Japan

infokill

infokill

Well-known member
Im planning on moving to japan in the very near future (about 5 years). im american, so im begining the process of preparing myself to live there. has anyone else done this? im thinking of teaching english to support myself until i can do something else (maybe in editing) anyone here from japan or has done what im about to do? im fascinated with the culture, people, everything and know i'll be happy there.
thoughts and advice?

-Arigato ;D
 
Re: Japan

Yes, within the past 10 years, many american expats have moved to Japan. However, as a society, they're very user friendly, I mean, hell even their toilets come in multiple languages, don't worry about it, Japan is the land of opportunity, best decision i ever made
 
Re: Japan

so you live there now? im not really worried about the language factor as im learing how to read and speak it right now. its the whole getting a job, place to live, and visa thing that im looking to learn more about. i've been doing research, but i want to hear from people who have gone through it.

-thanks
 
Re: Japan

Besides filmmaking, teaching english overseas is what I plan to do.
Maybe go to Spain.

Have any of you got the TEFL or TESOL certi. ?
 
Re: Japan

[quote author=Woodson link=board=Offtopic;num=1099340227;start=0#3 date=11/02/04 at 13:56:56]Besides filmmaking, teaching english overseas is what I plan to do.
Maybe go to Spain.

Have any of you got the TEFL or TESOL certi. ?[/quote]

whats a TEFL or TESOL certi. ?
 
Re: Japan

[quote author=infokill link=board=Offtopic;num=1099340227;start=0#4 date=11/02/04 at 14:16:35]

whats a TEFL or TESOL certi. ? [/quote]

TEFL= Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TESOL= Teaching English to speakers of other language
 
Re: Japan

Man, let me tag along in your suitcase. I've been dying to go to Japan for years. I taught myself to read Kana to help me with my imported copies of the Final Fantasy games :/ I know, an odd reason to learn some of the language, but I love having the import versions from a collectors standpoint. That is pretty much what made me fall in love with the Japanese culture among other things. BTW, which airline offers the cheapest flight to Japan? If i could get my girl to go it might be nice little tax time trip :) Good Luck.
 
Re: Japan

how did you teach yourself seantree?
im doing the same and moving along slowly.
care to help?
 
Re: Japan

I bought a few books on Kana. I also have some on Kanji but thats another story :) I would play the game and let the dialog boxes sit before moving on and grab the books, look up the characters, piece them together and sound them out. It worked very well. I don't remember the book names offhand as I leant them to a "friend" who moved away without giving them back to me :/
BTW, the book I had contained a nice little chart of th ekana characters and there pronounciation. It was a great little tool. I finally beat Final Fantasy 7 with a little over 80 hours on my file, but I had everything in the game so when the US version came out I flew right through it. hehe
EDIT: here's a good link. http://www.gate39.com/jreference/kanachart.aspx
hiragana and kana are gong to be the easiest. Kanji is tough. I don't like those characters with like 60 strokes in them. ugh!!
 
Re: Japan

One of my very best friends is leaving for Osaka in February. He's a Japanophile, I'd say -- obsessed with the culture, the people, the land. He'll be teaching English for a year (perhaps more, we'll see), and is thrilled. I'm not sure about any info I could give, but he's quite enthusiastic.
 
Re: Japan

I too also enjoy Japan very much.  I went there last April for two weeks and plan to go back again this spring for three weeks (hopefully this time with the pro-FX1 in hand).  I'm also trying to get reassigned to Tokyo next summer after my tour in Korea is complete.

Before committing yourself too heavily into moving over there, I would suggest taking at least a short trip to the country.  While I absolutely enjoy the country and its people (I collect Japanese woodblock art work, swords and armor), I could not imagine living there permanently.  Japanese culture, even today, is a closed society.  For many, it can be difficult to break into that inner circle and even then you may still feel like an outsider.  Ultimately, it depends on the person, but as I said earlier, you may want to get your feet wet first before diving in completely.

Good luck!  ;)

Here are some photos I took earlier this year.

The Great Buddha (Kamakura)
30743Great-Buddhaw.jpg


The Golden Pavillion (Kyoto)
30743Golden-Pavilion-Panograghw-med.jpg


Himeji Castle (Himeji)
30743Himeji-View-9cw.jpg


Himeji Castle (Himeji)
30743Himeji-View-14cw.jpg
 
Re: Japan

Finally! People always say "Ugh, asian women?!" but they don't understand how scrumptious those little sushi rolls can be...
 
Re: Japan

Finally! People always say "Ugh, asian women?!" but they don't understand how scrumptious those little sushi rolls can be...
Click to expand...

what about Asian girls eating those scrumptious sushi rolls :)
 
Re: Japan

[quote author=monte link=board=Offtopic;num=1099340227;start=0#13 date=11/07/04 at 12:58:03]Finally! People always say "Ugh, asian women?!" but they don't understand how scrumptious those little sushi rolls can be...[/quote]


people say that?

i hear the girls in japan totaly dig americans....goodtimes i say....
 
Re: Japan

I have spent time in Tokyo and think if you have the life style that permits such a change and 'adventure' than by all means give it a try. The worst that can happen is you come back.
 
Re: Japan

"it can be difficult to break into that inner circle and even then you may still feel like an outsider. "

No different then how i feel here, so i should be fine....
 
Re: Japan

I've been to Japan about 4 times, one of those times was to live there. I went once as a student, and other times on business.

Japan is one of the best places in the world. It is unique, and frankly it changed my life. My tips to you are as follows:

1. Go there. Do it sooner than 5 years.

2. Learn the language like a psycho. I can speak it, and it will get you into more doors than you think. There is a whole other side to japan you will see if you can speak it, and you'll have a much better time. That doesn't mean that you should only go over there when you're fluent, just make sure when you're there you try your best to learn it. Don't just hang around other gaijin (foreigners).

3. Live in Tokyo. I've lived in other places, and while beautiful, if you're on your own you will probably get pretty lonely.

4. Related to 3, be prepared for some alienating times. The japs are friendly, but not Aussie or Brazillian friendly. They won't talk to you, and Japan is a completley homogenous society. You are an outsider and you'll feel that way. Get some jap friends, but beware, it's never going to be like here. even going around to someone's house is very formal - even if just to watch the tv (bring a present).

5. Bring **** loads of money to buy gadgets. Go to Akihabara in tokyo. It's the electronic capital of the world, and you will **** your pants.

Overall, just go go go!!!! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top