http://forum.gaijinpot.com/ Work in Japan, Live in Japan: Japan Job, Life, Love, Hints, Tricks en Wed, 22 May 2013 01:56:11 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forum.gaijinpot.com/images/misc/rss.png http://forum.gaijinpot.com/ http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125261-Amity-or-Interac-or-ECC&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 01:46:56 GMT Hi everyone!

I am new here and it's nice to meet you all!

I'm getting ready for interviews with all 3 companies. I'm nervous be excited at the same time. Just wondering if anyone has worked for any of the companies and may have some tips or some stories. I been trying to read a lot about these companies online but a lot of it is out dated.

Hope to hear back from some people! I really want to teach in Japan, just need to get offered the job and make sure it's a good company.


Thanks! ]]> Teaching Jobs Sailormoon555 http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125261-Amity-or-Interac-or-ECC http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125260-Club-Buddies&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 01:36:57 GMT Hello all,

I'm starting this thread to find some like-minded guys/girls to hit the clubbing or bar scenes in Tokyo.
My profile: late 20s, Asian, speaks proper English and conversational Japanese, relatively attractive
(its important in clubs, no intention to self-praise).

Anybody interested?

Fish ]]> Fffish http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125260-Club-Buddies http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125259-English-Schools-that-Cater-to-Businessman&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 00:37:13 GMT Does anyone know of any language schools in the Tokyo area that cater primarily to businessmen? Does anyone know of any language schools in the Tokyo area that cater primarily to businessmen? ]]> Career Discussion Paull_Va http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125259-English-Schools-that-Cater-to-Businessman http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125258-Best-way-to-take-money-with-you-when-moving-to-Japan&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 20:35:47 GMT Hello again.

I have tried to use the search function on this forum to look for information on this but it sucks. Or I suck. Either way it didn't lead me anywhere useful.

Anyway. What would be the best method of taking money with me when I move over to Japan? I'm sure some of you have first hand experience of this.

Obviously I'll bring some cash but I need to bring �’2000/3000 to see me through the first couple of months before my first pay check and don't really feel safe bringing all that in cash... My pre-departure guide (provided by the company) isn't really that helpful as it seems to put a downer on all the methods it mentions. Yay. It mentions travellers checks which seem a bit of a hastle. It also suggests using a credit card, although I do not currently have one (anyone recommend a good one for using abroad?). It also mentions using your debit card although the last time I tried to use mine abroad it got blocked despite warning my bank that I was going on holiday. I'm with Natwest. I've also looked at preloaded traveler's cards, which work a little like credit cards but you load them up with funds and can only spend what is on the card.

Any advice/ help/ past experiences would be greatly recieved.

Thanks. ^-^ ]]> Coming to Japan Hayley Desu http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125258-Best-way-to-take-money-with-you-when-moving-to-Japan http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125257-Living-in-Sapporo-Changing-from-a-working-holiday-visa-to-a-working-visa&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 14:34:28 GMT I'm currently living in Sapporo and am 4 months into my working holiday visa. I came here to live with my girlfriend who's originally from here.
I'd like to stay up until the end of next year but am currently trying to work out all of the technicalities concerning visas.
I'm already aware that the idea of 'self-sponsorship' doesn't exist as far as immigration is concerned, and that I apparently already need to have a working visa to be able to self sponsor for another one. Full time work is very hard to come by in Sapporo, the vast majority of foreigners make up their income by taking multiple jobs.
As it stands I work 2 part time jobs and my main boss has instructed me to take on another to increase my monthly income to the threshold required to be able to qualify for another visa starting next year. She believes the threshold is 170,000 yen, but I've also heard that it might well be 200,000, but I don't think she's accounted for the fact that I have a working holiday visa, not a full working visa.

Even if I'm able to increase my salary to the required amount, this still doesn't clear up my issue concerning how I apply for the work visa if I cannot 'self sponsor' from a working holiday visa.
I've heard hundreds of times about the spousal visa but I'm not quite ready for that yet.

I'm fully qualified as far as teaching is concerned, with an undergrad degree/ trinity level TESOL and 3 years experience. I've also heard they may look at this in the process of visa renewal. I also work as a freelance designer, and I've heard I may be able to take a different type of visa which is inclusive of this.

