What do you guys do in Japan?

[Taro Toporific]

I was wondering how you guys came upon the opportunity to go to Japan and what you work as??

I came to Japan by mistake.
I fix things.

I studied Chinese in college and dead-ended here because of a Chinese work visa flap. Waiting for my Godot-visa, Maybe-the-Largest Inc. noticed that all my linguistics research was computer related. So they pinned a metal on me, called me an "Expert" and asked me "fix things." That was 20 years ago, and I ain't even started to run out of fqarked up Japanese stuff to fix yet.

I fix bad software interfaces, mega-screwed websites, Engrish PR campaigns, Let's advertising, failed joint-venture projects, sqerlked up hardware prototypes, and one sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit-load of bad computer manuals.

If it's broke, I fix it. If ain't broke, I'll break it.

[GomiGirl]

hhhmm ramchop be careful, I was a chemistry major (organic synthetic chem) at university!! And everybody knows I am a babe!!

I left the labs after a few years as I kept blowing up the lab and myself.. one day I will realise the NaH and H2O are not good together..

There are always the notable exceptions and the exceptional notables. However, most of the females I've seen majoring in chemistry would probably be greatly enhanced by the odd explosion.

There were also very few prizes amongst the male students and faculty if I remember correctly..

[GomiGirl]

I fix bad software interfaces, mega-screwed websites, Engrish PR campaigns, Let's advertising, failed joint-venture projects, sqerlked up hardware prototypes, and one sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit-load of bad computer manuals.

Fantastic - should be more of it as I see some shocker manuals on a daily basis..

Do non-native English speakers realise things need to be fixed.. cos there seems to be no end to your supply materials..

[ramchop]

There were also very few prizes amongst the male students and faculty if I remember correctly..

You mean the Hollywood image of the dorky scientist is accurate?

Perhaps this is the real reason you left the field?

[kamome]

I was wondering how you guys came upon the opportunity to go to Japan and what you work as??

I came to Japan by mistake.
I fix things.

I studied Chinese in college and dead-ended here because of a Chinese work visa flap. Waiting for my Godot-visa, Maybe-the-Largest Inc. noticed that all my linguistics research was computer related. So they pinned a metal on me, called me an "Expert" and asked me "fix things." That was 20 years ago, and I ain't even started to run out of fqarked up Japanese stuff to fix yet.

I fix bad software interfaces, mega-screwed websites, Engrish PR campaigns, Let's advertising, failed joint-venture projects, sqerlked up hardware prototypes, and one sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit-load of bad computer manuals.

If it's broke, I fix it. If ain't broke, I'll break it.

I didn't come to Japan by mistake, but I sure do fix things: English. No matter what your credentials are, when you come to Japan, you wind up fixing English. And then getting a pay cut in violation of your employment contract for not spending enough hours fixing English.

Stay out of Japan. Start your career elsewhere.

From: Kamome, the ultimate fucked gaijin (not to be confused with bikkle)

[StickyRiceLover]

[Marked Trail]

... I've owned a bar, two dance clubs, car import business, IT consultancy, fitness club and have been involved in a variety of smaller ventures.

I really hear ya... Been there. Done that. RESET.


Forest Ranger, Marked Trail, Park Service education funding cut. RESET.

High school history/English teacher, ESL program cut.
RESET.

Just another English teacher in Japan until yesterday... school will close April 1.
RESET.

Soon to be a hairdresser! Let's all sing: "I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok..."

[sachi]

gomigirl - thx! you like inuyasha too? i just stole it off google image search ^_~

ramchop - actually I was wondering about the post doc thing. Not that I'm planning on getting a phD. Is a post doc like research? You're going to University in Japan?

Gaisaradatsuraku! - hehe I didn't really go to music school. I've just played for a long time (12 years) but I think I'd have to know the piano terms in Japanese before I teach!

sachi

[ramchop]

ramchop - actually I was wondering about the post doc thing. Not that I'm planning on getting a phD. Is a post doc like research? You're going to University in Japan?

A post doc is pure research. In my case I'm extremely fortunate. I had a contact in Japan, heard about the JSPS fellowship and asked him if he knew anybody. He put me in touch with a friend of his (this guy has many many friends including the friend of a brother of Fidel Castro!) who heads a department in a hopsital research institute. I just had to dream up a project that could be done in his lab and hey presto I'm a microbiologist!

