"Moving" to Japan, judge my plan

So on December 26, 2006, I will be departing from New York City to Tokyo. I plan on spending at minimum a month living in Japan. I am buying a one way ticket - it is up in the air if and when I return to the states.

I am studying the language and have been for a few months. I feel by December I will be at a level that regular conversation will be manageable.

I am going to attempt to make it as talent in Japan - model, actor, pop singer, whatever. I am in contact with a freelance agency in Tokyo as well as a few in New York City who might possibly (who knows) "invest" in me and my trip.

I am not sure what kind of money I will be able start with, but I have enough saved (waiting tables) to live very cheaply for a few months. This brings me to the following questions:

What do you think of Gaijin Houses like Sakura House? Living in a shared apartment for ~$450 a month is tempting but it seems to good to be true. No key money, furnished, etc.

Secondly, and probably more important, how difficult is it to get a Visa? Some quick research leads me to believe that I could get temporary (1 year?) Artist or Performance visa. What would I have to demonstrate to acquire this? I have never been to prison in the United States and have a portfolio for both those categories. I have no college degree, although I have taken about two years of higher education.

Finally, if I don't make it as talent easily, what are the odds of an American finding a waiter / bartender type job? I hear stories of discrimination in employment but am inclined to be optimistic.

Any feedback or help is extremely appreciated.

 

$450 a month is dirt cheap. I was under the impression the gaijin houses were in the 70,000 to 80,000 range in town, maybe 60,000 out of town. NEver lived in one, so don't know.

Your much more likely to get an entertainment visa. They are for people working in the fields you strive for. The downside is, they only last for 3 months, but you can get them renewed w/o question from the authorities, assuming someone sponsors you. If you renew a tourist visa enough, they will eventually catch on.

Once you have a visa, not that hard. There are several restaurants in Shibuya/Omotesandou area that hire English-speaking foreigners. Pretty sure you'll need the visa first though.

 

Tourist entry + one-way ticket = no-no. There's a very good chance they won't let you in, and there's a chance the airline won't even let you on the plane (I know they won't for some other countries).

If Japanese immigration knows you only have a one way ticket and are coming as a "tourist" they will likely either kick you out directly or make you buy a return. Either get a changeable return ticket (probably almost as cheap and safer in case things don't work out) or get a visa sponsor and proper visa before you leave.

$450 is very very very cheap in Tokyo. Is that even possible? Remember if it's an inconvenient location in the city then you have increased transportation expenses, and if you don;t have a job then that's out of your pocket, not your employer's.

Other than those things I say go for it, you only live once. If you can do a job and somebody is willing to sponsor you then you will get a visa. I don't think there's an education requirement for an entertainer's visa (in fact, I am positive there isn't.)

 

N/O, but trying to make it as a talent doesn't seem like a feasible plan, working as a bartender/waiter that doesn't know Japanese neither.

No college degree, little knowledge of the language, little/no contacts, not so much cash, no pre-arranged visa... not a good idea IMO.

 

Maybe not, but I can point you to a handful of people that have pulled off the exact plan. You just have to be willing to go back home w/ your tail between your legs if it doesn't work.

 

That's how I came to japan (well apart from the degree) and I've been here for almost 9 years. It can be done but it's not easy !

Yakumo

 

And who says you only get to try once, right? I guess the absolutely easiest way to get to Japan would be the "entertainment visa". Work as, I don't know, a "noise" musician? *shrug*

 

What you should do first is visit a few times as a holiday just to getthe feel ofthe country. I must have visited Japan 4 times before moving here.

Yakumo

 

Getting a full working visa as an English teacher is probably the easiest route. To get the entertainment visa you have to be employable in that field. That requires a bit more than a pulse and a native English speaking ability. Not all teachers are wortheless, but you should've seen some of the toolbags that I worked with at my first job.

 

How long does a full working visa generally last before it needs to be renewed? 4 years from now, I might try my luck at that lol.

