List your strangest-ever Japan job

[Samurai_Jerk]

It wasn't until my 3rd year in Japan that I really started to study. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference there between life in Japan if you can speak Japanese vs life in Japan if you can't. Having 500-1000 Kanji is very helpful in daily life too.

That makes me feel much better. I also assume that it is much easier to learn when you're exposed to it on a daily basis.

Actually, the best way to learn is to take a good solid Japanese course and get the foundations of the language before you go.

[jingai]

I suggest the North Korean approach and kidnap Japanese nationals and force them to teach you English until they are hit by a car and die.

[Marvin Feltcher]

Speaking of North Koreans and strange jobs, a mate of mine used to teach English at their Propaganda Instruction Center (read school) in Tokyo, but got fired for some obscure reason I can't recall other than it was related to a joke about Kim Jong Il and the size of his Taepo-Dong.

[kamome]

I was a promoter of bikini parties for 2 years in a row.<<< yeah sure.. Had to convince women to wear bikinis and enter a bikini contest. <<< are u serious? Put together the whole thing: sponsorships, prizes, DJs, etc. The people who attended still say that those parties rank in the annals of awesome Tokyo parties!

I guess it's just the perfect job for ya and a gift from heaven

I did it, and you can see the results in the link I posted above.

[FG Lurker]

It wasn't until my 3rd year in Japan that I really started to study. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference there between life in Japan if you can speak Japanese vs life in Japan if you can't. Having 500-1000 Kanji is very helpful in daily life too.

That makes me feel much better. I also assume that it is much easier to learn when you're exposed to it on a daily basis.

I think that as with most types of study, it depends on the person.

You can live many years in Japan and not learn any Japanese beyond simple phrases and words. Many people seem to survive this way, but it seems pretty self-limiting to me. Kind of like having two properly functioning legs, but insisting on hopping everywhere you go.

Other people learn Japanese rapidly, forcing themselves to learn at least a few new things every day. The truly lucky ones seem to absorb it like a sponge.

I tried doing what SJ suggests, an introductory Japanese course before I came to Japan. For me this was a complete and utter waste of time. I had no point-of-reference to base my study on, no way to practice the language outside of class, and not a lot of time before I left for Japan anyway. I can imagine that for some people such a course would be very helpful though.

I guess there is another angle to this too -- the person who wants to come to Japan but is still a considerable amount of time away from actually coming here. In this case I would suggest starting to study immediately and try to build up as much Japanese as possible before coming. Find Japanese students who are the *same* sex as you to practice on and PAY THEM for their time! Language exchanges rarely work out, based on my past experiences.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I tried doing what SJ suggests, an introductory Japanese course before I came to Japan. For me this was a complete and utter waste of time. I had no point-of-reference to base my study on, no way to practice the language outside of class, and not a lot of time before I left for Japan anyway

Yeah, everyone is different but that is generally considered the best way to go about learning a language. Maybe you just took a shitty course.

[FG Lurker]

I tried doing what SJ suggests, an introductory Japanese course before I came to Japan. For me this was a complete and utter waste of time. I had no point-of-reference to base my study on, no way to practice the language outside of class, and not a lot of time before I left for Japan anyway

Yeah, everyone is different but that is generally considered the best way to go about learning a language. Maybe you just took a shitty course.

How about some links or print references to back up the "generally considered" bit above SJ?

Not saying you're talking out your ass... But it doesn't pass the "logic test" at first read.

[devicenull]

I have been paid in 5000 yen worth of toshocards to talk to schoolchildren about american pizza and then play duck duck goose and dodgeball.

[Mels]

I was asked to attend a get together with other FG women....this get together was with Japanese guys. I probed more and realized they wanted the women to act like hotesses...fuck that shit....two women did it, but I was working for a J Corporation and was disgusted they asked me....hmmmmm wonder what I did for them to think I would be interested? LOL

Another time, I was asked to be a part of a test marketing group for a J telecom company. Watched some cm's and got paid great money for one hour.......it was kind of weird, I think they just wanted to have some FG figureheads instead of asking for any real feedback...but who is complaining...

[Taro Toporific]

I have been paid in 5000 yen worth of toshocards to talk to schoolchildren about american pizza and then play duck duck goose and dodgeball.

FYI because I had to look it up...

A toshocard is electromagnetic gift card that can be exchanged for books and magazines as premiums.

http://www.toshocard.com/

[GomiGirl]

I have been paid in 5000 yen worth of toshocards to talk to schoolchildren about american pizza and then play duck duck goose and dodgeball.

FYI because I had to look it up...

