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How do some of you people do it???
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dtmoney
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
261
Posted : Jul 29, 2004 17:19
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How do some of you people just "get up" and goto japan to live there?
Okay, I'm a psytrancer, but I know many people who are anime and video games freaks (myself included, but nowhere near as much) and we all wonder about questions like this:
"Wouldn't it be cool to live in japan"
"Just imagine some of the parties there. I bet there outrageous"
"Could foreigners like us even make it over there. How would the people accept us there?"
"I would buy as much anime and game stuff as I possibly could(not me, but friends)"
"I wonder just how different life is over there from the rest of the world"
"Do they really have toilets like that?"
"I know it's piss hard to get a job there if you're not from that country"
I've been scanning through some of the threads here, and many people in this forum are not native but are foreigners that live there.
I'm a university student, and I already know it is impossible for me to get into grad school there(My GPA is not high enough(I have mid B average though), and I don't know any of the language).
So my questions are:
-To the foreigners, what made you decide to relocate there. Was is just because you wanted to. How do the people accept you there, and were you even able to get decent employment there???
-To the natives, what tips could you give us gaijins if we ever considered relocating there(this is only a question of curiosity. I don't wanna really live there, but it would be interesting to see how life is over there for a nice period of time)?
L8r
DT |
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fullom
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
132
Posted : Jul 30, 2004 02:27
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If you have a degree from an English Speaking university I suggest that you apply for the JET programme-contact your local Jap embasy for details-made my 3 years of living in Japan a trance heaven-however your placement could well away from all the action! Lucky I wasnt.
Also in the major cities like Tokyo for example they are always looking for English teachers ie Nova, Geos, ECC, Berlitz etc-look up their websites.
JApan is well worth it because it has deft one of the best Psy Trance scenes in the world with the highest quality.
hope you make it there soon! I'd love to go back!! |
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Digital Syndicate
Started Topics :
5
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326
Posted : Jul 30, 2004 06:33
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Fullom, you gotta come back 
Personally if your English is mother tongue, then you can make bucks by teaching. I guess teaching English is a hell of pain in ass as I already applied one company long time ago. But it will make you earn good money too.
shed |
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Old Skool
Started Topics :
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48
Posted : Jul 30, 2004 10:08
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Living in Japan as a foreigner...
There are so many!!! Foreigner are well accepted in Japan as people are accustomed to them for many many years. No problem there.
The only problem I can think of are:
1)Visa
2)Money
Japan as you know is a expensive place to live. If you can afford it why not?
Making money in Japan as a foreigner is
another issue... Might be hard... People do alot of things.... Good and bad |
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dtmoney
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
261
Posted : Jul 30, 2004 17:06
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Thanx for the hits guys:
Fullom:
I was actually looking at information about the program today. I pretty much suck at english. I barely passed my english classes in college with C's(I passed one literature class with a B though). I can write some good english papers, but most english professors even state that grammar is not the most important aspect of a paper. I'm more of a math person. It's one of my dual majors. I was never a big fan of sports either. Since all of this is the case, I may not have a chance of being accepted in the program.
Old Skool:
"Japan as you know is a expensive place to live. If you can afford it why not? "
I already knew that, but I always wondered why. Why?
"Making money in Japan as a foreigner is
another issue... Might be hard... People do alot of things.... Good and bad "
This is my biggest concern. I'm pretty sure you have some foreign friends. What kind of work do they do, and what bad things do foreigners do?? |
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Old Skool
Started Topics :
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48
Posted : Jul 30, 2004 17:47
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dtmoney
"I already knew that, but I always wondered why. Why?"
Well, Tokyo is expensive because its a metropolitan city just like New York and London. Center of business leads to denser population and demand for everything goes up therefore prices go up. If you live far out from the city it can be hell lot cheaper!
"This is my biggest concern. I'm pretty sure you have some foreign friends. What kind of work do they do, and what bad things do foreigners do??"
