Currently in Tokyo。

Seems that tokyo is a hot spot for malaysians

Seems that tokyo is a hot spot for malaysians

If you never try you never know.
Admittedly most foreigners I know here are being transferred from their parents companies in their home countries, but there are one or two who actually travel to Japan and found a job/wife here and settle down.

Besides student there are actually a lot of Malaysians here in various industry. Quite a few are in high position who are not an expat. This means they work their way up. And of course currently we have Iris, the Malaysian girl who appears in a TV show and she is getting famous now in Japan. I think she even have her own album now.

She's famous because of the hitchhiking kan. lol

Anyone in osaka city then?

Also to add on, the community here is Malaysian and not Chinese, Malay or Indian. We meet up or chat in FB, talk about politics, argue, and even sometimes about sensitive topics or religion. Its always intellectual discussion and then we move on to the next topic.

Anyway guys I just got back from Japan (for interviews) and I got a job in Japan, and we are processing stuff for my visa.

I got a question tho for those who are living there. I had a hard time last time to transfer money back home, like going to the head office of Mizuho Ginko in Shinjuku just to do transfer and it takes days. Have anyone found out easier way to do it? Preferably online and fast?

You can try Western Union or Shinsei bank.
However all this need processing fees. Both have English websites and you can check them out.

Thank you, do you need to go to the office to do the transfer? or you can do it online?
Will check it out.

I heard a trick while I was there, with getting a citibank account and give the atm card to the person in Malaysia, and they can withdraw it directly from citibank atm without the need to wait for transfer. Not quite sure if its applicable now, and I never really had the chance to try it.

For WU I think you need to go to their agent. For Shinsei you can open an account with them and then do the transfer.

As for Citibank, they have already pull out from Japan. So that would not work. If you talk about international banks, there is not many left here in Japan that do private banking. Cannot think of any actually.....

Shinsei bank sounds magical! Thank you for the info.

http://www.shinseibank.com/goremit/en/

This one right? Or were you talking about shinsei bank normal account?

International driving license and converting it to Japanese license, anyone here ever done this before? Lots the the info on the web is for mericans, so I wonder what are the difference for us.

*hopefully the visa application goes thru without a hitch*

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.