If you speak English and don't mind living in Japan's English-speaking, gaijin-friendly bubble, having little or no Japanese can be manageable most of the time. You'll still be able to meet new people, experience unique moments, and navigate much of Japan just fine.
You can thrive in Japan without speaking Japanese, based on many experiences. In reality, the great majority of foreigners who now live in and enjoy Japan arrived knowing little or nothing about the language. Nonetheless, many of them have learned the language over time in order to become more integrated into society.
Can I Really Work in Japan Without Knowing Any Japanese? The short answer is yes, but it's not that simple. You can get a job without needing Japanese, and that job doesn't have to be only an English teacher. You have more limited options, and they depend largely on your skills and the current job market trend.
Myth #1: You need to speak fluent Japanese.
Some universities in Japan offer courses fully taught in English, as well as language classes to help international students learn Japanese too. At Tokyo's Waseda University, for instance, seven schools and 12 graduate schools offer all-English degree programs.
English is in common use in Japan with Chinese and Korean also becoming more common meaning that you can certainly get around without using Japanese. This is most true in the big cities and in areas frequented by foreign visitors. But as you move outside of the cities, foreign languages will quickly dry-up.
There are even amazing jobs back in the US that require Japanese showing that it is really useful outside Japan and Asia as well. You can work in Japan without speaking Japanese but eventually you might realise that you are missing out on opportunities that ask for command of the Japanese language.
Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for English natives to master. This is because it does not have a lot of likeness in structure to English. Approximately it will take 88 weeks, or 2200 hours of studying, to become fluent.
Part-Time Jobs in Japan for Foreigners. Foreigners should also be aware that not everyone can work full-time in Japan. In most cases, you'll need special permits from the government to work legally as a foreign national in Japan.
As a student you can work up to 28 hours a week. This is a combination of all the places you work, so if for example you work two jobs, you can only work 14 hours at each one. If you leave your school, since you will no longer doing activities related to being a student, your work permit will become invalid.
However, this depends on where you come from. But, if you want to move to Japan permanently, you will need to apply for a long-term stay visa at the Japanese diplomatic missions (embassy/consulate) in your home country to enter Japan. Once you get the status of a permanent resident in Japan, it will be indefinite.
A person who is not a Japanese national (hereinafter referred to as “an alien”) may acquire Japanese nationality by naturalization. 2. The permission of the Minister of Justice shall be obtained for naturalization.
The general conditions for naturalization are as follows (Article 5 of the Japanese Nationality Act). The person must have been domiciled in Japan for five years or more consecutively and must have had a valid status of residence throughout the prescribed period of time.
Depending the length of your study time every day and how often you can practice alone, such as having speaking practice over Skype, listening to podcasts like JapanesePod101, reading and writing the writing systems, and actively trying to utilize kanji, you can learn intermediate level Japanese within 1-3 years.
However, many experts believe it takes between 4 to 6 months of dedicated study to reach a beginner level. On the other hand, you can expect to spend at least 3 years studying to become fluent in Japanese with near-native level accuracy.
Learning Japanese isn't easy and it will take time. It's probably fair to say that you can expect a commitment of at least three years in order to achieve something resembling fluency. The average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years.
Also, most importantly, Tokyo is more welcoming to foreigners than other cities in Japan. You'll find English-speaking people in low numbers wherever you go in Japan, but there are definitely more in Tokyo.
There are no legal restrictions for foreigners renting or buying a property in Japan. However, the process and requirements can be complicated. If you are planning on buying a property, please make sure to reach out for legal advice.
Japan has a reputation for being one of the most expensive countries in the world. In a sense, it's true, Japan is by no means a cheap country, but if you budget well, a trip to Japan can cost you less than you initially thought. For the first time visitors, we always recommend that you spend 2 weeks in Japan.
Engineer. Engineering is one of the most popular jobs in Japan for 2023, with a demand for experienced professionals across a range of industries. From mechanical engineering and electrical engineering to chemical engineering and civil engineering. Job seekers with specialized skills will be highly sought after.
"Craftsman, mining, manufacturing and construction workers and laborers" was the largest group, 19.31 million persons or 30.1% out of the total employed persons aged 15 and over in Japan. "Clerical and related workers" was the 2nd, 12.12 mil. or 18.9%. "Sales workers" was the 3rd, 9.5 mil. or 14.8%.
The Japanese salary range. The average monthly salary for employees in Japan can range from approximately 130,000 JPY (958 USD) to 2,300,000 JPY (16,944 USD). Note: The upper range of salaries is the highest average and not the maximum salary Japanese people earn.