First job, Things to think about

[Dio]

Ok so I finally got my visa trough and I'm heading to fukuoka for my first game related work in japan.
I have worked at many western studios, and I'm not new to Japan, but still want to check for pointers
regarding working in Japan, as that is quite new to me.

So anything that might surprise me? western studios vs japanese studios that is,
and things to watch out for and be extra careful about.

[twelvedown]

Ok so I finally got my visa trough and I'm heading to fukuoka for my first game related work in japan.
I have worked at many western studios, and I'm not new to Japan, but still want to check for pointers
regarding working in Japan, as that is quite new to me.

So anything that might surprise me? western studios vs japanese studios that is,
and things to watch out for and be extra careful about.

You'll probably be the boy who fetches tea for the first 2 or three years but after that you may get to polish the keyboards.

[Dio]

Well they would have to reconsider that if thats the case :P I would be terrible at it.

If that really was the case though I will be a very expensive coffee boy,
and quite a waste of knowledge hehe.

[Effected After]

Well they would have to reconsider that if thats the case :P I would be terrible at it.

Two years of practice will change that!

If that really was the case though I will be a very expensive coffee boy,
and quite a waste of knowledge hehe.

While twelvedown was (I assume) joking, the other side of that is that if it turned out to be true, I wouldn't be shocked. Japanese companies aren't always the most logical when it comes to cost/output calculations. After all - everyone needs tea.

[Dio]

Well I do recognize this would be true for some work categories, but wouldn't that be for un experienced people? kids coming directly from college etc?

Don't think it will be the case, as we have already gone trough what I'll be doing, and at the same time
coming from working at productions like Battlefield 3 and Bioshock infinite, etc, to a much more small scale company and project,
I would feel pretty bad If that's what they expect from me.

Although It's not like I would throw it in their face, Would be kinda nice to switch the brain off and make some coffee for a while.

[Effected After]

It probably won't happen. I'd be surprised (just not shocked). It may very well be your job anyways as the new guy, but it's not like it takes all day to make tea.

Don't place any assumptions on how you think business works in your country as to how things will be run in Japan. You may find the style is similar to what you are used to, but that would be a rare-case situation. Japanese companies do things a lot differently.

The problem with trying to give you ideas on how it will be is that every company is different, and most of us haven't been working in the game industry to be able to tell you what gaming companies are like in Japan. I used to have a friend who worked for a few different gaming companies, and all I know is that he kept a futon at the office, because he ended up sleeping there lots.

[Genkii]

Ok so I finally got my visa trough and I'm heading to fukuoka for my first game related work in japan.
I have worked at many western studios, and I'm not new to Japan, but still want to check for pointers
regarding working in Japan, as that is quite new to me.

So anything that might surprise me? western studios vs japanese studios that is,
and things to watch out for and be extra careful about.

What western companies you worked for?