New to community and considering moving to Japan for a year 😘

Hello everyone! I'm new to this community and trying to learn more about Japan before making a decision on moving there. Recently, my college friend from Suginami sent me an article stating that Japan is going to allow licensed beauticians from other countries to live in Japan for 5 years as long as they can converse in Japanese (I've been taking Japanese lessons for about a year) so that shouldn't be a problem. Im a professional hairstylist and makeup artist working in a salon but I prefer doing editorial work like fashion shows, film, and media.

Anyways, if anyone knows an individual whose attempting to do the same thing as me I'd love to hear about it! I'd also welcome any advice such as best city to move to, the best salons, or anything about moving from the US to Japan- please drop your two cents in a comment

I haven't heard about that new program, but it sounds encouraging for you. I would recommend concentrating your attention on the major cities, because that is where your clientele is likely to be. That is where your market is. Your strength will be your ability to provide expert care to foreign clients, so play to that strength. Don't spend a lot of time contemplating life out in the remote regions of Japan.

Your Japanese language ability will not be good enough (at first) to provide service to Japanese clients, and you will not have sufficient knowledge of their beauty/fashion needs. So initially your clients will be foreign, but that is OK Stick to the major cities where there is a good population of foreign prospective clients; Tokyo, Yokohama, possibly Kyoto, possibly Osaka. There is a huge concentration of salons in the Harajuku/Omotesando area, and that is an area where many foreigners live and gather. A quick Google search showed this. Might be a good place to start making enquiries.

According to this article, it sounds like Tokyo is your only choice but that's perfect. Tokyo's a great place with plenty of opportunity.
It says you have to obtain a Japanese beautician's license so I guess the first thing to do is to figure out how to do that.
Maybe you need to enter a cosmetology school? Or maybe places will hire you and train you in a package

"The industry is known for a high personnel turnover rate and a chronic manpower shortage because beauticians work long hours for relatively low pay."
This part would be concerning but if it's a short term adventure then maybe it's not a problem.

Note, Japan is not a tipping culture so no matter how good you are you probably won't make much, if any, money in tips.
(Although that may not be the case if most of your clientele is foreign.)

The turnover at these 1200 yen 15 minute in and out service has killed many businesses, but maintaining staff is very difficult. What I am seeing now is the mom and pop 1200 yen franchise running there own show. But the hours are long and I don't know the details if the shop MUST stay open 7 days a week.

musicisgood said:

The turnover at these 1200 yen 15 minute in and out service has killed many businesses, but maintaining staff is very difficult. What I am seeing now is the mom and pop 1200 yen franchise running there own show. But the hours are long and I don't know the details if the shop MUST stay open 7 days a week.

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I used to get my hair cut done at a cosmetology school in Tokyo and it was a great deal. I think it was about Y1000 and they washed the hair, cut it and then washed again following by drying/styling.

mdchachi said:

I used to get my hair cut done at a cosmetology school in Tokyo and it was a great deal. I think it was about Y1000 and they washed the hair, cut it and then washed again following by drying/styling.

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That's a good idea for the poster to follow up on how to get a visa to work in Japan.

Hi and welcome to the forum!

If you're on Facebook, join the Tokyo Expatriate Network group and start searching some of the posts. There will be people there who know much more about beauticians than the mainly mature males on this site (such as myself)!