Stock206

Hello,
This thread is regarding eveyone who has taken that big leap across the Pacific to Japan and are living there right now. I basically wanted to start this thread to get feedback from those Americans who have moved to Japan from America and see their inputs on living there, expenses, survival, and most importantly employment.
Right now I am living in Sacramento, California. I am going to a Automotive Technical Institute called Universal Technical Institute, and am seriously considering moving to Japan for a couple of years. The only thing that is basically holding me back is the notknowingness (?) of what I would encounter during my stay.
If there is anyone on this forum that might be able to directly relate to my situation of being a Automotive Technician from the states, moving to Japan and then experiancing the job availability and the job experiances with the whole language border, that would be awesome.

20bdreams

well if you come to okinawa japan you will probably end up in the center of the island. its super americanized so the language thing wont be bad at all and it will be easy to network around and find out info on employment. as far as actually finding employment i have no clue since i im in the military. from what i see when it comes to people and working on cars most of them are retired miltary or government employees and do most of there own work. most active military people just play around with cars and parts but not much serious work when it comes to it. i have seen some american guys working with the locals at a few shops but i seriously dont know the full scoop. i wouldnt imagine you being anywere other than near a miltary base because if your not near a base then your going to be surrounded by people that focus on there little farms and drive really tiny cars and dont care about things like auto skills........i think that everyones opinion of okinawa is different anyway so wait and see what other people besides myself say before you pass judgement of the island.

Stock206

Thanks for the awesome response. Yeah I hear ya on the whole staying by an Military base thing, that is probably what I would have to do. I know that it would be a big favor to ask, but next time that you see one of those Americans working at an shop, could someone just maybe ask them how it's going, and maybe talk about the major boundaries that they faced when they first started (or boundaries that they are still facing). Any info would be awesome fellas, thanks!

Circuit Theory

iTrader: (52)

Your first obstacle is going to be getting a work visa.
You need to have a 4 year bachelors degree in order to get a work visa. I am pretty sure UTI only supplies techinical training certificates or something along those lines. If you already have a University BA or BS then you should have no problem getting a working visa.

In regards to working at a shop. I have been in Japan for 2.5 years now and I have worked at 3 shops (2 of the shops were partnered) I still deal with the first 2 shops but work full time at Wise One. Anyhow the knowledge and experience you get from UTI will be able to help you find a job at a shop but the certificate or evening telling someone you went to a technical automotive school will not really do much for you.

If you are able to get a working visa then I strongly suggest you take some Japanese classes because you will not be able to get a job at a japanese tuning shop if you dont speak any japanese. you dont need to know a ton at first but you do need to know atleast semesters worth of College level japanese.

Good luck!

Stock206

Wow, thanks for the advice and input. To get a Work Visa, do you absolutly have to have a 4 year bachelors degree? Or is there some way around it? And how is it working in a shop in Japan? Is it a performance shop?

Circuit Theory

iTrader: (52)

if you look in here in the far east section you should be able to see some of my post about "Wise One".

The only way around the bachelors degree is to have a native japanese family member or wife, be in the military, or have citizenship in another country that has a 1 year holiday visa agreement with Japan. Some New Zealand and Philipine friends of mine here have told me of quite a few people getting work visa`s from fake degrees. But i have only heard the success stories since the ones that get caught dont get into japan and so I have never heard about them but i do know if caught there are fines and a 5 year and up to a lifetime ban from entering into japan.

I would call the closes Japanese embassy near you and see what other options you may have. It says on the Japanese Gov. site that non 4 year credentialed Universities or colleges will not be accepted and also says technical schools will not be accepted.

However I think there is a category in the work visa that allows someone to get a professionals visa which would require a certain amount of work experience and a promised job by someone in the field of your expertise (keep in mind this job has to be something that a Japanese person can`t fullfill).

If you are serious you are best off calling your embassy and seeing what you can do. If that does not seem to promising then there are also Visa lawyers that for about 2000 dollars can find ways to get you a work visa.

BigWillieStyles

You can get part time working visa, which allows up to 28 hours a week of working. Plus my friends who do this work private english students to make extra cash. I also think you might be able to do a certain language course or something that makes you eligible for full time work. Post this question up on gaijinpot.com or just call the embassy.

Japan is really fun, and each area has a foreign community, but daily living can be hard once you try and live here rather than travel through, due to the lack of English spoken. Japanese find speaking English a scary thing, and many will avoid it at all costs. Be prepared to be treated as a minority in the community.

But if your interested in checking out the Japanese culture, doing some travel, meeting some interesting people, learning another language, saving some money, its a good place to come.

Circuit Theory

iTrader: (52)

Bigwilliestyles: The US and Australia have different Visa arrangements with Japan. Japan somewhat in order to spite the US decided that since the US was being so strict on Japanese people wanting to go and live there as well as other countries people that they would be strict on the US as well. That is why we do not have the option of a part time working visa or a 1 year holiday visa etc.

BigWillieStyles

are ****, i wasnt thinking straight, but i had lived with two Canadians since being in Japan, both didnt have a degree but had Nova as a sponsor.

