Hi Guys,

I am an Australian, working for a US based airline. We frequently fly to Japan amongst other ports around the world. 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, with the perk of a paid commute anywhere in the world.

Joined by my wife and 1 year old daughter, and our mutual love and admiration for Japan, like many, we’d love to call Japan home. As far as I can tell in my circumstance, we have no real option of making this possible outside of short term, 90 day stints?

TIA

I'm pretty confident I have all my ducks in a row but am always overthinking things so would love if someone who has successfully gotten the BMV for an online business could recommend the lawyer they used.

I have the 5 million yen. I've lived in Japan for years as a student previously and speak passable japanese. I have a steady freelancing income online I'm looking to make my business in Japan.

Has anyone else followed this path? Would love to hear your experience! 😁 ty

Using the Roam site right now to try and find doctors in the Tokyo area who are lgbt friendly - is MtF gender affirming care included in Primary Care, or will I need to find something specific like an Endocrinologist?

I’m writing this because of my inbox still getting daily messages, and I just can’t reply to everything I get. Lately the frequency has increased, and so I thought it was time for a new post.

Until recently, I had the number one post in this sub, now number two. This is my third post on the subject, my second update.

Link for context: https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/s/yizyrimRWO

So, many people want to know what I did, how it is going, what advice I may have, etc. And I’d love to be super helpful on this and reply case by case, but it isn’t reasonable with the volume which still comes my way on this topic (thanks google), so let me give everyone an update and my current thoughts. This is after 11 years in Japan being heavily tattooed, and with an incomplete education. I suggest you read the other posts for better context.

First, it isn’t as bad as I initially thought. YMMV, but being in Kyushu helps, being outgoing helps, and being nice helps. Until recently, I got every job I’ve had here by networking, and being the ムードメーカーin the room. It helps people remember me for more than just the hand tattoos. As I mentioned in previous posts, kill them with kindness. It has continued to serve me well. Besides not being able to go to some onsen and gyms, I haven’t felt it hold me back in recent years. And through good relationships, one job has always lead to another. I’ve done some really cool things in my career here thanks to it, including being part of an IPO and even being COO of a startup. It took a while and some chance to get those opportunities , but they came by way of vocalizing wanting more at work consistently.

A lot of questions I get are around visas. I can’t help there, I married into this country. And that is, and will be, your best bet to work here without a degree. It isn’t possible for everyone, and for those struggling with it I wish I could be more helpful, but it just isn’t the boat I’ve ever been in.

I think where you are is super important. Tokyo is very different from the rest of Japan, you’ll get by with foreigner cliques, have access to an English menu, and maybe not even begin to pick up the language. And that may or may not be helpful. If your friends are hiring, it could be good. If they just drink, then you’re better off exposing yourself to language and culture to grow your ability to find work. But if you can put yourself somewhere else in Japan, without the English menu and the foreigner groups to fall back on, I think it would serve you well. It certainly has been mission critical for me.

As for work and how to find it, my first gig was teaching English, but after 2 months I was able to get back to coding through people I met there. That job got me to a better company via networking at events. That job let me do lots of community work, which got me the COO job. And then I had the confidence to make my own company (no, I’m not hiring). But they were all steps, and everything followed by putting myself out there daily, for years, until something better came along. I said it in a previous post but network your ass off, nothing helps more.

I’ve never apologized for my ink, and I try to come across as anything but weird and scary. I talk to all the kids in the neighborhood and in the waiting room of the clinic when my kid has the sniffles. I don’t sit in the corner looking hard af, that doesn’t help my case. I go to the community events, help the old people dig up weeds at the kominkan, and show up at 4am the day of mochisuki to do my part in the preparations. I do not let myself be an exception to any rule because I’m foreign or inked, I don’t gaijin smash. I play the game and because of that I have far less barriers than many other foreigners here around me that aren’t inked up. It only limits you if you let it, and there are other things that can limit you even more without you realizing it.

