Jobs in Japan

[Kruniac]

Without a college degree of the slightest, what are some jobs that are open to an American wishing to move to Japan (I'm assuming it would be on a Working Visa.)?

I really just want to live there, and working will be to pay the bills. I have a high school diploma, and am willing to do just about anything, but Yakuza isnt an option on the Visa application.

So... Could a person obtain a Visa to work at a labor job? Factory work, hauling things, anything like that? I could teach English (privately), but my lack of credentials really leaves that option in the wind.

Any suggestions? I dont have the cash to attend college, so that isnt going to happen. I'm a 23 year old male, if that helps.

I'm being serious about this, rather than wistfully dream of Japanese schoolgirls. I. Want. To. Live. There.

Thanks.

[Shineko]

Without the needed fluency in Japanese, your chance of getting any kinds of jobs in Japan are very limited. There are not many jobs that you can do without knowing Japanese, teaching English would be one of them. Not having any special skills or anything will make it even harder for you to get accepted for a job.

Even if you would get a job, you would most likely have to go to Japan just for the interview for the job, on your own cost and you would have to move there on your own cost as well.

Not trying to depress you or anything, but it is not that easy to get a job in a foreign country, unless you speak the language fluently and even then it might not be that easy. I myself want to move to Japan at some point, living there just for a year was not enough, and I know it is going to be a long way to get there. Getting working experience etc. everything that would be beneficial for your application get those and start applying for jobs there.

[Kruniac]

Without the needed fluency in Japanese, your chance of getting any kinds of jobs in Japan are very limited. There are not many jobs that you can do without knowing Japanese, teaching English would be one of them. Not having any special skills or anything will make it even harder for you to get accepted for a job.
Even if you would get a job, you would most likely have to go to Japan just for the interview for the job, on your own cost and you would have to move there on your own cost as well.
Not trying to depress you or anything, but it is not that easy to get a job in a foreign country, unless you speak the language fluently and even then it might not be that easy. I myself want to move to Japan at some point, living there just for a year was not enough, and I know it is going to be a long way to get there. Getting working experience etc. everything that would be beneficial for your application get those and start applying for jobs there.

Well on Gaijinpot.com, most of the English teaching jobs require "No Japanese Language Skills". I find that interesting. Besides, I could always work hauling things to and from warehouses or something.

Bottom line - I need a reason to get into Japan, and I promise I could find something to do to make a living. Getting in is the problem. I could go for the less-than-90-day-thing, but what would the point of that be? I could only learn so much Japanese from City Hall classes in that time period, not to mention I would have to have money to live in that timeframe anyway.

Do any of you guys and gals have a friend who can get people into Japan? Anybody with jobs they need filled? For a room, I'd work for almost nothing.

[Zirdante]

Do any of you guys and gals have a friend who can get people into Japan?

Give me 10 000 USD and ill get you a spot in the next shipping container full of illegal immigrants to japan :p

On a serious note, you should spend the time you are in US (before someday moving to japan if the opportunity arises) learn the kanas, and at least 1945 kanji so you have basic literacy, its a big bonus when job hunting.

[dreamer]

I agree, finding a job in another country isn't as easy as to find something back home, especially when one has no "proof" of language proficiency. By proof, I mean a certificate, degree or anything else. Having looked for opportunities in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, China and Japan, most countries require something to show them that you can interact with the locals, and despite having 3 degrees in IT, I have only managed to obtain positions thanks to exchange programs based on my academic results.

Also, being an english teacher in Japan has become such a popular job that the requirements went quite high. I know a few people who went to Japan to teach english (or to work) and they are expected to have all kind of certificate, degree and other proof of training.

As far as I know, the japanese administration is pretty strict when it comes to delivering work visa and I highly doubt that they'll give you one if you do not have a sponsoring company to back you.
I do not wish to discourage you but most job offers I have seen so far for foreigners, except for english teaching, required at least a JLPT2 level (although a few only requires a JLTP3), and otherwise, the other safest way would be to work for a company that has offices there and to be sent by them.

This being said, you can still try to go there without anything though, maybe you'll get lucky?

[Shineko]

Well on Gaijinpot.com, most of the English teaching jobs require "No Japanese Language Skills". I find that interesting. Besides, I could always work hauling things to and from warehouses or something.
Bottom line - I need a reason to get into Japan, and I promise I could find something to do to make a living. Getting in is the problem. I could go for the less-than-90-day-thing, but what would the point of that be? I could only learn so much Japanese from City Hall classes in that time period, not to mention I would have to have money to live in that timeframe anyway.
Do any of you guys and gals have a friend who can get people into Japan? Anybody with jobs they need filled? For a room, I'd work for almost nothing.
I did say that teaching English is one of the jobs, that do not need any Japanese skills. They might not require Japanese skills, but they do require other stuff, because of the visa requirements.

Even if you are willing to do the shittiest jobs possible, just to be able to stay in Japan it will not be enough. How were you going to sign the working contract if you cannot even read it? The problems of getting employment without knowing the language spoken in the country is very hard, but also risky.

One way to get to Japan is to start working for a company that is located in the US and work there until you can ask for a transfer to the same company located in Japan. That way you would not need to know the language at all.

[Kruniac]

This being said, you can still try to go there without anything though, maybe you'll get lucky?

Thats what I was thinking, but I really need to know that if I managed to land a job as... say a food delivery guy, could I get a Visa to stay and hold that job? I thought Working Visas were only really for mid-level jobs and higher.

I could attend the free volunteer Japanese language classes, and if they have free reading and writing classes in cities around the country, it would help. However, the biggest obstacle is just getting there firstly, then being able to stay.

[Zirdante]

Yeah, and not knowing what you are signing, its easy to get scammed.

If you are good at martial arts or doing stuff with your hands, you can get a visa for that kind of stuff, living in japan, learning kung fu or something from a sensei isn't that bad right? :p

[Kruniac]

Yeah, and not knowing what you are signing, its easy to get scammed.

If you are good at martial arts or doing stuff with your hands, you can get a visa for that kind of stuff, living in japan, learning kung fu or something from a sensei isn't that bad right? :p

Im not much of a fanboi for the martial arts. Not that they arent interesting, but not really my scene. Besides, that more than likely costs some decent cash, as I'm sure martial arts masters of all kinds dont have time to just take Gaijin off the plane and start kata-ing them into shape for nothing.

How many of the folks on here actually live in Japan right now? Surely one of you knows someone who knows someone who might have a use for an intelligent, English speaking person who has a good attitude. :relief:

[Zirdante]

Those kinds of persons are a drop in the ocean, these days you need to have some special trait to lift you higher from the crowd in the eyes of employers. Like a pile of degrees or something, just being a nice guy doesn't cut it anymore unfortunately...

[Shineko]

Those kinds of persons are a drop in the ocean, these days you need to have some special trait to lift you higher from the crowd in the eyes of employers. Like a pile of degrees or something, just being a nice guy doesn't cut it anymore unfortunately...

How true this is. The amount of people who want to get a job is huge, you have to have something that makes you stand out in the crowd. Without any special skills you are just another fish in the ocean.

Any kind of work experience is good, even the shittiest ones. Language skills are always good, no matter the job. Recommendation letters from old working places are worth gold. Of course, diplomats certifications are a big advantage as well. You need something to prove your skills.

[Kruniac]

Those kinds of persons are a drop in the ocean, these days you need to have some special trait to lift you higher from the crowd in the eyes of employers. Like a pile of degrees or something, just being a nice guy doesn't cut it anymore unfortunately...

