I have been studying Japanese on my own for a number of years and would really like to spend 6 months to one year in a language school in the country to get my knowledge to an actually useful level (if not JLPT2 at least well on track to study for it on my own); unfortunately, while I do have some cash saved (around 6k EUR), I realize it isn't going to be nearly enough on its own.
What are the options available to get a part time job in Japan and, crucially, would it be possible to get something set up before leaving/finalizing applications to institutes?
I'm 22, Italian (working holiday visa isn't an option, unfortunately) and about to graduate from a four year IT related (Computer Games Technology) college degree in the UK.
I have three main reasons for wanting to go this route: first of all, I did visit Japan some 6 years ago for a couple of months (cultural exchange in high school) and really liked it; staying for a longer period while working should be a good way of understanding how the place is really like (I acknowledge there's a good chance I am seeing Japan through rose tinted glasses).
Secondly, good Japanese knowledge is going to be a requirement if I want to have a chance to work on my favorite game genres/series.
Finally, I haven't yet properly settled: having my parents home in Italy and not knowing where I might end up working (even just within the UK) meant I have been living off the content of a couple of suitcases in student accommodation; making a permanent move now (or at least laying the foundation for it) would be much simpler now than a number of years down the line with a furnished house. On a related note, the concentration of developers in the Tokyo region would reduce the need to relocate when job hopping (provided, of course, one could start working in the field there), as seems to be the norm in the industry.