So to summarize:
My main boss has said she will be my signatory/sponsor (promising to fulfill the role of supplying me with the largest part of my monthly income on paper) for getting a work visa, but does this system still work if you only have a working holiday visa?
Does anyone know what the actual 2013 income threshold is for being able to apply for a work visa if you don't have a full time employer?

Big thanks in advance to anyone who can provide me with any new info on this. It's very difficult to find exact details. ]]> Matt2012 http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125257-Living-in-Sapporo-Changing-from-a-working-holiday-visa-to-a-working-visa http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125256-Suspicious-Model-Agency&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 13:23:27 GMT Hello everyone,

most people know its weird when an Model Agency asks you for tons of Money before you even got a single Job to do, especially in Japan.
I had a GroupAudition in Fukuoka - in wich pretty much the Agency just explained itself and then thrown some "now everyone show us how you walk" farce.
(why would it matter how someone walks if he/she applies for a newsanchorjob or such?)
Anyway two days later I received a call from them that I "made it". They then told me to visit them on a specific date and bring with me my Hanko and bankcard
aaaand 4Man (40000Yen).
Well on the day of the Audition they DID explain that if we "make it" we will have to pay them 4Man for some freakin photobook they will make (i can do this for like 20Yen)
and to put some pics of me up on their internetpage. Also about 2 of those 4Man are for some "lessons")

When I tell this tale to Japanese they reply that its "normal" and totally the way to go if you want to be a Model, Actor, Idol, TVGuy, etc.
That there are those Agencies who demand money just to enter an Audition (wich are the Suspicious kind you never see anything from again)
And the "real" ones where you have to pay like 4Man just to create some freaking Photobook.
Are those Japanese I ask for real? Is this the actual System of Model Agencies in Japan? How they work?
So those 4Man are justified?

btw...here the Link to this Agency (I personally can only talk Japanese but not read Kanji, so no idea whats written there)

elegant (DOT) jp.net/

Thanks for reading
kind regards ]]> Other Lines of Work TheScratcher http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125256-Suspicious-Model-Agency http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125255-Airsoft-in-Nagoya&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 11:30:55 GMT Hello everyone! I am new here and will be in Nagoya Japan from August 5th on a working holiday visa for one year. I was wondering if anyone takes an interest in the sport Airsoft? If so then where can i buy gear? Where can i play? Hello everyone!

I am new here and will be in Nagoya Japan from August 5th on a working holiday visa for one year. I was wondering if anyone takes an interest in the sport Airsoft? If so then where can i buy gear? Where can i play? ]]> General Discussion WrathToD http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125255-Airsoft-in-Nagoya http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125254-I-messed-up-leaving-Japan-owing-Taxes-Appreciate-advice&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 11:09:16 GMT Hi Guys I would really appreciate any genuine replies. What happened, is that a few years ago, when the financial crash was in full swing, I lost my job in Japan, and despite my best efforts at the time, was not able to obtain another position. I hung on for as long as I could, for around six... Hi Guys I would really appreciate any genuine replies.
What happened, is that a few years ago, when the financial crash was in full swing, I lost my job in Japan, and despite my best efforts at the time, was not able to obtain another position. I hung on for as long as I could, for around six months, eventually completely running out of money, so that I didn�ft even have the money to pay my rent or food etc. At that stage, panicking I would be kicked out on the street by my Japanese landlord, I left the country, unwillingly, as I felt I had no other option. I had just enough money left from one random teaching gig, to help pay for my airfare home, and that was it then.
Anyway, at that time, I had some city taxes that were due. I maybe have ward taxes too, but am not sure - I am a bit confused about that, so will need to sort that when I go back on a holiday visa and try to sort out payment with the city office. If it helps to clarify, I had been living in japan for almost six years, when I left.
At the moment, my thinking is to go back at some stage on a holiday visa, and try to sort out these old taxes – go into the ward office and just pay it off, assuming it is not a mind-bogglingly huge sum.

