US Man can't find work! Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Aloha, You've heard this a thousand times. But I'd like to find a job. I am from Hawaii and my wife is Japanese. Because her parents became ill, we moved to Japan so she can take care of them. I am looking for work. But, because I don't speak Japanese very well it is very hard to find work. Teaching English is probably not the best thing for me. Besides I am still trying to get a copy of my college degree in FL. I have a talent for negotiating the best deals with suppliers in the US. I was a manager of a chain of 5 coffee shops in Hawaii. in Hawaii. I am well connected in the restaurant industry there as well. We live in farm country 40 minutes from Nagano city. I am willing to move to Nagano, Nagoya, Osaka, or Tokyo.
Any ideas would be great
Thanks
Tony

[trip_hop]

Starbucks are closing branches due to poor business! But you are in Japan, not the US, so your negotiating skills there are not worth much here. Try applying for F&B services to the local hotels such as Associa in Nagoya, who might like the appeal of a foreign staffer.

In the meantime learn some key Japanese phrases for the industry , teach and have your wife browse local papers for jobs. Try local bars and restaurants, pay is not much, but it is a job, and it will give you EXPERIENCE in Japan.

[Glenski]

I agree with TH. You are going to have to learn a whole new way of negotiating. Try learning some basic business etiquette tips (Japanese Business Etiquette), and read as much as you can about how the Japanese do business. Learn from your wife's family and friends, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply. I will keep looking, chin up and smilin :) Meantime there is Ebay
Tony

[magdalen]

Hi Tony,
I agree with the others that you should get some experience of Japan. But once you have the basic social and language skills, why not take advantage of your special status to start your own small restaurant since you already have the managerial experience, especially if you're planning to stay long-term. It's A LOT easier for a foreigner to start a small business when married to a local and I'm sure she can give you good advice.

And don't let the closing of Starbucks discourage you (sorry Trip Hop, to contradict you on this): coffee is a ritual to be savoured slowly in a pretty ceramic cup, not something to consume in a hurry in a plastic one. It comes as no surprise to me that coffee as a fast-food concept doesn't work in Japan: taking the "luxury" out of the coffee experience is like taking it out of a Louis Vuitton handbag...It's not coffee itself the Japanese want to buy, but the lure of the fashionability of European tradition.
Which all boils down to knowing a lot about your customers and their mentality before taking the jump: Japanese are NOT Americans!

This said, they are dotty about food, and exotic food is much in demand, especially if it has connotations with something the Japanese don't have at home, in your case the lure of the tropics. Why not a little restaurant specialising in Hawaiian dishes with luring decor to match? Japanese are also dotty about design: if you do a good job of the interior, and the food is good, my guess is you'll attract customers (as long as you serve alcohol mind you...). And the fact that you are Hawaiian will make the whole experience seem more authentic, a definite plus. But you will have to move to at least a medium size city, I can't see those country obaasans (grandmas) going out for a Hawaiian night!

On this subject, there is a Swiss guy in Hida Takayama who opened a fondue restaurant. Despite the fact that Japanese normally hate smelly cheese (I've had Japanese friends visiting me in Switzerland and nearly fainting in fondue restaurants), it's just so exotic to them that apparently his business is doing well anyhow!(as far as I know, he's been there quite a few years). I've forgotten his name but his restaurant is listed in Lonely Planet so maybe you can get some tips from him.
Best of luck

[magdalen]

Oh, and another thought I forgot to mention: the demise of Starbucks is most certainly also linked to the American product boycott that began amongst consumers almost world-wide with this year's Gulf war.

[EW]

Well, those consumers have succeeded in putting a lot of their own local natives out of work. Way to go! *That'll* show them capitalistic pigs! (rolls eyes)

[Hiyodori]

"the demise of Starbucks is most certainly also linked to the American product boycott that began amongst consumers almost world-wide with this year's Gulf war."

Demise!? If that's true, why is it so hard to find a seat at Starbucks branches near work (central Tokyo) and near home (in the countryside)? Not trying to be a SB booster, but when I do find a seat, it's quite possible to linger quietly over a nice ceramic cup of coffee.
Cheers

[Anonymous]

american product boycot...in Japan? umm, since when?

Starbucks is having a hard time in Japan due to the fact they expanded too quickly and now have too many branches, some competing against each other. Plus the swarms of lookalike me-too shops that want a piece of the pie. The gulf war came a long time after they started suffering a down turn in business...

[Anonymous]

Not to give free advertising, but....

The Swiss restaurant in Takayama that Magdalen mentions is called Tom's Bellgins Bell. I ate there during my stay in Takayama and really enjoyed it. Tom is also an interesting guy to chat with.

