Job Discussion Forums

nimaime · Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 51

Hi all,

I know you can get placed virtually anywhere in Japan with the JET program. But I was just curious as to where JET has strongholds (if anywhere) or where they have a tendency to dispatch a larger quantity of teachers. For example, I heard Kyoto is one such place.

I'd like to know this because I have some close Japanese friends scattered in certain regions of the country. If JET happens to frequently dispatch in a region where I have a friend located I'd like to list that area as a preference. I know the chance is remote, first get accepted, then actually get placed near where I requested but I'd like to try anyway rather than select "No preference."

Thanks.

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

Look on p.7 here to see how many people were placed in various locations around Japan.
http://www.jetprogramme.org/documents/pubs/2010_jet_E.pdf

Kyoto itself is not exactly a hub.

nimaime · Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 51

Mrguay84 · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 125

Only 9 job placements in Tokyo? Shocked

nimaime · Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 51

I'll never understand the Japan public school job scene. A big city like Tokyo must have loads of public schools, yet I don't think I've ever seen a job ad for an ALT actually IN Tokyo, just surrounding satellite cities.

The country next door has loads of public school jobs in its major city.

I've all but given up on working in Japan. Without JET, the money just isn't there. It's a shame because it's a marvelous country! I'm going to homestay and study for a month this summer, that'll probably be the closest I'll get to experiencing Japanese culture.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject:

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You should re-read the job description for JET. The money has changed rather radically from this contract year on.

Money aside, Kyushu has a high level of JETs, one of the highest regions for JETs overall. However, there are some private contracts for parts of Fukuoka, Kita-Kyushu and other more urban placements. Hokkaido seems to also take on lots of JETs. Even the direct hires must be ex-JETs. Kyoto ALTs seem to be mostly JET. Kobe has been hiring a few more JET ALTs each year. Osaka is dispatch these days, from what I�ve heard, and the pay is miserable. The more rural positions, small islands and the like, seem to be JET strongholds. What dispatch company could convince someone to take a remote location?

Oh and those Tokyo jobs? Most of them are placements on the tiny islands a day�s ferry away. Technically still Tokyo, but nowhere near the city.

Don�t worry too much about asking for the perfect placement. Sometimes COs will request ALTs only from a specific country, gender, marital status� all because of some bad experiences with previous ALTs. One nearby BOE will only take Australian ALTs. Another will never hire a South African again. One BOE always asks for males from a specific American city. What I�m getting at is that there often doesn�t seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to where you end up placed. My advice is not to lose too much sleep over it and make the most of whatever location you�re given.