 

Standard working visa for the first few years is 1 year each time. Eventually, you work your way up to 3 year visas. When you switch, you'll likely drop to one. I was on 3 year working visas, but when I got married, I got a 1-year spousal visa.

 

definetly with you there. the alure the country holds for us westerners contrasts with the reality of what the actual country is like. all is not what it seems. I went there twice within the space of 2 years and though I had work options I decided that my heart and mind wheren't in the right place back then to follow through.
now, today I would be more than willing to give it a go, but then it is pretty much impossible given my current living status. honestly, I'd actually only move there if I where a millionaire. lol.

 

Here. Read This. That'll give you an idea of what can happen.

 

...but also be careful with what you read. Japan is a journey, it's not a place. People who have been here for 6 months are at a different spot in the journey than people who have been here for 2 years or 5 years or whatever.

I've found that after the two year mark people are usually a bit bitter about Japan. I know I was (I've been here for 5 years now). The first year you cruise through. You hear some bad things about the culture, but it's not until the end of the second year that you've been able to confirm some of those bad things.

By the end of your second year you've had a few rude comments passed your way so you start to wonder if everyone walking by you is thinking the same rude thing. Salesmen who can't understand the obvious now piss you off more than make you laugh. Having to fill out countless forms and go through pointless processes just seems like a huge waste of time and you don't understand why you can't make them understand it.

If you end up staying longer and making it through that, then I've found that most people are OK. You have met so many good Japanese people that you know they aren't all racist. That salesmen will have problems, and you know this before you start talking to him, so you just keep talking to find ways to make him understand. Want me to fill out a form? Great, where do I sign. It's certainly not worth getting upset over.

So the point is, when asking some about Japan I think the most important question is asking them how long they have been here for. People who have been here for the same period of time are easy to get along with because you just assume that they are at the same spot in the journey and can relate to you. I tend to shy away from people who have just arrived or been here for less than a year because Japan is a completely different place for them than for me. People who have been in Japan for 10+ years are probably reading this and thinking that I'm an idiot.

If you want to come, then come. Don't read too much before because no one will be able to duplicate your experience or see things through your eyes. If you don't come you'll have to live with that regret which will be much worse than a brief visit to Japan that you didn't like.

 

Yea, that just further paints the picture for people who think that Japan is perfect. Im glad ive been able to establish a bit more of a realistic view, in that it really is different then our culture, and yet certain things are the same everywhere you go.

 

Japan-Games.com is absolutely right ! I've been here since November 1998, so as you can see almost 9 years. These days I think a whole lot differently about Japan that what I used to. I will tell you one thing though ! The time I spent in Tokyo from November '98 to May '99 was the best time of my life ! I'll never forget it. Sure, there were bad and frustrating times when I was there but the good times will always be remembered. Some times I wish I could go back to those days when I look through old photos.

Yakumo

 

Same here, except mine was Jan '98 'til about Dec '99. Bar none, best time of my life. Had great friends, absolutely NO money, a pain in the ass roommate, played no games at all except an ISO copy of Quake 2 b/c I was so poor, but fucking loved it. Partied every weekend.

Did you guys read the link I posted? It's about as real as it gets. One thing though -- the rules don't necessarily apply to Tokyo. Sure, bad shit happens there, but it's such a melting pot, such things are expected to happen, and there are plenty of cool foreigners there.

I guess the main thing that would fuck me off is if I didn't speak any of the langauge. I spent 2 days in Seoul last week, and it was the same feeling every time I go there... PURE frustration. I know fuck all in Korean (except thanks and hello) and all the Koreans I run into know about that much in English. I don't get mad at them of course, but it makes me not want to go there. I assume short-term Japan residents might feel the same if they aren't up to learning the language.

 

I posted my comments because I read your link. It was my understanding that the writer had been in Japan for about 2 years which is why I thought he needed a disclaimer...

 

Aaah. Well, from my experience, but more from viewing my experiences of others, living in Japan (especially the countryside) isn't all hams and plaque. Regardless of the year. I've not read it in a while, but I had the impression he'd been there longer. I do see what you mean though.