Japan FAQ 12: other jobs, being in a band, other languages

[Sh06o]

Old video, but I was just so surprised when you said finnish. Was thinking you would say some common language but that really got me :P I am finnish myself.

It would be REALLY interesting to teach my mother language in Japan.

[Luv4Eva2U]

How hard is it to get in the medical field over in Japan (specifically nursing)?

[Scgod2]

O~iiiiiiii~, chotto matte~ >:( You can't say that about music. I'm sorry, dude, but no. You do have your opinion and you are entitled to that, but you know what, I love the bands that they have over there. You can't tell people that, because you don't know all of your viewers personally and what their taste in music is like. Just because not all Japanese bands are like the Yoshida Brothers, or sound like what "gaijin" think is "Japanese music" is, doesn't make them BAD~! >:-( So; 黙れ~!!!

[GrayXIII]

About the band thing, obviously making money at it is tough like you said. seems hard in the states too, but as far as playing in one just on the side for fun, how hard is it?

[livushka]

how about being a doctor in japan?! do tell please :))

[LadyDesstiny]

Nice! :D I speak french and english as my second language. Just got to learn Japanese now :)

[LuminaryXion]

I'm in Tokyo, trying to get a job. Unfortunately I don't have a degree of any kind. That's been a huge limitation for me. I can get under the table work for cash, but I can't get a job to sponsor me for a visa without a degree of some kind, any kind... Might want to mention that if you haven't already. ^_^; Gomennasai if you already covered this in one of your other very informative videos and domoarigatougozaimashita for all your hard work. Otsukaresamadesu.

[BeltlessTrenchcoat]

Hey scott, theres a great pop punk band from japan that I've discovered recently. They're called "specialthanks", i dunno if you've heard of them but you should check em out. I was surprised to see how many 'fatwreck' style/punk/poppunk bands (ken yokoyama etc..) there actually are in japan, Its interesting how big that style of music seems to be.

link: myspacecom/specialthanks777

[FishingtonBurpPuzzle]

Why do so many people want to go to such a place? Everything about it seems to suck. In general, Japanese people dislike foreigners and so what do they want to learn languages for? Even the fluent speaking foreign technicians and professors are discriminated against and treated as outsiders.

[sxystar41]

Sorry for the loong response, BUT it is TRUE that Japan  has yet to have a foreign rock band ( not mainstream in other countries) but emerging from Japan..... hey it's not impossible :)

[sxystar41]

Yes, it's true that mainstrean J-POP artists/ boy bands are recruited and songs are produced by the label company, BUT there are still great artists and rock bands in Japan. For example, Utada Hikaru is very talented artist and singer! Also, the Visual Kei bands like X- Japan, Luna Sea, and L ' Arc' Ciel are great! Personally, I think the visual kei bands are much more creative and inovative than the rock bands in the US. :)

[SATURDAYateSUNDAY]

well you crushed my dream of getting a job over there hahahaha i hate teaching

any one ever tell you you look like oli sykes from bmth??

[iloveanime10101]

Do u have to go to collage to teach English in japan

[Zannypants666]

Is that why victor is an English teacher?

It's a job, if your not fluent, but how to you teach it if you can't translate things easily? ><

[geenius3ab]

To be honest, there ARE some great bands in Japan.. But yeah appearance comes first in many cases.. -.-

Just a example: Thee michelle gun elephant and.... and... Geez it's actually pretty hard to think about it.. Maybe tokyo jihen -.-

Music composers for animations are actually quite brilliant in Japan, though that's a whole another thing then bands.. -.-

[DistantEarthJp]

Nice comment about bands. That's exactly how it is. But to be honest there are some good indie bands, very hard to find, and they'll never make it big, the big studios are just too strong. By the way anyone how likes indie alternative (Modest Mouse, Pavement) should check out Orge You Asshole.

But being a musician in Japan is very frustrating, I've lost tons of money playing gigs and many of my Japanese musician friends are equally as frustrated. No one I know makes any money, but we love it.

[lovinmymusic4life]

lol do you like dir en grey? xD

[edwinzanpaku]

i got a question , do you have to take teaching classes in college (i don't know whats its called) to teach English in japan? or you can take finance classes in college and can still teach English in japan?

[sam199166]

well, languages issue apply to every country in the world, just like north america, people from all different races HAVE to learn english... so there u go

[kurisusakura]

Thats totally wrong- you can totally get a job if its not teaching english.

And the crap about fluent Japanese? Where does that place language students? and the people working in roppongi.. dude your totally wrong sorry.