[magdalen]

Well some seem to think Starbucks is having a hard time, TH for example to whom I had responded, while others like Hiyodori say they're always packed. Who to believe? You may be right "question" about there not being much American business boycot in Japan. I've been out of the country for work for over 6 months so I can only judge by what I hear from others or extrapolate from Europe where anti-American sentiment has been very strong, so I may be wrong. Anyway, it was just a thought. I do still believe though, Hiyodori, that Starbucks doesn't really fit with the coffee aesthetic outside of North America. You may have observed that even in cities with a small gaijin population the ratio of N.American customers to Japanese is disproportionately high.

[Anonymous]

Quiz: who runs Starbucks in Japan?

[trip_hop]

Being packed does not necessarily mean doing good business. People sitting for hours with one cooling cup of coffee are not good for revenue, hence the price of the old fashioned coffee shop. The Japan Times newspaper was my reference for "bad business" with the reporter telling of Starbucks closing 6 branches in an attempt to improve profitability.

The 4-5 branches I know of in Kanagawa are often full with younger Japanese, especially ladies, who make a lot of noise but eat and drink little. Service is similar to Macdonalds, with the same kind of vacuous Johnny No-Stars and Suzy Lunchbox types behind the counter; whilst the ritual of buying the cakes and coffee, then finding spoons, sugar and other accoutrements, then perching them on unstable wooden poles or tables is quite tedious.

Personally, I would prefer a darker, quieter type of coffee shop - like the one in Asagaya, whose manager always puts a few drops of brandy in the coffee.

th

SB - CEO is Yuji Tsunoda.

[Anonymous]

Not sure about the CEO but I know that is run by Sazaby.

[Hiyodori]

TH, I guess that I must just be lucky in my choice of SB locations. Surprisingly knowledgeable and courteous staff, relaxing and subdued interior, quiet enough to enjoy the music If only their food was not so poor... I'm sure I would have a similar opinion as you, though, if my experiences were limited to the SB in Omiya station, which I had the misfortune to visit last month while waiting to meet a business contact. Much worse than your description!

Once the fad dies down, I bet that we'll all be glad for the additional choices available when you want to get a cup of coffee. High end coffee houses or Doutur just seems to be too limiting. Now, if I happen to have reason to be in Asagaya someday, and should I be lucky enough to find your secret hideout, should I tell the manager that "TH sent me!"?

Magdalen, I don't see the anti-American sentiments you refer to here in Japan, so it must be on a much smaller scale than in Europe. SB just expanded too rapidly, much more quickly than they initially intended. Happens all the time in almost all industries, though people operating trendy shops never seem to learn. By the way, there are around 130,000 people in the city where I live, and just over 850 non-Japanese at last count. Even less in the next town over in the neighboring prefecture, and I'm usually the only obvious North American in either SB. Once in a while another non-Asian face, though. In my limited experience at only a few locations, only visiting once a week or so, my observations differ from yours. I wouldn't be surprised if things are different in Europe, however. Is SB trying to seriously penetrate the European market? All this talk about "sutaba" makes me want to avoid coffee for the rest of the day.
Cheers

[Anonymous]

Interesting where this topic has gone.
I went to culinary school and worked in the coffee industry in Seattle and Hawaii for the past 11 years. Last I was the operations manager of five coffee shops in Hawaii.
I want to open a internet/Wifi coffee shop here. But unable to find a sutible location. My idea is simple. Free wireless internet to members or 1/2 hour free with each espresso drink. Does anyone know a good location near high school, college, or Station that is empty?
Tony

[magdalen]

Tony, yes your question seems to have triggered quite a debate.

Your cafe´ sounds like a good idea but depending which city you're in you might face some tough competition. Popeye media cafe´ for example (I don't know if they're a chain or not), in Fukuoka, offers 24hr opening, comfy sofas in private cubicles with game and work equipment, smoking and non-smoking with good ventilation for everyone's comfort, cubicles fitted with massage chairs, free all you can drink soft drinks, coffee, tea, and instant soup, as well as snacks, alcoholic beverages and smalll meals to order brought to your cubicle, a large selection of printed media as well as games, and even offers blankets and alarm clocks for those who want to crash out on their sofa, disposable toothbrushes and other bathroom essentials in the toilet for when you wake up.... The lot for a very reasonable hourly rate and the service is very helpful.
I'm not trying to give free publicity here, but it had to be said, so be sure to check out the competition first.

Hiyodori, I really don't know much about Starbuck's plans in Europe. I've seen them in London, but I haven't travelled much in Europe recently so I couldn't tell you. About anti-American sentiment in Europe, it is mainly aimed at the Bush administration and things associated with "American cultural Imperialism": McDonald's and the like, though I couldn't give you the stats of how much business they've lost and where.
Other Americans, like Michael Moore, have never done better in Europe : )

cheers

[magdalen]

Tony, sorry, I forgot an important point: Popeye's and the like aren't wireless however, so you may have a good one.

