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]

In order to live and work in Japan I'm pretty sure you need at least a Bachelor's Degree in something (it doesn't have to be related to Japan or Japanese).

[joaquimRuiz]

I second Jon. I think they are pretty selective. Like in other countries as well.
However, they should change this, because their population is getting too old.

[Lloyd Wilson]

just find the Japanese embassey ( i think it is english) online and you can apply for like a working year visa and you could write them an email to see what you might need. they are very helpfull. as jon said Japan needs more foriegn people to get thier decreasing population up for globalization:) sounds fun ^o^

[Kik]

Yea, I researched this stuff myself and I could apply for a 1 year visa for Skill/Trade Labor. I think the only way you wouldn't get into Japan is if you go with no schooling and no trade trying to get a fast food kind of job. It seems like I could just keep applying for the visa. What I constantly have on my mind now is if I can learn enough to express the things I wish to express within 2 years of learning outside of Japan.

[Max]

with the right motivation you can achive pretty much anyway.
And if you are interested in learning Japanese, that's just a plus ^^

[Lloyd Wilson]

yes true:P this site is the beggining to your learning anyhow:)

just buy some books. a good one. is fast japanese. a book with lots of things in for basic japanese on how to meet and greet people and how to order and ask questions then just build up from there:).

then after the basics buy a small particles book because they get a lil confusing:P

teehee:P i use mine all the time:)

have fun ^_^

[Kik]

Oh, I've been using a whole lotta books I got about 2 months ago when I finally decided I would learn. Right now, the only measurement of my ability is being able to fully comprehend the first lesson/chapter of a simple kanji exercise book. It's still not as much as I need, but that's just me being impatient. I can't wait until I can speak as fluently as I can in English and Spanish.

[Lloyd Wilson]

it will take some time lol:P maybe a would say a year or 2 to even understand most of it hahaha:P

and kanji is good to learn along side you have to know around 2k to read newspapers :P i only know like 300 and thats in 3 months and at uni:P so its ok:P

[Max]

as fluently as you can in English?
yeah, well... I think it'll be kind of hard to reach that goal. Germanic languages are easier to learn if your native language is a germanic language, but since Japanese isn't anywhere near a germanic language, it'll be hard. Sure they have some borrowed words, but that's just a few nouns and adjectives. To adapt to the grammar is the hardest part with learning Japanese in my opinion. I've been stuyding Japanese for about 1,5 years and...sure I've learned alot. you can be good but probably not completely fluent.

[Lloyd Wilson]

true true:P but would you say you can hold a decent conversation?

and ablle to understand kinda what is going on around you:P

[Max]

yes I actually can, haha. I started to look for pen pals pretty early, and whenever i don't know how to express myself I check it up or try to ask my pen pals with the Japanese I know. And I write Japanese almost everyday now, since it would be pretty rude to not reply, so that's kinda what's keeps me going.

[Lloyd Wilson]

awesome how did you find pen pals lol.. i need to get some to because some of the gramma structures can be mighty confusing :P