Everyone is different, with different family and social and economic situations, and I never know what to say when my inbox lights up because I’m no gaijin guru. I’m not the ink whisperer. And I’ve had my own troubles over the years. I’d even say that a lot of the time I don’t like it here, but I stay because this is where I’ve made my home. So sorry to those who I don’t reply to, but my advice is limited, and can be summed up as such:

-Network -Assimilate -Kill them with kindness

YMMV and probably will, but for anyone looking for my answers, I’ll pin this to my profile so you may have the answers from me which you seek.

Good luck, have fun.

Hi! I’m 18 and currently a first year student in college and i’ve been wanting to move to japan for about 2 years now ever since I studied abroad there for a month. The main thing stopping me is finding housing and a job. I have my dental assisting certification so I would like to find a job in that field but I can’t seem to find any hiring foreigners, especially those without experience. I’m getting my AA in order to qualify for the dental hygiene program my school offers but it’s highly competitive so I probably would be there for about a year or two. I was planning to switch to online classes next semester and move to japan while working as a DA. Does this plan sound realistic? If not how else would I be able to move there without quitting school?

I'm coming to Japan soon and decided to find my own apartment instead of using the (shared) accommodation that my company found. The thing is, my apartment isn't available until a month after I arrive in Japan and start my job.

I know I need to register with city hall within 2 weeks of moving, but I'll be at an Aribnb until the apartment is available. What's the best course of action? Can I get away without registering an address until I move in or should I register the Airbnb with city hall, so I have an address on my zairyu card (among other things) & just register my permanent address once I can move in? The two are in different wards.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever been in this situation, but I hope someone can help. Thank you in advance!

Hello,

I’m moving to Japan for a year and considering bringing my car with me. I’ve read that you can drive in Japan for up to a year without registering the car and using the original number plate, but I couldn’t find much detailed information on the process.

Could anyone share their experience or provide more details on the steps involved in temporarily importing a car into Japan? For example, what documents are required, how customs works, and if there are any additional fees or inspections needed?

Thanks in advance!

Hello, I'm thinking to go to a language school late this year and for the financial requirement it's too much for me, so my girlfriend wants to sponsor me, however in order to do so, there are a lot of paperwork regarding explaining motifs... Does anyone have an idea on what we shouldn't write or do,to make it happen?

Thank you.

Currently working in the IT industry in the US, doing a software engineering rotational program for a somewhat decent sized company. My rotation options allow me to rotate into different sectors in tech for a total of 4 rotations 6 months each (data engineering, cloud, software engineering, power BI, etc.)

Currently in my mid 20s and trying to maneuver a career into to an international tech company in Japan, with my date set on 2027. I also hold N2 and will be hiring a tutor to further develop my spoken Japanese.

Some of my questions are:

How does Japan value rotational program experience? Am I a jack of all trades, master of nothing? Looking to aim for paypay, mercari, rakuten, google Japan (long shot ik). How would my experience stand after 2 years of rotational experience when applying to these companies?

Are there Japan-specific technologies or tools that I should learn?

How can I best position my self for an international company? (Currently on a leetcode grind. Have good customer service exp, have a bachelors degree from an accredited university, have the CCNA and some comptia certs, joined some slack servers , visiting some meetups in Tokyo)

Also I’m assuming an ¥8M+ salary is unlikely with only 2 years of experience?

How highly viewed are IT certs in Japan in regard to international companies? (AWS, Azure, comptia, etc)

Rec online platforms to apply for jobs? So far have japandev, careercross, daijob, tokyodev, mynavi

Was looking for any advice on technologies and skillsets to focus on. Planning on deepen my expertise in cloud computing as it seems to be a hot field lacking in skilled engineers.

Any other tips would be appreciated

I am applying to Sophia university as an international student from the U.S. is there any problems I might run into besides the language barrier or small hints of racism. I’d say I’m well read on culture and norms in Japan. I’m going over there to study International Relations and Economics. I’m pretty outgoing, love meeting people of all backgrounds. Are there alumni I can talk to on this forum that can break some invisible problems down that I might not realize before applying or going over there for? I.e professional readiness after graduating, how accommodating is the faculty to international students or students in general? If you have some experience at all with Japanese colleges, everything would very appreciated!!

