questions for moving to japan?

Question

Hi I'm 17 years old and it's been my dream to move to japan. I live in the US. My only concern is what do I need to know before moving there, What is the easiest way to learn the language, and how much money should I bring? my future job is to become a graphic artist. but at what age should I move there? oh and last question, is it true that anime and videogames are huge in japan, like even old people like anime or just rumor?

Answer 1

To answer your questions first:



The easiest way to learn the language is to enroll in a language immersion program such as the summer ones offered at Temple University (http://www.tuj.ac.jp/english_program/index.html). Keep in mind these can be very expensive, but I believe you can use enrollment in such a program to obtain a student visa. Knowing Japanese is not a requirement for living in Japan (I certainly got by), but it makes things a lot easier--especially when looking for work.



How much money should you bring? That depends on where you want to live. If you want to live in Tokyo, expect to be paying about $800 a month for rest (not including utilities). Keep in mind that there are additional expenses to renting in Japan including key deposit and sometimes rent paid up-front. I lived in a boarding house where expenses were shared (http://www.conveniencehouse.com/En/). Japan is a very very very expensive country. I lived there for only 3 months, and though I was traveling a lot, I still spent about $2000.00 (not including rent and my commute--which was paid for by my job). I was living on the cheap (i.e. getting bread from the 100 yen store and drinking liters of tea at a time). Traveling within the cities isn't cheap either (as residents we can't get JR passes--even if you have the right visa they don't fit our needs well).

If you live in the countryside or away from major cities your living costs are lower.



What age should you move there? As many people have mentioned, you often need a 4 year college degree in order to secure employment in Japan. The one exception to this rule, I have heard, is teaching English in a language school. In major cities, language schools require a 4 year degree, but my friends tell me the standards are lax in smaller cities and less-densely populated areas. Also, many people have said that to work in Japan you need a secured job and a working visa before you visit--this is not the case. Many of my friends who I lived with entered Japan with a regular Temporary Visitor visa, found jobs at language schools/nurseries and sometimes as nanny's, and were able to obtain working visas with the help of their employers. My advice: stay in the U.S. and complete a 4 year degree, then find a job with a language school in Japan in an area that interests you (you may want to visit before hand to see where you would like to live). Many of my friends who taught English had plenty of spare time--which you can use to take language lessons, art classes and begin your career as a graphic artist.



Yes, anime/manga/videogames are a large part of the culture in Japan. Keep in mind though--in Japan work is taken very seriously. Don't let the popularity of anime/manga/videogames confuse you into thinking that living in Japan will be all fun and games. If you want to make it in Japan you need to work very hard. I highly recommend visiting the country before you decide to move there (you could even study abroad there while in college in the U.S.!)



Where should you live? I think I mentioned earlier that it will depend on your finances, the availability of jobs, your skills (including the possession of a college degree) and your own personal desires--Japan offers the countryside, large cities and small cities.



So like I said: you're probably a junior in H.S., right? Study hard now, go to a 4 year college (or a community college and transfer), visit Japan, maybe take some Japanese classes in college and some studio art classes to hone your skill...then if you still want to come, you'll know what to do.

Answer 2

So, you need a visa to legally stay in the country. You probably want a Student Visa (which you can acquire by enrolling in a college program out here) OR a Work Visa (which you need an employer to sponsor for you).



In order for you to legally work in Japan you need a BA degree or equivalent (4yr degree).

I really recommend you visit japan on vacation as much as possible before you move here. The more you know about the culture itself (real culture, not just anime) and the better you know the language, the easier the transition will be.



Get used to Japanese foods, find Japanese supermarkets or stores near your town (not just restaurants). Research the food, study the language as much as humanly possible, meet locals online or in person if you can. Don't expect anything upon moving here, as much as you think you can prepare yourself for the move, its always going to be a huge change.



If you're the kind of person that embraces change and does well in different elements altogether, then you'll be fine. Either way, its a great place to live.



Many adults read graphic novels, mostly dramatic though, not your average anime. I recommend you visit both the city and the countryside. Japan has an amazingly beautiful countryside but everything you're familiar with will be found in or around Tokyo. Essentially, its just like living anywhere, you can't just read up on the culture and expect to know exactly how "everyone" acts and reacts to things. There are many common views that you could expect the locals to share but people are different. Some people are really into sports (team sports), some are obsessed with collecting figurines & comics, some have large families, some don't believe having children is necessary. So on and so forth.



I seem to be rambling. Again, just study as much of the culture as you can and try to learn the language, then you can form your own opinion when you get to visit Japan.



Hope you make it out here & Good Luck!

Answer 3

The one and only requirement to move to Japan is to have a visa. It can be a work, a spousal, student, trainee, or entertainment visa. Once you have one of those, all you need is money to relocate and get started.



I suggest you try to go to Japan as an exchange student of a school or university. Get into a college or university that has a Japanese program. Look for opportunities to study in Japan with the school or any extension programs. You have to look and search. By going through the school and other legitimate organizations, you can be assured that the programs are good.



Student visas are issued to people who are a part of college or school exchange programs. Trainee visas are usually reserved for people from economic developing nations as a way for people to go to Japan, work and learn specific industrial or business skills. The idea is that they will bring that back to their home country, be successful and teach others.



Most companies will hire people who can be productive for their company and business. Language skills are important, but langauge alone is not enough. One needs job skills, after all it is business and money. Most of all one needs something that sets them apart from the next person. Experts are usually hired because they have years of experience in the business world. English teachers are hired because they have native English skills and a college education.





Spousal visa, well get married to a Japanese national.



Entertainment visas are given to special entertainers, for example when Cirque do Soleil goes on a run in Japan, the cast and crew are given visas for that extended period.

Answer 4

You cannot just pack up and move to Japan. You need a valid reason for wanting to live in Japan. Just your desire is not enough to qualify for a visa. Even marrying a Japanese national is no longer sufficient. You also need to get a job, and for that you need an employer who will sponsor you. You need to find this employer from North America; you cannot look for one while you are in Japan.

Even if you find such an employer, you still need a university degree in any discipline.

Anime and videogames are fads, and by the time you are an adult, these fads will have changed.

As for affordability, after you have secured a job and gotten a work visa, you need to have enough money saved up to be able to live for 6 months. You should also know that very few landlords will rent to a foreigner, and you will have to pay the first month's rent + deposit + 1 or more months worth of rent for key money, which is non-refundable. So. you need to have at least 4 months rent saved up to cover just the 1st month.

Check out the rent prices on http://www.tokyoapartments.com.

You can see that you need to have at least $50,000.00 saved up to be able to live in Japan.

Why not save up about $2000.00 and go on a 2-week vacation there, and then see if you still like Japan as much as you think you do.

Unlike other langiuages, the best way to learn Japanese is memorize, memorize, memorize, then memorize even more.

Answer 5

You usually need working or student visa to live in Japan.



For working visa, you have to get a job offer from a Japanese company. But you can't look for a job in Japan without a visa. So you need it before you enter Japan.



For student visa, you have to be admitted to a Japanese college. You need to pay tuition and living cost for 4 years. It could be about $80,000.



If you don't have enough money to go to a college in Japan, you need a working visa. But you can't get a working visa without a college degree. So you need to get a degree there first.

Answer 6

Before you can move to Japan you will need to have a four year degree or ten years experience in that job field. To get a work visa you need a job offer before you get there.

The web sites below will help. One is a job site that will give you an idea of what kind of jobs employers are offering. The second site belongs to the Japanese government. It will tell you what you

to to get a work visa, ect.