I've got news for everyone!!!!!!

[alanX]

Originally Posted by MMM

The vast majority of foreigners living and working in Japan do not have degrees. The vast majority of foreigners living and working in Japan are Korean, followed by Chinese and Filipinos, and do everything from welding to commercial fishing. Physical, manual labor is a common path for these foreigners in Japan.

Now if you are talking about foreigners from the West (Americas/Europe/Oceania) living in Japan, then the numbers change the other way (and I think that's what we are talking about). A majority of Westerners living in working in Japan are English teachers. Most teaching positions, public (JET) or private (ECC, Geos, etc.) require a degree and/or some level or experience or training.

What's your thought on me buying a ticket to Japan, (on a 90 day visa, as I am American) and living with a friend for like.........more than 90 days?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by alanX

What's your thought on me buying a ticket to Japan, (on a 90 day visa, as I am American) and living with a friend for like.........more than 90 days?

It's fine if you never want to come back to Japan.

[alanX]

Originally Posted by MMM

It's fine if you never want to come back to Japan.

So you're pretty confident that I will get caught?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by alanX

So you're pretty confident that I will get caught?

Are you planning on living in Japan with no visa?

[alanX]

Originally Posted by MMM

Are you planning on living in Japan with no visa?

I mean, I'm not necessarily planning on it, I was more or less just looking for your thoughts on the subject.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by alanX

I mean, I'm not necessarily planning on it, I was more or less just looking for your thoughts on the subject.

Without knowing more details, it is an awful idea. Will you get caught? Yes, eventually. Which can lead to a few days in prison while they sort your stuff out, then a one way ticket home. You may not be able to come back to Japan for 10 years, or maybe permanently. All it would take is for one of your friend's neighbors to mention the "long term guest" to the landlord. He might call the police to check on how many people are living in the apartment...bingo, you have no paperwork...end of the fun and the beginning of your police record.

[alanX]

Originally Posted by MMM

Without knowing more details, it is an awful idea. Will you get caught? Yes, eventually. Which can lead to a few days in prison while they sort your stuff out, then a one way ticket home. You may not be able to come back to Japan for 10 years, or maybe permanently. All it would take is for one of your friend's neighbors to mention the "long term guest" to the landlord. He might call the police to check on how many people are living in the apartment...bingo, you have no paperwork...end of the fun and the beginning of your police record.

Ahhhh, I see. I see.

So neighbors in Japan go around telling their landlords about things like this? I mean, when I see someone at my neighbors house, I don't call my landlord and say "there is someone illegally staying at my neighbor's house" I mean, I usually just assume "oh look, maybe someone moved in with my neighbor."

I guess the mentality is different, eh?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by alanX

Ahhhh, I see. I see.

So neighbors in Japan go around telling their landlords about things like this? I mean, when I see someone at my neighbors house, I don't call my landlord and say "there is someone illegally staying at my neighbor's house" I mean, I usually just assume "oh look, maybe someone moved in with my neighbor."

I guess the mentality is different, eh?

In Japan neighborhoods are much more community-oriented than they are in most of the US. What it means is people care more about their neighbors and take care of each other. Neighbors know each other's names and look out for their kids if they are playing in the street. People share information about each other, etc. Privacy is less of a priority for people, so in some ways Americans might see it as gossiping and an invasion of privacy, but it is just how things are. It isn't meant to be spiteful.

Now in your case if your friend is renting a single apartment meant for one person, and another person is staying there for months and months I imagine it wouldn't be long for the landlord to hear about it (especially being non-Japanese).

The police came to my apartment when I first moved in, but it was just to tell me where the closest Koban was, and to let me know that they knew who I was and where I lived. Naturally this has a dual-edged meaning.

[Nyororin]

Even if you don`t get caught living there. Even if you manage to hang around quietly and no one notices you...

Someday you will want to leave the country for some reason or another - and you will need your passport. And they will check your passport.
You see, those stamps and stickers in the passport aren`t just for decoration. They contain info about your stay... In other words, when you came into the country and how long you are allowed to stay. So you WILL be caught if you ever try to leave the country, as it`s necessary to present your passport to do so.

I imagine it would be possible to live the rest of your life quietly and secretly inside Japan, never owning property, never getting married, never getting a credit card, never buying a car, never having a decent job, never renting anything, etc etc... But really... What is the point?

[Tsuwabuki]

Wow.

Just... Wow.

I've read this entire thread. Carefully. I will reiterate what I am sure has been said in pretty clear terms:

If you want to live in Japan:

DO graduate from high school.
DO graduate from college.
DO study the language as early as possible.
DO study up on the culture and history.
DO a home stay, semester abroad, or vacation if you can.
DO apply for many jobs in many places.
DO read over your contract and applicable parts of the MOI, MOJ, and MOL websites/documentation.
DO ask lots and lots of questions.
DO provide the maximum number of documents, not the minimum.

DON'T think killyoself's one in a million chance applies to you. It might, but then playing russian roulette with five bullets in a six shot revolver might leave you alive too.
DON'T think everyone will accommodate your cultural values (or just accommodate YOU any more than anyone else)
DON'T think you can survive successfully without learning Japanese.
DON'T think you can lie, fudge, or omit with immigration.
DON'T think you deserve a job because you're [insert here] (white, rich, smart, American, related to the the Windsors, are from Mars).
DON'T trust your employer to do everything for you.
DON'T just take my word for it, or anyone else's. You are responsible for yourself and your career. As Reagan said, trust but verify.

I say this because me? I am not lucky. When I don't do things By The Book, They Throw the Book at Me. Thus, I am not a risky person by nature. If you take risks and screw up, don't whine to anyone else.

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.

As for the teaching angle, I went to school to teach. I love teaching. I would love it in America too. But Japan is more fitted to my lifestyle. However, the interest in teaching came first. I would recommend, although do not insist, that people learn to teach or learn they love teaching prior to coming here, but just don't stay here if you don't. I've seen too many people, as Nyororin has said, that are just here for the beer and the women and their own little world. They forget that the kids they teach are the reason they have a job at the least, and at the most are the next generation of an increasingly global citizenry who deserve the best education they can get regardless of their country, or the country of origin their instructors. If the kids aren't your main reason for being here, then after you do your year, please just go.