Since I have nothing to do since I'm back in Malaysia.
Decide to open a new thread and share my experience working in Japan.

Am from Sabah, Ghetto area of Putatan district. Just below the capital city Kota Kinabalu. or where the Airport located at, yup that's literally in Putatan district although the land own by KK City Council.
Am One of the minority where I have to tick "others" or "dan lain-lain" all the time.


Graduate from Australian University, and then out of the blue after working as journalist for a local own-state online news (which is already closed after the GE).
With my 'Follow your bloody heart and go where you wanna go'.

I chose Tokyo as my first step to start my career. The only 'Gaijin' in the creative agencies and lack of Japanese language efficient. It took 3-4 months for me to digest the lifestyle, working culture and understanding their ethical value of daily life.
Somehow, it only lasted for 2 years due to family matters here in Sabah. I have to cancel my visa and working contract and now doing freelance back in KK City.

I will post and share my experience here once in a while.

Nevertheless, if you have any interests or question regarding working or starting a career in Japan (especially creative industry).
Do not hesitate to ask me, will try my best to answer the question.



As far as I know, there's only 5000 registered Malaysian in Japan.
Majority of them living in Tokyo and Osaka.

parking first..this tered maciam best

are payment is fine working there?
i heard many working people do not have good life living in japan due to work stress, is it true?

Good Question.

Here's my personal one :

Salary-wise is fine for me, every month or 2, am able to transfer my leftover to my Malaysian bank account. or Sometimes I hold depends on the currency exchange, until the exchange rate stable.

Maybe I got the 'Gaijin' Priviledge so they tend to give me a little bit more freedom and increment 3 months after turning into full-time contract, and then another increment in 6 weeks.
I realize 1 thing about them is, if you're good at what you doing. They appreciate your skills a lot.

Maybe because the Creative Industry is very saturated where jobs come in-and-out like mad.
I'll get stress once in while especially Spring and Winter season. That's the time where all the production going on for upcoming Spring/Summer/Spring/Winter Release.

I've work straight 11 days before in Studio and Outdoor non-stop (3-4 hours break a day, only went home 2 times to take shower) but after that you'll get used to it and the agencies will let us rest for 2-3 days depends on the schedule. The manager will slot rest day for us. But being Japanese, usually they'll only take 1 day break and continue moving on. As for me, I took advantage of the system and take 2 days break, extra 1 day usually I'll explore Tokyo wandering around.

Once a few people recognize you within the industry, I'll get more percentage from any gigs you got assign.
Once in a while in a month I'll get more what I get.

--

In General,
Big Corporate Company (The one where most Salaryman and Office-lady works) it's normal for them to stress-out because of 'Senpai-Kouhai Relationship'.
The Japanese hold a very strong traditional value and they seems to accept it althou personally some of them hate it so much. They don't really have the guts to break the 1000years rules and tradition.

After work, it's normal for them to go out to Izakayas with the Boss until late-night because they have to entertain the big boss to maintain their office relationship.
Although the goverment already implement after work, everyone allowed to go home and spend more time with their families. Majority of them still believe office relationship are more important that family relationship.
The local mentality here is very different, sometimes I don't get their common sense. Mind-blowing once in a while!

Once in a while you'll hear a story about a Kouhai got bully in a office. Always got demand to do this and that until the person him/herself doesn't have personal time to relax ended up quitting the job or the worst one commit-suicide because the person can't accept how they treat him/her. or worsts come to worst, some even died from overwork.

Usually this case happen because of Black Company, is a very famous phrase in Japan where most of fresh graduate or Freeter (those who commit working part-time only) avoid those company as much as they can because they know they will overwork and earn less from what they got promise during the interview or in the contract.

--

So ya, it depends on personal here.
Since most Japanese I know don't really express themselves and tend to be quite if there's an issue within them. They will keep themselves.
Some able to find a solution to solve the problem and some (usually appear on International News) can't find a solution and bad things happen which is a bum-bum to me.

The Answer is Yes but not in general.