A toshocard is electromagnetic gift card that can be exchanged for books and magazines as premiums.

http://www.toshocard.com/

I have some that can be used at combinis.. they were given out at a funeral. Q-card or something they were called.

But working for beer coupons is a good way to go as well.

[devicenull]

I have been paid in 5000 yen worth of toshocards to talk to schoolchildren about american pizza and then play duck duck goose and dodgeball.

FYI because I had to look it up...

A toshocard is electromagnetic gift card that can be exchanged for books and magazines as premiums.

http://www.toshocard.com/

doesnt look like that at all, not electromagnetic either. I have like 20 of these things all in what looks like 500 yen bills with the top left corner clipped off

[Guile]

It wasn't until my 3rd year in Japan that I really started to study. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference there between life in Japan if you can speak Japanese vs life in Japan if you can't. Having 500-1000 Kanji is very helpful in daily life too.

That makes me feel much better. I also assume that it is much easier to learn when you're exposed to it on a daily basis.

I think that as with most types of study, it depends on the person.

You can live many years in Japan and not learn any Japanese beyond simple phrases and words. Many people seem to survive this way, but it seems pretty self-limiting to me. Kind of like having two properly functioning legs, but insisting on hopping everywhere you go.

Other people learn Japanese rapidly, forcing themselves to learn at least a few new things every day. The truly lucky ones seem to absorb it like a sponge.

I tried doing what SJ suggests, an introductory Japanese course before I came to Japan. For me this was a complete and utter waste of time. I had no point-of-reference to base my study on, no way to practice the language outside of class, and not a lot of time before I left for Japan anyway. I can imagine that for some people such a course would be very helpful though.

I guess there is another angle to this too -- the person who wants to come to Japan but is still a considerable amount of time away from actually coming here. In this case I would suggest starting to study immediately and try to build up as much Japanese as possible before coming. Find Japanese students who are the *same* sex as you to practice on and PAY THEM for their time! Language exchanges rarely work out, based on my past experiences.

I'm leaving in April, but I'm focusing on finishing my undergrad (I may even have to email-in some final exam answers from Japan). The local rec centres have Punjabi lessons, but no Japanese. I wouldn't take a course at university because 1: I already have the courses I need and 2: I'm guaranteed to get a bad mark and it will bring down my GPA, not that I care about my GPA anymore.

That said, just from what I read on the boards, Japanese sounds like a big asset not only for the overall experience, but for opportunities other than teaching English. So, I'll most likely go out of my way to learn the language instead of just getting by.

[FG Lurker]

I'm leaving in April, but I'm focusing on finishing my undergrad (I may even have to email-in some final exam answers from Japan). The local rec centres have Punjabi lessons, but no Japanese. I wouldn't take a course at university because 1: I already have the courses I need and 2: I'm guaranteed to get a bad mark and it will bring down my GPA, not that I care about my GPA anymore.

If you have some free time before you come learn at least hiragana. It won't help you at all in daily life but it is the first thing you should learn when studying Japanese. Half the battle in studying Japanese is making sure you have good pronunciation. If your pronunciation is bad no one will have any idea what you are trying to say... And one way to ensure that you have terrible pronunciation is to study Japanese using roman letters!! So learn hiragana and study using that, not "romaji".

That said, just from what I read on the boards, Japanese sounds like a big asset not only for the overall experience, but for opportunities other than teaching English. So, I'll most likely go out of my way to learn the language instead of just getting by.

Yes! Without Japanese your options are extremely limited in Japan. I honestly have nothing against people teaching English, but for myself I was getting very bored in the classroom. I am sure that I would have left Japan long ago if I had not established a non-teaching career here, and without Japanese it would have been much harder to do. It is also difficult to earn a good salary working as an English conversation teacher. The exception to that would be starting your own school -- if you can do that well I am sure there is lots of yen to be made.

[Guile]

Half the battle in studying Japanese is making sure you have good pronunciation. If your pronunciation is bad no one will have any idea what you are trying to say

This brings me back to the topic at hand, sans Japan of course. I had a job working in an old folks home restaurant as a server where the dishwasher was a middle-aged Japanese man who could barely speak any English. His daughter, on the other hand, who also worked with us had perfect English. Anyway, regarding pronounciation, one day he started making motions and was saying, "cutrurah, cutrurah goes here." It was only until he held up a spoon that I discovered he was saying "cutlery." So that's my weird job story.

Oh yeah, and one time, when we were cleaning up, a super old guy who always stayed late eating cheese sandwiches projectile vomited across his table. I tried to ignore it because I didn't want to clean it up. He just sat there with mucus hanging out of his mouth and nose until someone got the manager.