sure how different it is from Europe). Example: Japanese employees typically have cleaning duties. There are no janitors. You ALWAYS should be at least 10 minutes early anywhere (and that's not just work). Your superiors should be treated as so. The list goes on.
Basically, you need to make sure you are willing to make these changes. If you are not going to adapt, don't work in Japan. Just go for a visit once a year or something. It will save you and your co-workers/ fellow students grief.
The pros and cons... hmm.. well, Japan is gorgeous, great food, lots of stuff to do, and easy to get around. VS the U.S. my whole state takes like 12 hours to get across in a car. The people in Japan are polite. That seems to be lacking these days in the U.S. It's kind of a personal thing I think. You just need to be over there to get your own opinion.
In terms of being a gaijin, you will probably get a lot of attention at first, but it will die down. Once the novelty of your arrival has died down, then if you are a student/worker, you will be treated like other workers/students (as was my case), and expected to follow the same rules everyone else does. Depending on your location matters too. In a big city like Tokyo or Nagoya, foreigners are common. But in smaller areas and stuff you will stand out more. The key factor is how you act I guess as to whether or not you will be liked or disliked etc. I never had issues, but a friend of mine always did some things that were okay to do in the states and would always get yelled at.
My advice, come visit, check it out for a few weeks. Come in April if you want to see the cherry blossoms. Get a feel for Japan BEFORE you make a real commitment. I'm moving back because I have lived there before and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Some people make the move w/o ever going before and do fine, but others hate it, break their contracts within three months, and go home.
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Thanks for the info, i am going to visit sometime in the next 4yrs, im 20 now and Going to take the ACT and then college. i dont mind working and things like that, i grew up in a logging family, hard work was pounded into me by my grandfather and the thought of getting hit by my grandmother wooden spoon lol.
don't really understand what you mean by "a company sponsor you"
i wounder since im kind of a big guy, im 6'2 and 270pounds and size 13 feet lol, would that cause me any trouble in Japan, like clothing, shoes , ect..