What I wanted to ask is – if someone returns to japan after an absence of some years, is it possible for them to obtain a new work visa, given that they still owe city (and maybe ward) taxes, and even national health insurance payments?
Of course I can stay in my own country, saving money, until I have a fairly big chunk that I can return on holiday visa with, and pop into the government office and pay it off (assuming the bill is not too crazy big).
But I am also wondering if it would be possible for me to go back there, look for a job, and try to obtain a new work visa, and then live over there, paying off my old debts and arrears. I realize that the ward office/govt attitude may be �ewell you didn�ft pay your taxes, so you don�ft get a new work visa�f. My thinking is that if I am earning there, then I can use my earnings there to pay off my debts there faster, and so by giving me a work visa, they would also be helping me to clear my debts faster and therefore pay them back faster. However I appreciate government rules are often inflexible, so they might not see it the same way.
If anyone can advise me on this, I would really appreciate it very much. I am obviously going to sort this and pay off these old debts, otherwise I wouldn�ft even be worrying about it, and trying to find out my options. But I would also really appreciate the knowledge of any experienced old hands there, who might know the law, or have heard of similar experiences/situations from other people, or who might have any helpful advice that I can consider.
If you think it is possible to get a work visa, even though old back taxes are still owing, then I might come over and try to look for work. Otherwise I will have to wait in my country, slowly saving up, till I have a big enough chunk to hopefully pay it all off.

So specifically what I am asking is:
Can I obtain a new work visa in-country, when I still have outstanding taxes from a few years ago (when I left the country, still owing those taxes).

For any genuine replies, I really appreciate your time and help. Thank you!! ]]> SmartlyDressedMan http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125254-I-messed-up-leaving-Japan-owing-Taxes-Appreciate-advice http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125253-Temporary-Work-in-the-Summer&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 04:55:30 GMT I've been teaching ESL for the past 5 years in Southern California, but I've never had the opportunity to teach abroad. I'm going to visit my in-laws in Tokyo this summer, so I'd like to try and get some short-term work while I'm there. Does anyone have any advice on how one might go about doing this? Is it even possible? I saw a few postings on O-Hayo for temporary jobs from July to August.

Right now, I'm planning on applying for a work visa through the Japanese consulate after which I will go to Japan and look for something while I'm in the country. Is this a sound strategy? Any advice will be appreciated. ]]> Career Discussion Paull_Va http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125253-Temporary-Work-in-the-Summer http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125252-Is-Japan-xenophobic&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 04:32:16 GMT This thread is directed at the Society of Latter-Day Japan apologists. Won't name any users, you know who you are.

Do you guys really think Japan is not xenophobic? If so, how long have you been here? ]]> Relationships iidesune http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125252-Is-Japan-xenophobic http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125251-Who-isi-this-guy&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 04:21:41 GMT Brenton McGrath Who is this guy?? And why does he show up in my news feed? Brenton McGrath

Who is this guy?? And why does he show up in my news feed? ]]> Relationships hand that feeds you http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125251-Who-isi-this-guy http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125250-Mike-s-English-School&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 04:17:24 GMT Does anyone have any experience with the above school? Their location is perfect for me (I want to be in Tokyo to study with the JKA as I am a karate-ka) but with a starting salary of 240,000 going up to 255,000 after 3 months I'm concerned I'll find living costs hard to deal with.

I don't have any kind of TESOL but have a BA in liberal arts and one year ESL teaching experience in Thailand (will be 18 months when I intend to travel there). I am also a native English speaker (UK passport)

I do not have a Job offer yet I'm looking at prospective employers.

Any comments appreciated. ]]> Teaching Jobs Troguk http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125250-Mike-s-English-School http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125249-26-too-old-for-getting-a-job-in-Japan&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 02:46:38 GMT *First of all i�Lm from South America, my english is no so good but still practice please avoid that.* Hi Months ago i made a commentary about i will like travel for work and living in Japan as a graphic designer, sadly my study the career i did in institute and not in a university so i don�Lt... *First of all i�Lm from South America, my english is no so good but still practice please avoid that.*

Hi

Months ago i made a commentary about i will like travel for work and living in Japan as a graphic designer, sadly my study the career i did in institute and not in a university so i don�Lt have a bachellor degree, and that is the most important requirement for a visa work. My best option would validate in a university, continue my studies for 2 or 3 years and get the bachellor degree but in that days, looking some information in some pages about Japan i found something very interesting, the information about pay for each career.
Realizing that a graphic designer salary is 200 000 yenes and have a low percent of job posting, i decided study another career. The good part of this is i still can validate my first career and i will have a special category of pension (no much difference between the institute and the university in terms of $$). The bad part as a new career i still worry and waiting for the answer about how much courses ared validated, will take me probably 4 years (take some courses in the summer). I�Lm very excited about this new career that i will study, think really will help me professionally here, in Japan or in whatever country, especially because even this days i have bad luck to find a job as graphic designer, people think i'm still young and i have not enough experience.