The project is totally my own. There's very little pressure. The work is extremely rewarding and potentially useful (commercially and in a save the world kinda way). The PhD was pure hell (I nearly chucked it in half way through) but life now is very very good.

[sachi]

haha... I can't believe I missed a page of responses when I replied

wow gomigirl thx for all the responses! and everyone else too..

My dream (for a long time) has been to become an optometrist or a Veterinarian (I think I already told you guys that?). At the risk of sounding like a total idiot, is there chances to bring this type of career to Japan when I graduate? I mean, even through the big language barrier? (You said that you have met gaijin doctors?) Would any of you know anything about that. I wouldn't really pursue the researching, it's not really my thing. But you're so lucky you had the connections, ramchop ^_^

sachi

[ramchop]

My dream (for a long time) has been to become an optometrist or a Veterinarian

I think Gomi girl said something like "You're in college, you should be enjoying yourself". I couldn't agree more. Keep your options open and take a broad range of subjects initially is my advice. I didn't know what I wanted to do in my first year, and sort of drifted along aimlessly for a while.

University should help broaden your mind (in many aspects) not merely act as training for a specific profession. Enjoy yourself!

[Taro Toporific]

haha..
My dream (for a long time) has been to become an optometrist or a Veterinarian

Optometrist: Put on a rose colored set of lens and see the typical requirements for Japanese optometry.


Veterinarian: Japanese set-up costs for an office exceed 80 million yen and J-banks are loath to loan to an alien (setup costs even in North America is tough see below)

The American Veterinary Hospital Association says the student's debt load is a primary concern and also a major concern regarding veterinarians in rural areas. Buying into a practice can cost as much as $200,000 and most established practices cannot afford starting salaries of $30,000 to $35,000. Starting from scratch and building one's own facility can cost as much as $300,000 in building costs alone and when operating costs are added to this it becomes an impossibility to a young graduate 5 years after graduation making a salary of $45,000 to $50,000 a year.

[kamome]

Dear all who ignored my previous post:

Put away your pipe dreams about coming to Japan to start a career. In all likelihood it will ruin your future career prospects, unless you just want to do some English teaching for a while to make some $$$ while figuring out what you want to do with your life.

Japanese companies don't provide much training and do not know what to do with gaijin who have been hired laterally. Start your career at home, then after accumulating experience there, maybe come to Japan for a short secondment with guaranteed passage home after a fixed period. That's your best safeguard. Otherwise, you may become a permanent FG.

[cstaylor]

Things CAN be better than what Kamome says, but the old rule still applies: "if they can hire a local, they'll hire a local first", so you'd really need to have a skill that stands out over the resident population (fortunately, I'm a software developer, and since most of the cutting edge technology comes out in English first, I have a leg up on my local competition, most of whom are still using Visual Basic for their projects)

[sachi]

kamome - that's pretty good advice. thx!

I think I'll follow everyone's advice and just enjoy my schooling right now, and sometime in the future think about Japan again.

sachi

[kamome]

Things CAN be better than what Kamome says,

Yes, it can be better, but it appears that some people are thinking of hopping on the plane to Narita right after college graduation, and I'm saying that's a bad way to go. You are absolutely right that you have to already have a skill that the Japanese themselves don't have in order to be happy on the job here.

But even if you have that set of skills, it is my experience that you still wind up fixing English. I've seen it even with top guys that have come over from the US with decades of experience in their field.

[cstaylor]

I don't mind the translation, but it's a small company, so I don't have a line at my door (usually I get quick questions about slang some of the other employees see on T.V.)

[Big Booger]

I wonder how lucrative the import/export business is. I order from the FBC all the time... they must be turning a pretty penny???

:P
BB

[ramchop]

Yes, it can be better, but it appears that some people are thinking of hopping on the plane to Narita right after college graduation, and I'm saying that's a bad way to go.

I think hopping on a plane right after graduation is a fantastic way to go. If it all fails dismally career-wise then hell, it's only a few months/a year out of your life. One year off while you're young isn't going to do permanent damage to your career.

