Job Discussion Forums

jw72 · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 13

1. Is the cost of living high in the entire country or just large cities?
2. Where could I learn Japanese?
3. How receptive are the Japanese to foreigners?
4. How easy or difficult is it to obtain a visa? Does one's employer help?
5. Could someone recommend a good Aikido school?
6. What is the tax rate like for expats in Japan?

If you all have comments on this or anything else, please email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear comments, positive or negative.

Thanks,
John

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

1. Is the cost of living high in the entire country or just large cities?
Higher in large cities, just like everywhere in the world.

2. Where could I learn Japanese?
Private tutors, language schools, on your own. If you name a city where you plan to live, people can probably tell you exact names of schools or tutors.

3. How receptive are the Japanese to foreigners?
This is a loaded question. Depends on nationality, your location, and just how you define receptive. Generally speaking, on the outside you will see fairly open acceptance, with lots of leniency towards foreigners learning the language, eating the food, and using chopsticks. There are lots of stereotypes of foreigners that you will have to contend with. Many Japanese perceive foreigners only as Americans.

4. How easy or difficult is it to obtain a visa? Does one's employer help?
Another loaded question. Depends on your qualifications. Your employer merely serves as the conduit by being your financial sponsor. If he can prove his tax records and such to show immigration that he is reputable, he can serve this function. Other than that, he has no power. (So, if you want a 3-year visa, you just have to roll the dice. The employer cannot help you.)

5. Could someone recommend a good Aikido school?
Not me.

6. What is the tax rate like for expats in Japan?
People with working holiday visas are supposed to be taxed 20%. All others are taxed 5-7%. Sales tax is 5% here. Then there are local taxes which differ on location.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

spidey · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:51 am Post subject:

That pretty much says it all....

...however, if you want ot know more about studying Aikido, I would be more than willing to provide some information. I have been studying for over 13 years, the last 3 of which has been in Japan.

Let me know.

S

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

1. Is the cost of living high in the entire country or just large cities?

I think the cost of living is higher outside the large cities. Once you learn a city you know where to buy food and items cheap so only the rent is high. But outside the large cities finding products is difficult and expensive!

2. Where could I learn Japanese?
From a book!
3. How receptive are the Japanese to foreigners?
Some people cry about being treated like a guijin, but I never had any real problems in Japan. Sure some are prejudice but no matter where you go on this planet you will find prejudiceness.
4. How easy or difficult is it to obtain a visa? Does one's employer help?
Getting a visa is difficult. Usually the employer will help but it depends on the company.

5. Could someone recommend a good Aikido school?
Yes, the main Aikido dojo is in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I took Aikido there long time ago. The Dojo is three stories. All the teachers were great and all the students were kind.
6. What is the tax rate like for expats in Japan?

You mean the taxes in Japan or from your country? In Japan, I think the taxes are high because I get no benefits from the government.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

This should be a sticky.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Right. The only exception to the tax rate is those on a Working Holiday Visa who get taxed 20%.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

I was led to believe that the Japanese gov't grants a special rate of taxes for English teachers as an incentive for importing English as a skill. I was told this by someone of authority, was I misled?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan