Job Discussion Forums

MayaOtaku · Joined: 02 May 2013 Posts: 4

Meh, I wasn't planning to give them one of my cosplay pictures for the interview... and anime isn't everything to me, just the most important thing. But, I'll keep this in mind and downplay the otaku aspect. Although really, I don't see how it will affect my job performance or ability to survive in Japan if I spend my days off looking for anime characters. Obviously when you're on the clock, you work for the company and nobody else Smile

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Anime isn't a bad thing. Heck I like it. Thing is, if you are that obsessed with it, your perception of reality, and possibly your ability to live in Japan is questionable. It's not like the Anime. Seriosuly

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

What RX said. I love anime and, with your experience, you seem to be a qualified enough individual to be hired. However, when you start saying things like "I wanna live in the towns my favorite characters do," you start sounding just a teensy bit delusional.

We don't know you but I'm sure we've all seen people who come to Japan to teach fueled by dreams of taking over Akihabara only to see reality come crash into it. I'm not gonna lie - I know I harbored such desires and now I'm quite disillusioned with Japanese otakudom. Some good people, but too many smoke and mirrors for my tastes. You'll understand once you come over.

Fortunately though, I have other interests and have been able to maintain sanity, whereas I have seen other once enthusiastic and eager individuals become angry and withdrawn from society. They either remain in Japan seething, drowning their anger in alcohol and never moving on; or returning to their home countries, only to invariably miss Japan again because, while they hated home, at least Japan provided a sliver of their faded dream.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

hagiwaramai · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 119 Location: Marines Stadium

MayaOtaku · Joined: 02 May 2013 Posts: 4

Well, I've also been fascinated by Japanese archaeology, specifically the Jomon people as well as later historical events throughout the Kamakura period, and the rise of the shogunate. I'm also a fan of Taiko drums and Kyudo; I'd love to both try some beginner classes on those as well as see some dedicated masters perform their art. The business aspect of it interests me a bit too; a couple years of overseas experience can't hurt my future resume too badly. And I'd love some chances to just sit down in some random noodle shop somewhere, with a bunch of locals, and share cultural anecdotes and worldviews. But I'm worried that talking about stuff like that is going to get me labelled as a freak to ban from all future employment.

Ugh... I do thank people for their sincere opinions though... I guess I have some thinking to do and decisions to make. Thanks anyway.

Maya

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

Now you're just being overly defensive and pedaling the other way.

Look, bottom line is that anime and manga and archery and loving historical trivia is not going to ban you from all employment any more than knowing what "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" means, seeing all the spots in Hakone that Evangelion used and being able to name all Inner and Outer Senshi will earn you a job instantly. It's all to do with how you manage your interests - do you make them make you look like an interesting person with a rounded life or a social cripple? Don't deny that you watch them cartoons (it can actually help with your younger students), but don't make 'em front and center when job hunting.

We don't know you and all we can judge is what we see presented before us and even then it's mostly irrelevant because you are you. When you see you list "love of anime and manga" right alongside your TESL credentials and you go on to cite reasons for wanting to live in certain small towns just because they appeared in a show, well, that rings alarm bells.

Not just for you, but for any lurkers who might thinking of making the jump and thinking anything similar to you.

P.S. For what it's worth, I do know someone who did a Japan-or-Bust move fueled by pop-culture-inspired dreams, living in utter holes, cleaning dishes for a bowl of ramen in the evening and just roughing it in ways no one would want to for years. Their situation has stabilized and they're doing alright, so it's not impossible but bloody hell, I wouldn't wish this lifestyle on anyone outside of TEPCO for even a day.

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

I can tell you right now that while I love samurai and have seen almost every Toshiro Mifune movie ever made, it didn't want to make me come to Japan. Tell them general things, like "I want to see what else the culture has besides yadda yadda" or "I really liked the atmosphere when I visited" instead of "ZOMG anime One piece Akiba ramune Hatsune Miku!!!!1!1!"

ssjup81 · Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:32 am Post subject:

Getting down to it, I should try visiting real life places featured in old anime or manga series I've liked. When I went to Roppongi my first time for a hair salon visit, I noticed Azabujuuban was nearby. Sailor Moon popped into mind. I should see if any of the stuff in the show still exists.

Oh and I'm not going to lie, but seeing Digimon Adventure made me interested in visiting the Odaiba area. Still haven't. lol

That aside my main interest was to witness and observe Japan's educational system firsthand. I was very curious about it.

qwertyu2 · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 93

As a matter of principle, I would not hire anyone who thought it was a good idea to include the word "anime" in a resume.

TWG · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

I just logged in to mention that this thread has given me many lulz. Great work everyone.

kpjf · Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 385

I don't really get it. Why do people wanna visit places where anime scenes were set? I mean I can understand if it's an actual movie and the scenes were set there and you think wow that looks nice, such as maybe beautiful Austrian scenery in The Sound of Music. But this whole visiting some place because some anime scene was set there I cannot comprehend in the slightest, really I cannot. I mean no disrespect to people who like this, but it's kinda weird for me (eg looking for Haruhi and Kyon whoever the hell they are Very Happy

).

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Yeah, if ''wanting to live where anime characters live'' doesn't set off alarm bells, nothing will.

Anyhow, Japan and it's sub groups are incredibly hard to break in to. I was at a BJJ gym for 2 years, and I was an outsider there the whole time. It takes years, esp for gaijin to be accepted into groups. I imagine the Otaku are much the same.