How to live in Japan for a year

[Paul11]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Whew... glad that's cleared up

[reallylight]

I think you needn't worry about any invasion of Iran. It's fairly unlikely that civilians will be called up even if there is an invasion of any kind.

[NTREEG]

You could get a "pre-college student" visa to attend language school in Japan. You can do that with or without already having a college degree. The major requirement is that you have to have enough money already in the bank to support yourself without working for the entirety of your stay (somewhere around $20,000 - $30,000 USD). However, once you get your pre-college student visa (and after a 3 month waiting period), you're usually allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours a week if you can find a job. Just know that getting a pre-college student visa takes a lot of time and preperation, it has to go through your language school, and language schools usually apply for your certificate of eligibility for you at designated times throughout the year. They usually recommend you apply 6 months in advance of when you're planning on coming over.

[james1254]

Originally Posted by Manji2012

Hello, I am a U.S. citizen. I am twenty six years old and I do not have a B.A. degree in Asian Languages Literatures yet but, I speak Japanese pretty well. I have planned to attend a University here as a none admitted student in September but, I have been concerned that the U.S. will execute an air strike against Iran which I think will result in the war draft being reinstated.

Therefore, I have become interested in finding a way to live, work, go to school if possible, in Japan to avoid this possible war draft. I just want to lie in the cut in Japan and watch to see how things settle in America for one year. I do not want to teach English in Japan.

If anyone could give me some advice, that would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Peace

The Isrealis are probably going to attack Iran anyway not the Americans since there is an election coming up. (probably just destroying nuclear research plants so there would probably not be a war anyway.)

[Tsuwabuki]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

The draft will not be reinstated. But in the off chance that it were to happen, you could run to Canada and renounce your American citizenship. Then you could live with the thought that since you didn't go, another person had to be picked to take your place.

Citizenship may be a right, but it comes with responsibilities, and sometimes even risks. Were it not for those who were drafted and served in earlier times, you yourself may not have been alive now. You may disagree with being drafted and fighting in an "unjust and illegal war", but there is no such thing as a "just and legal war".

I would like to point out that there are those of us who served who feel the draft belittles our service. I believe in the right to object to service. I believe the right to pacifism. I chose to serve to protect the rights of the people (one of which happens to be a relative) who feel it is their calling, be it moral, religious, or otherwise to resist becoming involved. I feel that forcing people to serve makes my choice to serve mean less.

Not trying to hijack here, I just felt like I should say there are veterans on the other side of this issue. I for one hope the draft never, ever returns.

[Sangetsu]

The draft belittles no one's service. If you feel so, I doubt you have really served. I served 6 years myself, and some of my senior NCO's were draftees from the Vietnam war who decided to make a career of the military. They were (and are) among the best people I have ever known.

You can be a pacifist and still serve. For every person that carries a rifle in the military, there are at least 10 others who support him in some way. In the military you can be anything from a doctor or a lawyer to a cook. Only a minority of soldiers actually see combat.

People have rights, but as I said previously, citizenship also comes with responsibilities. You can't assume to take all that citizenship offers without giving something back in return. Giving your life is a steep price, but many people have thought it well worth that price.

[SgtBeavis]

I thought Draft Dodgers are supposed to go to Canada...

BTW, Japan does have an extradition treaty with the US. You wouldn't find much sympathy there..

And as stated, there is no draft and there isn't going to be one. Obama is probably going to win and we will promptly pull out of Iraq (maybe)

[Tsuwabuki]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

The draft belittles no one's service. If you feel so, I doubt you have really served. I served 6 years myself, and some of my senior NCO's were draftees from the Vietnam war who decided to make a career of the military. They were (and are) among the best people I have ever known.

You can be a pacifist and still serve. For every person that carries a rifle in the military, there are at least 10 others who support him in some way. In the military you can be anything from a doctor or a lawyer to a cook. Only a minority of soldiers actually see combat.

People have rights, but as I said previously, citizenship also comes with responsibilities. You can't assume to take all that citizenship offers without giving something back in return. Giving your life is a steep price, but many people have thought it well worth that price.

You and I are simply on opposite sides of this debate. Like I said, I didn't want to hijack, I just wanted to make it clear that among those of us who served, there is disagreement on this point. I wanted to make sure it was clear, especially to some of the younger folks on the forum, that your view is not universally held. I never saw combat; to be blunt, I answered phones, but when I signed up, I knew serving in a combat situation was a possibility. I was willing to go to Afghanistan or Iraq, it just didn't happen during my time in. If certain policies are changed, I'd even consider going back in.

The individual I refer to is a complete pacifist. This person will not drive a truck in uniform; this person will not cook in uniform; this person will not do anything that may be perceived as giving support, either tacit or overt, to any military action at all. To draft this person, or throw that person in jail due to resistance, is a criminal act in my opinion.

And I say it belittles my service because one of the rights I am willing to die to protect is our right to say no to conscription. A country where you can be forced into the military is not a country where freedom is practiced as it is preached, no matter how many propaganda films you air on TV. It certainly isn't a country worth dying for. A country that protects the rights of the minority to dissent, especially in matters of personal conscience such as military service is a country worth protecting. That is the country I believe America to be continually reaching for in order to form an ever more perfect union. That is why I believe that America is worth dying for. Reinstate the draft and that all falls apart.

...Also, I'm not jonesing for a fight here, but don't you consider it pretty insulting to suggest because we disagree that means I must be lying about my service? Liberals do exist in the military, you know. Some of them attain rather high rank too. Just because we disagree on this, don't suggest that I "didn't really serve." That's pretty offensive.

[Gorotsuki]

Is there a chance for a job in computer tech for foreigners?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Gorotsuki

Is there a chance for a job in computer tech for foreigners?

Yes. That is an area where Japan often head hunts foreigners. Again, get a degree and have some experience, but IT, networking and programming have opportunities.