You really dont need a pile of degrees to work at a factory, or to work in a kitchen at a noodle shop, or anything like that. I wasnt asking "Do these things exist?" I was asking if any of you who live in Japan know someone who would hire an American who wants to relocate to Japan for those kinds of low-paying, "blue collar" jobs.

[Shineko]

You really dont need a pile of degrees to work at a factory, or to work in a kitchen at a noodle shop, or anything like that. I wasnt asking "Do these things exist?" I was asking if any of you who live in Japan know someone who would hire an American who wants to relocate to Japan for those kinds of low-paying, "blue collar" jobs.

Getting a job in your own country is totally different from getting a job in another country. In your own country, you need way less certifications etc. to get a job; however, when you apply for a job in another country, you have way higher requirements that you need to pass for. Depending of the job, you might not need the language spoken in the country, but often you do. The countries are not looking for foreigners who have no special skills at all, they have more than enough people on their own for those kinds of jobs.

Honestly said, I highly doubt anyone would want to hire someone who just wants to relocated to Japan, without fluency in Japanese, nor without real skills. Just being nice is not enough, you know.

[Zirdante]

The imperssion ive got about working in japan is that they would like you to do something that the locals can't.

For example Finland. The limit immigrants we take a year 750 people. Also, there is a saying here "there are 2 kinds of immigrants, those that don't do anything and feed from social security money (no work, no problem! the goverment gives you some money each month so that you get by) and those that take our jobs"

I'm implying that if there is any unemployment, wouldn't they rather give the job to a local, rather than get a foreigner to move there and take the job?

This is all my assumption, no data to back it up.

[Shineko]

The imperssion ive got about working in japan is that they would like you to do something that the locals can't.

Not just in Japan, this should be for all most countries on earth. There is no point of getting immigrants that have nothing special nor in many cases do even speak the countries language fluently.


For example Finland. The limit immigrants we take a year 750 people. Also, there is a saying here "there are 2 kinds of immigrants, those that don't do anything and feed from social security money (no work, no problem! the goverment gives you some money each month so that you get by) and those that take our jobs"

Not quite correct, there is no limit how many immigrants Finland takes a year. There should be limitation how many immigrants they take for specific reasons; for example, immigration through marriage is unlimited, but getting a working permit for a immigrant is not going to be that easy and often they have to wait many months in their own country before they even get the permit to enter Finland, there are also EU citizens who do not need any working permit, they just have to inform the Finnish government that they have moved to Finland and are going to work there. So it really depends how you immigrate. Anyway, this is more or less off topic anyway.


I'm implying that if there is any unemployment, wouldn't they rather give the job to a local, rather than get a foreigner to move there and take the job?

This is all my assumption, no data to back it up.

I think any reasonable government would think this way. As long as the job can be done by locals, it is better to give it to a local and get rid of the unemployment that each country has. If anyone could just move to another country easily, the unemployment in some countries would become too high and cause economical problems.

[Kruniac]

The imperssion ive got about working in japan is that they would like you to do something that the locals can't.

For example Finland. The limit immigrants we take a year 750 people. Also, there is a saying here "there are 2 kinds of immigrants, those that don't do anything and feed from social security money (no work, no problem! the goverment gives you some money each month so that you get by) and those that take our jobs"

I'm implying that if there is any unemployment, wouldn't they rather give the job to a local, rather than get a foreigner to move there and take the job?

This is all my assumption, no data to back it up.

Oh dont get me wrong, I didnt intend on going to Japan just to try and catch a break and live a leisure life.

The main reason I need a job is because apparantly I have to be employed to STAY in Japan. Money-wise, I should be okay for living expenses. I have a few plans in that department. OFFICIALLY, however, I need a way to get a Visa.

Unless perhaps I could go there on a Tourists Visa, then either get a job doing -something-, or have someone vouch that I have a job. (The latter only applying to a few things I might be able to pull off).

[Zirdante]

There is always the rural areas. Farming rice in the beautiful scenery isn't that bad.

[epigene]

Please read this sticky:
General advice on moving to Japan (http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26209)

As shown in this link (also found in the thread above), work visas are granted only to people with special credentials:
Visas for Japan (http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/03.html)

The types of foreign nationals who are granted work visas without college degrees are experts in special fields, such as chefs (licensed and with extensive experience), artists (with portfolio of published works) and entertainers (with substantial career).

You cannot obtain a work visa landing a job at a small restaurant, for example, because the work visa application process also screens your employer to confirm whether the business operation is solid, financially sound and reputable. Foreign nationals who work at factories, shops, etc., in Japan today are not here on work visas. They are either married to Japanese (spouse visa holders) or have Japanese ancestry (special visa granted to foreign nationals who can prove to be of Japanese lineage). Unless you fall into the categories I've mentioned, you need to have a college degree to get a visa.

There is always the rural areas. Farming rice in the beautiful scenery isn't that bad.
Yes, it is very nice, but it won't give you a visa... :relief:

[Kruniac]

Yes, it is very nice, but it won't give you a visa...

Actually, that isnt such a bad idea. I wouldnt need a visa way out in the boonies, so long as I didnt run into a checkpoint.

It looks like, unfortunately, I'll just have to try my luck, and hope I get enough connections to get me a Visa, or keep me off of the radar so I wont need one. Maybe the Yaks need something done until I can afford a spot somewhere.

Do shiyo....

Well, at least I'll have extra time to get my Language up to snuff before I go.

[Oregon_Chris]

My first thought for someone in your condition is civilian employment on a US military base. The US gov. has a job board listing openings and it seems the main requirment to work on a base is US citizenship a lot of the time.

There's also the agricultural exchanges, as someone mentioned. Also, if you have enough money to survive without a job, you could get a cultural visa, or enroll in a language course or something and get a student visa. Just saying.

[Mike Cash]

Your options are:

1. Join the US Military and hope for assignment here
2. Try for a Dept. of Defense civilian job on base here
3. Go to college and get a degree
4. Obtain 10 years experience in a professional field
5. Marry a Japanese citizen


Everybody wants to do anything to get to come live here.....except whatever it takes to establish eligibility. Oddly, that is the one thing they are never willing to do.

And as someone who has made his living hauling things in Japan since around the time your mother was bragging to everyone that she finally had you potty-trained, trust me when I tell you that while you don't have to be a genius to do it you do have to be competent in the language, including reading.

[Kruniac]

My first thought for someone in your condition is civilian employment on a US military base. The US gov. has a job board listing openings and it seems the main requirment to work on a base is US citizenship a lot of the time.
There's also the agricultural exchanges, as someone mentioned. Also, if you have enough money to survive without a job, you could get a cultural visa, or enroll in a language course or something and get a student visa. Just saying.

I was also considering a language course, but I cant afford the ~$10,000 to get a full two year or so package. I was, however, considering attending a 4 week class for a tenth of that price, and traveling on a Tourist visa (less than 90 days). That way I not only get a feel for the land, but also I learn the language (and get to practice with people, etc). I might be able to make connections while I'm there.

I'm also considering a marvel of modern internet goodbits - the diploma mills. Obviously, I wouldnt be working for a university or school, but fake credentials might go a long way with a smaller English teaching firm looking for a Gaijin to hire-and-fire.

Theres a company I'm considering sending a resume to right now, actually, that does one-on-one adult English tutoring, but naturally requires a degree. I might take a chance with it. I could make some cash, teach somebody English, and pick up Japanese all at the same time.

I dont know. The four year degree thing is getting on my nerves, as that pretty much singles out anyone who doesnt/never did have the financial means to afford higher education. I'm just spoiled by immigration in the USA, I would imagine. :-)

Anyways, keep the ideas coming. Its helping me out a lot. Between seat-of-my-pants, fake diplomas, getting smuggled in and running women for the Yaks, or just saving cash enough to study martial arts (or whatever), my options are opening up.

