Ive never been to college....

[ketchupkatsu]

I don't know if this is any help, but I have a friend who was absolutely crazy about soba, and traveled across Japan on vacation just to sample different soba shops. On one trip he got to talking to a shop owner who makes a locally famous soba, and convinced him to allow my friend to become his apprentice.

Don't know about all the visa arrangements and details, but I know my friend had to agree to apprentice for 5 years, and that all he could afford was a small room above the shop.

[kusai Jijii]

Japanese apprentice = SLAVE.
I bet your friend discovered the REAL Japan yeah? Is he still doing it? Is he still alive?

[Adhesive]

Some of you were very helpful and I appreciate it. Others were far less. Is my perspective really so offensive to you that you have to assault me with an array of insults just because I may not have the full understanding you have of Japan? I looked up the meaning of troll and it was to deliberately post false information for the sake of causing controversy getting attention and just being a dick. The things I asked were my honest perspective on the situation. Why the hell do people on forums always want to argue? If I asked one of you these questions in person I guarantee even if you thought some of them were stupid youd show me a million times more courtesy then you are doing online. Im 21 not 15. Im not a sexual pervert. Im not incapable of learning. Im a person who is interested in changing nationalities but faces a problem. I made mistakes in my life and didnt stay in school when I was younger. I want to change these things now.

To the person who said they were aware of a way I could get into fishing there. If you were being serious please tell me more. I am a hard worker and have experience Long Lining for both grouper and shark. I can haul and set gear, cut and bait hooks, make and fix gear. If theres anything to it I dont know already Ill bust my ass until I can do it right.

Also Im fairly talented at using most computer programs. Im a nerd at heart. So maybe if theres a way I could get a job in designing web content or graphics?

I dont know what else to say. If no one can help I understand and will search and find it on my own. I just figured being a forum about working in japan... people posting here would want to help me out and not kick me in the dick and laugh.

You have a good attitude, and, in all honesty, you sound like the type of person I'd be willing to hire given the opportunity. Naivete and a lack of education can be overcome, but people tend to cling to their shitty attitudes. Good luck in whatever you end up trying to do.

[GomiGirl]

Some of you were very helpful and I appreciate it. Others were far less. Is my perspective really so offensive to you that you have to assault me with an array of insults just because I may not have the full understanding you have of Japan? I looked up the meaning of troll and it was to deliberately post false information for the sake of causing controversy getting attention and just being a dick. The things I asked were my honest perspective on the situation. Why the hell do people on forums always want to argue? If I asked one of you these questions in person I guarantee even if you thought some of them were stupid youd show me a million times more courtesy then you are doing online. Im 21 not 15. Im not a sexual pervert. Im not incapable of learning. Im a person who is interested in changing nationalities but faces a problem. I made mistakes in my life and didnt stay in school when I was younger. I want to change these things now.

To the person who said they were aware of a way I could get into fishing there. If you were being serious please tell me more. I am a hard worker and have experience Long Lining for both grouper and shark. I can haul and set gear, cut and bait hooks, make and fix gear. If theres anything to it I dont know already Ill bust my ass until I can do it right.

Also Im fairly talented at using most computer programs. Im a nerd at heart. So maybe if theres a way I could get a job in designing web content or graphics?

I dont know what else to say. If no one can help I understand and will search and find it on my own. I just figured being a forum about working in japan... people posting here would want to help me out and not kick me in the dick and laugh.

You do have a good attitude as KJ said, and you sound very eager. Sorry to rain on your parade, but as in any country you will need more than pluck to make it in a foreign country that doesn't worship all things foreign as a rule.

Imagine that the tables were reversed and somebody arrived in your neighbourhood with an attitude of "hey I am from another country and I am cute, so how about giving me a job and a visa etc". You would probably turn around and just tell that person to take a hike or ask what other skills they have to deserve such royal treatment. Remember that people from every country pretty much think they are the best in the world - nobody has the copyright on this attitude so you need to leave this at the airport when/if you arrive.

Sure a confident attitude will help but I guess that the people who have lived and worked in japan for a long time realise the difficulties that come along with the positives so you have to have a tougher skin than that.

You didn't mention what country you are from - are you eligible for a working holiday visa? This is a great way for you to come and see the country for real to decide if it is really the land of opportunity you imagine or hope it to be.

[ketchupkatsu]

Japanese apprentice = SLAVE.
I bet your friend discovered the REAL Japan yeah? Is he still doing it? Is he still alive?

Yep. There were many times he thought to himself what did he get himself into. For example he told me that each morning he had to fetch water from this certain spring about 200m away, but the shop owner didn't trust him driving the truck so he had to walk to the spring with 5 gallon water jugs and walk back to the shop. He did this for almost a whole year including the middle of winter before he was allowed to use the truck.

The amazing thing is that he did last the five years and married the daughter of one of the farmers who supplied vegetables to the shop.

But now since the farmer had no sons, and the soba shop owner wanted a semi retirement, he is working at both the farm and the shop.

