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GordonBennet
Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:13 am Post subject: Thinking about returning to Japan |
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My wife has been offered a job in Kyoto and I’m wondering if there would be any problems finding a job myself.
I’m 52 now and have taught in Japan before (2000 to 2002) in a small eikaiwa in Tokyo. I’ve now been teaching ESOL for 15 years and am also a qualified primary school teacher.
I’d also like to know if the cost of living has changed drastically in the ten years I’ve been away, as the salaries offered seem to be about the same as they were when I was last there.
Thanks in advance for any responses. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Thinking about returning to Japan |
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| GordonBennet wrote: |
| My wife has been offered a job in Kyoto and I’m wondering if there would be any problems finding a job myself. |
If you are on a dependent visa and you get permission to work, you'll have an advantage in that you won't need a full time job to sponsor your visa, and can take part-time work. No one can say for sure whether you'll find something, but I'd hazard a guess that you'd be able to pick up something within a month or 2, even if just part-time.
| Quote: |
| I’d also like to know if the cost of living has changed drastically in the ten years I’ve been away, as the salaries offered seem to be about the same as they were when I was last there. |
In many cases, the salaries have actually gone down in the last 10 years. 250,000/mo used to be pretty standard for full-time, and while you do still see that sometimes, you also see some 200,000 - 220,000/mo.
You might want to read through this recent thread about changes in salary and cost of living:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=102764
It seems that, basically, some things cost more now than they did 10 years ago, but a lot of things cost around the same. |
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timothypfox
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 492
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| Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| You're a little late for private international schools, but you could look into part-time or sub work at one as another possibility. Seems like you could, if a full-time job failed to materialize, string together 2 or 3 part-time jobs to make up for that. |
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qwertyu2
Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Thinking about returning to Japan |
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| GordonBennet wrote: |
| I’d also like to know if the cost of living has changed drastically in the ten years I’ve been away, as the salaries offered seem to be about the same as they were when I was last there. |
Rtm's post above covered it pretty well. Entry-level salaries have fallen, but if your wife can support you while you look for work you'll probably be able to find something part-time and go from there.
Something else to keep in mind, however, is that Japan is actively trying to stimulate inflation. So, if things go as planned, the cost of living will likely increase. Japan's long-term debt situation could also lead to a huge increase in the cost of living, but that is probably a topic for another thread. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Thinking about returning to Japan |
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| rtm wrote: |
| If you are on a dependent visa and you get permission to work... |
do you need 'permission'? My wife taught on a dependent visa for the entire 6 years we were there and I don't recall ever asking for permission. She just couldn't be hired full time or given a salary. But she could be paid by the hour for work she did.
We tried to make sure she didn't earn more than her million won a year before the tax man sits up and takes notice though. Do dependents still have this allowance? |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: Thinking about returning to Japan |
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| sicklyman wrote: |
| rtm wrote: |
| If you are on a dependent visa and you get permission to work... |
do you need 'permission'? My wife taught on a dependent visa for the entire 6 years we were there and I don't recall ever asking for permission. She just couldn't be hired full time or given a salary. But she could be paid by the hour for work she did.
We tried to make sure she didn't earn more than her million won a year before the tax man sits up and takes notice though. Do dependents still have this allowance? |
I'm on a dependent visa and I had to get permission to work, but it was pretty much just a formality, another stamp in the passport. The hours I work are limited to 20 something a week, and I can't earn more than my spouse in a year. He also loses his tax allowances for me if I earn more than a million or so yen, and I have to pay for my own health insurance after that as well. |
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GordonBennet
Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:24 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks for the replies posted so far. They are very helpful.
I was a bit worried that being 52 might be an issue. Going by the replies, I guess not. |
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AbeCross
Joined: 21 Jun 2012
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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| GordonBennet wrote: |
Thanks for the replies posted so far. They are very helpful.
I was a bit worried that being 52 might be an issue. Going by the replies, I guess not. |
In general, older people are treated with more respect there than in the USA. I am not saying that 52 is old-not at all. Teachers are also more respected than their American counterparts.
Teaching private lessons might be an option for you, too. |
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