So you wanna work in Japan??? Before you can work in Japan, you have to be legal. There are ways to work here illegally, however it is not easy. I will go into further details regarding working without a permit later in this page. There are two steps to becoming legal:

1. Get a work visa.

2. Get an alien registration card.

The easiest way to get a work visa is to apply for a working holiday visa through your local Japanese Consulate office. Registration is pretty straight forward. In the links section, you will find a link to the website for the office in Toronto. Basically, you will need to fill out some paperwork, get a return ticket to Japan and show them $2500CAD in travelers cheques. Please visit their website for more information.

Once you have obtained your work visa and have arrived in Japan, you will need to visit the City Hall in your area to apply for your alien registration card. It takes about 2 weeks to receive the card, however they will give you paperwork to show potential employees while your waiting.

If you do not speak Japanese, there are not too many options for work here. Most likely you will find yourself searching for a teaching position, however there are other options. A great resource for job postings is the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers (J.A.W.H.M.). There are 3 locations I know of at the moment (Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyushu). I will update the links section with their website address as well. The people working there are extremely nice and speak a variety of different languages.

****Update****

After my acting debut flop, I started talking to people who told me, people with little to no Japanese ability can survive doing modeling and acting. You don`t need to be a Halle or Denzel either, but it would help. Apparently, there are agencies that are always looking, however if you can make enough money to survive over is doubtful.

About teaching, if your ever dire need of a job there is always GABA. It is probably one of the most popular English school franchises in Tokyo especially since NOVA died a few months back. This company will hire anyone with half a brain that speaks English fairly well. It has a serious corporate vibe and suit and tie is required. Although the school charges it`s students a ridiculous amount for lessons, teachers will only see a fraction. Pros -easy to get a job, extremely flexible scheduling, visa sponsorship available. Cons - dress code, pay rate, and the corporate bullsh!t. Still better the BMC (heed my advice and stay far away from this school!!!!!!!!)

I was going to write more information about teaching in Japan and working illegally, but because I have so much information to share, I will be creating a new page called “teaching” in the near future. Also, I hope to add more information for those who are looking for IT positions as well. If you cannot wait, you can always contact me. PEACE and good luck!

IMPORTANT NOTE:If you do not want to teach English, bring your Degree and/or Diploma. You will need this for obtaining a work visa and to register with some agencies.