Depending on the actual job and what you are going there as too.
I was there 10 years ago, but I dealt with international clients so timing for work and stress differs. I then thought in junior high schools and the stress you face again is different...
Also what you described in your industry is similar to Malaysia's own creative agencies, so really not much difference eh.

Great to see people exploring the world. :-)

Yup, I opt for overseas. Not keen to move to KL (me bring typical native Sabahan). haha

Not sure about Malaysia's Creative industry, so far I have no luck yet. Most of the jobs are given towards Big Studio side and never heard of representative agencies before like in Japan.

ok. i help others ask question can? about the JAV and soapland industry in Japan

Haha...

Not an expert about it but it's very common for single desperate guy to go to Soapland during their break time as far as I know..
I knew one guy who are very proud and happy to tell me that 'last night, I went to soapland to chill my spine.' A lil bit of culture shock to me.

I met a few not-so-famous JAV actress thou at a bar. I didn't know who they are until one of my angmoh friend told me the ladies are pronstar.
Bunch of normal looking, one of our gang so curious.. On the way back home, he research on the net while we waiting for our train and indeed a legit one. haha

Hi, I would like to ask,

How do you get to work in Japan in the first place? Is there any hope for people who don't speak Japanese? I think they wont hire you unless you already have permit to work there right?

My original purpose is to go there and study Japanese language for 6months - 1 year while trying to attend as many concert / live house, art exhibition and attending cultural event since I love their neo-modernism culture.
To be honest, I didn't really learn a lot because they taught everything formal and a lil' bit old school, the phrases I learnt and trying to converse with my Japanese friend at first felt awkward because I can't apply in real-life.
I got called "showa gaijin" because the way I speak like stuck in the 70-80's.

Yes, Japanese language is important since most of the people you will work are Japanese and their main communication solely Japanese language.
Unless you have close Japanese friend who are international-ninja (knows outside culture and fluent in English) but rare.

I met like 5-8 Malaysian who only speaks basic conversation and been living for almost 5-10 years.
Most of them working for Big Foreign Company or English Business Teacher for Business English School (ei-kaiwa)or English for Primary School Children, and of course Married to Japanese wife/husband.

--

How I get my work in Japan goes like this..

One day, I felt bored after class after 1 month.

I asked my Japanese friend who are in the same industry is it possible for me to work in Japan maybe in long-term since I generally like Tokyo as 1 city and also the convenience of going everywhere without having cars.
They said is possible since I have the skills and unique experience. I only need to find the right person and everything will be fine.
So, they offered to help me, learn a few important phrases, word and structure sentences real-life and send a few agencies recommendation.

Straight 2 months after 1 month in Japan. Beside them helping me looking for vacancy or spread my name to a few agencies they know.
I apply a few agencies and commercial studio that I bookmark a few years ago when I'm in Australia. Send them an email and also post mail just to show my existence and my seriousness.

Out of 100+, I got like 20+ response to visit their office/studio just for meeting and see whether I'm fit to join with my specialty.
Majority of them have the photographer that have similar specialty with me, they're not interested to hire because afraid the job they receive can only support 1 photographer. But we still keep in touch until now.

End of Spring, before Summer season comes on my 3rd month in Japan.
While on the way to Omotesando to check out new sneakers shoe store and chocolate cafe at ura-harajuku.
I got a call back from 1 of the agencies. The President interested to meet me after one of the senior photographer hands him my portfolio. Since I'm on the way to Omotesando Station inside the train already, I ask them whether we can meet up now since I'm around the city center. They say ok..

After meet-up with the president of the agencies, with my chapalang Japanese but understandable.
He ask me a few simple question and random one.. What kind of girls I like.. Will I marry Japanese girl if I stay in Japan long-term.. haha
They hire me on the spot as part-timer since they want me to attend Japanese school for another month or 2.

2 months later, the president invited me to have a lunch with him. This time ask me some serious question.
What if they help me to apply working visa, but I'll pay for the application (which is only 4000yen that time, around RM120+).
The next day, went to immigration applied working visa and 2 weeks later got a call from immigration, brought my passport. Get a new visa and also new resident card.