[Oregon_Chris]

I'm also considering a marvel of modern internet goodbits - the diploma mills. Obviously, I wouldnt be working for a university or school, but fake credentials might go a long way with a smaller English teaching firm looking for a Gaijin to hire-and-fire.
Theres a company I'm considering sending a resume to right now, actually, that does one-on-one adult English tutoring, but naturally requires a degree. I might take a chance with it. I could make some cash, teach somebody English, and pick up Japanese all at the same time.


Its not the schools you need to worry about its Japanese immigration (who require official, sealed transcripts too by the way). Not that it probably hasn't been done, but personally I really wouldn't want to risk getting caught submitting fraudulent documents to immigration officials.

[Kruniac]

Its not the schools you need to worry about its Japanese immigration (who require official, sealed transcripts too by the way). Not that it probably hasn't been done, but personally I really wouldn't want to risk getting caught submitting fraudulent documents to immigration officials.

There goes that idea. I would pull a scam on the businesses, but even I'm not crazy enough to try that with a government.

Back to the drawing board.

[Kruniac]

Your options are:

1. Join the US Military and hope for assignment here
2. Try for a Dept. of Defense civilian job on base here
3. Go to college and get a degree
4. Obtain 10 years experience in a professional field
5. Marry a Japanese citizen


Everybody wants to do anything to get to come live here.....except whatever it takes to establish eligibility. Oddly, that is the one thing they are never willing to do.

And as someone who has made his living hauling things in Japan since around the time your mother was bragging to everyone that she finally had you potty-trained, trust me when I tell you that while you don't have to be a genius to do it you do have to be competent in the language, including reading.

Option 1 is right out. I was already in the United States Army, and due to an injury, I wont be able to reenlist.

As for the DoD - they dont hire generic intelligent people. I would most likely require a degree in something.

Three isnt happening. If I had the money I would, no questions.

Four also isnt happening. I'm 23 - I have to move to Japan before I lose my younger days. I already get really miserable because the ~18 years are long gone.

Five could be a possibility. I'm already married here in the USA, but that can be remedied.


I'm surprised that someone here who actually lives in Japan (and is fluent) hasnt ever heard "rumors" about people getting into the country without a visa. Or immigrants getting jobs, and everyone wonders how they got them. I could use those kinds of connections.

[Zirdante]

The four year degree thing is getting on my nerves, as that pretty much singles out anyone who doesnt/never did have the financial means to afford higher education.

Or the brains :p In finland education is free, you only pay for the course books. I didn't get in to high school so I went to a 'liiketalousopisto' a school where they teach you computer stuff, so you can work quite well in the IT business. There isn't a word for it in english, its another form of education if you didn't get to any high school (2 school systems in finland).

[Kruniac]

Or the brains :p In finland education is free, you only pay for the course books. I didn't get in to high school so I went to a 'liiketalousopisto' a school where they teach you computer stuff, so you can work quite well in the IT business. There isn't a word for it in english, its another form of education if you didn't get to any high school (2 school systems in finland).

Thats fascinating.

I dropped out of high school when I was around 15, only to later get my GED and join the Army. College more or less was never an option. You have to have cash to go to even community college, and government programs and so forth dont apply to me.

Even still, if I were still 18, I might try to take out some massive government student loan and see what I could do, but as it stands, I'm just too old to take four years of college, THEN start a career at ~27. (Ill be 24 next month).

Finland sounds pretty nifty, by the way. :-)

[Kruniac]

*Edit* Wasnt thinking. Nevermind. *Edit*

I wonder if "Photographers" have to already be employed to get into Japan under a Working Visa. I mean, if I have a camera, wouldnt the entire point of going to Japan be to take pictures, and earn income from said pictures?

[Zirdante]

Maybe it means if there is a big accident in japan, and a big news house like Reuters wants to send a journalist there to work on it, the journalist can quickly take the working visa and get to the scoop without too much hassle?

[Kruniac]

Maybe it means if there is a big accident in japan, and a big news house like Reuters wants to send a journalist there to work on it, the journalist can quickly take the working visa and get to the scoop without too much hassle?

In other words - work for an established magazine/news agency/whatever. What about painters? Would they have to have gallery work already established before attempting to get a Working Visa? Interesting...

[Zirdante]

Most likely, without something like that, I could take a artist visa, go paint some sakura trees with the skills of a 3 year old and sell 0 paintings and no one would benefit from it, expect me who gets to live there.

[Kruniac]

Cramony. If the US is the "Land of Opportunity", then Japan is the "Land of Achievement".

Still, as with all places on Earth, there has to be a way in. The Japanese news made a huge deal about illegal immigrants "stealing jobs, commiting horrible crimes, etc etc" (10,000 illegals a year or something. Thats just SO horrible. :P), so obviously -someone- is getting in and finding work.

I would imagine most of those blokes are from China and so forth, however. Its almost amusing - you can get smuggled anywhere from China, but you cant legitimately leave the United States to live in Japan.

Actually, a friend of mine and I sat and joked about this the other day. The United States is like a Venus Fly Trap. You can get in. You can get citizenship. Then you will be amazed at how hard it is to get -rid- of your citizenship. Thats another matter entirely when compared to getting a Visa for Japan, but I thought I would mention it.

I want to be as realistic as possible about going to Japan, instead of just crash landing over there and having nothing to do, merely waiting until I get kicked out and banned for ten years. I'm giving serious thought to using a Tourist Visa (or no Visa, I guess, since I'm from the US) to get over there, and once I find a place to live, trying to earn some cred from the shadier types in Tokyo.

There are two basic problems with this approach. Firstly, it might serve to get my *** kicked, as my Japanese language skills are laughable. Secondly, even if I do manage to "get by" doing whatever for whoever, it isnt going to solve my inevitable Visa problem.

Before everyone says "WELL DUH, ITS NOT A GOOD IDEA", consider that logically, everyone could use an intelligent guy who could deliver packages and whatnot for them. It wouldnt really require that much Japanese mastery, only respect and a level-head.

...Ugh. I'm going around in circles. Every path I think about takes me back to the Visa problem. Is it possible to get a tourist Visa, leave Japan, then renew the tourist Visa and come back?

Is there a period of time one must wait before returning to Japan from a fresh 90 day incursion?

Another confusion aspect is that everyone says you need a -tourist- Visa to get in (for 90 days, no work, etc.). However, MOFA says that US Citizens dont even need a Tourist Visa. Is it literally possible show up with a passport off the plane, and you're set for 90 days?

If so, what rules apply to THAT situation involving waiting times before returning. Would I have to go all the way back to the States? Would I have to undergo any sort of process to return, or would I once again just step on a plane, step off a plane?

...I mean, if there isnt a waiting time, one could theoretically rent an apartment in Japan, stay for 90 days, spend one day back in the states, come back for another 90 days using the same apartment, all the while making money however you could in Japan.

Foreign travel is new to me, and all of these concepts are a little overwhelming. Takes getting used to, I suppose.

[Zirdante]

I guess a quick phone call to your local japanese embassy would answer the question about the tourist visa cool down period, if there is one.

ow ****, its already 12pm need to hit the hay :p

[Shineko]

[QUOTE]Actually, a friend of mine and I sat and joked about this the other day. The United States is like a Venus Fly Trap. You can get in. You can get citizenship. Then you will be amazed at how hard it is to get -rid- of your citizenship. Thats another matter entirely when compared to getting a Visa for Japan, but I thought I would mention it.

