I'd like to live in Japan

[Kik]

I had gone to Tokyo about a month ago for an all expenses paid trip to the Tokyo Game Show sponsored by Konami's Metal Gear Online Tournament. I was one of the finalists. Our team stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku. I'd have to say that regardless of where this tournament took place we would have had an amazing time, but simply because of being in Japan made it an experience of a lifetime.

I remember thinking throughout most of the trip how different people were than what I'm used to, but I know I really can't tell how these people are just by walking around for less than 6 hours. Being that I'm a guy who likes understanding different perspectives I now have a passion to go back to Japan and live there for some time so that I may better understand the culture. I don't know if I'll be dissapointed or if I'll fall in love, but all I care about is understanding the Japanese society better.

As a 21 years old locksmith with no intentions of going to a college/university I'm wondering how I should prepare for living over in Japan aside from learning the language and knowing their standards for locks. What other important things might I not readily know about living in Japan? Any information even as simple as certain customs would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

[Jon]

You might want to try "mixi". It's a Japanese social networking site very popular in Japan. However, you should know a good bit of Japanese in order to sign up and do everything. I don't know enough.

[Max]

I've signed up at mixi, and there's where i meet most of my pen pals...
but you can't sign up anymore, unless you have a working Japanese cell phone.
besides you need an invitation too hehe (^_^)

[Jon]

Aww, are you serious? That sucks!! I had hopes of joining it one day maybe in a year or so when I had good enough Japanese to sign up and converse with natives :(

[Lloyd Wilson]

ohhh wow that must be fun :P

and how did you get on then did you have a japanese phone or was it before you needed a phone? lol:)

[Max]

it was before i needed a phone (^_-)

[Lloyd Wilson]

lol:P well back to my japanese homework:)

[Jose]

hey there... first of all... i used to be a locksmith hehe... anyway... if you have intentions to live in japan, well obviously you have to speak japanese(at least good enough to survive)... if you dont, it will be really difficult... i know it from first hand... english is not really helpful most of the time unless you go to roppongi in he night =P

right now the situation here in japan (yeah i didnt mention it... i live in japan) is difficult... there are too many people and very few jobs, and for a locksmith there is not a chance, there are very few of them here in tokyo and you wont get a work visa on that field... in my case i obtain a job as a cook, and to get my work visa for that field i needed to demostrate i worked as a cook for at least 10 years or show a document (diploma, certificate, etc) that shows i study cooking or something like that(sorry i'm not a native english speaker, so, sometimes i forgot what word to use).

you can always use the tipical method... go to japan make homestay with someone you know here... stay as longer as possible (until your tourist visa final extention expires) and get a job somewhere(illegaly cuz obviusly you wont have a work visa) and try to find a japanese wife... this is risky so i dont recommend that, cuz if you get cought you will be deported... wich is a possibility but actually maybe wont happend(i worked for almost 6 month without a workvisa)...

living in tokyo is expensive, the most expensive thing here is: privacy and space, usually the cheapes place to live are guesthouses where you pay around 50,000円 is about... not sure... 500 dlls per month for a small room (3mts x 4mts, sometimes smaller) and you share areas as bathroom kitchen, etc etc, some apartments are from 70,000円 up to　manymanymany money

so... my advise... get a college degree or study hard and ask for a exchange program...or get a japanese wife =P

unless you know someone in japan who really needs a locksmith and can sponsor your work visa i think it will be hard for you to find a job here... and i think i write a lot... writing about living in tokyo and how to get a work visa is a long long thread

[Kik]

Well, there goes my idea of getting a work visa through my trade...Time to come up with another idea.

Yea, I found out that I probably wouldn't find much work as a locksmith in Tokyo, but you confirmed it 10 times over. You answered the exact questions I had about my idea. I was thinking that getting a job as a locksmith would be as difficult as New York City, but Tokyo does have a lot more people in a smaller space.

Since I never even thought about seriously living living in Tokyo, I've been wondering (hoping) if I'd be able to get a job elsewhere. I guess the easiest way for me to answer my questions and even solve anything is to go to Japan myself and hope for any kind of opportunity to come up.

If I don't find anything...I guess I could just try some other country, like Germany or Italy.

Anyway, what's your native language, Jose? So far, I can speak Spanish (from Dominican Republic) and English. I'm also wondering what other country you might be from.