How did it all start?

[NihonLover]

Hello everyone! How did your passion for Japan and/or Japanese start? Was there a trigger? Has it always been so?

For me, it is partly due to the fact that I have studied lots of languages, can't get enough. But hearing Japanese just sends shiver down my spine, lol.
As far as Japan is concerned I have always had an interest but now that I have begun studying the language (which basically is the reincarnation of Japanese culture, if I may say so) I can't think but going there.
Anime also sped up the process.

So...how did it all begin?

 

[zoomingjapan]

Hi there!
I first became interested in Japan in the 80s. Now I live in Japan and my interests have changed quite a bit in the past few years.

As I've written about it in my blog, I just post a link instead of typing everything again: "Why are you interested in Japan?"

 

[Glenski]

I got posted to Tokyo as a trainer for scientists in the mid 80s for 5 months. That started everything. Typical movies, Japan 501 Club, language learning, return vacation, writing a travel column for a year, then returning for a job in 1998 (after which I have stayed and gotten married to a Japanese).

 

[NihonLover]

I'll defenetly take a look at the blog.
I have also been thinking about one day live there, but I think I need to improve with the language first.
Do you like living in Japan?
Could it be hard for me to find a job there?

 

[Petaris]

I'll defenetly take a look at the blog.
I have also been thinking about one day live there, but I think I need to improve with the language first.
Do you like living in Japan?
Could it be hard for me to find a job there?

You could always look at teaching Italian or if your English is good enough teaching English. Don't expect it to pay a lot though. Before thinking of living there why not start with visiting to see if life there is really the way you believe it is. Keep in mind that visiting a place and living in a place are two very different things, but that will at least give you a peek at life there. You will definitely need some Japanese language skills and the more you have the better.

Whether someone, anyone, likes living in Japan or not really depends on them and their situation. It really won't tell you if you would like living there.

The above advice for a job, teaching languages, would be more suited for a short stay then a lifelong employment option, though some do exist. I would start small and if you really want to keep living there look for other, better, opportunities that will pay the bills and support a family if that is what you have in mind.

You didn't say this, but as a precaution I want to give you a heads up. If your intent is to go to Japan because of all the cute girls that you have seen in your favorite anime, you may want to re-think your reasons for going. There are plenty of cute girls but anime is not a reality. Also, many of those girls will likely not speak Italian and will likely have fairly limited English as well. Even if this is in no way part of your reasons for wanting to go there it will serve as a good warning to others who read this thread.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[NihonLover]

You could always look at teaching Italian or if your English is good enough teaching English. Don't expect it to pay a lot though. Before thinking of living there why not start with visiting to see if life there is really the way you believe it is. Keep in mind that visiting a place and living in a place are two very different things, but that will at least give you a peek at life there. You will definitely need some Japanese language skills and the more you have the better.

Whether someone, anyone, likes living in Japan or not really depends on them and their situation. It really won't tell you if you would like living there.

The above advice for a job, teaching languages, would be more suited for a short stay then a lifelong employment option, though some do exist. I would start small and if you really want to keep living there look for other, better, opportunities that will pay the bills and support a family if that is what you have in mind.

You didn't say this, but as a precaution I want to give you a heads up. If your intent is to go to Japan because of all the cute girls that you have seen in your favorite anime, you may want to re-think your reasons for going. There are plenty of cute girls but anime is not a reality. Also, many of those girls will likely not speak Italian and will likely have fairly limited English as well. Even if this is in no way part of your reasons for wanting to go there it will serve as a good warning to others who read this thread.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Well, the plan was not to go live there right away, but learn the language first. I'm a language-aholic! lol
However, I plan to visit Japan soon but not necessarily for tourism. I wanted to experience the country and I hope this upcoming year I'll be able to do that. The girls? Ahah...gotta love them! But I don't have any stereotype in mind. I have, however, met many Japanese people throughout my travels...one thing is true: girls love us westerners there. lol ^^
I'm Italian but was raised with both English and Italian, although I feel closer to English and I have taught both languages to foreigners already, Russian students to be more exact.

 

[Glenski]

What kind of work did you have in mind?
For teaching, you don't need much Japanese. Can't use much in the classroom anyway.
English teaching will depend on what nationality you hold. If it's not from a typical native E country, you'll have to prove 12 years of your education were all in English. Otherwise, you would only be able to teach Italian, and THAT'S only if you have a bachelor's degree. Visa requirement.

For non-teaching jobs, most will require high fluency in Japanese (speaking, reading, writing).

Do I like living in Japan? I would think that 14 years would indicate yes. Your mileage may vary.

 

[NihonLover]

What kind of work did you have in mind?
For teaching, you don't need much Japanese. Can't use much in the classroom anyway.
English teaching will depend on what nationality you hold. If it's not from a typical native E country, you'll have to prove 12 years of your education were all in English. Otherwise, you would only be able to teach Italian, and THAT'S only if you have a bachelor's degree. Visa requirement.

For non-teaching jobs, most will require high fluency in Japanese (speaking, reading, writing).

Do I like living in Japan? I would think that 14 years would indicate yes. Your mileage may vary.