[Jadic]

Wow. I really didnt expect to find everyone in here trying to help me after my last post. I was starting to think maybe I just had an unlikeable personality... Ive been considering all of the things said here. Im thinking at the moment my two most realistic approaches to the situation would be to either be accepted as a trainee for some kind of organization (Ive been doing alot of googling for lab assistant trainee programs) or a work visa for my actual trade, fishing. In the US (to answer GomiGirl my country isnt part of the holiday work visa program) finding work on a boat is usually references and talking to people in person. The commercial fishing community isnt a very computer savvy group in my experience... Most of the captains are usually in their 40's and above and have lived a life of being on the water cut off from the outside world. I did find a group called "Japan International Training Cooperation Organization" which specialized in training individuals in Japan from other countries. The problem is these other countries were places considered third world and they didnt have any programs i could find for americans.

Im not discouraged. When I was younger I wanted to move to Japan once before but quickly realized I had no idea what I was doing and that I couldnt succeed. Now Im a little older and just stupid enough to think I can. Ill continue to post updates on what I learn here. If I can succeed then maybe I can help carve a path for others to follow.

Till then,
Jadic

[GomiGirl]

Speaking of boats - have you considered the Peace Boat. They travel out of Japan.

[Jadic]

Wow it actually sounds pretty interesting. My initial response to the name was... not so enthusiastic. But after checking it out I think Im going to apply to the program. I love being out on the water and the idea of being able to travel the world is something Im always interested in. I really appreciate you showing that to me. GomiGirl, thank you for helping me out.

[Jadic]

And then the reality hits



"Applicants should fulfill the following requirements:

Have at least 18 months of relevant full-time English language teaching experience.
Be a highly advanced speaker of English, although not necessarily 'native' or 'first-language' speaker of English.
Have experience of, or a definite interest in, the areas of peace and global education in language teaching.
A qualification in English language teaching and conversational Japanese ability are also preferred, but are not prerequisites for the application.
Anyone is welcome to apply, regardless of nationality."


I only have a month or two of English teaching experience. I suppose I could lie though. I volunteered with ESL tutoring for Spanish speakers before but it was when I was younger and I dont remember what all it involved. What do you guys think? Is it something someone could pull off without much experience?

[Jadic]

And by pull off I dont mean do a half ass job. I dont want to be a parasite on the ship if I wouldnt be able to pull my own weight.

[GomiGirl]

I would say give it a go - given your boat experience, this may help your application. Remember to always focus on your strengths when applying for anything rather than outright lie.

Ask yourself, what skills do I have that are going to be of benefit to the person/company offering the position. Then highlight these.

Competition for the peace boat is pretty stiff so good luck.

[Jadic]

Its interesting you said this. I had already decided it would be better to be forthright. This is the letter I sent :

"My name is *** and I am an American national who is interested in taking part on board one of the Peace Boat vessels as a volunteer. My English teaching experience unfortunately consists only of a few months I have volunteered to teach ESL to Spanish students living in the United States. I do however have great English skills and grammar. Also, I am passionately interested in the ideal of peace. I have experience working on board boats in my past as a commercial fisher and wouldn't mind volunteering for other activities besides only English teaching. If it would be in any way possible for me to volunteer and help your program please let me know. I will be ardently awaiting your response.

Thank you so much for your time,
***"

[jdm-justin]

Just a quick bit of advice when applying for a job... for future reference, of course. If you haven't sent out that letter, I'd change it as quickly as possible.

You don't want to come right out and say that you "unfortunately don't have exactly" what your potential employer is looking for. Make yourself sound as good as you can (without lying) in this first letter, and give further details regarding your actual experience should you get a call back.

[Mulboyne]

You don't want to come right out and say that you "unfortunately don't have exactly" what your potential employer is looking for. Make yourself sound as good as you can (without lying) in this first letter, and give further details regarding your actual experience should you get a call back.

I completely agree.

You have a positive outlook on life so don't weigh your application down with negative thoughts about what you don't have. Just give them the reasons they should look at you rather than the reasons they shouldn't.

[kusai Jijii]

Dont wanna sound like a cunt, but, if you were serious with this letter, my advice is to ask someone else to help you with ALL future corespondance with ANY future employee.

Its interesting you said this. I had already decided it would be better to be forthright. This is the letter I sent :

"My name is *** and I am an American national who is interested in taking part on board one of the Peace Boat vessels as a volunteer. My English teaching experience unfortunately consists only of a few months I have volunteered to teach ESL to Spanish students living in the United States. I do however have great English skills and grammar. Also, I am passionately interested in the ideal of peace. I have experience working on board boats in my past as a commercial fisher and wouldn't mind volunteering for other activities besides only English teaching. If it would be in any way possible for me to volunteer and help your program please let me know. I will be ardently awaiting your response.

Thank you so much for your time,
***"

Are you sure you aint yanking our chains?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Are you sure you aint yanking our chains?

