Need Advice: Moving to Japan

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: csf
So I take it you fall into category #1?

LOL, seen it. Maddox is great

 

[Babbles]

Here's the deal: You can not do it.

Okay, pretty simple. It doesn't matter if it is your dream, or you believe the world is going to end, but what you want to do in a few months time is impossible.

Gotta get that through your head.

You have no degree. You have no full time work experience. You have no sponser. You have no work VISA. You can not speak the language. You can not read the language.

How are you going to do this again?

If I were you, this is what I would do:
-Spend $4k or whatever it takes a go to Japan for a couple of weeks.
-Dump the aviation thing (whatever the hell that is) and go to a real college and study Communications, Fine Arts, or whatever to emphasize your so-called natural voice talent.
-After college do the JET or NOVA program for a year
-Make contacts while in Japan and if it suites your fancy then maybe you can secure a work VISA and return to work in Japan
-Be happy

I think it is cool that you want to visit Japan, and I have been thinking off and on for the past year or so to do the JET thing myself (money being an issue with me). However you have to look at the pragmatic and realistic way things work.

Instead take a blasted vacation there and sends us some pics.

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: Babbles
Here's the deal: You can not do it.

Okay, pretty simple. It doesn't matter if it is your dream, or you believe the world is going to end, but what you want to do in a few months time is impossible.

Gotta get that through your head.

You have no degree. You have no full time work experience. You have no sponser. You have no work VISA. You can not speak the language. You can not read the language.

How are you going to do this again?

If I were you, this is what I would do:
-Spend $4k or whatever it takes a go to Japan for a couple of weeks.
-Dump the aviation thing (whatever the hell that is) and go to a real college and study Communications, Fine Arts, or whatever to emphasize your so-called natural voice talent.
-After college do the JET or NOVA program for a year
-Make contacts while in Japan and if it suites your fancy then maybe you can secure a work VISA and return to work in Japan
-Be happy

I think it is cool that you want to visit Japan, and I have been thinking off and on for the past year or so to do the JET thing myself (money being an issue with me). However you have to look at the pragmatic and realistic way things work.

Instead take a blasted vacation there and sends us some pics.

I'm leaning towards this option now. Thanks for the help Just out of curiousity, what do you mean by "no full time work experience"? I've worked full time for most of the time I've been working... I was a manager in the food service industry for a year and a half @ the ripe old age of 20/21, so it's not as though I'm totally without skills... Also, I worked as a computer technician @ Worst Buy for the last 6 mos. so again, I do have some skills.
Thanks again! I'm gonna go watch some anime now so I won't be responding to this thread for awhile

 

[Doggiedog]

I think it's great that you are trying to do something like this. I was on the JET program for 2 years after college and enjoyed my time there. I was offered a nice job to work in Japan a few years ago but was getting married so I couldn't take it. If I was young again, I'd definitely want to try and chase my dreams.

I'm ethnically Japanese so I didn't have much of a problem over there with the culture and language. I think living in Tokyo wouldn't be too difficult for foreigners since they are used to them there and alot of people speak English.

I would have to say that you probably need to bring a good amount of money with you. It would be very difficult for you to find a place to live since they require "key" money. Going without connections would probably make it even more difficult. Most of the people I know who moved out there went through school or work. I don't know anyone who decided to just pack up and go without a plan. Like everyone said, I would do some recon first to see what you need to accomplish. Stay at youth hostels or love hotels in the beginning to save money. Figure out your plan of action. Make contacts somewhere. I'm sure if you hang out near some college or socially active area you will meet some people (I'm assuming you're caucasian). See how it goes then make your move. You don't want to end up like some of those bums in Yoyogi park.

Good luck.

 

[poopygood]

alkemyst,

what area of tokyo was your wife looking into renting and couldn't make it on $6000 USD per month? Was she looking only at "mansion" apartments in Ginza or Shinjuku? $6000 per month would be more than enough.

And a small size usa apartment is not going to cost you 2000-3000 per month. Only in the wealthiest/trendiest spots in Tokyo.