Getting to the United States is not as easy as you make it sound. The average waiting time for getting a green card is over 6 months. The Visa issues are rather hard for all the countries, when it comes to immigration. Getting rid of a citizenship is easy like hell, you just renounce it and voila you have gotten rid of it, this goes also for the United States citizenship.

Before everyone says "WELL DUH, ITS NOT A GOOD IDEA", consider that logically, everyone could use an intelligent guy who could deliver packages and whatnot for them. It wouldnt really require that much Japanese mastery, only respect and a level-head.

There would be still the problem with reading Japanese and speaking it. Even delivery guys need to talk Japanese when they deliver packages. Also you need to be able read the map if needed, with no Japanese skills that is going to be hard.

...Ugh. I'm going around in circles. Every path I think about takes me back to the Visa problem. Is it possible to get a tourist Visa, leave Japan, then renew the tourist Visa and come back?

It is possible; however, the amount of times you can go to Japan is still limited as if you come back to Japan often in a year, by spending most of your time in Japan they start to suspect you are actually living there instead of being just a tourist.

Is there a period of time one must wait before returning to Japan from a fresh 90 day incursion?

If I remember correctly usually you can easily spend half a year in Japan, but the other half you would spend somewhere else.

Another confusion aspect is that everyone says you need a -tourist- Visa to get in (for 90 days, no work, etc.). However, MOFA says that US Citizens dont even need a Tourist Visa. Is it literally possible show up with a passport off the plane, and you're set for 90 days?

Everyone needs a visa to get into Japan. The no-visa just means you are eligible to go to Japan without having a Visa at the point of entry. You will receive your tourist visa at the airport, before you can enter Japan. The stamp will go into your passport.

If so, what rules apply to THAT situation involving waiting times before returning. Would I have to go all the way back to the States? Would I have to undergo any sort of process to return, or would I once again just step on a plane, step off a plane?

...I mean, if there isnt a waiting time, one could theoretically rent an apartment in Japan, stay for 90 days, spend one day back in the states, come back for another 90 days using the same apartment, all the while making money however you could in Japan.

Like I explained earlier, if you come to Japan to often with the tourist visa in a year they will start to suspect you live there and maybe that you would be working there illegally.

Foreign travel is new to me, and all of these concepts are a little overwhelming. Takes getting used to, I suppose.

Traveling itself is easy nowadays, the problem is the immigration instead.

[Kruniac]

Getting to the United States is not as easy as you make it sound. The average waiting time for getting a green card is over 6 months. The Visa issues are rather hard for all the countries, when it comes to immigration. Getting rid of a citizenship is easy like hell, you just renounce it and voila you have gotten rid of it, this goes also for the United States citizenship.

I was more referring to the fact that if you make over a certain amount, the IRS will tax you based on a ten year projected income. At least, thats what I've read. If you dont pay, you dont get back into the country. It sounds a little zonky, but I'm willing to believe anything is possible. The government is very wary about people trying to dodge taxes by renouncing citizenship.

There would be still the problem with reading Japanese and speaking it. Even delivery guys need to talk Japanese when they deliver packages. Also you need to be able read the map if needed, with no Japanese skills that is going to be hard.

True enough.

It is possible; however, the amount of times you can go to Japan is still limited as if you come back to Japan often in a year, by spending most of your time in Japan they start to suspect you are actually living there instead of being just a tourist.

If there is a limit to the number of times you can go to Japan, I would like to know it. The us.emb-japan.go.jp website says something about multiple entry visas, single entry, and double entry. It really isnt too specific on if that applies to Tourist Visas or not. It would make sense that a Tourist Visa would be a Single Entry Visa.

If I remember correctly usually you can easily spend half a year in Japan, but the other half you would spend somewhere else.

If I could get a link to that info, I would appreciate it. Knowing details like that is a good way to avoid Visa mishaps/wasted trips.

Everyone needs a visa to get into Japan. The no-visa just means you are eligible to go to Japan without having a Visa at the point of entry. You will receive your tourist visa at the airport, before you can enter Japan. The stamp will go into your passport.

Thank you for clearing this up. So if I went to Japan, at the Japanese Airport, I would recieve a Tourist Visa?

ike I explained earlier, if you come to Japan to often with the tourist visa in a year they will start to suspect you live there and maybe that you would be working there illegally.

True enough. I'm really curious to find out for certain if the six month rule is in fact the timeframe for time-spent-touring-total, as the Tourist Visa can be for up to 90 days. It might only be one usage of a Tourist Visa per year, in which case I would be screwed =/

Traveling itself is easy nowadays, the problem is the immigration instead.

I didnt mean traveling was hard, so much as I'm not used to the usage of Visas and so forth. I've traveled by plane once, and by bus twice, all within the country. Passports are a foreign concept (no pun intended) to me.

ow ****, its already 12pm need to hit the hay

Night. Thanks for talking to me.

[Shineko]

I was more referring to the fact that if you make over a certain amount, the IRS will tax you based on a ten year projected income. At least, thats what I've read. If you dont pay, you dont get back into the country. It sounds a little zonky, but I'm willing to believe anything is possible. The government is very wary about people trying to dodge taxes by renouncing citizenship.

That is also true, but if you want to renounce your citizenship and you are not living in your home country, there is not much what they can do about it. Renouncing your citizenship while being in the country you are citizen of should not be possible, unless you can prove that you have received another citizenship.

If there is a limit to the number of times you can go to Japan, I would like to know it. The us.emb-japan.go.jp website says something about multiple entry visas, single entry, and double entry. It really isnt too specific on if that applies to Tourist Visas or not. It would make sense that a Tourist Visa would be a Single Entry Visa.

Officially, I do not think there is a limit at all, how often you can go and come back from Japan. Though, they will definitely get suspicious if you do that for long periods of time without having a proof that you can support yourself for the time of your stay. They might also want a prove of a home address.

If I could get a link to that info, I would appreciate it. Knowing details like that is a good way to avoid Visa mishaps/wasted trips.

Yes, but the best way to find out is to call or visit or write the Japanese embassy, if you have questions or doubts about the correct visa.

[/QUOTE]Thank you for clearing this up. So if I went to Japan, at the Japanese Airport, I would recieve a Tourist Visa? [/QUOTE]

Exactly. In the airplane you will be given out a sheet of paper you have to fill in, it has questions about how much money do you have with you, how long are you planning to stay etc. This paper will be given to the officials later on at the airport and they either let you in or they do not let you in.

True enough. I'm really curious to find out for certain if the six month rule is in fact the timeframe for time-spent-touring-total, as the Tourist Visa can be for up to 90 days. It might only be one usage of a Tourist Visa per year, in which case I would be screwed =/

If you can prove that you have a reasonable reasons to be in Japan longer than that per year, you should be able to get a visa for that. But if you want to go to Japan more than once or twice a year, I would advise you to solve the visa matter before you go to Japan. The more time you have spend in Japan the harder it will be to get in. The same goes if you want to return fast after you just were on a "holiday"

I didnt mean traveling was hard, so much as I'm not used to the usage of Visas and so forth. I've traveled by plane once, and by bus twice, all within the country. Passports are a foreign concept (no pun intended) to me.


Yeah...it is surprisingly annoying the way they have done it, but nothing we can change about it. Having lived in three different countries, I have had more than enough trouble with visa and other stuff. Currently enjoying the fun of trying to get an immigration visa to a fourth country, the US.

[Glenski]

Look. You don't have to be a "generic intelligent" person to work on SOFA status for the military bases. Contractors do it all the time. This is one of the very few options you have.