Hello, this is my first time posting here but I really need help with deciding my next move after college. I don't know who else to ask about this so I came here.

Bottom line is I want to get to Japan as fast as possible. I know that will take sometime, but I need some advice on what path I should take that would most likely get me the fastest to Japan.

I am a student soon graduate with a Bachelor's in computer science with a minor in cyber security. I have around one year of experience in various part of the computer science field such as web development, system admin, and IoT devices. I currently have two obvious paths to attempt

Note: I have studied and know a good bit of Japanese but never got around to taking the JLPT. I also have a good bit of friends who live there who are willing to help with housing and getting other services.

Path1: Pursue a Ph.D

My mentor in college is advising that I pursue a Ph.D because it will open me up to some more opportunities in the U.S.. I want to pursue this because 1. I will get a Ph.D out of it 2. I can apply for the CLS scholarship again. I can at least try three more times, but is it worth it? I want to get the CLS scholarship to become fluent because I really don't have any other opportunity otherwise. Yes, there is language schools, but I don't have the money for that. And I know you're wondering about the tuition with the Ph.D. I have scholarships that I can get that will cover it fully along with joining a program that will pay for it.

Path2: Join a company that has offices in Japan.

When it comes to any field right now nepotism is kind of the shortcut to getting the job. I have made a couple of friends in college who have jobs in companies near me and have said they can help me. There are a couple of them that have offices in Japan, but I just don't want to get stuck in my hometown for even longer than I have to and probably have to work for 4+ years to get to Japan. What do you guys think?

I am open to any other paths/suggestions that people have.

I have been told to join JET but I really need to get a job involved with my degree because hiring managers are ruthless when it comes to employment gaps.

Canadian here. I'm currently going to university in the US and graduate in a few months. I want to go to Japan with a WHV soon after graduation.

I noticed that the working holiday visa requirements have changed in Dec 2024. Now, the WHV can be granted twice in one lifetime, for a max of 2 years. The age range has also increased from 18-25 to 18-30.

A couple questions:

1. I know that the purpose of a WHV is for the "holiday," and you're allowed to work in order to fund your travels. I have the impression that means part-time work is ok, but I don't see anything on the website about max work hours. Does that mean you can technically work a full-time remote job as long as it doesn't interfere with your holiday?

2. I haven't been living in Canada since I'm finishing up university in the US, and I stopped filing taxes in Canada during COVID. Would this interfere with my status as a "resident" of Canada? Am I allowed to just use my Canadian passport as government ID for the WHV application?

Hi everyone. I was wondering what region would you recommend moving to. A friend of mine stayed in Kansai for 1.5 years, he then moved to Fukuoka and he has been living there since.

Everytime I talk with him, he always tells me I should "avoid" moving to Tōkyo, as it's just too expensive and crowded (not my lifestyle at all).

I thought that moving to Ōsaka would be a better idea, as I've heard from foreigners that they are more opened and lively, but it may be crowded too as it's almost as popular as Tōkyo is.

As for my background, studies, etc, I'd say that it would be my first time going there. I'm from a latin european country, so it would a very big culture shock for me and probably hard at first, but you can always get used to it. I'm qualified and I'd probably look for a job there, if possible, on the IT sector (computer science ~ software/hardware engineering)

I wouldn't be going alone, as my gf has already been there (finishing her studies many years ago in Hokkaidō) and she was very interested in moving there too, as she also visited Sendai and Yamagata, and fell in love with with them (specially the 2nd one).

I don't struggle with japanese, I won't say I'm a master at it, but I'm taking the N2 soon and I've been studying it consistently for the last 2~2.5 years. My girl is at N1 already, and we are both very perseverant, so I don't see it as an obstacle.

I'm not that much of a major city guy, I've always lived in the outkirts (and I mean, in places with a max population of 150k people - dormitory cities), so I'd probably prefer avoiding downtown areas and stuff (I've been said that Kōbe is a good option too, as you can live in the outskirts but still be close to the city without all the traffic and other disadvantages).