3 months after living in Japan, Got a working visa and officially employed full-time.

A month later, I got appointed to do a CM for Sandisk Japan and got send to New Zealand with my Colleague Photographer for 2 weeks.
Quite memorable one out of all the gigs I get while working in Japan.



This post has been edited by Flanegan: Apr 11 2016, 10:22 AM

great sharing and can make guide to japan....

Thanks for sharing! Actually I would like to consider to work in Japan but do you think there's a chance for us working in the hospitality industry?

Haha. It seems nice can work abroad and explore different culture.
Btw,since you are back, do you have interest working in Cyberjaya as IT helpdesk(Japanese Speaking)? This position has quite nice remuneration benefits and you will work in a global IT company.
More information please check on this link: IT Helpdesk (Japanese Speaking)
Special Note: Seats are limited for this role and if you refer any friends to us, upon successful hiring, you will be given a 200-300 appreciation token for helping us to close! (Payment made upon candidate start work for 3 months)
Contact Person: Ms Ivy, 601133354262, ivy.cai@epscs.com / ivyyixuancai@gmail.com

Hospitality Industry, Yes!

Olympics 2020 will be held in Tokyo. Don't go for 4-5 stars hotel.
You'll enjoy more either working with Guest House company or "Foreign Rental House Staff".
Usually they're looking for bilingual or trilingual staff.

Do search online, there's heaps of them.
Just try your luck and apply.
I believe you'll have more chance if you were in Japan and try to apply, of course need to plan out properly.

Hi Ivy,
Thank you for your offer. Unfortunately I'm not interested, different profession and I never take JLPT test before..
Learn all my useful Japanese by working and observing my Japanese colleague and friend.

I believe in KL, there's heaps of them who are interested with the vacancy.
I'm based in Kota Kinabalu.

Oh, but my previous exp is with 5 stars hotel. Why do you say that?

Do you mind PM me any source I can use to search? The ones I searched before all require me to already have the visa before going...

4-5 stars you need recommendation from the Hotel you used to work. Like Hyatt in KL to Tokyo, my friend ended up got send to Dubai instead.

Have a few friend who's studying hospitality and work in 4-5 stars resort or hotels in KK try to apply in Japan. So far, no one got the job.
I think maybe because of the standard qualities, Japan have tons of Michelin stars restaurant in Hotel's restaurant.

Not sure where you can search, try gaijinpot or hotel's main website on careers page.

As for guest house.
Search Sakura-House online.

Yes, they prefer those who have visa from previous job but I knew a few angmoh who come with 3 months holiday visa able to land a job although they don't have working visa.

So far, Malaysian have good stand from the Japanese. Maybe a few changes since lots of obnoxious incident from the China Tourist.
If you're Malaysian Chinese, just tell them you're Malaysian and don't say "Malaysian Chinese". haha

They think all Chinese in the world are the same now.

nice thread. i always wanted to try working in Japan but the language barrier is the biggest obstacle. May i ask, typically for engineers, how is their salary payout and is really able to speak in japanese a critical must?\

Average Salary for most in Japan is around 200k Yen - 500k Yen.
Sometimes Fresh Graduate will earn from 150k Yen for a few months before get increment 2-4 months later.

Yes, it is Important to Speak Standard Japanese when it comes to engineers job since they have their own words and terms in Japanese word. Same goes to Science and Maths.
But IT sectors, there's big chance for non-Japanese speaker to work in Japan. Met a lot of Indian Nationals work as IT in Irish Pub (Western Bars, in Japanese Terms) and most of them don't really speak Japanese.
Of course, those single one want to pick-up Japanese girl.. They'll learn their heart out to get one. haha

There's a few Malaysian who study engineering in Japan ended up working in Japan, so far they never complain on financial side so far.
Some even married to their childhood sweetheart or Malaysian wife and move them here.

sorry nothing to add but nice thread OP.