Visiting Japan

[Arbitres]

Look, long as xKou knows what will happen and what it requires to move to Japan, then I see no problem stopping them. I'm also under the impression they aren't going to affect you adversely should they manage to screw up.

I have to admit you do need to be beaten with the realtiy stick some before making your decision. But you should always aim what's within your reach that will also make you happy. Just keep that in mind.

[Heiwatsuki]

@arbitres

Look, long as xKou knows what will happen and what it requires to move to Japan, then I see no problem stopping them. I'm also under the impression they aren't going to affect you adversely should they manage to screw up.

I have to admit you do need to be beaten with the realtiy stick some before making your decision. But you should always aim what's within your reach that will also make you happy. Just keep that in mind.

Lol thanks. and besides, if i do go to japan after i finish college and save alot of money, im going to stay with my japanese aunt for a while. And buy a ton of manga, explore, and go back to America (so i wont get screwed, i got japanese relatives). I plan on actually living in Japan once i get ALOT better with writing in japanese( which probaby wont be for another 5-10 years, lmfao)

[mindovermatter]

Originally Posted by xKou

I know, but like I said, i hate everything here. And if i wanted to move out of the U.S . What better place than the home of my favorite source of entertainment.

how about a place where you have a good chance of making a living and fitting into the culture?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't try, if that's your dream then you shouldn't let anything hold you back...but make sure you take a good look at it practicality wise. Try visiting for a while, or take the English teacher for a year route.

[Heiwatsuki]

@mindovermatter thanks for the advice . but i already said i was going to visit first in the post before yours

[Guardian Enzo]

One thing I will tell you for sure - make sure you get some sort of college degree, whatever it is. Without one it's very, very difficult for an American to get a working visa. We don't have a "working holiday' program with Japan like the EU does, and no company in Japan will sponsor you for a work visa unless you have a 4-year degree. There are some other ways involving investing $100K or more in a new business or some very specialized skills, but it's an order of magnitude more difficult to work in Japan with the degree.

[mindovermatter]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

One thing I will tell you for sure - make sure you get some sort of college degree, whatever it is. Without one it's very, very difficult for an American to get a working visa. We don't have a "working holiday' program with Japan like the EU does, and no company in Japan will sponsor you for a work visa unless you have a 4-year degree. There are some other ways involving investing $100K or more in a new business or some very specialized skills, but it's an order of magnitude more difficult to work in Japan with the degree.

I've read that the government won't even give you a work (or teaching?) visa without a 4yr degree

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by xKou

thats what I planned to do... and not all of 'us' treat mexicans that way. Its only you racists that do. I dont hate mexicans at all, and i have some friends that are mexican

you'll soon find out the (majority of) Japanese and Dr. Michael Savage have in common when it comes to the motto:

Borders, Language, Culture

Spoiler for I'll fill-in blanks for you in case you don't get it:

Borders
- Dr. Savage and the (majority of) Japanese make no apologies when it come to keeping out illegal and unskilled migrants.
Japan even give incentives to people of latin american descent to self-deport to their place of origin.

Language
- This is no brainer. Not knowing (or unwilling) to read/write/speak the host country's language is the reason what's causing friction between the host and migrants.

Culture
- preserve the culture (for japanese - monolothic) rather than have it disappear into multiculturalism

----------

oh and i see you have a relative there
that's a big plus so that someone can guide you on what is and is not tolerated, social norms, and ease of transition

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by mindovermatter

I've read that the government won't even give you a work (or teaching?) visa without a 4yr degree

Well, the issue is that no school or company will even attempt to get the government to issue a visa for you ("sponsorship") without the degree. Supposedly if you show you have 5 years of experience teaching, they may accept that.

I've heard that it's actually possible to "self-sponsor" and the government sometimes grants visas without the 4-year degree - but I couldn't say for sure if that's the case.

[Knightrunner]

Originally Posted by xKou

@arbitres


Lol thanks. and besides, if i do go to japan after i finish college and save alot of money, im going to stay with my japanese aunt for a while. And buy a ton of manga, explore, and go back to America (so i wont get screwed, i got japanese relatives). I plan on actually living in Japan once i get ALOT better with writing in japanese( which probaby wont be for another 5-10 years, lmfao)

Thats good that you have a Japanese relative It will make the transition easier. You might want to think about taking some college course about asian history and Japanese language since there are so many levels to the language.

[NoemiChan]

l wanted to work in Japan and be an animator, though, that may be far from impossible...... l'm a nurse duh...!