I've been doing my research and, as it always happens, there are dialects in Japan, not only regional, but with changes between areas too. I don't know if I should put that into consideration, but I guess it's not that much of a deal (just a few changes here and there).

We won't move without a penny, but I'm not looking to spend all my savings either, so I guess moving away from the common places is a must.

TLTR:

Taking into account....

° Cost and quality of life ° Communication and transport with the rest of the territory ° Difficulty in requesting or expediting documentation from foreigners (bank accounts, visa renewals, etc)

° Minimal openness to foreigners, without much racism, quality of the people...

° Weather (I'm from a very sunny country with extreme temperatures, but I don't mind some cold. I saw that Niigata is quite similar to what "mild" weather is like here).

...Do you have any recommendations? And, in case you do, any good examples of citied we could move to?

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all doing well!

Just a quick question to anyone who knows the information. (Tried researching but couldn't find the answer.)

I'll be applying for a WHV to then move next year.

Wondering as to when I should apply?

I don't want to leave it last minute of course. But I also don't want to apply too soon and screw myself over.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to how soon before departure date I should apply for this?

Many thanks in advance!

I'm planning to study in Japan this fall, with the universities that best fit my schedule being Chukyo University (Nagoya campus) and Tokyo International University (Ikebukuro campus)

I like the support/programs in Chukyo better but I've heard that there isn't that much to do in Nagoya and I'm a bit worried about that.

What're yalls opinions/experiences between the two?

Love to get the opinion of someone qualified and experienced in business in Japan. I’m studying business in Ireland and have received 2 offers to study for one semester in Tokyo next year. Senshu University or Waseda University.

I know the seemingly obvious choice is Waseda. It’s a well renowned university and would be looked on more favourably by a Japanese employer. But if I study at Senshu, I will then study my second semester in Seoul National University. This option isn’t available for Waseda as it is a second semester offer. Additionally Senshu’s program has an emphasis on Japanese language which is really important for me.

What I want to know is if SNU, which is regarded as one of South Korea’s best universities is respected by Japanese companies and if it would carry the same weight as Waseda? I’m definitely leaning towards Senshu and SNU partly because the idea of living in Seoul is exciting and the language aspect. Although I have heard Waseda’s Japanese language centre is very good.

Hope someone can help me feel more decided on this choice. Thanks for reading.

Hey guys! I'm planning on studying 6 months in Japan in September, but I really need some input from people who know a bit of Japan. I have to provide my school with a top 3. I'm fairly certain that number 1 will be Ryuokoku University, based on the fact that I'm in love with Japanse culture and love a calm, more nature focused area. Ryuokoku also has an exchange program where you will learn about all kind of things from Japan (Language, culture, technology, media, arts, pop culture). So I do know my first choice, but my 2nd and 3rd are so hard. The other choices I have are: Otemon Gakuin, Osaka Gakuin, Kindai, Reitaku, Musashi, Toyo, Chuo and Kanagawa. I would love to follow an exchange program instead of picking courses from faculties, and with the information I could find online with a quick look, It seems to me that only Otemon Gakuin, Osaka Gakuin, Kindai and ofcourse Ryuokoku have that option, but I could definitely wrong.

To recap, I told you guys I would like an exchange program instead of following regular courses from faculties (this is to standard and I would love to know more about Japan in general). I also like a nature oriented spot to stay, so maybe the ones around Tokyo aren't the best, but if you guys tell me otherwise I can definitely switch, I also adore Tokyo. Which area and which University would you guys recommend for me. Thank you so much and any help would be nice, its so hard to decide!

I'm a Japanese American with dual citizenship planning on moving back to Japan this summer (at least temporarily). I am born and raised in the US and have a US Driver's License, but am planning to live with relatives temporarily, and then possibly buy a house in Japan after a few months, if circumstances align. Am I able to get an international driver's license for the first year that I'm there, even if I register as a resident (住民票)? Or am I required to get a full Japanese Driver's License immediately?

