Are there any facts I need to know about Japan and/or where I can get a programming job there?

Question

Yes, yes, I know there are quite a few questions about Japan floating around here, but they are usually made by uneducated, elementary school-age children that have no major reason to move there besides anime (albeit, I am quite the anime otaku)

Anyways, here is my situation. I am a 16-year-old vocational school student currently learning computer programming/game design, and I have always had a fascination with the Japanese culture, lifestyle, and stories. I was planning on moving there once I got out of high school and college (so I have enough experience with programming beforehand) No, I do NOT know Japanese yet, although I am trying desperately to do so. I'm currently learning hiragana and katakana. I shudder at the though of learning kanji.

So yeah, I'm very curious on where I can get a programming job (Akihabara, perhaps?) and if there are any specific facts I need to know before I leave to go there.

ありがとうございます～！

Answer 1

>I was planning on moving there once I got out of high school and college



You can't get a working visa of Japan without 4-year college degree. So you can't move to Japan right after high school.



>I'm very curious on where I can get a programming job



No one can tell you with certainty where you can get the job. Japan is in the middle of the worst recession after WW2. It's very difficult to get any job.



First you need to go to a college and get a degree. Better to ask this question later.

Answer 2

I have to agree with bluemoonmemory on this one. It's best to find work here first with a company that has an office in Japan. You need a degree & a job offer before you get there to qualify for a work visa. A lot can change by the time you get out of college.

Japanese skills don't always help as if there is a Japanese person there who can do the work, they will always be hired first. This is why it's better to work for an American company.

Answer 3

There are many cultural differences that reflect in the work environment. Many of these will represent extreme culture shock to Americans and other Westerners. Knowing when and how to bow to each other, for instance, is very important. Here is a good site that tells about worklife in Japan. http://www.culture-at-work.com/jworklife.html



It is important in Japanese culture to "fit in" not to "stand out." Failure to conform will result in a failure of your career no matter what you think you bring to the workplace. Japan is a communal society whereas most western societies are individualistic. While you may be fascinated with Japanese culture in an abstract way, living it day to day may be something you're not willing to do.

Answer 4

Programming job without Japanese skill is not so profitable business in Japan.

Programming job not so necessary Japanese skill is now outsourcing to other countries such as China, India and/or Philippines etc. nowadays.

You'd better try to be employed by some large global company in your own country at first and be stationed to its Japanese office or associated/affiliated company there later after getting certain reasonable business promotion.

Answer 5

Another person in love with something they know nothing about.

What is the Japanese lifestyle like? Do you even have the foggiest notion?



But you love it. Right?



Culture. You like bowing, polite speech and taking your shoes off before entering a home.



Stories. Tonari no totoro.



Yep. Now you just have to figure out which city you are going to live in.

Answer 6

hi, I would suggest you to check some professors in tohoku university in sendai also. Some computational labs hire programmers as part time but please make sure japanese way of working is little different ... in the sense that they work a lot.... you have to be sincere in terms of time of coming to lab ....etc. Riken in wako (saitama) has some computational labs that can be very good choice for you.....