[unrested]

@kurisusakura dont know how much of my channel you watched but this is concerning getting a visa and living in japan. yes you can work in food service. will it get you a work visa? no. can you survive on the pay? no. Can you find a job outside of teaching with no japanese if you arent living in densest parts of tokyo and osaka? no.

[kurisusakura]

@unrested Dude. How can you know that? I know people who are working in hotels and food service with just basic japanese outside of those two areas. i know people working in skiing resorts, and other places like that too. Just because your teaching english, doesn't automatically make you an expert on the japan job market.

[kurisusakura]

@unrested I dont know how old you are, but I know plenty of my younger friends here are students and we are working in like food service, stores like handm and forever 21, places like these. And yes, you can survive on the pay. Its not a huge amount, but hey were students. And if you come here just going to language school u can get a visa and do what you want, as long as u attend the classes. You should look more into visas before you think your an expert.

[unrested]

@kurisusakura but again they DO NOT get a WORK VISA. A student visa is a whole different story. This video has NOTHING to do with student visas. I have not gone to college and have never had a student visa nor do I talk about being an expert on that. Its really obvious you havent watched my video "JFAQ 101: Watch this first" where i say i have no expertise on getting visas related to college. AGAIN, this is about WORK VISAs and food service jobs WILL NOT get you approved for a WORK VISA!

[kurisusakura]

@unrested

Sorry then I guess you should have renamed it because you don't say anything about other visas or the fact its about just working visas. It basically just says you cant get another job other then teaching english if your not fluent, which isnt true. Other then that, i guess the stuff your saying about other work visas is true. BTW how are you teaching english without a college degree?

[unrested]

@unrested my apologies too bro. this comment is too heavy handed and i regret that. I wrote a PM in explanation.

[ImIwilliamImI]

Japanese noise music is fucking awesome

[MrHiberto]

actually i love japanese bands more than i do american bands, tokyo jihen and shiina ringo are probably the most popular of the ones i listen to but nujabes, toe, the band apart, chatmonchy, the list goes on for me but i guess most of those bands are pretty underground especially toe

[ShinobixXxKakashi]

You looked better with longer hair.

[miksailija]

HELL yea! Greetings from Finland! :D

[anniinah]

um.. really? finn? I could teach finnish but who are these crazy people wanting to learn that...

great FAQs, not really into japan but asian culture is really interesting

[milkjamjuice]

I really like that you mention the purchasing side of being in a band. I don't know about Kansai, but in Tokyo there ARE plenty of indies bands. They just never "make it," due to the costs of being in a band. I used to be in a band in Tokyo myself and it was my #1 money drain, paying for venue space, studio time and equipment, not to mention if you wanted discounted studio time it meant NO SLEEP TONIGHT!! :D/

But anyway; nice videos.

[uberandy666]

Does the language you teach have to be native tongue? or if like me (Norwegian) get a bachelor degree in french or English (maby Norwegian even) am i still allowed to be a teacher in it? :)

[katanamanatee]

@uberandy666 I am sure if you had a relevant degree in the language which demonstrates your ability then you could teach that language but it would depend on the teaching institution.

For TEFL courses I am sure I remember one of the key criteria being that you have to be a native speaker but I am sure this would not be an absolute for all institutions.

Maybe I can teach Norwegian there after my Scandinavian Studies degree. Vet ikke...

Lykke til!

[pixeldmg]

I hope you don't take offense to this lol... But you remind me of the Winds of Plague singer. Fo shooo. I chilled with him at Summer Slaughter last year he's a cool duder.

[xxfutureisnowxx]

one other possible job, though I hear it's actually not as fun as it might sound, is videogame localization for English...companies will hire native english speakers to make corrections in the english translations of games...mostly rpg's

PS i'll be visiting tokyo this year for a few weeks...do you know of any good places to see punk or hardcore bands?....or clubs that play good electro/indie?

[HellCuzins]

I've actually heard some pretty decent Japanese bands not a lot but a few. Now I'm actually kind of happier since I know both English and Spanish and that at least gives me a second choice ^.^

[ImIwilliamImI]

the music part.. not so good.. but the other language part was good news to me!

Thanks for the info

[WEAREPLAGUED]

do you happen to listen to envy?

[unrested]

i dont think i am familiar? should I? viewers give me music suggestions all the time and i am happy to oblige them as i am a massive music nerd.

[arlaco]

rly love music that much? awesome =)

aftaaarrrr mah girlfriend music is my second love

[Grenendel]

what about greek ? can i teach it in Japan , ty .

