Average Western couple's life in Japan

[mariannap]

My husband has been to Japan and loved it so much that he'd like us to move there permanently. I have never been but from what I've seen and read, I think I'd love it too. I've done some research on Japan (mostly on big cities, culture, etiquette and basic phrases) but I'd like someone who actually lives there to tell me first-hand.
What I really want to know is how possible it is for an immigrant to find decent employment in major cities and whether it's required to speak Japanese very well in advance. We're comfortable here -for the moment- but our country is in danger of default and I'm unemployed for a while now. We don't expect luxury in Japan, just decent living, and don't mind hard work as long as we can cover our living expenses.
I have a University degree and my husband has a lot of technical experience in his field, however we don't speak Japanese beyond basic phrases (and can't read nor write for the moment). We have agreed that we wouldn't mind cleaning dishes, sweeping floors, collecting garbage and the like at first, as long as it pays enough for expenses.
We know the cost of living is very high and wouldn't mind living in hotel rooms in the beginning. But what I'd really like to know is if this whole thing is achievable and if as immigrants we'll be able to live comfortably at some point.
Also, we'll be visiting Japan together around fall but until then, I'm counting on your input.

 

[Mike Cash]

First you need to look into visa eligibility. Basically that means you secure an offer of employment first and the employer sponsors you for a working visa. Washing dishes, scrubbing floors, and picking up garbage are not among the types of work which will be eligible for visa sponsorship.

 

[mariannap]

I was just mentioning some "low level" jobs to demonstrate that we don't care so much about a highly respectable job title. I should probably contact the embassy here to see if our degrees and experience on respective fields might be of interest to a potential employer then.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[Glenski]

My husband has been to Japan and loved it so much that he'd like us to move there permanently.

What was his situation here? Tourist? Business trip? How long?

I have never been but from what I've seen and read, I think I'd love it too.

Dangerous thinking for ANY country.

We're comfortable here -for the moment- but our country is in danger of default and I'm unemployed for a while now.

Don't move to escape. Experience the country first to know whether you'll even like it. Even so, a visit in the fall as a tourist is nothing like what you'd experience having to live and work here, but at least it's a taste. Keep that in mind firmly.

I have a University degree and my husband has a lot of technical experience in his field

You MIGHT qualify for a work visa, but it depends on what type of job you want and other circumstances. Please elaborate. Also, if your husband doesn't have a uni degree, just how many years of experience does he have, and what sort of job does he feel he can get with that? The need for a uni degree can be bypassed with about 10 years of related work experience. Most non-teaching jobs require high levels of Japanese. For people who are not from an anglophone country, teaching is not that easy to do, either. If you teach English, you have to prove 12 years of your education was administered all in English. If you teach your own language, the requirements are not so high (but nobody here studies Greek).

We know the cost of living is very high and wouldn't mind living in hotel rooms in the beginning.

Cost of living in the countryside is cheaper than in urban areas. Bigger cities are comparable to London or NY in costs. Living out of hotels is expensive as it gets, so I wouldn't do that.

 

[SevenStarsHK2N]

LOL - Japan has more debt that Greece, and no "friendly" German Bundesbank to give it more.

If you care about Greece you should stay there. Besides, things will get better soon

The plan is nearing completion, ;-)

Besides, Japan's economy is in a worse position than Greece my dear, especially in the long run.

 

[kraystone]

I don't think it is easier to get a job in Japan, especially for foreigners.
Many people pick up jobs here while they were studying here.

Some MNCs do not require Japanese language but they prefer you to graduate from reputable local universities, like Tokyo University, Keio or Waseda.

 

[mariannap]

I majored in Linguistics but most of my work experience is completely unrelated and my husband is an industrial engineer with over a decade of experience ( I have a feeling his skills would attract more potential employers -who needs a linguist anyway? Especially one without a master's or something).
We're not considering immigration very seriously at this point, we're just researching options. The economy is really going downhill and we're afraid that we may reach a point that there will be no future here. Thank you all for your answers. I hope we will find out more when we actually visit.

 

[Glenski]

Over a decade of experience will supersede the need for any degree, but that just gets him by immigration.

The applicant must fulfill all of the following requirements; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the applicant intends to engage in duties that require skills and/or knowledge pertaining to information processing and has passed the examination on information processing skills that is designated in a public notice by the Minister of Justice or when he/she has obtained the qualification in information processing skills that is designated in a public notice by the Minister of Justice, in which case the requirement under item (i) need not be fulfilled.

(i) The applicant must have graduated from university or acquired an education equivalent thereto while majoring in a subject related to the skills and/or knowledge necessary for performing the duties in which he/she intends to engage, or the applicant must have at least 10 years' experience (this includes the period of time spent majoring in a subject related to the relevant skills and/or knowledge at a university, college of technology (koto senmon gakko), senior high school, during a course of study in the latter part of secondary school (chuto kyoiku gakko), or during a specialized course of study at a vocational school (senshu gakko)).
(ii) The applicant must receive no less remuneration than would a Japanese national for comparable work.

The bigger issue for him is whether he can get hired. You need the promise of a job before you apply for the visa. Most non-teaching jobs require a fair amount of Japanese fluency. Look here.
Daijob.com - Looking for jobs in Japan? Want to work in Japan?
Bilingual Work in Japan : CareerCross

As for a bachelor-degreed Greek linguist seeking a teaching job, you're going to have a tougher time, perhaps, because of your nationality if you want to teach English. No university jobs for you until you get a master's degree or PhD plus publications and some experience teaching in Japan and some language skills. It'll have to be bottom of the barrel entry level work if even that.