Yeah, I was thinking about this...
 

I do plan to go for my Bachelors Degree at my University. Still have 3 years to go. I still was wondering about something. Something about working in Japan. Is there a way I can be working there without the education. What I'm saying is that I wouldn't mind working as a low paying job in Japan. Jobs maybe like a store clerk or possibly a laboring job. I really wouldn't mind even working 12 hour days if I was needed to. I'd most likely be living in a very small crowded area, but all that doesn't matter to me.

If I had the money to just go there and make a not so fascinating living, would it be possible? I'd save up enough to keep me safe for atleast 3 months.

Also my other concern is the visa thing. I just want to know if this would be possible.

I've been to Japan before and I know how important money and work can be. I worked up north on the oilfields in Canada and I really do work like a dog. I only sleep 3-5 hours a night.

I just hope for some positive feedback.

Unfortunately, you`re not likely to get much.
There is a whole thread about this...
http://www.japanforum.com/forum/livi...ive-japan.html

In other words... It doesn`t matter what kind of conditions, what kind of job you`re willing to work. Without a degree you have little hope of getting a visa...
I mean, think about it - what store is going to spend all the money and time to get a visa for a minimum wage worker when they could find one with no hassle inside Japan...?

If you are from one of the countrys wich have a Working Holiday Visa agreement with Japan than you can! America is not one of this Countrys!

But english speaking countrys include New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Uk and Ireland. Other than that: Germany, France, Denmark and South Korea

Its funny how people assume that its impossible for everyone just because its impossible for Americans. I know that most ppl on this forum are Americans, so Nyorin gave a good answer for most people but i thought i posted about this Visa before...

Edit: Just checked your profile and saw youre from Canada
have a look here Embassy of Japan in Canada - Working Holiday Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens If you are really going, send me a message, i can send you a link to a place where you might get something to get started.

Why would you want that kind of lifestyle for yourself, anyway? Nyororin and Firebird covered all the other informational bases so all I have to say is: Japan is not Mecca. It sounds like youre underlying logic might be, "I don't care what I have to do or suffer through as long as I'm in Japan". Truth is, you'd better care, cuz it's not easy even if you're a highly qualified individual with credentials and certifications out the ass. Oh, and unless your Japanese is top notch (I'm talking a solid, working command of sonkeigo and kenjyougo), forget about jobs having to do with dealing with Japanese customers like that convenience store job you mentioned.

With anything involving immigration, keep this in mind:

Their first priority is to protect the country's interests. That usually means keeping the money and jobs for the natives. Therefore, they won't let you in on anything less than a 90 day tourist pass if you don't have a really good reason for it, like you'd be doing something only a foreigner can do (teach English), for example. Any schmuck can work a stock room, and as Nyororin said, for cheaper than you, as the visa is an extra liability.

My advice? Think about going to Japan. Don't think too hard, but set goals for yourself. In the meantime? Finish college. You've got a long, long way to go and a lot can happen in three years.

What is it with Japan which would make a youngster like you abandon the best country in the world while forfeiting their education to join the underbelly of Japan and it's workforce of unskilled, uneducated labour?

My suggestion to you is to finish your degree before you even consider going to Japan - even if it's via the Working Holiday program.

If you've ever been to Japan, you should realize just how serious they take post-secondary education over there.

Heck, when I met my last girl (which was through omiyai), her parents grilled not only me about my university/degree but they also wanted to know the education level of my siblings and parents as well!

Because...it's just like anime...

...

...right, that sounds very silly. :)

What possible logic is behind that kind of grilling? o_O

She was a Todai grad who's parents/relatives were all professionals in the medical field. I guess they were trying to maintain that lineage in their family.

But let me tell ya, I've gone through many omiyai's and they all want to know my education and salary before we proceed. On the other hand, I usually request tons of pictures of the girl. :D

lol, you rake you :)

Excuse my ignorance, but what is an Omiyai?

I'm willing to guess it's a marriage meeting.

It's an arranged marriage, although it's a lot less formal these days. In the past, such as in the case of my older relatives in Japan, they had little choice but to marry the person their respective families chose for them.

Although they have many omiyai services in Japan which dig deep into your past (and wallet) to get the entire scoop on you, my omiyai's have been limited to the girls introduced to me by my parents, relatives, their coworkers, etc.