[wildcaliguyy55]

ok so im in japan....machida tokyo ....im 21 american just out the military ....no college education ...... wat do u reccomend i do for a job here n to get my work visa? any companies come to mind? im a big time night life guy....i can promote n barback as well...i did both of those in texas n los angeles

[milkjamjuice]

@wildcaliguyy55

This is just my opinion but it's going to be near impossible to get a work visa in Japan without a college degree. The last time I got hired there I had to send several proofs of my degree just get the visa.

[Igotnuts]

What about a street musician

[aethelwulf19]

this guy dont know shit

what about guys like dragon ash, 10feet, mongol 800? these guys rock, and definately werent made in a studio

[unrested]

yes i do and yes they were. so was 9mm parabellum bullet, radwimps, orang rang, asian dub foundation etc.. but hey if you are such a expert why not make your own video or at least a video response proving me wrong.

[aethelwulf19]

well, all the bands you named suck, so no surprise

anyways, you live there and are obviously an expert on everytying as im the only one questioning your opinions, so ill just enjoy good music

[xxShanekunxx]

Ahhh. Well then it's not as bad as I thought. I'm glad I have most my life ahead of me. ^^; Thanks for the info. I'm curious about Japanese computers. Any chance on a vid about them? You might have already made one... I'm only on vid 23..

[xxShanekunxx]

So if I went to collage here in America for four years and majored IT, minored in CS or comp repair and then came to japan would it wouldn't be too hard? This is one of the one things that worry me. I'd hate to be a teacher 'till I'm 80 or work in a factory...

[unrested]

unless you speak fluent japanese you would have zero chance. you also would not be allowed to work in a factory.

[xxShanekunxx]

I figured as much. Not to make light of the effort, but how many years would you estimate it would take? 10?15? Maybe as little as 5, or possibly 20?

[unrested]

to become fluent in japanese? it differs for everyone. i am still not fluent after 3. gimmeaflakeman said it took him 6 year but i have another friend who said it took him 8. then you got to think about being able to speak technical terms i would add another 5 on for that alone.

[APOKALYPSE34]

This video gave me a idea! thanks

BTW watch out the those boy bands!

[suicide006]

Since most bands are studio produced, does that mean they make up stories of how they started?

[unrested]

sometimes, but for the most part its just expected most are studio produced so no one tries to hide it.

[gabi326jjk]

that thats awesome, the band thing sorta gat me bumed but I my first languige is french haha, and I can speak english pritty well too, I was wondering, what about the hole visual kei scene? I've allready seen some gaijin in japanese visual kei bands and thay seem to be making some good munny

[Moviehun]

Damn that means i gonna study to be a teacher if i whant that.

[Moviehun]

Did you take a education to become English teacher?

And is it hard to find a job as a English Teacher?

[unrested]

no i have a art degree. it use to be alot easier but the recession has hit japan too. the big thing is you need to have a degree otherwise your chances of getting a job are low.

[otakuhalfling]

Yeah, I have a friend who wants to be a computer engineer in japan and told me about all the technical kanji she'll have to learn. She's going to engineering school this fall, but I think she'll do well as she's been studying japanese on her own and is level 2, plus she's fluent in spanish which I've heard makes learning japanese a bit easier.

[SimpIicity1]

nice video thx

[Omikron420]

what you said about the job thing isn't completly true my japanese is horrible but yet i don't teach english. Im a computer systems admin. But I'm a rare animal here. Also there are opportunities in modeling here cause Japanese love foreign models.

[unrested]

but dont you have a spouse visa? or are you on the business visa? still you are right there are always exceptions to the rule. i mostly am answering the many e-mails i get everyday with people asking what they can do to get into jobs fields that few to no gaijin have penetrated. meanwhile they know zero japanese.

[Omikron420]

No spouse visa since I'm single. Like I said Im a rare animal. I have SOFA status because I work on the military base but I'm a civilian. Status Of Forces Agreement is seperate from a visa but it allows me to live and work here. I've been here for almost 6 years now. I work on the Yokota Air Force base but for a private company that provides internet, phone, and TV service all on one network to the residents living on the base.

[unrested]

wow yours is a super unique situation. i must admit i have no idea how any of that works, but sounds like an awesome situation. well if you are enjoying japan

[Omikron420]

I wouldn't be living here If I wasn't enjoying myself so much. Japan is Awesome:D Plus having access to the base is the best since I can still get all of those American things at American prices. Its like the best of both worlds. Except for the fact that I get paid in American dollars so in order to pay my rent and bills and stuff I have to convert everything, and thanks to bush that cost quite a bit more than it used to.

