Job Discussion Forums

[jaylar]

Aloha,
I am quite keen on getting to Osaka anytime after September this year. I have three years experience in Korea, China, India, and tutoring one on one to Japanese students in Hawaii. I've never been to japan, so i am just curious if anybody has advice. I am pretty dead-set on Osaka.

Mahalo.

[pnksweater]

The FAQs stickies on this page are a good starting place. Were you thinking of doing the conversation school thing (eikaiwa) or working as an ALT in the public school system, or...?

May I ask the appeal of Osaka? I'm sure there are plenty of non Japanese happily living in Osaka, but the mayor and his big mouth constantly make me happy not to live in Osaka. But then we all look for something different in our ideal living situation.

[Rooster.]

I officially started my search in January of 2012. During that time I utilized everything I could find and everything I could get from posters. I too had my sights on Osaka and because of that my search proved to be difficult. I think that I found as many postings for Osaka in this past year as I did for Tokyo or Nagoya over a period of a month. There are even less available for those outside of Japan. If you want Osaka you pretty much have two options to guarantee you going there by September:

1. Don't be picky (at all). If there is a part time job and you really want to go there, take it (if you can swing it).

2. Move there without a job and start looking.

Far more practical is to get a job in Nagoya, and when you are done get a Job in Osaka since you'd already be in Japan.

Good luck!

[jaylar]

Thanks for your replies. Why Osaka? I have native Japanese friends there who I met here in Hawaii. The idea of spending time with them on their native soil is very appealing. Since I'm getting the travel itch again, it just seems like a good idea to pursue that.

The time frame is not crucial. I have obligations here at home that are keeping me here until September-ish. Anytime after that, even into the new year is alright.

Since I have not been to Japan yet, I'm still researching and figuring out what to look for and what to expect. I've spent most of my teaching time in China, so I know the names of the big schools and what the options are there, but now I'm starting over and learning these things about Japan. As far as what kind of school i teach at, I really am very flexible.

So, right now I am figuring out the best strategy and any advice is appreciated.

[Rooster.]