Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [641]
The best advice is to avoid being lulled into a false sense of security by Japan’s image as one of the world’s safest countries and to take the normal precautions you would in your home country. If a neighbourhood or establishment looks unsafe, then treat it that way. As long as you use your common sense, you will most likely find that Japan is a pleasant and rewarding place to travel as a woman.
Several train companies in Japan have recently introduced women-only cars to protect female passengers from chikan (men who feel up women and girls on packed trains). These cars are usually available during rush-hour periods on weekdays on busy urban lines. There are signs (usually pink in colour) on the platform indicating where to board these cars, and the cars themselves are usually labelled in both Japanese and English (again, these are often marked in pink).
If you have a problem and find the local police unhelpful, you can call the Japan Helpline (0120-46-1997), a nationwide emergency number that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Finally, an excellent resource available for any woman setting up in Japan is Caroline Pover’s excellent book Being A Broad in Japan, which can be found in bookstores and can also be ordered from her website at www.being-a-broad.com.
Return to beginning of chapter
WORK
Japan is an excellent and rewarding place to live and work and all major cities in Japan have significant populations of expats doing just that. Teaching English is still the most common job for Westerners, but bartending, hostessing, modelling and various writing/editorial jobs are also possible.
The key to success in Japan is doing your homework and presenting yourself properly. You will definitely need a sharp outfit for interviews, a stack of meishi (business cards) and the right attitude. If you don’t have a university degree, you won’t be eligible for most jobs that qualify you for a work visa. Any qualification, like an English-teaching certificate, will be a huge boost.
Finally, outside of the entertainment, construction and English-teaching industries, you can’t expect a good job unless you speak good Japanese (any more than someone could expect a job in your home country without speaking the language of that country).
Bartending
Bartending does not qualify you for a work visa; most of the foreign bartenders in Japan are either working illegally or are on another kind of visa. Some bars in big Japanese cities hire foreign bartenders; most are strict about visas but others don’t seem to care. The best places to look are ‘gaijin bars’, although a few Japanese-oriented places also employ foreign bartenders for ‘ambience’. The pay is barely enough to survive on – usually about ¥1000 per hour. The great plus of working as a bartender (other than free drinks) is the chance to practise speaking Japanese.
* * *
WORK WARNING
As this book went to press, the Japanese economy was suffering the effects of the worldwide recession that started with the American subprime loan crisis in 2008. Unemployment was on the rise and job opportunities were diminishing in all fields. We suggest that you research carefully the current employment conditions in the field in which you wish to work before packing your bags for Japan.
* * *
English Teaching
Teaching English has always been the most popular job for native English speakers in Japan. A university degree is an absolute essential as you cannot qualify for a work visa without one (be sure to bring the actual degree with you to Japan). Teaching qualifications and some teaching experience will be a huge plus when job hunting.
Consider lining up a job before arriving in Japan. Big schools, like Nova for example, now have recruitment programs in the USA and the UK. One downside to the big ‘factory schools’ that recruit overseas is that working conditions are often pretty dire compared with smaller schools that recruit