[DirectlyHere]

Thank you for the advice ^^ I'm going to work really hard to become at least somewhat fluent. I'm only 15 so I have a bit xD I'm going to Japan when I'm 17 to take on the language first hand, hopefully that will help.

[BusanKevin]

Another interesting video sir.

I bet you really do like boy bands!!! hehe SMAP#1 yeah....

Seriously though, I've heard that about playing live with a band....having to rent the venue first. That's nuts. When I was in Korea playing in bands, we were begged to play in clubs...mind you...we were only paid in free booze! That was enough for me though :)

[RuanMcC2]

how can you say the music's bad their music is AMAZING - i love J-rock

[unrested]

dont get me wrong there is some decent stuff over here. its mostly johnny bands and j-rap i absolutely abhor. i mean really exile, arashii, kinki kids, and smap..its an insult to be on the same planet as these bands.

but then there is maximum the hormone and polysics that keep me sane

[usolame]

really u hate johnny's, guess i better change my profile pic!!!!

[unrested]

haha no no its cool i understand how others can enjoy them. just as a big metal fan they dont appeal to me.

[reynoldsair]

Yeah, being a musician in Japan is very difficult. I can't even practice without a mute unless I go to a river or very large park. Renting halls for performance is extremely expensive. My wife and I have been invited to perform with a group of for or five other soloists all sharing the costs and it still runs 50,000 yen per person. You have to pay 100,000-200,000 just for the hall itself. Piano costs extra. Stands and chairs cost extra.

[reynoldsair]

The only people that seriously pursue music as adults are children of very wealthy parents. The working Japanese don't have time to practice music with 10 hour work days and over an hour commute.

[Limastudent]

Have a teaching degree in anything? Google international or Catholic schools in Japan.

Apply.....In! And no need to speak Japanese.

[unrested]

yeah can definitely teach english and have a degree in anything. mine is in art and my friends is in chemistry. but you are right about the international schools. still when i taught at an international school they expected us to have teaching certificates from my our countries and we had to teach what we had specialized in.

[Limastudent]

Cont...Teaching is done in English.

There is also the American School in Tokyo.

Seisen International in Shibuya.....many.

If you are a teacher you have a way in.

I taught kindergarten and my students were embassy kids from every continent and mostly rich Japanese.

We teachers did not speak Japanese.

The schools took good care of us and paid for air and found apartments for us.

[unrested]

damn sounds like a nice set up. jet program is almost that good but you end up in some crap schools sometimes

[Limastudent]

Japan is full of international schools. They need all type of teachers- el ed, art, the usual teachers needed at any elementary or higher school. These schools are private and have students from all over the world. Also, Catholic schools need teachers. My teacher friends were from the Philippines and all over Europe and the US. It is a great experience.

[unrested]

yeah international is always an option too although they do require a little more qualifications depending on the level of the schools quality.

for this vid i was mostly addressing the people who constantly write me asking how do i get a working in a grocery store, construction, making video games, etc.... just letting them know japan usually isnt on a hunt for this job positions

[Ventdemon]

i could see your girlfriends reflection just vaguely..... but at least i know shes not a vampire lol

[unrested]

yeah she is merely a lycanthrope

[zeerta]

There is one guy, that work in IT in Japan, and he says that he learned Japanese for a level witch allowed him to pass interview for this job in one year!!! (in his blog he gives many suggestions for learning not only Japanese but any language and i think in will fork but little bit hard to do)

Like you said - foreigner have to be probably genius to work in japan not in teaching languages.

[unrested]

this is possible if you pass the 1kyu test sometimes even ok for 2kyu but once again that guy must have had an amazing memory. to pass that test you need to know over 1,500 kanji. even in japan they learn about 600 over 3 years in school.

[zeerta]

Great vid! Thanks!

About Q1 i'm agree with you - there are less job possibilities for foreigners in any country than for native people, and it's rule working not only in Japan but all over the world. Some of my friends wanna leave country and go to europe but i always asking them what they can offer that can't do native worker of this country, and usually they don't have the answer - they don't know language fluent, don't have citizenship, not high professionals in their job fields.

[unrested]

i am glad someone understands how impossible immigration into another country is. its great to have dreams, but I really get frustrated when people have done no research on japan or immigration and think i have some magic answer that allows them to find a loop hole to live here forever. even i struggle to make sure my visa is intact and always valid to continue to live here.

