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Senpai Talk Q and A: Answers

Thank you for attending AzATJ x GATJ Senpai Talk on Sep. 8th. We received many questions during the event. Here are the answers we couldn’t answer during the event. (Please read about the presenters' background here.)



General Questions (Josh, Katie and Japanese teachers answered these questions.)


  • I would really like to have an occupation in the future that allows me to travel to and work in Japan; right now I plan on studying abroad for an International Communications degree, are there any other steps I can take to make this happen?

Go to a career forum (Boston or Los Angeles). Many students find internships or full-time jobs related to Japan there.

  • How much did COVID-19 impact your progress with having a life in Japan? Do you see any differences with what Japan is today compared to what you knew before the pandemic?

You may see many people still wear a mask but that is not only because of COVID-19 but also several reasons (such as allergies). During the COVID pandemic, many companies provided remote work options, but that tends to be reducing, while commuting to the office is increasing.

  • What do you feel like the most challenging parts of going to japan? and how would you compare the working environment in America vs Japan in terms of the jet program/your workplace?

One of the most challenging parts for me was moving so far away from family and friends, since I knew very few people in Japan and they all lived far away from me. I had to build new relationships from scratch with a language barrier at the time, which was difficult at first. As for the work environment, I think it’s difficult to compare on the whole because I was placed in a very rural community where almost everyone in the workplace knew everyone else (and their parents and their kids…) to some capacity. Additionally, I was an ALT who was not expected to be fluent in Japanese. There was still a tendency for everyone in the office to stay later or work overtime, though. (Katie)

  • What is the work culture like in Japan? How receptive is it to changes within the system? How accommodating are conditions for those that pursue work in Japan? How much dedication to the language have you had to put in on a daily basis to get to where you were?

It’s hard to answer the question about Japan’s work culture without going into detail since it can’t really be generalized. Every company is different, and every industry is different. The game industry is known for working crazy hours and that’s wherever you go. Even in my company there are people who have worked until 1am and 2 am. BUT my company is also pretty flexible and if you work super late you can shift the next day’s working hours around. It’s also worth mentioning that my company, and the other child companies associated with our parent company, prioritize results over time. We have performance reviews and if you can meet specific goals then you can be eligible for a raise and higher positions, etc.

As far as accommodations, depending on how close you live to the company, you get a stipend either for your commute or rent. Also, at one point I think they offered Japanese classes for people who needed it, not sure if they’re still doing it though.

Because I’m one of the lead engineers, I need to communicate with people everyday in meeting and messages, and so I need to make sure I understand the situation or the specifications fully beforehand so I can be prepared to talk about it. It’s still very hard with people who tend to talk fast, or if they have accents, or if there are typos in messages, but I’m getting by. (Josh)

  • How much Japanese do you need to know before working in Japan?

It depends what kind of job you would like to do. The JET program’s ALT position doesn’t require Japanese skills. You might also find a job at a Japanese branch of American companies. Either way, they require adaptability to new environments. Learning Japanese or studying abroad will help you with that.

  • How has your view of Japan changed as you’ve worked and lived there?

When studying Japanese, I spent lots of time learning something new, learning about the differences in cultures and habits (which includes some differences in work culture and daily life, etc.). This all shaped my view of Japan as a very different place and I was certainly anxious about moving there. But after living and working there, you realize how much is really the same. I met people I liked and people I didn’t, people who were very serious all the time and people who loved to make others laugh, people who were always reliable and some people who were kind of lazy, and so on–both inside and outside the workplace. Japan is different in a lot of ways, yes, but after living there it felt a lot less foreign and a lot more like how you can have two different friends who are nevertheless your friends. (Katie)

  • What should you do if you're looking to study abroad?

Talk to the representative at the study abroad office at your school. They will tell you all the programs and scholarship options available.

  • Was a transition of cultures difficult for somebody coming out of America who might not have had much previous knowledge of Japanese culture?

Knowing the target culture is definitely helpful, but it does not guarantee that you can adjust yourself smoothly. Even for those who live in Japan, changing environments is not always easy to adjust to. Assimilating Japanese culture can be challenging at first, but it will be a valuable experience!

  • I'm in ninth grade , and I'm looking to teach English in Japan -- so are there any tips that you have for me moving forward educationally?

