Do I need a degree to teach in Japan?

Hi,
I live in Ontario, Canada. I am about to be certified to teach English abroad. I will be going with a friend and she is also certified. We have chosen Japan to teach in however, here is my issue. I do not have a degree, just a college diploma. She has a degree which I am fully aware she would have no problem finding a job but I'm just stressed on what I should do to avoid all the rejection. If I should even try to apply but I know I will try anyway because there is always hope. If anyone can shed some light on this, has gone through it themselves, interview procedures and how long it took you to get hired it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

A diploma is a piece of paper. A degree indicates the level of education completed.

Did you complete a four year university or college program and receive a bachelors degree?

No. I went to college and received a diploma.

Okay, I'm going to need somebody familiar with the differences between the US and Canadian education systems to translate for me.

Hang tight; we have some knowledgeable folks who will be along to help you. I just happen to wake up earlier than they do.

"A diploma" doesn't indicate your level of education (and "college" and "university" are generally interchangeable to Americans, so please be more specific). It's going to be hard to get a visa sponsored without a 4-year degree or equivalent. This isn't a requirement by the schools themselves, but of the immigration department for the type of visa you need in order to become a teacher.

If I'm mistaken, someone please correct me.

You will have difficulty obtaining a work visa for Japan based on what you have said.

How old are you?
If you are under 30, you could go there on the Working Holiday Visa for a year .... that would then give you experience of living & working in Japan and also allow you time to explore your options further if you want to stay longer.

Embassy of Japan in Canada - Working Holiday Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens

In Canada, a diploma from college is less than a bachelor's degree. You need a university degree to work here.

If you get at it now, you can apply to BCU's open university program (or elsewhere, I have only heard of BCU's in Canada) and upgrade your diploma to a degree by mail. If you took some academics in college, they should be able to be applied to the degree, and you could have one within a year or two.

If I understand correctly, a Canadian college diploma is for a 3-year education, while a degree is for 4-years. Japan doesn't count the number of years that you needed to get your degree. The visa regs only say "must have graduated from university or acquired an education equivalent thereto".
Application for Certificate of Eligibility

Big deal. You are both qualified to teach here, and that is regardless of what your majors were (unfortunately).

College, university, Japan doesn't know the difference. You graduated, and that's what counts. You may have to dance a little around the description of a diploma vs. degree, but try to avoid doing that. Point out you graduated from a college, and see if that's sufficient. Get on the ESL Cafe discussion group and see what other Canadians have done.

Canadians also have the option of getting a working holiday visa (degree or no degree, diploma or no diploma) that allows part-time or full-time work here. Technically, you are not supposed to use it for long-term work, just a few months at a time, but that rule is often bent. You pay 20% tax, which is different, and you have to renew the WHV after 6 months for a second (and final) 6-month period, and you can use the WHV only once in your life, but you don't need an employer to sponsor you for it, unlike a regular work visa.