The U.S. Embassy of Japan states: "“Residents” are expected to convert or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest." (Driving in Japan - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan) I've heard anecdotally of some dual citizens getting an IDP temporarily and then converting to a Japanese license, and really not sure where I stand in the law exactly, as sometimes things are murky with dual citizenship. Thanks!

Apologies in advance if this has already been asked. I tried searching and couldn't exactly find an answer for my scenario.

I'm an American with a masters degree in computer science, currently working as a senior-level software engineer with 8 years of experience. I've been to Japan many times and after a lot of thinking, I've decided that I want to live in Japan. I've been followomg sites like TokyoDev and see job postings all the time, but honestly because I am quite comfortable at my current position, I haven't made any attempts to apply, but I want to change that in the near future. So that brings me to my next question: how hard or difficult is it for someone like me to get interviews and eventually hired as a software engineer, preferably by a company that's foreigner-friendly? I know a lot about the CS job scene in the US and it's currently not great.. but I know very little about what it's like in Japan besides the surface-level stuff like software developers aren't valued, salaries are much lower, etc. I don't know much about the job hunt scene.

Other information that might be relevant to answer my question:

• Location isn't important.
• I don't have any official credentials for Japanese ability yet, but I plan to take the JLPT next time it is offered. If I were to rate myself, I'd say I could comfortably pass N2, but struggle with N1.
• I don't care that much about salary, as long as it's enough to get me permanent residency within 1-3 years using the point system - at least 5-6m yen.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a 30yr old professional who's considering a short-term position based out of Musashino. I need to be in office 1-2 times a week, but can work from home/elsewhere otherwise. I'm a US foreigner and currently don't know any Japanese, but will be spending a bit of time to try and learn the essentials before this role begins.

I'm looking for a neighborhood that's reasonably priced and commutable to interesting/fun things. On one hand, since I'll be working from home a majority of the time, I'd like to be able to afford an apartment of a reasonable size and comfort level in a quiet area. At the same time, I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, where I have really good access to clubs, bars, restaurants, and other night life opportunities via the train. It would be nice to have access without being in the midst of a very busy/noisy neighborhood. My other primary hobby is road cycling, which I'm pretty sure will be limited if at all available in Japan.

Can you offer any suggestions on neighborhoods to consider with these things in mind? Also, is there a work-from-cafe culture in Japan, or is that only a US/EU thing?

Like title says, I'm planning my working holiday itinerary at the moment and I'm not great at dealing with heat. How viable is moving to Hokkaido/Sapporo in summer to escape the heat? Is it dead there with nothing to do in summer? Or will it be packed with people with the same idea? What's it like there in general? And is there a better idea? Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks.

Hi all!

While I'm still waiting on my COE and therefore my student visa to be issued, I will hopefully be moving to Tokyo at the end of March to begin an English speaking, graduate program.

Although at first I was going to simply take up a dorm room, I've lately been reconsidering, and have seen that it is very possible for me to find a decent 1K i(trying to cap budget around 10-10.1万 monthly) in some neighborhoods on the outskirts of central Tokyo.

My university is on the doorstep of Ookayama station, and while I certainly would intend to spend a lot of time on campus, I do desire to live a bit closer to central Tokyo. I figured that the university is sufficiently close enough that I could realistically settle somewhere that I'd have a <30 min commute to campus, and a <30 min commute to areas of central Tokyo I'd want to frequent (Shibuya, Shinjuku at the top of the list). I plan on having a bike eventually, which would definitely shorten my commute time, but I'd like the option of commuting by subway regardless.

it seems that some of the areas along the Toyoko line would be pretty convenient, as I could access campus pretty easily via Toyoko -> Oimachi. I've done a really decent amount of research on the stops across this line, and have narrowed down the areas I want to live in to span from ~Yutenji to ~Toritsu-daigaku.

Any further north (Nakameguro and beyond) are starting to get a bit further from campus, but more importantly this is also the point where I've seen apartments start to really hike up in price.