You should start searching for college. If you want to teach English in Japan, you should look for a college with Japanese language programs, Japanese study abroad programs and teaching certificate programs. Participating in a Japanese Speech Contest during high school or taking AP tests will help you to place yourself in the higher level class from your freshman year of college. However, your interests might change in the future, so it’s important that you challenge many things and learn what you really like to do as your career.

  • I'd like to move to Japan and work there as an educator for the long - term . Do you think that I should familiarize myself by visiting Japan regularly ? How do you think I should approach moving there indefinitely?

I think you should look into short term positions like JET ALT or other teaching positions first. Once you are in Japan, you can make connections with other educators and learn more opportunities. Having working experiences in Japan will help you to be a more serious candidate for long term positions too.


Questions for Josh

  • How difficult is it to get an internship opportunity/position at a Japanese company? What is the best way to find potential positions?

It took me a while before I finally found a job at a Japanese company. Honestly I feel like the best way is through the Boston Career Forum. There are a ton of different companies and positions, and it’s geared towards Japanese/English bilinguals so it’s definitely something to look into.

  • Does it feel any different being a POC in Japan than in America? And were there any moments where you felt discouraged having big dreams? How did you deal with that? As well as how do you feel living in Japan is financially? I also wanted to ask when you were studying do you feel like there are a variety of people majoring in different types of engineering?

I definitely notice people looking at me a lot, but I’ve never felt any malice or anything. People will often ask me about my hair, and sometimes touch it (with or without asking first), which is kind of *yeah*, but I don’t get super upset about it. I’ve never felt discouraged. Whenever I tell people about how I got to Japan or what I want to do in the future they are always fascinated and compliment my drive and ability to do what it takes to follow my dreams.

As far as living in Japan, this was my first time living on my own, so I can’t really compare the cost of living here and in America too well, but there are differences. Like certain foods here are more or less expensive than in America, phone and internet bills are about the same. One thing I haven’t thought about doing is comparing the cost of commuting, filling a car with gas weekly vs. taking the train to and from every destination.

I went to Georgia Tech which was pretty diverse, and so yeah I think there were a lot of different types of people from different backgrounds all in different types of engineering.

  • A question on the commute regarding the transit system. (How is your commute?)

So I live very close to my job (about 4 stations away which is like 7-8 minutes). I also live close to the train station (about 5 minutes walking). So it takes about 15 minutes to get to my company which isn’t bad. Occasionally trains will run late though, but it doesn’t happen often.


Questions for Katie

  • What classes or subject areas do you think are particularly important for educators who are interested in the JET program?

If you mean that you are interested in the JET program and already have experience in the education field, then seeking out subject areas related to Japan would be helpful. If you mean someone without experience in teaching, then you might want to look into some teaching experience opportunities–whether those are classes or not. I would also recommend that you follow-up on an area of skill/expertise that you may have–whether it’s directly related to education/Japan or not–which may put you in a niche that other applicants can’t fill (for example, if you have taken cooking classes that you could apply to your JET experience).

  • What would be the ideal major(s) that would better benefit me not only for the JET program, but would also benefit me in other job prospects outside of JET?

The JET program welcomes applicants from all majors! I cannot tell you an “ideal” major(s) as there are just so many possibilities, and I would not want to suggest that one could be better than another. I know JET participants who came in with a variety of majors and who have gone on to work in hospitality, biology, translation, computing, and even art fields! Some people pick a major they are passionate about, or particularly skilled at (or both). I think it’s important that you think about what interests and skills you have and consider a major that allows you to pursue them. If you’re not sure, keep in mind that you can always minor in something as well and/or go for a double major! While that may be more challenging, it could also be rewarding for your future job prospects as well.


  • In JET, how hard would it be to be placed in a prefecture you had previous experience studying abroad in?

You get to list your top 3 preferences, and I think they really do try their best to place you in one of them. I think more internationally well-known prefectures (like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc.) are requested by participants more often, so it might be less likely to be placed there just because of availability. I’m sure there are lots of other small factors that contribute to placement as well, although I don’t know the specific details. In my case, I got my first preference (Shimane), but based on conversations with fellow participants I was one of the few who actually requested it. Even then, I ended up a half day’s trip from the city which originally inspired me to request Shimane. My advice would be to go ahead and list that prefecture as your first choice if you really want, but look up other prefectures nearby that you might both be interested in and able to travel from. I found travel within Japan to be comparatively convenient, so you could probably visit that prefecture easily even if you don’t end up being placed there!


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