Yes, people get hired to do factory work and the like here, and they don't have degrees, but they are also eligible for the right visa(s). That includes the nikkei (who can work here on a Long-term Resident visa) and the foreigners from developing countries (mostly) who are here on trainee visas (upgraded to something a little less demeaning, but they are still sh!t jobs that no Japanese wants, and there are a lot of laws broken by the employers and government itself in this hiring process).

Other work visas that don't require degrees WILL require a certain experience, usually 10 years' worth. At 23, you don't have that.

If you are REALLY that inclined to come here to live forever, get the right credentials. That means a degree or the experience. Here is the list of visas available. http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html Read the requirements from the Appendix there.

Want to set up your OWN business? You probably don't need a degree, but you will need other things. Read here about Investor/Business Manager visa options. (Also realize you will probably need a fair amount of Japanese to deal with contracts and a lawyer and realtor.) http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix1.html#1

Other ways to get here without a degree are more short-term, but they would let you experience the country. If you've never been here before, how else are you going to even know whether you will enjoy it?
student visa (gotta be enrolled in a school, and that costs money; work PT is allowed with special permission)
cultural visa (if you study a craft under a master; PT work is allowed with special permission)

The only other option you have is to marry a fellow foreigner who HAS permission to work here (so you can get a dependent visa; PT work allowed with permission) or to marry a Japanese (to get a spouse visa; PT or FT work allowed). HOWEVER, you are still going to face employers who want you to speak/read/write the language to some degree most of the time, and who definitely want you to have some kind of experience. Otherwise, they are just going to hire the local Japanese to do the job.

Fake your way in, and if you are caught, you face fines, imprisonment, deportation, and being blacklisted for 5-10 years.

You're worried about "losing your younger days"???????????? C'mon. Get real. You are barely out of high school, but there is still a long life ahead of you. What exactly do you think you are losing by not being here right now?

[Glenski]

BTW, you cannot extend a tourist status as easily as Shineko made out. Americans get only 90 days as tourists and the agreement between USA and Japan does not allow for an extension like other countries.

Oh, and there is no such thing as a "tourist visa" for Americans. You just use your passport to get in.

[Touyakun]

Yeah, and not knowing what you are signing, its easy to get scammed.
If you are good at martial arts or doing stuff with your hands, you can get a visa for that kind of stuff, living in japan, learning kung fu or something from a sensei isn't that bad right? :p
im in a very similar situation as kruniac, though with some knowledge of japanese (2 1/2 years as a student, though the training was unofficial). however, you mentioned that there is visa possibilities with martial arts, specifically? i hadnt noticed a connection while looking at working visa categories, but I've been doing martial arts for a number of years, and if i may ask here, what can i do with this to obtain a visa that allows me to work and stay in japan?
thanks so much for any help in advance.

[Shineko]

BTW, you cannot extend a tourist status as easily as Shineko made out. Americans get only 90 days as tourists and the agreement between USA and Japan does not allow for an extension like other countries.
Oh, and there is no such thing as a "tourist visa" for Americans. You just use your passport to get in.

I do not recall saying at any point of time that you could extend your tourist status. I only said that you can re-apply for it straight after you have left Japan, which should be done not to have bad surprises at the point of entry instead of trying to get into the country with just the passport.

True, there is no such thing as a tourist visa itself, but you will still get a stamp into your passport that is valid up to 90 days. The stamp itself is the temporally visitor's visa.

[Kruniac]

Look. You don't have to be a "generic intelligent" person to work on SOFA status for the military bases. Contractors do it all the time. This is one of the very few options you have.
I doubt its going to happen.
Yes, people get hired to do factory work and the like here, and they don't have degrees, but they are also eligible for the right visa(s). That includes the nikkei (who can work here on a Long-term Resident visa) and the foreigners from developing countries (mostly) who are here on trainee visas (upgraded to something a little less demeaning, but they are still sh!t jobs that no Japanese wants, and there are a lot of laws broken by the employers and government itself in this hiring process). Which visas? I would be interested in something like this. Im looking for a way in - ill make money when I get there, that wont be a problem. What exactly is a trainee visa?
Other work visas that don't require degrees WILL require a certain experience, usually 10 years' worth. At 23, you don't have that.
And there is no way I'm going to take a trade that will only benefit me when I am over thirty.
If you are REALLY that inclined to come here to live forever, get the right credentials. That means a degree or the experience. Here is the list of visas available. <URL Omitted - not enough posts> Read the requirements from the Appendix there.
Yes, I got a lot of information from MOFA. However, I doubt highly that I will have the cash to get a degree. I can -fake- degrees, but Immigration wouldnt like that, so its not really viable.
Want to set up your OWN business? You probably don't need a degree, but you will need other things. Read here about Investor/Business Manager visa options. (Also realize you will probably need a fair amount of Japanese to deal with contracts and a lawyer and realtor.) <URL Omitted - Not enough posts>
Interesting. However, the only businesses I could run wouldnt really go over very well as an "official" business, and certainly not one which requires realtors.
Other ways to get here without a degree are more short-term, but they would let you experience the country. If you've never been here before, how else are you going to even know whether you will enjoy it?
I wouldnt have a problem with using Tourist Visas to go to Japan, if I could WORK while there. Holiday Visas are out for the USA, it seems. I dont have a lot of money as it is, so to travel to Japan, then to find a place and have a chunk of cash to rely on, THEN to work would be hard enough. It would be simply impossible to stay without a job.
student visa (gotta be enrolled in a school, and that costs money; work PT is allowed with special permission)
School isnt going to happen.
cultural visa (if you study a craft under a master; PT work is allowed with special permission)
Thats interesting. That would be things like martial arts and so forth? You wouldnt happen to know of anyone who would be willing to teach me a craft on a cultural visa? It could even be someone who is qualified to teach a craft, but doesnt actually have to teach me anything. I just need that Visa.
The only other option you have is to marry a fellow foreigner who HAS permission to work here (so you can get a dependent visa; PT work allowed with permission) or to marry a Japanese (to get a spouse visa; PT or FT work allowed).
First of all, if I could snap my fingers and it would rain Japanese single women, I would. Secondly, I'm married here in the states (though I could fix that, or just ignore it and get married in Japan).
You wouldnt happen to know anyone who would be interested in a Visa marriage, would you? (I know females like that exist. It isnt really a bad thing.)
HOWEVER, you are still going to face employers who want you to speak/read/write the language to some degree most of the time, and who definitely want you to have some kind of experience. Otherwise, they are just going to hire the local Japanese to do the job.
True enough. I'm cramming my head full of the language, and have been for some time. I'll move on to reading/writing later on, but I'm really focusing on the language.
Fake your way in, and if you are caught, you face fines, imprisonment, deportation, and being blacklisted for 5-10 years.

Firstly, even I (as slick as I think I am) cant fake a Visa. Furthermore, I wouldnt try diploma mill crap with Immigration. I dont have the confidence in the quality of.. err... "novelty replicas" to pull it off.

Heres an amusing situation I thought of. Theoretically (but sadly enough, not realistically), I could get smuggled into Japan. However, the first encounter with police would bring that trip to a close rather quickly. I've read that Gaijin are asked for their registration card whenever possible, to the extent that you can just be walking down a road and get carded. It doesn't really matter if this is right or wrong, it happens, and in this case, it would be warranted, as I would be there illegally.

Option two. I go to Japan on a tourist visa, and I try to vanish into the urban landscape, working where I could, and trying to submerge into the underworld. This has a similar flaw to the first scenario, in the fact that -eventually- (around a 90 day mark), the first run in with police would bring the trip to an end.

See, my problem doesnt arise from getting a job. Nor is it culture shock. My problems would stem from not having enough time/ability to work to stay in Japan. Thats just... not good.

