working illegaly in Japan

[Anonymous]

Is it feasible to find work in Japan despite the absence of a visa which allows it under the law?

(If yes,) Where should I start? What problems should I look out for (/expect to find)?

I am an 18 year old American (high school grad.) who would like to find work this summer (for at least a month or up to four between June and September) before I begin college. I have been studying Japanese for as long as I can remember and definitely feel confident speaking it in almost any context. I am willing to work almost any job, although I suppose that my particular situation fits me into the english teaching niche (but I can't know that for sure; correct me if I'm wrong).

I know that my request is an odd one.
Please ignore my directness and give me a hand if you can.
Thank You,
Dan Markoff

[panda]

No legitimate language school is going to hire an 18 year old with no visa and who only plans to stay a few months. It just isn't worth it for them. Your only hope would be to find informal jobs tutoring individuals. But, very few people are going to want to hire an 18 year old kid with no experience to tutor them.

Wait until after you graduate college and you'll have no problem. You can volunteer to tutor Japanese and other foreign students at your college in the mean time to get teaching experience to put on your resume. If you can't wait and are dead set on going to Japan this summer then be realistic and look on it just as a vacation. This means you will need enough money for a place to stay, food and transportation for as long as you want to stay. You might get lucky but you should absolutely not count on being able to make any money during your stay.

[Anonymous]

Dude,
yes, don't plan on making money, but the experience of living in a foreign country is well worth it. Check into a working holiday visa agreement that your country may have with japan.
Actually, I had no experience teaching, but quite a few people still hired me for tutoring English privately, it's all possible if you can sell yourself and, important, have the contacts.

[Anonymous]

Dan,

Get to college, go on a few exchange programs or summer trips (hey, these are what school loans are REALLY for), find yourself a Japanese girlfriend at college, go into your local Little Tokyo, and watch all the Japanese movies and tv shows you can get your hands on, because I am afraid that is the closest you are going to get to Japan until you can get a degree. I am not saying you CAN'T do it. I am saying, DO NOT SHORT CHANGE YOUR FUTURE!!! Your degree is EVERYTHING!!!! Do not be in such a hurry. Japan will be here when you get finished. I promise. I'll hold it in trust for you. Actually, if you are so eager to get here, I am surprised you didn't try for the YFU Program. It's perfect for high school students, who HAVEN'T graduated yet. That's how I came to Japan in '89. I was with the pilot program.

In any case, I would multimajor if I were you. Japanese and whatever else you want to do for your future. Computers, Business, Finance, Law, etc. There are plenty of excellent jobs waiting here for you. But finish school first. Trust me. I know you think I have no idea of what I am talking about, but you have to believe me. Experience does not lie.

In the MEANTIME!!!, to get your Japan Fix on, check out my site!!! I think you will find it interesting.

Best regards,
Made in DNA
--
Moped Ronin: Getting Around Japan Like Kaiten-zushi
http://sites.netscape.net/MopedRonin/

PS A good suggestion for a school system, is the CSU system. California State University. Long Beach and Domingo Hills (or is it Domingez???), ah heck, we just called it CalState Concrete, because there were no trees, have GREAT Japanese programs. Check them out. They are WORTH YOUR TIME!!! Even if you have already signed to a school. Like I said... don't short change your future.