Apartments are smaller and more expensive, but lets not get out of hand.

 

[StinkyPinky]

A "few" thousand dollars is not enough if you don't have a job lined up. You will need at least $10k in a place like Japan. That way you can take a few months finding a job. A few thousand will be eaten up in a month and what if you havent found a job by then??? The language barrier will also be an issue. You aren't moving to an Engish speaking country here, where you can just speak to people and only have to worry about a funny accent. In Japan not everyone speaks English. Have you even checked up on the prices of apartments/food/cost of living yet so you can budget?

My suggestion is to get more money (triple it), or get a job before going over. And learn the language so you are reasonbly fluent.

I am moving overseas myself, but I've been planning it for near on a year and I have quite a bit more cash reserves and a visa.

 

[fumbduck]

Originally posted by: poopygood
alkemyst,

what area of tokyo was your wife looking into renting and couldn't make it on $6000 USD per month? Was she looking only at "mansion" apartments in Ginza or Shinjuku? $6000 per month would be more than enough.

And a small size usa apartment is not going to cost you 2000-3000 per month. Only in the wealthiest/trendiest spots in Tokyo.

Apartments are smaller and more expensive, but lets not get out of hand.

Yeah really Alkemyst, I was about to post this too...

Your wife is making 72,000$ USD a year, yet she can't afford to live in Tokyo? Wtf? How can anyone afford to live in Tokyo?

 

[DWW]

Not to flame but I knew there was something about anime before I even read any comments.

Just make sure its the right choice for you.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: poopygood
alkemyst,

what area of tokyo was your wife looking into renting and couldn't make it on $6000 USD per month? Was she looking only at "mansion" apartments in Ginza or Shinjuku? $6000 per month would be more than enough.

And a small size usa apartment is not going to cost you 2000-3000 per month. Only in the wealthiest/trendiest spots in Tokyo.

Apartments are smaller and more expensive, but lets not get out of hand.

First and foremost you have to consider the reikin and finder's fee, reikin is a gift to the owner and equal to two to three months rent. Finder's fee is one month rent...you may have other fees on top of that. You don't get these back, they are gifts. Then you have the key money / deposit at one to two months rent in cost. So basically just to move it you are at 4 to 6 months rent just to move in. Plus they do contracts that last two years minimum usually. However, many will not rent to americans in tokyo. Supply and demand...this is a YMMV thing and by report from my wife. Also there is a Hoshonin requirement....which is a co-signor...no matter who you are you need this. If on JET/NOVA they are the Hoshonin....private americans are going to need to find someone and that someone is going to have to be Japanese.

Keep in mind unfurnished apartments need all appliances....oven, refridgerator, etc are not standard. Plus you have to consider where you are compared to the train....Loud noise or long walk your choice

She made $5000 usd monthly actually, my mistake, but that was with her last raise, prior she made $4000 usd (she got a $1k USD raise monthly for coming here for 6 months to do computer programming, that's when we met), she moved back here prior to enjoying that raise on a promise from our ex-company that was a lie....she made more than the average tokyo income, however, she herself said tokyo was far to expensive for her to be 'comfortable', keep in mind the normal apartments in tokyo are 500 sq ft or smaller....most americans are not accustomed to that kind of space.

You are over there currently so I may be wrong, but there are dorm style apartments (you share kitchen and bath) for about $400 USD shared and $800 USD private (cable and your internet is included though either way)....these are small though, smaller than US dorm rooms on average. The 'monthly mansions' I think you are talking about are apartments that are furnished and about $1500 USD monthly and not large at all. Of course there are americans paying $3-4k for closet space in New York City so YMMV on that one with what you are comfortable with.

You will also have to change your diet more than likely....if chicken based you'd be ok...beef based, prepare to learn to live without it or make a fortune.

Å

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: fumbduck

Originally posted by: poopygood
alkemyst,

what area of tokyo was your wife looking into renting and couldn't make it on $6000 USD per month? Was she looking only at "mansion" apartments in Ginza or Shinjuku? $6000 per month would be more than enough.