If I had a -long- stay in Japan, I feel I could harvest the right amount (and right type) of contacts needed to keep me in Japan. This could take the form of legitimate business, culture study, or criminal group (who have a knack for getting Visas, etc.)

If I had a -short- stay in Japan (the 90 days), but could -work-, I feel I could network enough friends to get a decent enough job to warrant a working Visa, thereby allowing me to stay as long as I am working.
Its really a mind-boggling situation.

You're worried about "losing your younger days"???????????? C'mon. Get real. You are barely out of high school, but there is still a long life ahead of you. What exactly do you think you are losing by not being here right now?

I guess this is just a matter of opinion. I have awful anxiety upon the thought of my death, and somehow, I've managed to convince myself that I'll die before I'm 35 (Brain tumors, lung cancer, heart attack, whatever).

To YOU, it may seem silly. To ME, its a mid-life crisis, without even being at my mid-life.

Also, I didnt just get out of high school. I dropped out when I was 15, and didnt have those extra years of social interaction with other people. In fact, for the last eight years, I have left my house about 30 times for social interaction.

What this means is that I feel older than I am. I feel misery like a middle-aged man should feel. I feel bored, suppressed, and to me, moving to Japan, reversing my social habits, and living in a radically different society would be just the thing to save my sanity.

I suppose it would be rather hard to explain it to someone who doesnt feel it.

Anyways... If any of you guys who read this thread every so often live in Japan and have a friend who owes you a favor - tell him there is one person in the US who will do anything to land a job in Japan. Unless it is work that could not possibly be learned on the job (programming, etc), I'm up for it.

[Shineko]

[QUOTE]
First of all, if I could snap my fingers and it would rain Japanese single women, I would. Secondly, I'm married here in the states (though I could fix that, or just ignore it and get married in Japan).
You wouldnt happen to know anyone who would be interested in a Visa marriage, would you? (I know females like that exist. It isnt really a bad thing.)

Especially on couples that have never met before, marriage is often thought as a fraud marriage. So both participants will end up into a interview separately and will have questions asked. In the end the results will be compared. If you get caught on fraud marriage the consequences are not going to be nice.

You will not be able to get married in Japan, if you are married in United States. As you need to swore the affidavit at an American embassy. The consequences of lying are big fines.

I honestly said that you should keep your fingers out of marriage like that as they mostly end up badly. The people are trained to look for fraud marriages. The shorter the marriage the higher to possibility of fraud marriage is.

[Kruniac]

[QUOTE=Kruniac;573803]
Especially on couples that have never met before, marriage is often thought as a fraud marriage. So both participants will end up into a interview separately and will have questions asked. In the end the results will be compared. If you get caught on fraud marriage the consequences are not going to be nice.
You will not be able to get married in Japan, if you are married in United States. As you need to swore the affidavit at an American embassy. The consequences of lying are big fines.
I honestly said that you should keep your fingers out of marriage like that as they mostly end up badly. The people are trained to look for fraud marriages. The shorter the marriage the higher to possibility of fraud marriage is.

You are a wealth of information. Thanks.

[Shineko]

You are a wealth of information. Thanks.

Yeah, I kinda have to be as I am myself in that situation as I am married to a foreign nation, not to forget neither of us are living in their home country right now. So we basically hurried the marriage a little bit for the ease of living together easier.

I have researched a lot about this matter, both of us have, and it ain't easy at all.

[Goldiegirl]

The USA and Japan have visa waivers....from my understanding for 90 days. However because you are in Japan or the USA on a "waivered" visa you can be made to leave either country because by entering on the waiver you waived your rights regarding immigration away...so to speak. That's what we were told by both consulates.

[dreamer]

learning kung fu or something from a sensei isn't that bad right? :p

Kung fu is a chinese martial art and as such, is pretty unpopular in Japan...
Otherwise he'd still need to speak japanese
-----------------------------------
Edit:

Goodness didn't see all these posts >_<
Please do not pay attention to this post...

[tokapi]

Ahem .. Japanese financed and produced " Kung Fu Kun "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK5thqZduoQ

Some working class Japanese have harsh life,especially women in the workplace are badly treated.Their workday begins @ 9:00 AM and ends mid-night with no time allowance for breaks,the pay is very low consider long hours daily.

( This is what my 32 years-old online female J acquaintance wrote me in one e-mail exchange last week : 私は10年以上働いて、給料18万ですよ…。朝9時からトイレに行く暇も無く働き、夜21時、22時、0時 過ぎに会社を出た事も何度もあります。　それで、2006年の12月からﾄﾞｸﾀｰｽﾄｯﾌﾟがかかり（過 労と過度のｽﾄﾚｽで）休職中です。病名も2つついていて、国から指定を受けている状態です。 )

10 years with the company,monthly salary was 180,000.00 yen until she was diagnosed with " overwork syndrome " in late 2006.

[Mike Cash]

Before everyone says "WELL DUH, ITS NOT A GOOD IDEA", consider that logically, everyone could use an intelligent guy who could deliver packages and whatnot for them. It wouldnt really require that much Japanese mastery, only respect and a level-head.



The part I have highlighted in red merely displays how little understanding you have of the matter. As I said earlier, I make my living as a professional driver in Japan and have done so since you were a small child. You're not the first person I've encountered who was of the opinion that what appears to be a simple mindless job makes little or no demands of Japanese language abilities.

Trust me: your assessment is uninformed and entirely unrealistic.

[Kruniac]

The part I have highlighted in red merely displays how little understanding you have of the matter. As I said earlier, I make my living as a professional driver in Japan and have done so since you were a small child. You're not the first person I've encountered who was of the opinion that what appears to be a simple mindless job makes little or no demands of Japanese language abilities.
Trust me: your assessment is uninformed and entirely unrealistic.

I was referring more to working for the Yakuza in the way of bouncing, women, or something else that requires a little bit of Japanese language on my part, and a little bit of English language on theirs.

[Mike Cash]

Now you're just being ridiculous. What a pity that the other participants in the thread are putting more sincere and serious thought into helping you toward your goal than you are.

You're just another in the never-ending line of deluded dreamers who take it all out in talk without being ready, willing, or able to devote the time, energy, and resources to the efforts it would take to actually establish visa eligibility. Excuses and ridiculous ideas, though, you have no shortage of.

[Kruniac]

Now you're just being ridiculous. What a pity that the other participants in the thread are putting more sincere and serious thought into helping you toward your goal than you are.

You're just another in the never-ending line of deluded dreamers who take it all out in talk without being ready, willing, or able to devote the time, energy, and resources to the efforts it would take to actually establish visa eligibility. Excuses and ridiculous ideas, though, you have no shortage of.

I'm sorry, I have to disagree. There is a huge difference between being a deluded dreamer, and having a goal. Just because you happen to not agree with that goal, is YOUR personal viewpoint.

On these forums, (and others) I've stayed perfectly serious and mature in my inquiries. You can accuse others of dreaming all you want to, but my personal goals will not change.

Having said that, I'll continue my search for either a Visa, or a "secure" (as secure as these things can get) shadier job in Japan.

[Mike Cash]

I said nothing about disagreeing with your goal.

Just out of curiosity....Have you ever been to Japan at all?

[Shineko]

I said nothing about disagreeing with your goal.

Just out of curiosity....Have you ever been to Japan at all?

By reading the thread it should be rather clear that he has never been to Japan. There are so many things that he was not aware of until someone told it to him.

[Kruniac]

I said nothing about disagreeing with your goal.

Just out of curiosity....Have you ever been to Japan at all?

No, I havent been to Japan.

Why would you call me ridiculous? I mean... What did I say exactly that was so outlandish?