Further south of Toritsu-daigaku is pretty far out from central, and from what I've heard of Jiyugaoka, its not the place for me, as someone in my early-mid 20s.

Within these constraints, how do the areas around these stations differ? I've heard much much more about Gakugei-Daigaku, and how its becoming a very popular area. I've heard about how Yutenji is a bit more laid back. However, I thought the best way to know for sure is to ask for some anecdotes on these areas and give context as to who I am and what I'm looking for, I'd also love to hear about smaller neighborhoods (I don't really know what to call these subdivisions, but Takaban for example) surrounding these stations if anyone has experience with them.

I like my privacy, but would like to live somewhere somewhat lively. Bars, cafes, nice walking areas (green spaces are a plus), convenient. I primarily intend to make friends on-campus, but living in a social area would be something I definitely desire.

Thanks for any advice ahead of time, it's greatly appreciated :)

Hi,

Apologies in advance for the long explanation, but I wanted to outline my situation clearly. I'm currently trying to determine the best way to move to Japan and secure permanent residency based on my current qualifications.

One of the fastest routes to permanent residency is through work sponsorship with a Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa. However, the requirements for the HSP visa are strict—I would need at least 70 points to qualify, which would allow me to apply for permanent residency in three years. If I can accumulate 80 points, I could potentially qualify for PR within one year. I’ve been using this calculator to estimate my points, but since factors like earned income can fluctuate, I want to ensure I have more than enough points before applying.

Current Point Assessment & Plan

At the moment, I am in my mid-20s with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management Information Systems and will soon have one year of professional work experience. I graduated from Rutgers University, which is listed as a highly regarded institution according to Kikuchi Immigration Services.

I am currently taking a Coursera certificate, but I am unsure whether it qualifies under "Holding a foreign qualification related to the job". Regarding research achievements, Japanese proficiency, and national qualifications, I do not have any and likely will not in the near future. (For transparency, I do plan to learn Japanese eventually, but due to my current workload and my difficulty in picking up new languages, I cannot count on it as a reliable factor in my visa points calculation.)

Based on my current credentials, I estimate that I have around 40 points, excluding income.

Plan to Reach 70+ Points

My plan is to continue working until I have at least three years of professional experience and then pursue a master’s degree in a data-related field. However, I have a few key requirements for my graduate studies:

1. The program must be taught in English.
2. It must be related to my career path
3. I prefer a program that does not require an entrance exam, as I am not confident in passing one within a reliable timeframe.

Graduate School Options in Japan

I have found three potential options, but each comes with concerns:

• Tohoku University – Highly reputable, but requires an entrance exam and may be difficult for me to get into.
• Sophia University – The closest relevant program is Green Science & Engineering, which does not strongly align with my career path.
• Tokyo International University (TIU) – This program fits my needs logistically, but I am concerned about its reputation and how that might impact job hunting after graduation.

Post-Graduation Point Calculation

If I complete a master’s degree at a Japanese university, I estimate my points would increase to around 60 (due to earning a higher degree and graduating from a Japanese institution). Assuming I am earning at least 5–6 million yen annually, that should bring me to 70+ points, making me eligible for the HSP visa.

Key Concerns & Questions

1. How realistic does this plan sound overall?
2. If I attend TIU, how much would its weaker reputation impact my job search? (Considering I would already have 3+ years of experience and a U.S. degree from Rutgers.)

Side Note:

I am not particularly concerned about salary or working conditions immediately after graduation. My primary goal is simply to secure a job that will last until I obtain PR. The primary positions I am looking for would be something along the lines of a Data Analyst or Data Scientist. After that, I plan to transition to remote work for a U.S.-based company.

I appreciate any insight you can provide!