Well this varies. Lot of foreigners living in Japan which were educated here has regular daytime jobs (ie companies).
Foreigner coming in for their first time is a whole lot more difficult. Teaching English is a big market as mentioned. Your English seems good enough to teach English in Japan!!
From 15 years ago travellers bring in cheap silver jewelry (ie Bali and stuff) and sell in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and all Tokyo streets.
This was pretty big at times but people are getting bored of it so don't sell as much as before. I see people selling fake bags (ie Louis Vuiton, Prada, Channel and stuff) recently.
Israeli,Turkish,European organizes trance parties. Also multinational DJs and artist.
About bad things all you could imagine! drugs, prostitution, organized crimes, bulgary etc etc
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dtmoney
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
261
Posted : Aug 3, 2004 05:34
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Old Skool:
I feel a hell of alot better now, since a japanese person is telling me that my english is good.
I will give the program some thought now. I shouldn't throw in the towel just yet.
Thanx all for the advice,
DT |
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Jikkenteki
Jikkenteki
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
356
Posted : Aug 3, 2004 12:29
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Regarding the JET program, you must be a NATIVE English speaker to qualify for that program. The same holds true for the majority of English langauge teaching schools in Japan. If you are a native speaker, it doesn't really make any difference how good your English actually is, just as long as you are "native".
If you aren't a native speaker, that introduces a few potential problems into the mix. Many school (Nova for example) teach other langauges as well (Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, German) and many of these companies will hire just about anyone if they are a native speaker and have graduated from college (the major doesn't matter). The pay is pretty good, but often getting days off for parties can be a bit tricky for the first 6 months or so.
Another option is college. Not knowing Japanese isn't nessecarily a killer here since there are several international colleges that bring foreigners with little or no langauge experience over here. My first 3 years in Japan were done via the college route and now I am back here via the English teaching path. There are plenty of options if you take the time to look around.
Best....
 New Album: Jikkenteki - Flights Of Infinity
Available for free at http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/jikkenteki-flights-of-infinity/
PAR-2 Productions http://www.par-2.com |
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Jikkenteki
Jikkenteki
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
356
Posted : Aug 3, 2004 12:54
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Also, if you are a grad student, look into kenkyusei (research student) scholarships. I have met several people who have gotten a hold of Japanese colleges and have come over as "research students" with basically no Japanese at all. Japanese colleges get very few exchange students from Western countries, so often the colleges and the Ministry Of Education is pretty liberal with scholarships to get more non-Asian students over here. For this reason, GPA isn't an issue either provided you aren't failing out of your classes (B average is fine).
I've heard many complaints about English teaching being tough here and all, but coming from a background of pretty low end, high work jobs, I fine teaching English to be by far the easiest work I have ever done in my life (not to mention for the best pay). All the major companies train you and all in all it is a very easy job in my opinion. How difficult a job is is a very relative thing and realize a lot of the horror stories you read on the web are written by people who simply can't get along anywhere and just happen to have come to Japan and want to blame all the bad things that happened to them on someone else. Yes bad things happen, but take everything you read with a grain of salt as well.
New Album: Jikkenteki - Flights Of Infinity
Available for free at http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/jikkenteki-flights-of-infinity/
PAR-2 Productions http://www.par-2.com |
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BrettFromTibet
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
61
Posts :
749
Posted : Aug 3, 2004 23:02
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ahhh japan...
I went over there on the same program as FullOm, it was great. It's not difficult to get work with one of the major chain schools, teaching English if you have a Univ. degree. I think it's easy enough work, for most "psytrance" type of people.
Living and working in Japan was a very wonderful, very strange experience. I was constantly vigilant to stay really open-minded, and willing to accept and not resist all kinds strange and 'irrational' Japanese behaviors and systems.
The Japanese are generally smart and hardworking people. You also need to be confident, accountable, presentable and reasonably "on-top-of it" or they'll see right through you.