[Shineko]

No, I havent been to Japan.
Why would you call me ridiculous? I mean... What did I say exactly that was so outlandish?

We all have dreams, but being realistic about the fulfilling of the dream is different. If you look back at your posts, you should understand yourself why he thinks it is ridiculous.

Some of the things you have proposed, without even really knowing what you proposed like the fraud marriage, or getting smuggled into Japan but the problem would arise when you get stopped by police and asked for your alien registration card.

We all know that you are serious about wanting to go to Japan, that is not the question. It is just the means how you want to get there, which are not quite realistic always. Take our advice what we give to you.

[Glenski]

Kruniac, You are seriously p!ssing me off. That's a heads up for my tone in this message.

I wrote: You don't have to be a "generic intelligent" person to work on SOFA status for the military bases. Contractors do it all the time. This is one of the very few options you have. You replied:
I doubt its going to happen.Be a doubting Thomas. You have obviously not even looked into this in the least. I stand by my quote above. Either you do something along those lines, or you have just shortened your options again. Sh!t or get off the pot.

I wrote: Yes, people get hired to do factory work and the like here, and they don't have degrees, but they are also eligible for the right visa(s). That includes the nikkei (who can work here on a Long-term Resident visa) and the foreigners from developing countries (mostly) who are here on trainee visas (upgraded to something a little less demeaning, but they are still sh!t jobs that no Japanese wants, and there are a lot of laws broken by the employers and government itself in this hiring process). You replied: Which visas? I would be interested in something like this. Im looking for a way in - ill make money when I get there, that wont be a problem.I thought I made it clear the first time with bold type. How about now with red type? Read the post or get off this thread.

What exactly is a trainee visa? PLEASE read the MOFA site to answer that. Item IV describes all visas.


And there is no way I'm going to take a trade that will only benefit me when I am over thirty.Fine, you are not going anywhere with that attitude, whether in the USA or in Japan. At least you can communicate in English back home. Just what did you expect to do here for income that a Japanese person can't do? You are going to have to think of that simple fact before you realize that no degree and no experience equals no chance for a life anywhere.

Yes, I got a lot of information from MOFA. However, I doubt highly that I will have the cash to get a degree. I can -fake- degrees, but Immigration wouldnt like that, so its not really viable.You wrote that after I stated "get the right credentials". Laughable response. As for cash for the degree, I worked my @ss off as a teenager to afford my college career and supported my mother and 4 siblings simultaneously. Get real.

the only businesses I could run wouldnt really go over very well as an "official" business, and certainly not one which requires realtors.Be coy about things and not tell us what that would be. It's your life (or lack thereof). Businesses abound here. River rafting, tours, hiking, ski instructor, pottery, language school, etc. But, your limited mindset is obviously holding you back from life in general, not just a life in Japan.

I wouldnt have a problem with using Tourist Visas to go to Japan, if I could WORK while there.Well, you can't. They call them tourist visas for a reason. Tourists are not allowed to work. They are tourists, visiting on a very limited basis for sightseeing.

I dont have a lot of money as it is, so to travel to Japan, then to find a place and have a chunk of cash to rely on, THEN to work would be hard enough. It would be simply impossible to stay without a job.So, get qualified for work. Most people here did. You aren't special.

School isnt going to happen.The options have been explained to you. Take them or stay there.

Re: cultural visa
Thats interesting. That would be things like martial arts and so forth?Yes. Martial arts, pottery making, ikebana, woodcraft, sword making, whatever passes for a craft.

You wouldnt happen to know of anyone who would be willing to teach me a craft on a cultural visa? Do your own d@mned legwork!

It could even be someone who is qualified to teach a craft, but doesnt actually have to teach me anything. I just need that Visa.The cultural visa itself does not permit work. You are allowed to work if you can get special permission from immigration, and it is only part-time work. Plus, the cultural visa has a limited lifespan. I repeat, read the MOFA regulations.

True enough. I'm cramming my head full of the language, and have been for some time. I'll move on to reading/writing later on, but I'm really focusing on the language.Do we really have to explain to you that "language" includes reading and writing, not just speaking and grammar knowledge?

Option two. I go to Japan on a tourist visa, and I try to vanish into the urban landscape, working where I could, and trying to submerge into the underworld. This has a similar flaw to the first scenario, in the fact that -eventually- (around a 90 day mark), the first run in with police would bring the trip to an end.It's worse than you think. People have done this, but once caught, they are deported, fined, incarcerated, and blacklisted for 5-10 years from ever returning here. More than a mere "flaw".

See, my problem doesnt arise from getting a job.Don't delude yourself.

My problems would stem from not having enough time/ability to work to stay in Japan.Your problems are more deep-seated. See above remarks about lack of degree and experience, and add to that a bucketful of nonsensical thinking and lack of ambition.

If I had a -long- stay in Japan, I feel I could harvest the right amount (and right type) of contacts needed to keep me in Japan. This could take the form of legitimate business, culture study, or criminal group (who have a knack for getting Visas, etc.)I've already pointed out a couple of ways to have that long stay -- cultural visa and student visa. Pooh-pooh what it takes to get them, if you like, but right now, those and SOFA are your only options, my friend.

If I had a -short- stay in Japan (the 90 days), but could -work-, I feel I could network enough friends to get a decent enough job to warrant a working Visa, thereby allowing me to stay as long as I am working.Friends don't make you eligible for visas. Degrees or experience does.

Also, I didnt just get out of high school. I dropped out when I was 15, and didnt have those extra years of social interaction with other people. In fact, for the last eight years, I have left my house about 30 times for social interaction.So, answer my simple question. How old are you?

I feel bored, suppressed, and to me, moving to Japan, reversing my social habits, and living in a radically different society would be just the thing to save my sanity.Why? You have never been here, right? Pay a visit first (as long as possible, because being a tourist is nothing like being a resident).

tell him there is one person in the US who will do anything to land a job in Japan. Unless it is work that could not possibly be learned on the job (programming, etc), I'm up for it.No, you are not. You are NOT willing to "do anything", as has been painfully pointed out several times here.

Get a degree or experience, or see if SOFA has something for you (now or in the near future). Those are your ONLY viable options.

BTW, to all readers and moderators, I apologize for my tone, but I think it is blatantly obvious why I responded like I did. Kruniac is either seriously out in left field with reality or is a troll. If it is the former option, I've seen plenty like him, and this thread needs to be closed. Such people whine about (essentially) loopholes to let them in the system, then complain when they are told there are none (or that they are unwilling to take the ones offered). If K is a troll, I leave it to the moderators to do the obvious thing.

[Kruniac]

Be a doubting Thomas. You have obviously not even looked into this in the least. I stand by my quote above. Either you do something along those lines, or you have just shortened your options again. Sh!t or get off the pot.

That isnt what I'm going to do with my life.

I thought I made it clear the first time with bold type. How about now with red type? Read the post or get off this thread.

Yeah. I checked up on Trainee visas. Interesting.

Fine, you are not going anywhere with that attitude, whether in the USA or in Japan. At least you can communicate in English back home. Just what did you expect to do here for income that a Japanese person can't do? You are going to have to think of that simple fact before you realize that no degree and no experience equals no chance for a life anywhere.


Its not so much me doing what a Japanese person can't do, but doing something period. The entire point to staying in Japan without a degree and experience would be to see if I can make connections and work for -CRIMINALS-. I didnt really want to spell that out, as many people take a moral high ground, and/or think I'm the 16 year old "LULZ Mafia R kool" stereotype.

You wrote that after I stated "get the right credentials". Laughable response. As for cash for the degree, I worked my @ss off as a teenager to afford my college career and supported my mother and 4 siblings simultaneously. Get real.