The whole point is when all this is over (if move like i plan) i will have 26 o 27 years old and two professional careers but concerned me that age be considered "old" in terms for looking a job in Japan. With 24 would be more quiet, also i have planned have two years of experience work combining the two careers (1 year one and 1 year the another, something like that) and japanese lvl N4 (the next year begin learning japanese).

So guys with all this, think i�Lm still have a chance to get a job in Japan?, with that age, the experience of work, the level N4 and in the three months of visa tourist?.

At what age the japanese finish the university?

PD: The new career is Marketing. ]]> Coming to Japan J_TK http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125249-26-too-old-for-getting-a-job-in-Japan http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125248-Tennis&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 01:24:32 GMT Hi,

Looking for some fellow tennis players to have a regular hit with. I'm probably around a 3.5-4.0 NTRP level at the moment. Been playing for years, but have had a long layoff and looking to get back into tennis seriously again :)

Im 32yo and enjoy playing singles. Living in Yokohama, but willing to travel for some good tennis practice! :) ]]> General Discussion 13Beast http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125248-Tennis http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125247-Iphone-5-Case-Study-(Iphone-4-4S-black-sim)&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 01:19:34 GMT Alright guys, its been a while since i posted any case studies. With work and all, sheesh!!! Anyhoo lets get down to business. The title of this thread states, I am going to be outlining what i went through while trying to get my iphone 4 sim card to work with my iphone 5. Both phones are... Alright guys, its been a while since i posted any case studies. With work and all, sheesh!!!

Anyhoo lets get down to business.

The title of this thread states, I am going to be outlining what i went through while trying to

get my iphone 4 sim card to work with my iphone 5. Both phones are from softbank. I really dont want to get

into deep details but i will make sure to state the punchlines.


Alright, My adventure began when the iphone 5 first debuted on the softbank network. This was like almost one year

ago from today. I began to study the specifics of the nano sim. fast forward to last week sunday.


I took the plunge and bought an iphone 5 16Gb white from an online store called phile mobile i think?? its cost me about 50grand.

Ok hold up. You might be thinking. Why did you have to spend so much money on a phone?? why go thru all these stress??

why not just go to a softbank shop and change your contract??


I will answer your questions in one huge sentence, chill out!!!


I spent all that money because it was the cheapest way for me to use the iphone 5 minus LTE (more on that later)

if i were to change my contract, i would have to pay full price which is about 83grand. I can get access to some sort

of discount which would bring the cost to about 35grand but would need a creditcard to hook that up (which i do not want to use)

Ok this is getting too long plus i do not have much time.


My iphone 5 arrived on Sunday along with the nano sim cutter. You would that it would be that easy to just slice your micro sim and

slot it into your iphone 5. Well folks, it doesnt work that way. I put my micro sim card into the cutter but i ended up destroying the sim.

I had to get a replacement sim from softbank yesterday which cost me 2grand. I learnt my lesson.


So i got home, grab a pic of what a nano sim should look like. took a scissors and cut my microsim to the specific size.

Tried fitting in my the iphone 5, no dice. So i cut and filed some more and boom, perfect fit.


Now came the moment of truth. I was faced with the possibility of going back to softbank to get another sim. I dreaded that btw.

Switched on the phone, the phone was in a factory setup state. I went through the setup. I didn't see any signal. I panicked.

Then just as i was about to give up and put the shame curtains, softbank 3G popped up. Yay!!! I finally did it.


Now alot of things dont work yet so watch out for part 2 ]]> moonraker http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125247-Iphone-5-Case-Study-(Iphone-4-4S-black-sim)