need advise form Creative Professional Gaijin.

[plastic]

hi everyone

this is my first post on this great forum / site. FG is the best and funniest website about Japan i have found hands down.

heres the deal:

I'm a computer graphics animator based in LA. i work with a few Japanese guys, a few Chinese guys even a guy from Turkey, Brazil etc. its a real international crew. we all get along great. one of the Japanese guys is going back to Japan to work on a show at a production house in Tokyo that does some good work. the project sounds cool and he has a solid relationship with the house. when they crew up I'm definitely on board if i want to go. woo hoo! the show is going to be about 8 months so ill have to get a work visa. i never finished my BA but its not really an issue because the studio will get me a "certificate of eligibility" from the ministry of labor or something like that? and that pretty much clears me for the work visa. japans looks bad ass and the project will rock but after reading some of the Horror posts on this forum and doing some research I'm beginning to be a little more skeptical.

is there any gaijin working in Computer Graphics or hi-end graphics in JP? working in a production house is not like a normal job. we are creative professionals and have a lot of freedom, and respect each others work. there is no crazy bosses ordering you around. but there is a lot of ego this seems to be the opposite of the normal Japanese work environment (ie) zero ego, very rigid pecking order etc . but
most office jobs in the US are the same way for the most part just not as bad. production houses in the states buck the norm so are JP production houses the same way? are gaijin creative professionals in JP living in hell or is that sector more like the the US?

and the second thing is the language. they speak Japanese at the production house but my colleague says that i dont really have to learn that much Japanese because everyone can speak some english. there are some guys here with some bad engrish and things work out fine so I'm wondering if it will be the same way if the shoe is on the other foot. has anyone learned a little Japanese and kanji and jumped into a gig in graphics or CG. there is no clients to deal with and usually you end up working with only a few people day to day which should make it easier.

i really want to do it but if the studio environment is RADICALLY different I'm not sure i could produce good work. but I'm cool with bowing and soba

[Mulboyne]

If I read your post correctly, it sounds like you are talking about an 8-month stint. Even if the work and environment turn out to be disappointing, it sounds like a decent chance to get a taste of Japan and you'd be bound to make some connections that you couldn't get otherwise. I don't know your industry but it seems like there'd be little to lose by going for it.

[plastic]

yeah it a good hookup. but you have to produce. if the enviroment sucks most of the time the work sucks. that how it works here anyways. i dont need to go. i got work and things are good. it would be a 'fun' change of pace. but if its not fun then there is no need to put myself in that spot. i can go for a few weeks on a trip and save myself the stress.

[Taro Toporific]

I'll have to get a work visa. i never finished my BA but its not really an issue because the studio will get me a "certificate of eligibility" from the ministry of labor or something like that? and that pretty much clears me for the work visa.

MAYBE.

Do you have some sort of tech school certification and/or a combination of certification and 5-10 years experience?


See:

No degree
For example, if you require Engineer status (because you've got an IT consultant job), you should either hold a 4-year university degree in an engineering/IT related subject, or have at least 10 years of industry experience that you can document, i.e. provide signed letters from previous employers stating what period you worked at the firm and your position on company letterhead.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix1.html#6
1. When planning to engage in work requiring knowledge in the humanities, the applicant must have acquired the relevant knowledge by graduating from college majoring in a subject relevant to the knowledge required for performing the work concerned, or by receiving an equivalent or higher level of education, or by accumulating at least 10 years of practical experience in the planned work (including the period of time spent majoring in a subject related to the required knowledge at college, "Koto senmongakko", senior high school, the latter half of unified secondary school, or during specialized course of study at an advanced vocational school ("Senshugakko")).

[plastic]

Taro Toporific:

thanks

i think Computer Graphics gets around that because it falls under "artist work visa" which is less stringent then a "specialist in humanities/international services work visa". + there is a sponsoring company with contracts etc.

and i am a working professional and have over 5 years experience in computer graphics.

[Taro Toporific]

Taro Toporific:

i think Computer Graphics gets around that because it falls under "artist work visa" which is less stringent then a "specialist in humanities/international services work visa". + there is a sponsoring company with contracts etc.

and i am a working professional and have over 5 years experience in computer graphics.

Ok, nice scam.
The language issues you were worried about will be "fun" but if they are accepting you in the Japan office they must feel their engrish is good enough to handle you.

Hell it's only 8 months...that's a blink of an eye and MORE THAN ENOUGH Japan for any sane person.

Will you get "The Package" --- that is, housing and perks? Eight months in a gaijin house (flophouse for aliens) is gonna be grim.

[plastic]

Ok, nice scam.

its all about the creative professional

from what i know right now ill get the pay i want. which is about the same as i get here. that should be more then enought, and the rentals in Tokyo seem to be much better the SF or LA rent. i dont think they really have a plan for the rest . this is something of a rarity i guess. i know there are a few gaijin working in CG production in JP. but you might be able to count them on your fingers.