I'm telling you, the guy's a troll.

[Tengu Kid]

So I checked into some stuff. I tried to figure out how exactly I was suppose to move to Japan with absolutely no college credentials. I was like hmmm a student visa? Then I remembered I went through school with all F's. Then I was like.... ummm.... hmm.... Damn waddafuk. So I thought long and hard about it. Then I was like :O oh snap.... I have like blonde hair and blue eyes. dem asian peoples would be like mmmhmmmm I bet I could get a work visa as an entertainer. so i wrote some modeling companies. I mean... I think I look good... I dont know if I look model good.... but damnit I wanna get a free ride to japan man Im broke -_- so I applied to maybe 10-20 japanese modeling agencies and now Im waiting for a response. I was just wondering if anyone else has done this? or.... if this dont work and it turns out Im not good looking at all, how the hell else am i suppose to get a visa to stay in japan without any college behind me?

Sincerely,
Jadic

Hi Jadic, thought I`d try and give you a bit of info based on my limited experience. About two years ago i decided to try and model for money in Japan. It really only took me a couple of months before I realised it`s pretty near impossible. I did a wedding catalogue (bad pay) three english schools booklet and posters (terrible pay) and a Maruhan TV commercial (incredible pay). There just isnt enough demand to live on it. Also, I had a visa...though none of them asked for that so I suppose you could do it illegally.
Really hope you succeed mate, you seem like a hard worker. As others on the board have stated...play your strengths and train your weaknesses.
Good luck!

[Iraira]

Hi Jadic, thought I`d try and give you a bit of info based on my limited experience. About two years ago i decided to try and model for money in Japan. It really only took me a couple of months before I realised it`s pretty near impossible. I did a wedding catalogue (bad pay) three english schools booklet and posters (terrible pay) and a Maruhan TV commercial (incredible pay). There just isnt enough demand to live on it. Also, I had a visa...though none of them asked for that so I suppose you could do it illegally.
Really hope you succeed mate, you seem like a hard worker. As others on the board have stated...play your strengths and train your weaknesses.
Good luck!

Do any porn?

[wuchan]

Do any porn?

can gaijin get into porn? wait............... I don't want to think about what kind of porn they would hire gaijin for.

[Tengu Kid]

Do any porn?

If by `porn` you mean `masturbate furiously every night to a magazine I found in the subway toilets`, then yes. Yes I did.

[Iraira]

If by `porn` you mean `masturbate furiously every night to a magazine I found in the subway toilets`, then yes. Yes I did.

Oh, weren't you in the "Furious Fist of non-Felatio Fury Part 73"? Set in Omotesando station (before the remodeling), a man finds an Egg magazine and proceeds to glue the pages together. Yeah, you were in that one, not #74, which is essentially the same only the magazine was Peach John.

[Tengu Kid]

Oh, weren't you in the "Furious Fist of non-Felatio Fury Part 73"? Set in Omotesando station (before the remodeling), a man finds an Egg magazine and proceeds to glue the pages together. Yeah, you were in that one, not #74, which is essentially the same only the magazine was Peach John.

Thats it yeah.
Part 76 was called `Tokyo does takechanpoos mum...remember THIS!`.

[Iraira]

Thats it yeah.
Part 76 was called `Tokyo does takechanpoos mum...remember THIS!`.

Yeah, I remember having to strap a 2X4 on my ass so I wouldn't fall into her cavern...talk about a Loosey Goosey.

[kamome]

Yeah, I remember having to strap a 2X4 on my ass so I wouldn't fall into her cavern...talk about a Loosey Goosey.

LOL!!

[Greji]

Yeah, I remember having to strap a 2X4 on my ass so I wouldn't fall into her cavern...talk about a Loosey Goosey.

Hmmm. That's strange! I found her pretty tight....

[Iraira]

Hmmm. That's strange! I found her pretty tight....

I guess that was after her scabs fell off. I got her shortly after her "operation" when JAL and ANA were using her as a hangar. They called her the Spruce Goose back then.

[nottu]

[Catoneinutica]

I've never been to college, either. I've been to paradise, though. It's just that - and here's the thing - I've never been to me.

-catone
-I've also seen some things that a women ain't supposed to see

[Jadic]

I did receive a few replies from some of the agencies but nothing ever panned out. The last month Ive spent mostly offshore. To my disappointment I returned to find no invitations from agencies nor fishermen to come to japan. Really its somewhat immature to have expected otherwise. Still I plan to continue through with my intention of relocating to the far east. At the moment Im in contact with a producer from Japan and Im hoping I can make something work through that route. Ive been aspiring in music since I was 14 but its never really been anything more then a hobby. lmao in retrospect I cant help but find my whole approach to changing my nationality laughable. Most people Im sure follow along a pretty linear path that leads there. Perhaps in the end itll be the same path Ill have to accept. Until then I will continue to pursue it in my own means. Who knows, maybe next time you turn on the radio that horrible noise coming alarmingly close to your tympanic membrane will be me