Stock206

Thanks again fellas for all of the advice. I am deffinatly going to be going to Japan as a tourast before talking about living there. Just a couple of questions real quick, BigWillieStyles: What do you mean when you say Nova as a sponsor? And another question that I have is how much is a round trip ticket to Japan?

Circuit Theory

iTrader: (52)

NOVA was an english school here in japan that hired native english speakers to teach in japan. It was a recently shut down due to being a giant scam.

From Nor Cal you can find round trip tickets for about 500 -700 at the right time of years. March is usually pretty cheap.

BigWillieStyles

Nova is back and up and running, all my friends are now back working. Its a good entry to Japan.

ReXtreme

If you can get a Job these days. they aren't exactly recruiting at the moment.

Some english schools sponsor your visa. But it really isn't a sponsorship.

If you have a contract with a company you can get a visa. They used to arrange it for you, but now you have to do it yourself anyway.

I was working for Nova before.

But if you want to have fun with cars in Japan. Just Nova wont be enough cash.

Russ.

Rammer

I also moved from Cal to Japan (San Diego to Yokosuka). There are some pretty vast differences in culture, housing, availability of goods, etc. I am with the US Navy. An alternative would be an attempt to garner employment via the US Civil Service. There are a lot of positions available throughout Japan with the Navy, Air Force and Marines. Don't know your education and exerience details, but it's one thing to explore.

NeilTII

I know a guy who took some sort of schooling here and then went back to the states to finish up his degree. After that he got a company to sponsor him for his work visa. The catch is he has to take Japanese college courses and pass (advance) or they send him packing. It's a small price to pay to be able to live here. Hell...the classes are paid for! One other young guy I know somehow got his college transfered and now he's here. He has more $$ than his class mates because he teaches English on the side.
Other wise.....do what I recommend to single guys. Marry a Japanese citizen. I did and I have been more happy now than at any other point. Well...maybe driving my FC is close but don't tell my wife
If I could I would never leave Japan, no ?'s asked!

BigWillieStyles

my mate does that Christian Celebrant job. you dont have to be religious but you are required to dress up and marry people acting as the priest.he only works weekends and still makes well over double my salary.

But for most Japanese pay and conditions are very bad here, especially compared to Australia. They have almost no union pressure, and poverty levels are very high at around 20 percent. This is largely due to part-time workers having extremely low wages. Women also get paid here less than men, a very sexist and disgracful way to treat women in what is suppose to be a modern society. Seriously, i could talk all day about how terrible the society is interms of quality of life for Japanese.

Japanese companies make alot of money but this money doesnt reach the workers. Its a big reason why the the economy is in a slump.

nillahcaz

iTrader: (2)

look over thejapanfaq. cjb. net im sure that some or most of the info is outdated but it will still point out things you will have never thought of. its not easy or cheap and things are VARY different and culture shock can be more than you could ever expect.... if you don't know what a squat toilet is you will know what im talking about when you get there. but if you feel home sick you can always go to Mc D's and pay 9usd on a small bigmac combo. its not all fun and games but im looking to get a student visa to go there for two years, it's something you will never forget.
sayōnara

got_boost

iTrader: (16)

is there something similar to that nova sponsor thing but legal ??
i am Canadian ... and i was thinking of moving there (in probably 3-5 years).

I have a private class diploma as a Technical Advisor,
i speak fluent French (my native language) and fluent English, and i will follow Japanese classes this summer.
A friend of mine, who is a mechanic and importer, wants me to find a legal steady job at a dealership, and on my free time go junk yard hunting to ship back some stuff in Canada.

could i give French/English classes on the side too ??
are Japanese interested in French ??

Bruno

ps: its nice of you guys to take time to explain and help people !!!

Circuit Theory

iTrader: (52)

I believe you need a 4 year University or College Degree in order to get a visa if you are canadian but you may be able to get a 1 year or 1.5 year working holiday visa as a canadian which the US guys cant get without a degree. Any how people are willing to pay about 3000 or more for a 1 hour French or English lesson. So that would be decent side money but as far as going junkyard shopping it is not the same as the states where you can just go to a pick your part or ecology wreck and pull parts you want. Taking some japanese classes before you come is a step in the right direction.

got_boost

iTrader: (16)

so having a near perfect French and English and hopefully more then just basic conversation in Japanese to make sure to understand the person who ask for a tutor.

as for "junk yard shopping" i meant more looking for cars that didnt pass the 100 000km thing i've heard about or just low prices cars that the owner just want to get off his hands quickly.
im thinking more complete cars then just removing parts.
not too crappy cars , but decent and more.

as for the working holiday thing ... when it expires do you just have to renew it ???

Bruno

finneymc

I don't know about all these details for civilians because i am a marine but my wife and i are out here for 3 years and so far i LOVE japan. I hope to extend and stay out here at least an extra 2 years or so. I live about 30mins from base up in the mountains and i love living out there. the locals are very friendly to my wife and i, we are the only americans in my village (shimo). I just love it here.

P.S. the food here is sooooooo gooooooddddd!!!!