Job Discussion Forums

chriswest · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 12

Hey, I'm a Business graduate who would like to make some money teaching english overseas.
Im a black Canadian and wondering if I should go to Japan.
I heard about problems in Korea and decided it wasnt for me.
What exactly would I be facing?

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Hi Chris, I am not a Black teacher in Japan (I look like what the Japanese think a typical White peson looks like) but I can offer some advice on the attitudes here.

From your qualifications you could certainly teach Business English in Japan and probably any other kind of English at some schools. Yes, there is a pervasive racism in Japan - it is usually confined to a reflexive belittling and stereotyping of foreigners, and for those of us who are responsible adults such ignorant Japanese behaviour can be wearying.

I find the discrimination here to reflect an insecurity that the Japanese have - if you are comfortable about who you are you have no need to be prejudiced against others. The racism here reveals a lot about the insecurities of the Japanese as well as the racism of Asian societies in general, which are quick to jump up and down about western racism but practice racism in everyday situations because of their narrow-mindedness and ethnocentricity.

If you are a Black person you will find that some rental agents will blatantly say to you that they don`t deal with people like you. See gaijinpot.com for a thread called `Discrimination in housing`.

However, it is rare that racism escalates into agressive words or behaviour in Japan, and from what I know about Korea, Japan would probably make a pleasant change for you. In general the Japanese are not confrontational people, and indeed the younger Japanese have a superficial awareness of popular black culture as in music and fashion. They are not afraid of black people, unlike their parents and grandparents.

As far as getting a job is concerned, I think you could find an employer who respects your qualifications and would not be concerned by any racial issue. However, I do recommend Tokyo as that is where most of the jobs are. Here in Kyushu it is becoming far more competitive for even part-time jobs that one time would have been filled by any foreigner with a four year degree.

There are different job boards on the internet - eslcafe`s board, www.jobsinjapan.com and ohayosensei.com are 3 I can think of. However, not all the job opportunities in Tokyo and the Kanto region will be advertised on the internet. In Tokyo itself there will be foreigner centres where employers post messages about the availability of work in order to save expensive advertising. I recommend you try Tokyo and take it from there - once you are established in Japan you can move to a place you may find has a more relaxed lifestyle.

chriswest · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 12

oh wow, thats Cafebleu, looks like a well thought out and honest answer.

I've got an interview with ECC and i think ill probably get the job so I wouldnt have to worry about housing that much or looking for work.

I think I may go for it, if I dont like it I can always leave right.

Thanks alot.

If Others have more to say please go ahead.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

That's right.Once you have your visa stamped in your passport
you can leave your job after giving a 2 week notice.
So if you are not happy at ECC you can bail & get another job.
Personally though,I would give ECC a try.They may be a good
place to work.
Good luck in Japan. Smile

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

As usual, I will follow comments on bailing early on a job with these remarks.

Bail if you will, but make sure your apartment situation is in your hands, not your employer's. You wouldn't want to breathe more easily over leaving a bad job, only to discover that you have no place to live.

Moreover, I would urge people not to find work just to get their feet in the door, and then leave to look for greener pastures with visa in hand that was supplied by the original employer. If you won't think of your students (who may have paid a pretty penny to take your classes), then think of the reputation of the other teachers in Japan. We have to live off such scummy behavior, whether it's to pick up the slack in your missing classes, or to take flak by sheer virtue of sharing a foreign birthplace.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

I wouldn't be too concerned about other teacher's reputations in Japan.
If you find yourself in an unbearable working environment then of course you should consider bailing.Why should you be miserable to protect the so called "reputation" of fellow teachers?
IMO,this would be totally absurd.Scummy behavior? I don't think so.
I am not saying that you should bail as soon as you start your job.You have to give it a chance but if you really try & things totally suck then by all means bail out.Don't be unhappy.It's not worth it.
Believe me I have been there.
Again,enjoy your stay in Japsan. Cool

sammael · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 9 Location: Osaka

Hi Chris.... Being black in Japan is disconcerting with all the stares but it is worse in a small town!! Crying or Very sad

Know what you like! If you like singing with friends in a small dark, smoky room, drinking in a place where kids almost crap there pants when ever they see you, then small towns won`t be all that bad.

If you are like me and like dancing and letting it rip once in a while, and just for a few moments to be anonymous, go for big places (over 500,000 people)! Better chances of also finding another job if the one you have sucks!!
Hope that helps!

Blackmaninjapan · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 5

Hey Chris,

In my experience the bigger schools aren't concerned about color or sex. Just money $$$$. I meet alot of blacks that worked for Aeon and Nova.
Aeon, Nova and Geos all interview and hire black people. If you are out in the country you are going to get stares but teachers out in the country can meet japanese people alot easier and you will be sort of like a superstar. But if you are used to a big city Tokyo is the place to go.. lots of action there. The smaller schools actually like having Caucasian people, some Japanese just out of ignorance think North American means Caucasian. Even Asian Canadians have it hard with discrimination the Japanese people are kinda funny this way they don't think the english that is taught by a non-white person is authentic....

But just imagine this would you feel comfortable with a Caucasian person teaching Black history. Or a Indian person teaching Japanese. The way i look at it is if the person is qualified then teach but some Japanese people are still a little backwards in some respects.. but you should have no problems as long as u smile alot and act like some genki forienger...

Peace...

P.S the J-girls dig Black guys.. just dress hip-hop..

Generasian X · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 50

Overall, think that the other here have "hit the nail on the head!"

Its going to be a real TREAT being black in JAPAN. I have many white friends in Kyushu who think that (when it comes to dating the 18 to 24 girls) its better to be Black than White... I mean, ALL foreign men have it EASY here...just sit back and enjoy, but there is such a strong "BLACK IDENTITY" movement or "crisis" here, just turn on any music tv station or go to any hot club and you will see tons of hip-hop dressed, dreadlocked,
hip-hop and reggae wannabees and you'll be the STAR-ATTRACTION...an authentic "BLACK AMERICAN" in fact, where I am, there are quite a few AFRICANS lying to the Japanese girls, pretending that they are from "L.A., New York, or Miami...." haha!!!

Kapt. Krunch · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 163

Black man in China here. It's cool at times to be so different but this country is eons behind Japan in terms of culture. There is more fear than lust going on here. I got rejected from Korean jobs because I was black, so I decided to come to China.
If Japan is really like that then I may go there.
Ava, I hear you.Philipinos and Thais back home in Canada have always treated me extremely well. I'd like to go to both places for a visit.

Generasian X · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 50

Japanese are really into BLACK IDENTITY (especially 18-24yo) but I have always thought of Filipinos and Thais as the "Asian Brothers"...
Japan is a GREAT place for Black Americans and even those other Blacks who won't mind pretending to be...

"JAPAN is the ONE place where an African-American can live the AMERICAN dream" ...sad but true!

C76 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 10:01 pm Post subject:

I'm a Japan-board thread lurker.

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. Smile

I've been thinking about going to Korea.

Japan's always on my mind though. I tend to have the impression that the people there are less xenophobic, etc.