[charizardpal]

This thread is a little too pessimistic--I'd like to point out that I have encountered intelligent bloggers online who have made a living in Japan without following the ESL route, including Danny Choo and Tae Kim, among others. Both were hard working and had a singular focus on learning the language, before picking up marketable computer skills.

-If anyone can think of other examples of possible career paths leading to placement in Japan, please list them. Not everyone is interested in becoming an ESL teacher, and why force them when there might be another method they'd be more interested in trying?