Ok, need some clarification please.

[PandaStar]

Ok, I have been reading about how people want to move to Japan and what not, wondering what jobs they can get. I have mainly seen English Teaching jobs and stuff, but what are the other options? Surgeons? Interior Design? What else is there? And do foreigners actually stand a chance getting a job in Japan? (not supposed to be taken in a wrong way; I am American myself)

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by PandaStar

Ok, I have been reading about how people want to move to Japan and what not, wondering what jobs they can get. I have mainly seen English Teaching jobs and stuff, but what are the other options? Surgeons? Interior Design? What else is there? And do foreigners actually stand a chance getting a job in Japan? (not supposed to be taken in a wrong way; I am American myself)

Japanese law requires that a foreigner prove they have a skill that Japanese do not have in order to get a job there (in order to protect Japanese jobs from foreigners). Since "native skill with English" (or another language) is the easiest such thing to prove, it is by far the most common. Since Japanese people can be (and are) surgeons, interior designers, etc, those jobs are generally not available to foreigners unless you can prove your expertise at some area of that job that Japanese can't match (some new surgical technique discovered in another country, for instance).

[Hatredcopter]

Originally Posted by samurai007

Japanese law requires that a foreigner prove they have a skill that Japanese do not have in order to get a job there (in order to protect Japanese jobs from foreigners). Since "native skill with English" (or another language) is the easiest such thing to prove, it is by far the most common. Since Japanese people can be (and are) surgeons, interior designers, etc, those jobs are generally not available to foreigners unless you can prove your expertise at some area of that job that Japanese can't match (some new surgical technique discovered in another country, for instance).

I've never heard of any actual laws like that. How would you explain the decent amount of foreign IT administrators in Japan? When I was studying in Japan, I met a number of foreign bankers, foreign lawyers, foreign marketing/PR people, and not all of their jobs were internationally oriented or had to do with "skills that a Japanese person doesn't have". Certainly it is difficult to get a job doing the same thing a Japanese person can do, but I don't think there's any laws against it, so long as its a skilled job.

The only laws that exist are ones that say a foreigner must get a job that qualifies for a working visa, and that's just about any "skilled" job that generally requires a bachelor's degree (or higher).

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by Hatredcopter

I've never heard of any actual laws like that. How would you explain the decent amount of foreign IT administrators in Japan? When I was studying in Japan, I met a number of foreign bankers, foreign lawyers, foreign marketing/PR people, and not all of their jobs were internationally oriented or had to do with "skills that a Japanese person doesn't have". Certainly it is difficult to get a job doing the same thing a Japanese person can do, but I don't think there's any laws against it, so long as its a skilled job.

The only laws that exist are ones that say a foreigner must get a job that qualifies for a working visa, and that's just about any "skilled" job that generally requires a bachelor's degree (or higher).

Well, it was part of the 1951 Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. In 1989, they loosened the restrictions somewhat, allowing some professions like entertainers and others through in limited numbers. It seems it was amended again in 2000 to loosen it a bit further.

[otoko]

Originally Posted by PandaStar

Ok, I have been reading about how people want to move to Japan and what not, wondering what jobs they can get. I have mainly seen English Teaching jobs and stuff, but what are the other options? Surgeons? Interior Design? What else is there? And do foreigners actually stand a chance getting a job in Japan? (not supposed to be taken in a wrong way; I am American myself)

IT and finance. The best way is to get transferred to Japan with your current employer. Once you are here there are alot of business opportunities compared to the states, since many industries are non-existent or in their infancy. That is if you choose to eventually run your own business. If you are not transferred over, there isn't much to choose from. Most important though is getting to know people. They can help you get opportunities, get your foot in the door. I have never taught English. It seems though that teaching English would limit your opportunities to meet people who could help you out when searching for your next job.
Once in awhile a foreigner gets hired by a Japanese company, like me. It doesn't happen much. For good reason, it is hell in a Japanese corporation. I don't work there anymore but it was a tremendous learning experience. I learned Japanese by being thrown to the wolves and I learned I don't ever want to work for a Japanese company unless it is significantly westernized, or I am the boss.

[anrakushi]

what is it you are doing now otoko? if you don't mind me asking that is.