I would not recomend it for Anime Freak introverts with few social skills, or chronic stoners.
There is a lot of foreign people living and working in JApan, particularly the Kanto area around Tokyo. Most of them aren't extraordinarily bright - but they are quite adaptable. But there is deep secret artistic/professional/psychedelic elite over that is one of the most amazing scenes and connections on our little planet.
if you feel the call, go find it!
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fullom
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
132
Posted : Aug 4, 2004 05:50
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Yeah, Brett from Tibet summed it up nicely-it was the first time I truely understood what the term "Digital Hippy" meant-Tokyo fuckinng amazing..
Pity Musshies still aint legal........ |
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Sihaya
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
54
Posted : Aug 13, 2004 13:56
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Well said Brett from Tibet! I am just starting my 2nd yr on the Jet Program and its been quite a ride. Some aspects of my job have been incredibly challenging while others are mind-numbingly..well, just plain mind-numbing! As everyone mentionned, there are loads of places hiring English teachers. If you are keen on Jet, you must apply soon in order to come for summer 2005. About the native English thing..Jet DOES hire non-native speakers if they have a good command of English. I"m from Montreal and there were a few French-Canadians(accents and all) hired as Jets! If you really want to come to Japan, there really are many opportunities for you to live and work here. The rest is what you make of it. One thing though, I hoped(assumed?) I would meet many fellow trancers here..but am finding there aren't many in sleepy Okayama City. I have met some Japanese trance heads here who are super nice but its difficult getting to know them due to my crappy Japanese. I'm working on it though..so my advice to you is to try and learn the language if you come. It will open so many doors and you should definitely meet some friendly people who share your love for the music! Good luck!
ps. Are there any Okayamans out there? Or someone relatively close?
Jayme |
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lindseyp
Started Topics :
4
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30
Posted : Aug 13, 2004 18:33
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I lived in Japan for 10 years. I went there just because I wanted to learn the Language, as a native speaker it's VERY easy to get a job teaching English conversation to start you off, but it's a bit of a sweatshop and can be very stressful.
But if you use that to start with, (don't tell the companies that it's only temporary or they won't give you a job) .. then once you get to Japan you'll find there is a very large community centred around foreign companies such as banks and brokerages, and all the peripheral support industries. This means as a native English speaker it's very likely you could get a similar type of job as you would back home, be it in finance, recruiting, advertising, software, design, whatever.
But it helps to learn Japanese. You can do this from day 1 and should be relatively comfortable speaking after a year or maybe two, depending on how many Japanese friends you make or where you work. Contrary to popular belief, Japanese is quite an *easy* language to learn to speak. It's just the reading which really takes a lot of work.
I have to live in London right now, but my wife is Japanese, and I intend to go back. At least I'll be visiting Tokyo at the beginning of September in time for the big outdoor party! 
If you want to do it, the biggest step is actually leaving home, but if you're a college student you probably won't find that too big of a deal, as you're used to being uprooted. If you start working for a few years you'll find it much more difficult to 'get up and go'.
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nikilukipuki
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
156
Posted : Aug 19, 2004 12:51
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no problems y:all, i am russian and just got married to a japanese beauty. my advise to all of yall ......just find a sexy hottie and get into a relationship with her, fuck school and all that bullshit, find a wifey then you can live in here no matter where u from. iranians a slanging shit in corners if they can do it u can do it. psy scene is really nice in japan, all u gotta do is pick a trippy girl at the party, there is lots of them looking for a white/dark pen////is/ peace and good luck to all. |
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Old Skool
Started Topics :
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Posts :
48
Posted : Aug 19, 2004 17:10
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Don't worrie nikilukipuki
Japanese police are getting WAY stricter
towards foreign dickheads and kicking them out of the country for FAKE MARRIAGE.
Don't under estimate Japanese POLICE.
You will be back in RUSSIA in no time. |
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