[EW]

I've a question about the wireless cafes...

are those set up so you can use your own notebook? how do they keep non-customers out of the network?

any techies here?

[magdalen]

The idea is you can use your own notebook. In London's Hyde Park you can now sit around on the grass and brouse the web on Wi-fi set up by the park authorities. Veeeery nice to browse in a green rather than grey setting!

I've heard that wireless networks can be used up to 500 meters although the official range is only 100 meters across, 30 meters high. This could pose a problem for a cafe´, as people could theoretically just sit out on the sidewalk and pump your network (or on their balcony directly above you) which beyond a certain capacity (what capicity depends on the provider) would increase your bill. Obviously places like Hyde park must pay for a larger maximum capacity than a private household.

A few people on the sidewalk wouldn't make a difference, but if it started to be hoards, which is VERY unlikely at this stage of development, you might need to call the police or have bouncers to kick them off your turf.

In the end, everybody will get thirsty anyway and want a comfy place to sit with a coffee, so I don't think its a big problem.

I got most of this info from my husband, he's the techie.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is for customers with their own notebooks. I'll have Cozy couches, only a few cubicles (Yuck). Muffins, pastries, and Harder boose in the evening. Other food depending on the size of the place. More less a hangout or suckem up and go to work kinda place. I've been to Popeyes. I used it allot for a while. But the one here is dirty, poor ventalation and terrible coffee. One tiny couch too. I brought my notebook in and no place to even connect. Still the same price just to sit on the sofa.
About keeping people from using the connection without paying. Just set-up a password to login. In many upperend hotels they have this service in the lobby. In Waikiki one hotel charges $9.00 a day problem is theirs is automated, and if you pay at 11PM you have to pay again after midnight.
If my cafe was near a station then this would be great for people on the way to work. Suck up a cup o joe check the email on the PDA and off you go. NEXT

[magdalen]

Sounds like a great idea Tony. And sounds like you don't have much competition from Popeyes in your area. It's true Popeyes doesn't have Wi-fi which can be inconvenient, but it's a good place to get away from the crouds and noise where I am. Can't say much for their coffee either though.

[Anonymous]

It really does sound like a fantastic idea but there's one thing that would make me nervous, and that's the competition from Japan's ubiquitous cell phones. Dropping by a coffee shop/wi-fi internet cafe on the way to work sounds very invitig to me (my heavy ancient laptop aside ;) ), but if most Japanese have already checked their mail on the morning commute using their cell phones, the wi-fi facilities might not be as big a draw as you hope - at least for the morning commute - leaving you to rely primarily on your coffee and aesthetic to bring in customers.

I wonder if there's any way that you could take advantage of the cell phone angle rather than be in competition with them -- some sort of datasharing network for the cell phones so customers could drop by and easily dump their cell phone email data to CD or hard copy? I guess that would take you further away from the coffee shop idea, though, and I also doubt that Docomo, J-Phone or Au are open enough with their standards that such data dumping could be easily accomplished.

Well, best of luck.

[magdalen]

Good point Alexis. Yikes I hadn't even thought of the celll phone problem.

(aside:Haha, thought you just said you didn't post here ; ) )

[Anonymous]

How do I stop the email replies to this thread? When I posted earlier, I accidently selected to get the replies sent to me by email.

Oh well, I'll try posting again with the checkbox unchecked.

[Kaonashi]

... the American product boycott that began amongst consumers almost world-wide with this year's Gulf war.

THIS YEAR'S Gulf War?! You mean, I've only been offline for a few hours and there's been another?

[Glenski]

Must be a record -- responding to a 6 year old thread.

[kurogane]

All it about the work and hard work. Please it go to the furniture show room and get good job for any designation


Also appliances are for making of much domestic happiness.

You are never to see a happy housewife without the 3 Sacred Jewels.

This is because.

[Mr SelfDestruct]

Aloha, You've heard this a thousand times. But I'd like to find a job. I am from Hawaii and my wife is Japanese. Because her parents became ill, we moved to Japan so she can take care of them. I am looking for work. But, because I don't speak Japanese very well it is very hard to find work. Teaching English is probably not the best thing for me. Besides I am still trying to get a copy of my college degree in FL. I have a talent for negotiating the best deals with suppliers in the US. I was a manager of a chain of 5 coffee shops in Hawaii. in Hawaii. I am well connected in the restaurant industry there as well. We live in farm country 40 minutes from Nagano city. I am willing to move to Nagano, Nagoya, Osaka, or Tokyo.
Any ideas would be great
Thanks
Tony

It's going to hard to take care of them from Tokyo et al.........