I wish I'd spent more than the 4 months backpacking around the world when I was smaller.

[kamome]

Yes, it can be better, but it appears that some people are thinking of hopping on the plane to Narita right after college graduation, and I'm saying that's a bad way to go.

I think hopping on a plane right after graduation is a fantastic way to go. If it all fails dismally career-wise then hell, it's only a few months/a year out of your life. One year off while you're young isn't going to do permanent damage to your career.

I wish I'd spent more than the 4 months backpacking around the world when I was smaller.

Depends on your career goals and timing. 4 months backpacking around Japan won't kill you, but starting a professional career here (which is the subject of this discussion) is not strategic career planning.

[Big Booger]

I think coming to Japan is good for you if you are laid back. If you are not, then you probably shouldn't come. I find that most gaijin who stick around and stay are laid back, or completely wacky, or both...

Most of the uptight shits, get fed up and leave ASAP...
BB

[sachi]

big booger - I think I know what you mean by that. All the gaijin that I've met here in Vancouver that have been to Japan are very friendly and talkative as well. I'm not so talkative, but I'm definitely laid back.

I forgot who it was, but someone quoted the prices for starting your own optometry clinic... Well, I don't even want to have my own business ^_^

sachi

[Taro Toporific]

I forgot who it was...

Me.

I forgot who it was, but someone quoted the prices for starting your own optometry clinic... Well, I don't even want to have my own business ^_^

RIGHT NOW, Costco Japan in Machida is hiring semi-bilinguals for their optometry clinic. Starting wage: 190,000 yen/m That's starvation wages for an FG. By semi-bilingual, they mean you should speak near-native Japanese and toy Engrish to talk to the Suits from the States.

Unless you own-your-own glass shop or go the MD path, crowded optometrics field not the easiest road to take in Japan.

----------
Find Costco Japan shopping info here.
Read more at TIME.
Also note that all you do-kettchi inanka FG can order Costco items online from TheFlyingPig.com for a fairly reasonable service charge. Please be aware that FlyingPig.com is not owned by Costco and their prices blow the Jesus freekaziods at FBC (Foreign Buyers' Club) into Kobe harbor.

[kamome]

I think coming to Japan is good for you if you are laid back. If you are not, then you probably shouldn't come. I find that most gaijin who stick around and stay are laid back, or completely wacky, or both...

Most of the uptight shits, get fed up and leave ASAP...
BB

Not sure what you mean by the above, but here's my take:

Many people who GO to Japan are laid back (and that includes me) and tend to be fairly nice people (there are exceptions of course).

Many (not all) people STAY in Japan because they have become unemployable in their home country or get married to a local.

Those who get out easily would be those who are here on fixed term contracts (English teachers and employees of foreign companies) and those who complete a tour of duty (military). Otherwise, it's easy to fall into a rut and become pigeon-holed as a "Japan hack".

I have heard and seen it many times--the longer you are here, the harder it is to go home. In fact, the other day I ran into a FG guy selling junk on the street who had been in Japan for more than a decade. I asked him why he was in Japan, and he said that he came for a 2-week vacation and wound up staying forever for the reason I mentioned above.

[Big Booger]

I'm saying if you come, and are laid back, you'll stay. If you are a tight ass, fuck brain, uneasy, etc.. You'll leave. Most of the people that come and go are not open to the differences and will kill to get out of here.

I am a laid back type, and could give two shits about anything.

I think being uptight here is a definite negative. You have to be flexible, well-rounded, and easy-going. This doesn't mean you screw off, and don't work, jack around etc... It just means you don't let shit build up and get to you..

That is all.

[Kurofune]

A few months after I arrived, an old American guy came up to me on the train and asked me what I was doing here. We started chatting, and turned out he had been here for 45 years (came over with the US Air Force, got into kendo, retired from the military and stayed here with his Japanese wife). He gave me a ton of advice. The two pieces I remember most are:

1. Japan is for the Japanese, not for us. If you work in the system, you probably won't get far. Do something outside the system. Start your own business if you can.

2. Make sure you know why you're here. If there comes a time that you don't have a reason, go home. If you stay here without a reason, this place will make you crazy.

Everybody's different, but that advice fit me perfectly. Many people I've shared it with agreed.