And a small size usa apartment is not going to cost you 2000-3000 per month. Only in the wealthiest/trendiest spots in Tokyo.

Apartments are smaller and more expensive, but lets not get out of hand.

Yeah really Alkemyst, I was about to post this too...

Your wife is making 72,000$ USD a year, yet she can't afford to live in Tokyo? Wtf? How can anyone afford to live in Tokyo?

It's like Manhattan in a way....you can live there on half that too, but what kind of life?

I am sure she could have lived in tokyo....no doubt but she'd have sacrifices....you have to realize it's a lot different than just comparing it to the US. You may have 10 lanes of traffic + 4 train tracks that have trains running each minute next door.

Her actual income was $48k USD for the most part, she got raised to $60k USD but moved here that same month.

Å

 

[StageLeft]

Most countries worth a damn requires some sort of working visa, so I'm not sure you can simply go there and start looking for work. Also, when you arrive, the Japanese immigration will surely ask you the duration of your stay, and i don't know if you can say "Not sure - a while, though".

There will be culture shock, since most people there are Japanese. In the US you see mostly whites, but you do see other minorities, and when I was in Japan I saw damn few of them. Probably saw 2 black people the whole time I was there (scarce as hen's teeth), though some whites and other minorities, but most are Japanese. Many do speak some English, though it's not like going to France where you can get by pretty easily blubbering around with English. You'd do well to pickup some japanese before you go. have fun with that! Apartments are expensive and tiny.

 

[dc]

Originally posted by: Babbles
Maybe you should plan a two week vacation to Japan before you decide to move there.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

By the way, this doofus was in P&N all morning enlightening us savages about politics. You think this thread is hillarious, go check out the post about 9/11 being staged.

P.S. Flyer, don't listen to these guys. If you don't go now, then you'll never go. You'll just put it off forever and regret not becoming a famous anime voiceover guy.

 

[Tom]

I think it's great to do what you want to do, and 22 is the perfect time.

The key to success is believing in yourself, I think you will succeed. An example I bet there is a lot of demand for fluent English and Spanish speaking people to do voice overs, as well as companies who are interested in knowing what is popular in our culture.

So I would become something of a student of the culture you are currently in as well, that knowledge may serve you well.

Good Luck !

 

[dc]

still getting a good laugh from the DBZ isn't "real" anime elitism. hehe

seriously though, how much do you know about the seiyuu/anime industry?
-you need a few years to get your japanese up to a level where you can do seiyuu work. have fun passing the level 1 JLPT(japanese language proficiency test)
-you need to attend seiyuu school
-you need to get signed with a seiyuu talent management company, odds are it will be a company that already has a lot of new/unknown people trying to get a role.
then you would have a maybe decent chance at getting a small role in something obscure. the big/good roles go to seiyuu veterans usually.
also, voice acting in japan is done in a group environment with the other actors. so you have to interact and converse well with the others recording not like the dubbing done here in north america.

oh, and how many foreign/non japanese seiyuus do you know of? i use to do lots of research on seiyuus and i can't think of a single one. sure there are a few that get one liners as a small role yelling something random in english, but that doesn't really count as a stable career.

plan a long vacation in japan, see how you like it before committing to something huge like this. something like this should be planned out well in advance, not some 1 or 2 month rush job.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
By the way, this doofus was in P&N all morning enlightening us savages about politics. You think this thread is hillarious, go check out the post about 9/11 being staged.

P.S. Flyer, don't listen to these guys. If you don't go now, then you'll never go. You'll just put it off forever and regret not becoming a famous anime voiceover guy.

It's not that we are saying "don't go". It's just that we are saying he should put it off for a bit (say a year) and get some more money and do some more research. Try and find a Japanese company to sponsor him or something. He is only 22, there is no need to rush into things.

But I can totally understand his enthusiasm.

 

[Jzero]

As others have said - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you just up and go, your chances of coming home broke and dejected are much higher.
A fascination with Anime, Samurai, Hibachi and Manga doesn't constitute a knowledge of the culture any more than a fascination with cowboys and football constitutes a knowledge of American culture.