[vilnisss]

really good vid.........

[apexdna]

What about the Russian language ?! I'm a native speaker, and Russian is a difficult language to master as far I as I know, at least when compared to English (or Spanish) ... do I need any teaching experience to teach or am I good to go ?! Also, how much money do I need in order to move to Japan ?! $5-10K's good enough ... what's the minimum requirement ?!

[unrested]

russian is definitely a marketable language due to japans geography. you would not need prior teaching experience only a bachelors degree.

5000 would be safe but i always tell people to bring as much as they can.

[apexdna]

Nice ... what about the Bachelor's Degree ?! Is it required ?!

[unrested]

pretty much always required unless you have some sort of other visa. i.e. spouse, resident, business, etc

[apexdna]

Are you saying I'll have to kill another 4 years in order to work in Japan ?!

[unrested]

well there is the option of getting toeic or esl training. check with your local edu. institutions to see if they offer such training and certification. but yeah its pretty much 4 more years or get married to a japanese national.

[apexdna]

What does TOEIC or ESL training have to do with the Russian language, and how much time will it take to finish it?!

[unrested]

well if you only do the russian than you wont need those but if you are hoping to teach at a institution in japan they will require you to have a degree only because immigration forces them to.

[ChemistInJapan]

Q1: I couldn't agree more.

Q2: I wish the boy band thing would just die and go away. I'm so sick of the just awful music and bad singing.

[unrested]

man, glad you understand. i have been bombarded by this question from people who will even argue with me even though they have never tried to live here. i almost get angry when i hear it at this point.

as for 2.yes, yes, and yes. also wtf?! they dont even dance well. i mean seriously most just move their arms at the same time and call that dancing. god its so pathetic and japanese rap....oh man please dont try to rap about how tough you are when you have never seen a gun.

[ChemistInJapan]

Well, I'm one of those crazy people that is attempting to get a job that is not English teaching. First, I'm going to try to get into grad school over there, then find a job in my field. Despite what you said in your video, I'm not a genius by any stretch of the imagination.

I have to say the one thing I like about Japanese rap (I'm not saying it's good) is the content of the lyrics. I hvane't heard any songs with violence against women or police being killed.

[unrested]

dude if you become a gaijin chemist in japan you are definitely a genius in my book. the amount of kanji you would know would be beyond my personal capacity.

as for myself i am working on an apprenticeship in tattoos out here and hope to get into that field after i am severely broken under a japanese inksmith lol.

yeah lol, the police here are a joke and a half. i have seen them abused by anyone who has a slightly more aggressive disposition. also rappers dont hit women, sadly only salarymen

[ChemistInJapan]

If you haven't already, you should make a video about the acceptance of your tattoos. The public bath I used to go to regularly had a sign up that basically said "no tattoos". I think they were affriad of the mob.

There was a tattoo shop around the corner from my apt building. There were always mob looking cars out front (Benz with black windows). I always just walked quickly and if anyone said anything to me I planned to say, "I didn't see shit."

[unrested]

man, good idea. i think i will do it. i also put in some more info about bosozoku and yakuza

[smaviii]

has anyone ever said anything disrespectful/rude to you because of your tattoo's?

and for teaching other languages, they still require a Bachelors degree right? otherwise I'd be wasting my time, because i can teach french.

[unrested]

i have been refused services because of having tattoos. some gyms will not allow you become a member and you are usually barred from every hot spring in japan.

[erythrocytes]

Really refused service? Where?

Once I was asked to roll me sleeves down, at a darts bar of all places, but thats it.

[unrested]

you know gyms and onsens the usual

[erythrocytes]

That sucks. I know you just love checking out those naked old men!

[unrested]

pruned in and out of water...so hawt!

[TheGazettE1]

i dont agree whit the bet about the music i think its better than all other musics in the world :P

[unrested]

well its all a matter of taste i suppose;)

[smaviii]

lol do you understand what there saying tho? i agree it sounds good, but i have no clue what the lyrics are.

[unrested]

it all depends on the band and type of music really. love songs are always pretty easy because the lyrics are made for people with ferret like intelligence lol. aside from that most of it is pretty difficult for me.

[smaviii]

haha i was listening to J-Rap for the first time the other day, and in Japanese it sounded really cool, but when i goggled the translation it made no sense at all. They were talking about, making friends. Now an english rap about making friends is pretty rare, cause all we hear is "F*** this, f*** that"

[TheGazettE1]

nope but srill love it its aswome my fav music

[riztar]

cool man thanks for the great info