I could go on about my interesting experiences but I don't want to hijack this thread anymore than I have to. ;)

I'm glad about all the opinions I have gotten from everyone. I've been in Japan long enough to know how much education can get you by. I guess I just think this as an obstacle I want to achieve. Nothing like those others who want so much more who want to go to Japan. I just want a low quality of life kind of living. I know enough Japanese to be able to converse a little. My original home stay family suggested something like this before if I really considered it, which I do.

I like that Working Holiday Visa you suggested Firebird. I'll look into that one. You can say my case is somewhat weird, since you'd probably won't run into many people like me who wouldn't really care of how rough/hard life will be in Japan with such a case like mine.

When I was in Japan I just got that sense of thinking it as my home. It's a very fast passed way to live. Always have to overcome obstacles to just keep on going. Please don't think of me as some crazy Japanophile. It's just the way I want things. Here in Canada I just feel obscure with the way I live.

Thanks for all your opinions.

Your signature makes that difficult ;)

Nevertheless, good luck on your adventure.

Add me too to the list of those who just don`t get it.

Why would someone give up an education and all the future opportunities it would bring... to slave away in a minimum wage job in Japan?
That just makes no sense to me. Especially as you could live a much much better life in Japan by actually waiting a bit and getting that education.

Japan isn`t going anywhere.

You can have a low quality of life in Canada too, yanno.

Im not sure if this might fit into Banzai´s ideas, but have any of you ever backpacked?
There are more than 10000 Germans a year who go to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. Usually this people are between College and University. They come to Australia without alot of money and some not prepared at all. They work in shitty Jobs, save some money and than travel the country.
We call this a gap year and most people have alot of fun during this time. I did the year in Australia, but i have to admit that my situation was a bit different. After that i decided to do the year in Japan as well. I took a good amount of money and i worked in a shitty Job for around 5 month in Japan.

This Visa is for people aged 18 to 30 and its called Working Holiday Visa for a reason. You can get the visa, take some money and fly there. Live there legally for a year and do some work to support yourself. Rest of the time you spend travelling. Dont tell me this isnt great opportunity to experience another country and to become more mature. You will live in a shity small room, you will work hard,.... but you will meet many people, you will see alot, you will grow and learn alot about yourself,...... and after a year you come back home as a different person who has learned alot and start your studying with new energy.
So, whats wrong with that?

I think its great for everybody who wants to get out for a while. And its only a year! If you still love the country after a year than you can really fight to get there. After a 3 weeks holiday you´ve seen nothing. And dont tell me about wasting to much time. I see alot of people who will see that whole thing different when they get older. "If i had that chance,.... Shouldve done that,...."


But i have to say Japan was alot harder than Australia because Jobs pay less and it is not a backpackers country. Prices are high and facilities sometimes hard to find (like hostels or stuff). I also know that this kind of lifestyle is not made for everybody and i have heard many people who dont see any sence in it. Thats ok with me, but im happy some people are different. And if everything fails you can still fly back. Youre not commited to a years contract, you havent moved all yout stuff there, etc.

I had a great time in Japan and i would say i have seen more places than any of you guys and that with around 1millionen yen i saved and the money i earned working in Japan (this is for 1 year with all expences). Oh and end off the year i still had money for my first month in Korea.


Sorry, i didnt want to sound so agressive...., peace guys! :D

Yeah, that's entirely true. I think the OP just wants that chance of encountering borderline racism from day to day to add some spice to his or her mundane, dead-end lifestyle.

Thanks Firebird. You made things sound more significant to my situation.

Sorry about that. -___- It's been 3 months since I last logged on. I didn't really have time to change it yet.

I'm not really sure of a right definition for borderline racism but a lot of people I met treated me like a normal person. I'm not white and I have more of an Asian appearance. I do understand this can be looked at differently in the job working situation though.

If you're insistent on living a low quality of life while facing obstacles, here's my suggestion. Spend the next 3 years in a crowded student dorm buried in text books while living off of Kraft Dinner.

Here's the simple fact - You can't live in Japan without a visa and a visa requires a degree or xx years of relevant experience. (And no, they don't issue visas for janitors, dish washers, garbage collectors, etc.)

Sure, you can stay in Japan for a year with the working holiday visa but like Firebird said, it's simply a holiday for you to experience the country. It's not meant to be a stepping stone to get into Japan and it certainly won't lead to permanent residency.

Nonetheless, it be a nice experience in my opinion.