[Guardian Enzo]

So, it's back to Japan for trip #3 at the end of March. The places I plan to hit this time that I haven't yet are Miyajima, Kiso Valley and Shibu Onsen (Yudanaka). Anyone have any advice for those areas?

[JC...]

Do people generally get drunk alot in Japanese cities/towns/villages? Is it less dangerous than many other countries at night? I hear there is a low crime rate.

What about dangerous insects and other animals.

And is it insulting to sleep in shrines?

[-Mad Skillz-]

Originally Posted by xKou

and not all of 'us' treat mexicans that way. Its only you racists that do.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Japanese culture is very racist. Taking the 'Mexican' analogy further; at least in America a fluent Mexican immigrant will eventually be accepted into society if they choose so....in Japan no matter how fluent you become, how long you've been there, you'll always be a Gaijin on a wide-scale level. Go look up some Youtube channels of people that have been living there for years; most of them are very fluent and adapted into the culture and yet still face discrimination.

[Evil_Sephiroth]

ok......i'm here...i'm preparing for a 30 day stay in japan.

Don't know if april/may or october.

And if possible, i have to say..I want try to find a way to don't came back here...

I have various friend that live in Japa....one that have an Italian restaurant in Tokyo .... and one married with a japanese woman....

Mmmmh if we want talk about dreams....I want to work fo RE Amemiya XD (here i'm a mechanic too)

[Evil_Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by -Mad Skillz-

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Japanese culture is very racist. Taking the 'Mexican' analogy further; at least in America a fluent Mexican immigrant will eventually be accepted into society if they choose so....in Japan no matter how fluent you become, how long you've been there, you'll always be a Gaijin on a wide-scale level. Go look up some Youtube channels of people that have been living there for years; most of them are very fluent and adapted into the culture and yet still face discrimination.

where there isn't discrimination?

Sometimes there are discrimination beetween people of same nationality... (in Italy between Nord and South citizens)

[Lenne]

I was there for 8 weeks since I have family there.. It was fun and want to go back but haven't really had much time lately..

Originally Posted by -Mad Skillz-

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Japanese culture is very racist. Taking the 'Mexican' analogy further; at least in America a fluent Mexican immigrant will eventually be accepted into society if they choose so....in Japan no matter how fluent you become, how long you've been there, you'll always be a Gaijin on a wide-scale level. Go look up some Youtube channels of people that have been living there for years; most of them are very fluent and adapted into the culture and yet still face discrimination.

I was there and everyone thought I was Japanese and spoke to me but this was before I could speak it so I was like yea that's just great.. But I'm not Japanese

[Mystique]

Originally Posted by -Mad Skillz-

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Japanese culture is very racist. Taking the 'Mexican' analogy further; at least in America a fluent Mexican immigrant will eventually be accepted into society if they choose so....in Japan no matter how fluent you become, how long you've been there, you'll always be a Gaijin on a wide-scale level. Go look up some Youtube channels of people that have been living there for years; most of them are very fluent and adapted into the culture and yet still face discrimination.

My answer got long so I moved it to the 'Japanese culture' thread
It's not so much a racist thing (since they discriminate on all foriegners, lol).

Originally Posted by Lenne

I was there for 8 weeks since I have family there.. It was fun and want to go back but haven't really had much time lately..
I was there and everyone thought I was Japanese and spoke to me but this was before I could speak it so I was like yea that's just great.. But I'm not Japanese

But you ethnically look Asian alike them and have family in Japan, despite being born in America all your life?

Then you're Japanese and a long lost relative to them.
The end. xD
I have a Chinese American living here who's really getting some serious issues on that compared to me who happily fits in the 'gaijin' box on sight.

More explaination in my link above

[Khu]

I am going to Japan on a school trip these holidays.

I have ONE AFTERNOON IN AKIHABARA.

THIS MAY RANGE FROM 2 - 4 HOURS.

HOW SHOULD I SPEND MY TIME, AND MY WALLET MONEY. (assume that I have infinite money for the moment.)

[mindovermatter]

Originally Posted by Khu

I am going to Japan on a school trip these holidays.

I have ONE AFTERNOON IN AKIHABARA.

THIS MAY RANGE FROM 2 - 4 HOURS.

HOW SHOULD I SPEND MY TIME, AND MY WALLET MONEY. (assume that I have infinite money for the moment.)

I've only been to Akihabra once, but I spent my afternoon there just walking around and going into random stores. I found that to be very rewarding, because going into a store, you never know what you'll find. Anime figurines were still relatively expensive, 700-800yen for a small school rumble plastic model, and 200yen for one of those cell phone charms.
What sort of school trip is it?

[Khu]

Kyoto, Tokyo, Disneyland, Osaka, mainly.