LogFAQs > #904406418

_Marka_Ragnos_ posted...

Start learning at least some basic Japanese. Pick up Genki 1 and download lingo deer to your phone. Pretty much the learn Japanese starter pack. You dont need much to get around.

Know directions, north, south, east, west important for transportation outside of Tokyo. In Tokyo everything has English translations but outside of Tokyo you may run into problems if you cant read basic kanji.

Dont stress about bowing. No one will expect you to bow down like native. You get the pass. And yes, no matter how good you speak Japanese and fit in you will always be a foreigner.

Ive been learning the language as a hobby but Id never live there unless I was rich and didnt have to work.

I've already legally acquired Genki, so I'll probably be able to speak a bit by then. Memorising kanji sounds like a pain, but I guess I'll have to try. I might also attend a short Japanese beginner's course when I'm in Tokyo.
I'm relieved about the bowing, I don't think I'd be able to do it properly without proper practice!

ssjevot posted...

Well I only have experience interviewing in Japanese here, but the biggest thing is that they tend to act very positive and agree with what you are saying but may actually not be interested in hiring you. You really need to be on your guard because their friendly attitude can give you a false sense of security. It sounds like you will be doing something with programming? I am a research professor here, but I do more programming than anything else. One thing you should be aware of is that even if you work 50 hours a week you will probably have a lot of people in your office working much more. A lot of them won't actually be doing anything useful, but they will appear dedicated since they're there for 12 hours every day. If you bring in results you can get away with working less but there will be an attitude that you aren't as dedicated to the company. Also don't not go to drinking parties. Think of them as mandatory.

Japan is a lot of fun to vacation in, but working is quite hard to get used to and definitely can burn you out if you don't love your job (thankfully I love mine).

It's more physics related, but same difference. They actually approached me (was really surprised to get their mail), so I hope that means they're at least mildly interested.
Thank you for your advice, I'll be sure to keep it in mind! I'm not entirely sure if I would like the working culture, but I'll have plenty of time to think about that.

_____Cait posted...

Anyway, Japan is kind of easy to live in with no Japanese experience. Do yourself a favor and study your basics though, it is polite and respectful to know a little, and they appreciate trying.

Don't be a weeb.

Make sure your company offers insurance. If not, run for the hills.

Summer is brutal, dress appropriately.

Capsule hotels are cheap and convinient. Dont do air bnb or hostels.

Don't assume girls will be all over you.

Dont listen to any "weird facts about japan", most of them are veyr isolated incidents, or just plain overexaggerations. Everything outside of Tokyo and Okinawa, Osaka, or Kyoto are incredibly normal, and even those non-tokyo cities are pretty normal too.

Visit me in Hamamatsu.

Do they really hate it when foreigners bring up anime? I definitely won't do so in the interview, but when I mentioned how popular it is to one of my Japanese friends living in Germany, they were positively surprised.
Regarding the weather, would you reckon that normal summer clothing will be enough around this time of the year?
I booked some cheap hostels since capsule hotels don't sound too appealing to me, but am staying with a Japanese family most of the time. Thought about air bnb, but that was expensive as hell.
Does Hamamatsu have any nice sights? I'd be happy to visit you if you can show me around :)