Good for you. Be proud of your accomplishments. Getting falsified documents isnt "laughable". Its something that is illegal which happens every so often. Sometimes the person is caught, sometimes they arent. Just because you dont -agree- with a course of action doesnt mean its -laughable-.

Be coy about things and not tell us what that would be. It's your life (or lack thereof). Businesses abound here. River rafting, tours, hiking, ski instructor, pottery, language school, etc. But, your limited mindset is obviously holding you back from life in general, not just a life in Japan.

A prostitution operation. Enough said. Naturally, I would need the proper contacts to facilitate the moving of said goods. That is why I didnt mention the prospect of that type of business. It really has no place here.

Well, you can't. They call them tourist visas for a reason. Tourists are not allowed to work. They are tourists, visiting on a very limited basis for sightseeing.

It seems that from the folks on Gaijinpot, some Tourist Visa foreigners do indeed get work, even though they arent supposed to. You seem to put things in black and white, or as I like to say - "Law, and against the law".

You said Well, you can't. - Obviously that isnt true. There is no force physically stopping someone from working on a tourist visa. I get agitated when someone takes a "CANT NO NO CANT!!!!!111eleven" attitude with anything.

So, get qualified for work. Most people here did. You aren't special.


Lets see. Get qualified for work. Need a degree for that. Get a degree? Need money for that. Get money? Need qualifications for that. Need qualified for work? Oh.. there we go. The circle.

The options have been explained to you. Take them or stay there.

Once again, you are speaking within the bounds of traditional options. I think I've recieved all of the assistance from you that I'm going to get regarding "normal" means of getting into Japan and getting a job. Thank you.

However, the "Take them or stay there" attitude isnt either called for, or correct. There are other means to get a job, and stay in Japan with or without a Visa. Just because you prefer to either not think of them, or pretend they dont exist, doesnt mean they arent viable.

Do your own d@mned legwork!

I'm not in Japan to do my own legwork, and obviously "favors" dont come easily by you. You see, where I come from, if we have a contact, and someone could use that contact, we do that person a "favor", and pass it along.

In other words, I wasnt saying "Gawd. Too lazy to do anything. Someone get me into Japan." I was inquiring that IF someone could do it, I would owe them.

The cultural visa itself does not permit work. You are allowed to work if you can get special permission from immigration, and it is only part-time work. Plus, the cultural visa has a limited lifespan. I repeat, read the MOFA regulations.

That answered a question I had about the Cultural Visa, thanks. I was wondering if the "special permission" came from Immigration, or the particular master/organization teaching you the skill.

Do we really have to explain to you that "language" includes reading and writing, not just speaking and grammar knowledge?

Obviously. I suppose I should have said "I AM CURRENTLY CRAMMING MY HEAD FULL OF THE VERBAL LANGUAGE!" I really dont see the need to split hairs on this. I've thought long and hard about what it would be like to not be able to read even a sign for an internet cafe, menus, etc.

However, I feel that the ability to communicate with the people in Japan would be just a bit more important than the ability to read in Japan. Are they both vital? Of course. Are they both language? Naturally.

It's worse than you think. People have done this, but once caught, they are deported, fined, incarcerated, and blacklisted for 5-10 years from ever returning here. More than a mere "flaw".

Yes, I have already done research on the "downsides" (you would call it the penalities or punishments) of staying in Japan illegally. When I made my statement, I didnt mean work illegally in factories, hoping not to get caught. I was more referring to (since we are having such a hard time communicating, I might as well spill) making enough -CRIMINAL- contacts to -KEEP ME IN THE COUNTRY-.

Don't delude yourself.

You have a different vision of living in Japan than I do. My problems technically wouldnt be from having or not having a job, as even if I had to work as a dip (pickpocket), I could find -someway- to make money to live off of.

Once again, my problems, and accompanying anxiety comes from the Visa issue. Making money is one thing, but getting deported is another. The latter cant be avoided without the proper contacts and/or legal channels.

In other words - a job is based on talent. A visa is based off of laws that no one can control.

Your problems are more deep-seated. See above remarks about lack of degree and experience, and add to that a bucketful of nonsensical thinking and lack of ambition.

I agree with you about the lack of a degree and experience. However, lack of KNOWLEDGE about a certain topic doesnt really equal nonsensical thinking.

For instance, I didnt know about the scrutiny that foreigners recieve when marrying a Japanese, so the avenue of a sham marriage wasnt unrealistic, just misinformed.

've already pointed out a couple of ways to have that long stay -- cultural visa and student visa. Pooh-pooh what it takes to get them, if you like, but right now, those and SOFA are your only options, my friend.

Only standard options. See above.

Friends don't make you eligible for visas. Degrees or experience does.

This is the statement I'm having the most problem with. Without flaming, I have to say that either you are naive, or just "By-The-Book". Connections are -everything-. If your statement is true, then there wouldnt be so many fraudulent foreign women in Japan on "Entertainer" Visas that serve as prostitutes. I think I've made my case on this.

Obviously, I'm not arguing that degrees and experience also makes a person eligible for visas.

So, answer my simple question. How old are you?

I'll be 24 in June.

Why? You have never been here, right? Pay a visit first (as long as possible, because being a tourist is nothing like being a resident).

I agree. I just have a tendancy to overthink things. I will make a "tour" before deciding if its feasible for me to stay in Japan. I'll gather some money together, get a cheap place, and spend close to the 90 day period trying to make as many contacts as possible.

No, you are not. You are NOT willing to "do anything", as has been painfully pointed out several times here.

Obviously I'm willing to risk deportation/imprisonment/fines/etc.

Get a degree or experience, or see if SOFA has something for you (now or in the near future). Those are your ONLY viable options.

I've replied to this previously.

BTW, to all readers and moderators, I apologize for my tone, but I think it is blatantly obvious why I responded like I did. Kruniac is either seriously out in left field with reality or is a troll. If it is the former option, I've seen plenty like him, and this thread needs to be closed. Such people whine about (essentially) loopholes to let them in the system, then complain when they are told there are none (or that they are unwilling to take the ones offered). If K is a troll, I leave it to the moderators to do the obvious thing.

I dont consider myself out in left field with reality, which is why I'm exploring every legal and illegal road into Japan to make a life. I want to have information on every single option imaginable, so I can assess which would have the highest chance of success.

I am not a troll. I am being totally serious in my inquiries, and I want to thank everyone for -not- flaming the living crap out of me, thinking I'm just trolling.

However, I do have to say that you specifically ignore illegal channels to obtain a visa/live in Japan. That doesnt mean the loopholes dont exist, it just means you dont know/talk about them. That would be fine, except you are assuming or taking the stance that since you dont know/talk about them, they simply... arent... there, and try to enforce this opinion on others.

Some of the things you have proposed, without even really knowing what you proposed like the fraud marriage, or getting smuggled into Japan but the problem would arise when you get stopped by police and asked for your alien registration card.

I knew what I was proposing by the fraud marriage - I just didnt know the scrutiny such a union would bring. It is a realistic option, but much more difficult than I imagined (due to lack of knowledge on the subject, which I now have thanks to you guys.

Also, I've said many times that I am aware of the downside to any sort of illegal entry into Japan. One stop by the cops for the Gaijin card, and I'm done. That isnt realistic. I aknowledged the problem.

Anyway.. Aside from some slightly biased views of some of my options, I've been getting valuble information on my problem. I'll keep searching through all manners of channels, however. Once I'm satisfied that my options have been clearly (as clearly as they can be) laid out, I'll make a decision.

[epigene]

It appears that the OP thinks he can get away with anything. Our respected members have already provided all the information we have to offer.

Case closed.