Go for a long vacation and start to make contacts. Try and get a job there through a program, then you can make your way over.

And don't let the door hit you....

 

[Linux23]

not to hijack his thread, but I play to visit Tokyo sometime next year. how expensive is it to stay in a Tokyo hotel for a week?

and no beef?

 

[poopygood]

There is beef in Japan, It just tends to be more expensive then fish. Which is usually the opposite state-side.

Look for all you can eat yakiniku places.

There's always yoshinoya if you are picky.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Linux23
not to hijack his thread, but I play to visit Tokyo sometime next year. how expensive is it to stay in a Tokyo hotel for a week?

and no beef?

In Tokyo:

Hilton From ¥29,000 to ¥130,000 per night (approx $290-1300 per night)

Westin From ¥31,000 to ¥380,000 per night ($310-3800 per night)

There are private and japanese only chains as well....

http://tokyo.hotelguide.net/

Beef is not common fare, although it's easily found if you want it normally (McDonalds ), but may be hard now as all american beef and many other countries's beef is now banned from import due to Mad Cow.

The price of beef fluctuates esp in certain 'seasons'....steak is always extremely expensive though....the cheaper cuts of beef aren't that bad, more like what a dolphin dinner would cost here. Beef is tariffed in Japan and lately the taxes have gone up + supply has gone down so prices have risen.

The popular Kobe beef is about $50-100+ per pound in the market (some of the best cuts can fetch $300 for a pound) and about $300 for a 8oz cut in a decent restaurant. (in america I think Kobe is about $15 an ounce in restaurants)....Matsuzaka Steak is actually more looked for by the Japanese....there are also poor clones of both floating around over there.

My wife gets upset with the cost of fish here....we mostly eat fish, chicken, pork, tofu.....I do steaks about once a week, but it's more a treat for her...I sort of like the lighter foods lately, esp the soups she makes.

Å

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: poopygood
There is beef in Japan, It just tends to be more expensive then fish. Which is usually the opposite state-side.

Look for all you can eat yakiniku places.

There's always yoshinoya if you are picky.

might be nice to explain these things as I doubt many will know what you are talking about

Yakiniku is grilled meat. It is cooked on a griddle, often over charcoal or gas oven, and eaten with vegetables cooked the same way. There are many specialty yakiniku restaurants and most of them follow Korean-style barbecue.

There are two types of main beefs: rous (thin marinated slices) and karubi (short rib slices).

You can also eat tan (cows' tongue), rebaa (lee-bah 'liver'), hatsu (heart) etc., organs are popular among the Japanese.

Yakiniku places are all you can eat, however, they do charge extra for big eaters esp of beef....

Baikingu (buffet/smorgasboard in japanese) is the all you can eat that's really all you can eat at one price (usually about $10), however, not so much beef and more chicken, pork...

Yoshinoya is on the west coast of America also...they serve 'bowl' meals (think uncle ben's rice bowls for an idea )....

Å

 

[dc]

http://www.newkoyo.jp/
if you want to be cheap, a friend of mine stayed there during his trip.

 

[Linux23]

very nice links guys. i plan to spend a week in tokyo later on this year. a friend of mine will be moving to tokyo for 2 years to work, and she wants me to stay with her. however, i highly doubt she would like me to bring a hot japanese women to her house for a little sushi.

she told me that if you are american, the women do throw themselves at you. i wonder why this is the case?

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: Linux23
very nice links guys. i plan to spend a week in tokyo later on this year. a friend of mine will be moving to tokyo for 2 years to work, and she wants me to stay with her. however, i highly doubt she would like me to bring a hot japanese women to her house for a little sushi.

she told me that if you are american, the women do throw themselves at you. i wonder why this is the case?

I can't resist
"Japanese penis - so small.... American penis - so big!" hehe, South Park is great
Edit: I think I just hijacked my own thread....

 

[poopygood]

Originally posted by: Linux23

she told me that if you are american, the women do throw themselves at you. i wonder why this is the case?

To stick up for Japanese women, just being american is not enough, you can't be on this list HERE.