Hello fellow Japanese language and culture lovers! So I've been planning on studying abroad in Japan (Tokyo specifically) for the past 4-5 months and the first school I found was ISI (they have 7 campuses I believe) and thought their Shinjuku campus would be nice because it's a new building and there's a lot to do in that area, however, I was initially planning on starting my study abroad in October of this year, but sadly the fall semester is already packed (even though they told me I can send my application in February. It's January 30th today, but they told me the news 2 weeks ago). However, one of the staff members helping me said she could register me for their January 2026 semester which seems so far. So I'm contemplating now whether or not I should study there or Naganuma School because the Naganuma school has openings for the October semester. I've read that Naganuma focuses on conversation and getting to speak the language and not just focusing on grammar. And that's one of my main goals with learning Japanese.

If anyone has any experience or information about the schools, please let me know! I know I shouldn't make decisions for myself based on other people's opinions but I'm just curious about everyone's experiences. So please let me know! Or if you have other suggestions for language schools in Tokyo, let me know as well!

Thank you!

Hi, as the title implies, I'm hoping to spend one year or more in Japan. I live close by and travel there semi-frequently. Here are some pointers to help you help me:

1. I'm a Master degree holder and have worked as an ESL teacher abroad for many years, though I do not see myself as an ALT in Japan.

2. I'm open to Ph.D. opportunities, but I'm too old for MEXT and too poor for self-funding.

3. I considered a hybrid approach between the Digital Nomad visa and tourist visas (3 months before and 3 months after) although I'm not sure if it's okay to do this, plus I do not like the idea that you are not counted as a resident with a DN visa.

4. I considered software engineering roles. However, my skill level is intermediate, and my Japanese level is N4'ish, so I doubt I can find visa-sponsored work with this configuration.

P.S. I don't mind spending 6 months to 1 year preparing for this. I just want to prepare for the right path.

Thanks.

For some context about myself, I have a university degree on System Engineering and have been working as a Software Developer for 5 years now. I've been contemplating going to Japan for the past 2 years and have been studying Japanese for that time as well (started at an Academy but as of last year I take private lessons from a native teacher with one other person).

Going to Japan in 2026 has been the sight I set myself so I'm currently preparing and doing more in-depth research about it. Firstly I'm aiming to apply for the MEXT Scholarship for a post graduate degreee (I believe it would be a Masters from what I've read). Given that MEXT pretty much covers most costs, it's a big factor and help for considering going this way.

Now, in the case I do not get selected for the scholarship, I had also considered going to a language school to study Japanese. To be honest that was my goal from when I first thought about this, but later on an acquaintance told me about MEXT so that option was added to the table too. My goal after my studies (whichever they end up being) are to pursue employment and remain in Japan.

I know the MEXT timelines for next year open roughly in April, and I've read that they tell you the final result (assuming you pass all stages) towards January/February. Now on the off case that things turn out that way I would want to have the backup of language school "ready to go", assuming the worst case scenario of not being selected on the final stage.

My main question is: From how much time before should one be applying for language schools? How far into the application would you be expected to make the bigger payment of the program? How late could I let them know "I will not be going anymore" if the scholarship is granted?

Please correct me if I'm wrong but what I had read is that if you begin language school from a different period than April, you aren't eligible to stay the max period of two years. And I'd definitely like to do that, hence the April 2026 date has been my definite "Going to Japan" date. I mainly want to know if I could be doing both processes at once, once again assuming the worst case where I'd be waiting for the final response from MEXT and have it not go through, I'd still want to be going on April regardless.

I do have the financial resources to cover the expenses, so I'm good on that regard. I'm mainly on the dark about the dates if it came to having to manage both processes at once to "almost guarantee" my departure on April 2026.

Many thanks in advance for any information!

Mostly a curious question. I'm planning on moving to the town of a University I'm interested in prior to applying to the school. I'd be self-supporting/full-paying, and moving on a long term residency visa via ancestry, so I'm wondering if being a resident for a time prior to applying could potentially increase my acceptance odds (all though I'd be applying for one of their global/in-english engineering programs).

I'm confident in my current grades/transcript/extra curriculars/test scores (3.8/4.00 gpa, honors, pres of a technical club, getting scores soon) and about to graduate with an associates in science, but I'm still concerned if I'll be able to get in.

