Job Discussion Forums

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Hello, been in Okinawa for 6 months now and, whilst I love the place and the people, I have come to realise that I am a city boy through and through. The overwhelming American military presence here has not helped at all and I may have seen just that one guy hassling a schoolgirl in the street too many.

I am now thinking of making the move to Tokyo but am a little apprehensive. Okinawan people don't give the greatest impression of life in Tokyo, however, I am curious to know what life is like there for non-Japanese people.

What kind of ex-pat community exists in Tokyo? I have made many Okinawan friends and have had great times with them but they are completely different great times to those shared with people from a similar cultural background.

Also, what is the job situation like? I am working for NOVA at the moment and have become a bit sick of doing the same thing over and over. What would be my prospects? I am midway through a contract at the moment, have a law degree and this is my first foray into the world of teaching (for what it is worth). Would I be better off transferring with NOVA and then scoping it out or should I just come on down and grab one of the many job offers available? Where are the best places to look?

All advice gratefully received.

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

Tokyo is the largest city in Japan, so expect more foreigners and job opportunities there than anywhere else. Military presence is not as conspicuous unless you get close to Yokosuka Base.

bassnyc1 · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 7 Location: NYC

Hi. If you're really a cityboy, then you will thrive in Tokyo. Remember that in the really big cities, most people do their own thing but there's lots of opportunities to meet people and do all the things you enjoy in your free time. You said that Okinawan people don't give the greatest impression of life in Tokyo. Of course not ! Most of them are hicks!!! Have you met anyone from the countryside who has anything good to say about a big city???
Furthermore, most gaijin in Tokyo don't bond together. In fact, if you see another foreigner on the street or on a train, they'll purposely ignore you. Being from NYC, this didn't bother me but some people got offended, especially newbies. Finally, there are more job opportunities in Tokyo yet things are expensive like housing. The view is a bit ugly but once you get INSIDE Tokyo, you'll thrive. Very Happy

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

sadken, I was in a situation somewhat like yours, in that I had lived in a small city in Eastern Hokkaido for a year. I made the move to the Tokyo area about a year and nine months ago, and at first it was a little bit of an adjustment-foreigners here ARE a bit rude, as bassnyc1 pointed out, which was a lot different from rural Hokkaido, where we all pretty much knew each other and were friendly. But after a short time, I grew to love Tokyo, and have found that in addition to hip and exciting places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi, there are also places that are down to earth and traditional. I think there is something for everyone in Tokyo, and if you miss mountains and forests, you can go to southern Chiba or the mountains of Nagano, Gifu, or Tochigi Prefectures in an easy weekend.
I'd recommend the move.

Zzonkmiles · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 309

There is urban Japan and there is URBAN JAPAN. Tokyo is HUGE. The subway system literally consists of more than 20 lines, there is concrete EVERYWHERE, and you will probably feel like "just another face in the crowd" in Tokyo. While I have never LIVED there, I have visited it and did not like what I saw. I'm a city person too, but Tokyo was a bit too much for me. Everything was so cold, gray, impersonal, and hustle bustle.

You will find that most of the job opportunities in Japan are in the greater Tokyo area, but that also means the competition will be the fiercest. For better or for worse, English language support is pretty common in Tokyo. There are lots of bilingual signs and so many more Japanese will speak to you in English there. There are also obviously many places to hang out, things to do, and places to visit.

Seriously, Tokyo is HUGE. I would venture to say that it's larger than New York. Tokyo itself has about 8 million people, but the whole metropolitan area has about 30 million, from what I've read. If you are happy with that, then by all means, go there. Tokyo will definitely have the room for you. But if you like urban Japan, rather than URBAN JAPAN, you might want to consider a "smaller" city of 1 or 2 million people instead (Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Kanagawa, Sendai, Sapporo).

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

So you're considering the move to Tokyo- when I was teaching at Nova several years ago everyone was dreaming of transferring to the Okinawa branch...

freddie's friend daniel · Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 84 Location: Osaka-fu

Zzonk,

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

So, where are all the online job adverts to be found or where can I find jobs advertised in Tokyo? Have looked at the boards here, applied for bits and bobs and also on gaijin pot. Anywhere else? What sort of money is liveable there?

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

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Ta, Paul. I have no loans or debt whatsoever and have what you would call a mid-range social life. I like to go out a couple of times a week and saving a bit of cash to travel would be good. Obviously, I don't know about the rent situation.

Thinking about this, it seems clear that my best bet is to transfer with NOVA and then scope out job opportunities with a job already secured. Good idea/bad idea? Will having to give notice quitting NOVA preclude me from many jobs?

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

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

It is not a matter of my hating any of the people I work with, they have, for the most part, become really good friends and people I would want to stay in touch with. It is not even the fact that I hate my job; NOVA is so easy to do that anybody could cope with it for ages, I think. It is more the sheer tedium of the work and the fact that I feel a bit hemmed in by living on a small island, so culturally different and cut off from the country I spent a long time dreaming about living in and seeing. I have not seen all the places in Okinawa I want to see yet, however, it is not as if I can never come back and (being a Londoner I never thought I would say this) there are only so many times you can spend an entire weekend lying about on the beach.

What I wanted to know is if I am going to find myself in Tokyo, having quit a job that pays, frantically looking for work, whilst watching my savings tick down. Everybody says there is more work in and around Tokyo than you can shake a stick at, can someone just point me in the right direction?

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

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

I am visiting Tokyo for 3 days and November, having just booked it.

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

I was trying to read this thread but Her Majesty the Chimp with the lurid red colours behind her is a little blinding. I wonder if you couldn't.. uh...reduce her visibility a bit?

Sorry, I have no advice specifically about Tokyo, other than to check the Monday Japan Times, Ohayo Sensei, and contact anyone you may know in Tokyo for leads. If it was me, I wouldn't move anywhere in Japan without having a job to go to, especially Tokyo; it's too expensive.

Good luck, though.
:)