I can prove at least 14 years of learning English so that won't be a problem.
I am certainly going to learn the language but I'm I'm in no hurry...I'm 24 years old.
For the time being I'm really just focused on learning Japanese and go there even for short stay, since I have never been there.
Anything can happen in this crazy world, lol we'll see

 

[Mike Cash]

Not "learning English" but being educated in English. Was English the language of instruction in the classroom all those years? For all subjects?

 

[NihonLover]

Yeah. My mum's been raised up in Australia so she's always wanted to raise me as a native speaker. My brother too

 

[Mike Cash]

Does that "Yeah" mean, "I spent at least 12 years in schools where all the teachers taught all the subjects in English"?

 

[NihonLover]

Yes. Like I said. My mum was brought up the same way and wanted both me and my brothers to be brought up like that as well

 

[Mike Cash]

That's very nice for you. Often people with great English ability, though not native speakers, find themselves not eligible due to this requirement.

Sadly, many semiliterate native speakers do make it.

 

[NihonLover]

I am so grateful to my parents (my dad knows no English at all but he also spent money on our private schools), however, I don't think that having attended subjects in English is essential. That would mean everyone who attended school in an English native country would be qualified. I don't think that's the case. To teach English what's essential is the grammar and being in Italy, they really focused on that.
That said, getting back to the topic, I don't know where I'll be someday. All I know is that, for now, I'm gonna do my very best to learn Japanese, and I have found my resolve in passion more than anything. It's the way I have learned all of the other languages I know and for now it has worked great.

 

[Mike Cash]

We're not talking about common sense; we're talking about bureaucratic requirements.

 

[NihonLover]

True, but like I said. I'm 24 years old. I believe it's still soon for me to certainly say I will go and live there...who knows what will happen ^^

 

[Mike Cash]

Some come much younger than that.

 

[NihonLover]

They must know Japanese already though, since I don't yet, I'll put that on hold for now. I'm not gonna close any door, but being rational and responsible it's the very least I can do. Sooner than 24 years old? Their parents must have lots of money to support them cause I can't imagine a job that pays that much which would allow them to start from scratch there so soon. As I understand, life in Japan is pretty expensive.

 

[Glenski]

When you write to employers, I hope you don't use expressions like certain ones you do here:

gonna
me and my brothers
cause (instead of because)

Perhaps you are just lazy and using casual writing. Ok on a forum, but not with employers.

I don't think that having attended subjects in English is essential.

To do the actual teaching, I agree, but that's the immigration requirement for a visa.

I know you said you were interested for the moment only in coming for a short stay (how long?), but you didn't answer my earlier question:

What kind of work did you have in mind?

 

[NihonLover]

OMG people! U r all so up-tight(in keeping with the language that's cool with only forums apparently). Of course I don't write like this when writing formal letters, which I do all day at work. I have been hired because of my English (here in Italy the situation really is terrible to that regard). That said, you don't seem to have gotten the main topic of this thread and i have only discovered this new passion. I wrote I would like to go live there someday, how can I know what I'll do? The first step for me now is to learn the language, I'll then act accordingly. I don't know what I wanna do exactly in my life, but I sure do wanna (oh...sorry) keep my hopes and dreams up.
So what if I write casually on a forum? It's not about being lazy, it's a forum!!! Do you want me to write: dear Sirs??? Come on people! Loosen up a little
I wanna go for 2 weeks, 3 tops. But that's only because of work.

 

[Mike Cash]

Japan is very open to visitors. Japan is highly restrictive to people wishing to come here to work. The first thing anyone contemplating coming here to work has to look into is visa eligibility. People must be sponsored for a specific position by an employer in Japan; they can't just decide to wander over and try to get a job. That means that they are typically hired for some aspect of their foreignness and that for almost all positions Japanese ability, while nice, is irrelevant.

If you don't qualify for one of the working visa categories and have marketable job skills desired by an employer in Japan who will sponsor you, then essentially you can forget about it. The world is full of anime otaku who want to live here and are not eligible.

This is an exceptionally easy country in which to be a foreigner, especially in the Internet age. It is also possible to live here for decades with appallingly rudimentary Japanese and in a state of total illiteracy; many have done it. Your notion that the first thing you have to tend to is learning the language in order to be able to live here, while laudable, is erroneous. The very first thing is to determine visa eligibility and the possibility of making yourself eligible if you are currently not eligible.

 

[NihonLover]

Ok, I get your point. But I wanna learn Japanese no matter what. Just cause I studied Russian and German doesn't mean I'll ever live there, maybe...who knows. I'm studying Japanese out of passion, not need

 

[Mike Cash]

That's fine. I'm only making sure you have the pertinent information as early as possible. What you do with it is unimportant.

 

[NihonLover]

Ok, I get it...and why and how did you move to Japan?

---------- Post added at 13:57 ---------- Previous post was at 13:45 ----------

I gotta get to work. Thanx 4 the advice, I mean it. We'll c how it'll all turn out (sorry for being so casual) In the meantime people...the thread was about where your passion for Japan/Japanese originated. So please keep posting ^^
I have asked for people who may wanna converse in Japanese on skype, anyone?

 

[Mike Cash]

I came here to work on my uncle's ship.