I am working on a backup plan but wanted to ask in the mean time anyways.

Thanks :)

I am a 20 yr old getting my bachelors in Aerospace engineering. I lived in Tokyo for about 7 months last year learning japanese at Akamonkai, I came back home to finish college and continue studying Japanese. Now my actual question is should I go back to Akamonkai for 6 months once I finish school for the visa and job hunting help or should I just Job hunt from the states? I've been having a hard time wondering what to do because of the financial investment of language school. Also as of right now I am around N4 pushing N3 japanese level planning to maybe hit N2 by graduation in about 3 yrs.

Hi,

I'm a bit lost right now.... I plan to move to Japan by the end of 2027. A year ago, I finished my bachelors degree in business informatics, and I'm now searching for a part-time masters program. I applied for an MIM (Master of Management) of a relatively well known business school in the UK, but I'm not sure if it will get me anywhere in Japan. For context: I worked for the last 4 and a half years in the Cyber-Security sector as a consultant. I want a bit of a career shift right now, since I do not want to continue to do GRC-paperwork consulting anymore.

For those of you with a bit more of experience: Should I do a master’s degree in Management or more in the tech side?

Thank you all in advance!

Hey everyone,

I wanted to see if anyone here has been in a similar situation and could share advice or insights.

I was born in Japan in 1992 and moved to Hawaii with my family in 1998 for my parents’ restaurant business. Later, my mother divorced and remarried a U.S. citizen, which granted me a green card. When I turned 18, she decided for me to obtain U.S. citizenship, and at the time, neither of us knew that this meant I was automatically losing my Japanese nationality under Article 11-1 of the Nationality Act.

As many of you may know, Japan does not allow dual nationality, and under the law, if a Japanese citizen voluntarily naturalizes in another country, they automatically lose their Japanese citizenship. However, I recently came across Article 14(1) of the Nationality Law, which states that if someone becomes a dual citizen before age 18, they must choose a nationality by age 20. If someone naturalizes after 18, they must choose a nationality within two years.

Since I naturalized at 18, I’m wondering whether that plays any role in my case. According to the law, I should have had two years to make a decision, but I never received any notice asking me to do so. I was completely unaware of this process—and now that I’m in my 30s, does this mean I’m automatically considered to have forfeited my Japanese nationality, or could I technically still claim that I am “still deciding” since I was never formally notified?

The issue now is that my Japanese passport is expired, and I want to get it reissued if I ever decide to move back. For the longest time, I’ve wanted to return to Japan and live there, but this situation has put everything on hold. My mother and grandmother still live in Japan and are Japanese citizens, and being unable to reclaim my status has made it difficult to plan for the future.

Last year, I went to Japan for a month to try and sort things out. I successfully obtained my jūminhyō (residence certificate) and koseki tōhon (family registry transcript) and even got a Japanese driver’s license—so at least on paper, it seems Japan still considers me a citizen. My next step was to apply for a passport, but that’s when things got complicated.

I talked about this with my Japanese wife (who has a U.S. green card, obtained through her parents, not through me), and she was concerned. She had read articles stating that my Japanese citizenship was already void and worried that applying for a passport might be problematic. She also felt that continuing to pursue Japanese nationality could have unintended consequences for both of us. Because of this, she’s encouraged me to formally renounce my Japanese nationality at the consulate, but I feel strongly that I should retain my rights as a Japanese citizen. Renouncing would mean needing a visa just to live in my own country, which doesn’t sit right with me.

I plan to apply for a Japanese passport again on my next visit, but before I do, I wanted to ask: • Has anyone here been in a similar situation? • Were you able to renew your Japanese passport, and if so, how did you approach it? • Does my naturalization at 18 (instead of before 18) have any impact on my case? • Since I never received a request to choose a nationality, could that be a factor in my favor? • How did you deal with any legal or personal conflicts that came up? • Any advice on handling conversations like this with family members who might not understand?

I know this is a tough and gray area legally, so I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this or has insight into the process. Thanks in advance!