Job Discussion Forums

[aaamy98]

Hi Everyone,

I'm researching some potential teaching jobs in Japan. I initially wanted to go for a year but decided that was too long. I taught in Europe for a year and don't necessarily want to be away for that long this time. Maybe 3-6 months?
My dad is Japanese therefore all of my family on his side reside in Japan, more specifically in Yokohama. Since my family wouldn't have it any other way than to have me stay with them, that sort of narrows my job choices. In other words, I would have to insist that I get a job in Yokohama. Do you guys think that's possible for me to do that? Most posts I've read it sounds like they will hear requests but nothing is guarenteed. What about teaching schools based out of Yokohama?
Also, i'm wondering whether some companies require their teachers to live in their provided accomodations?

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Amy

[johanne]

Since you have family you can stay with you're probably better off going over there and getting a job rather than going through any recruiting agency or any of the big schools who will not likely be able to place you exactly where you want to be. I lived in Yokohama 5 years ago and at the time there were a lot of jobs in the area. I had two offers with one week based and didn't have any kid of exceptional resume, although I did have a working visa. If things haven't changed too much you shouldn't have a problem getting something, especially if you can get a visa based on your Japanese heritage. I knew a Japanese-American who had something called a Decendant's Visa where because her parents were registered as Japanese citizens she was able to get a visa allowing her to do basically whatever she liked in the country. I don't have a lot of up-to-date info on that, though. Good luck

[Glenski]

This topic has been brought up a lot recently.

The simple answer is this...

There are extremely few places that offer jobs for less than a year. The only one that people talk about is Westgate Corporation. Don't know if you are qualified to work for them.

Your only other option is to come with the pre-planned notion of quitting a contract early, and I don't recommend that.

[aaamy98]

Awesome Johanne! I looked into the dependent's visa. It looks as though I can just get one of those and look for some private teaching opportunities once I'm there. Thanks for the great advice! -Amy

[Glenski]

Be sure to get your spelling right, or you will be asking for the wrong visa.

Dependent visa is for someone married to a non-Japanese who has a FT job in Japan. This makes you eligible only for PT work.

"Descendant" visa status is the heritage visa for people with Japanese blood.

[PAULH]

Glenski


dependent also includes children of foreign nationals as well as the spouses. The visa she would be looking for is the spouse or child of a Japanese national visa as her father is Japanese. the MOFA website doesnt mention the descendants visa buit mentions the long term permanent resident visa for long term Japanese settlers of 2nd or 3rd generation.

Spouses of those who stay with Permanent Resident status or those who are Special Permanent Residents as described in the Special Law on Immigration Control, which covers those who have lost Japanese nationality through a peace treaty between Japan and another nation, or those born as children of Permanent or Special Permanent Residents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term
Resident
(3 years, 1 year,
6 months, or a designated
period of less
than 3 years)
Refugees as stipulated by the convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Indochinese refugee settlers, second- and third-generation Japanese settlers, etc.

[aaamy98]

Yeah, that's what I thought too Paul. I actually didn't see anything on a descendent's visa on the embassy website. This dependent's visa must be what Johanne was talking about. It sounds like a great deal too...I can stay up to three years to do just about whatever I want.

[shmooj]

[guest of Japan]

The teacher who preceded me by a year was married. She worked full time while her husband who was on a dependent visa also worked full time. When they went to renew their visas the immigration officer asked the man if he'd been working full time. Naively he said yes. They were given three months to leave the country.

[shmooj]

Thanks guest. I think we got away with it because my wife had no full-time contract and was only full-time when demand necessitated it. At the most, she worked full-time for about three months for a couple of periods. I think full-time might have to be defined in order for them to nail you.

This was all above board at the tax office. Immigration never queried it though when we renewed.