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?

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.

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*

Thanks. Not a car tho, that is wayyy to expensive. Was thinking about a bike. I read that some country like Thailand and Singapore can just convert their licenses into Japanese License with only eye exam. So will probably take the test if I plan to stay longer then a year, and take rental car to travel.
Thanks. After 5 years in Japan the last time, I think I'm not quite fond of the rush hour and packed train every single day, so I was thinking 50cc motor for commute and 250cc for travel on the highway (since I heard only 125cc and above can go onto highways, and 125cc above parking in tokyo is like double for those 125cc and under)

Thanks for the advice, but going against the traffic flow means you will live inside Tokyo, as most traffic coming from outwards to the inner yamanote line. I bet it'll be quite expensive. My workplace will be at shibuya station.

Yep, which what prompt my idea about living in the outskirts and driving a motocycle into Shibuya avoiding the packed train. Chances are both will end up costing about the same, on one side, fuel + parking fees per month, and on the other hand, higher rent. I guess the other factor is less concrete jungle, bigger place vs smaller place but more convenience (like conbini is 1 min walk away).

For now I'm just going to read up on stuff and think it through, for the first few months I will be living in a guest/shared house anyways.

- Go to Japan, learn Japanese, because your job is customer facing, need to talk to foreigners AND Japanese. So go and learn it, you only need at most 1 year to get your Japanese to Business level easy. Can be quite expensive if self-fund (but part-time work in Japan pays quite alot and can actually support you school fee/rent/living expenses easily, I only have money for 3 months of living, but cover everything with part time), but there is other ways like this thing I saw spammed here in Lowyat ( http://japan-school.com/ ) Then apply for job at the end of your school year. This should be 100% chances to get a job if you don't play around. I mean even a uni dropout dumbasses like me can get a job easy with this path, so if you don't play around should be no problem.

don't be down! so far what have u done to improve ur japanese language? i find that writing a diary in the language i'm learning helps. and of course i get someone to correct the entry.

Is it really that easy for a gaijin to secure a job there legally?

For the working visa, is it really that easy to obtain? Just need your hiring company to fill your application & your passport? That's all? Validity is one year?

It had been my dream working in Japan since I am young.

But from your reply the average salary is only 500k yen, that is not a lot for an expensive city like Tokyo.

If you move to Japan for a long period. No you cannot use your Malaysia Smartphone in Japan.

The only available prepaid simcard you can get in Japan is 'database' simcard which cause a lot 3k yen a month via b-mobile. (No Number, only data)
It will be very troublesome especially your colleague or friends try to contact you.

As long you have Japan Residence card, you can go to any official mobile provider store and apply for a new phone plan.
Normally you'll get between 3k-6k yen monthly with a smartphone for 2 years contract.
or like my friend, she directly purchase unlock iphone from softbank with standard 4k yen call/unlimited data plan with no contract. Basically she can cancel her plan anytime and bring back her unlock japan iphone back to Malaysia.

Any provider is fine in Japan just depends which plan you prefer.
Since my phone bill got covered by the company I work for.. I just pick Iphone unlimited data plan with number under Softbank Japan with 2 years contract. (between 3k-5500yen a month, once am reaching 500mb data they will automatically charge me 5500yen a month. or If my data didn't exceed 500mb, I only pay 3kyen a month).
Once am back in Malaysia, I just pay RM450 to unlock my Japan Iphone.

I know a few using NTT Docomo too...

sacwoc
I failed badly at BM and English in SPM as well, so language is not my strong point. But everyday full time Japanese language course does help (for the writing and reading part), and I guess doing part time work after that and have to talk to people in Japanese counts as well I guess (for convo). Those people in construction work did teach me how to speak in 敬語 and all that crap.

Hahaha yeah After you start working, your Japanese don't really improved at all (in my case). As the morning meeting 朝礼, and general meeting is mostly you listening and nodding, and the documents are mostly specialized, but at least your listening skills will be epic. I supplement it by reading newspaper, manga, and light novels, but I'm not passing N1 anytime soon without hard work.

1 hour per week will take forever O.O

OMG, you will get nothing but jealousy from me. Where do I send in my resume
If it were me, I'd say screw Japanese and take that family time.

Here's what in my 内定 offer.
"報酬には月45時間分の見込み残業手当を含む"

These people are very creative when they really want to, and what a magical way to not pay overtime work.

sacwoc
Which is good for a non-Japanese company. Unfortunately from my prev experience, work to minimum and leaving office on time is very very bad for your valuation of your next salary increment. So with this crazy new system of not paying OT, means I'll be doing alot of service OT and not getting paid for it.

Buuuut, thats what I signed up for, and ready for that. I wished I knew about it the first time around and didn't have rose coloured glass on, else I'd still be in Japan, and not trying to go back in again.

Well shit @_@

I thought CoE supposed to take a month or longer, not a single effing week, applied on 5th got today. Now I only have 2 week to prepare (the company wants me to come in on the 1st of August), apply visa, find temp housing, apply for international license, buy a suitcase, find a way to reject mimos job which I'm supposed to join next week *panik mode* I don't even have my todo list done yet.

ROFL I don't think I will be eligible for summer holiday during trial period. Not quite sure if my company even have summer holiday @_@;;

Shibuya Tokyo will be my office, still not sure where to stay yet.

Well considering you are an international company, I'm not surprised. No arranging no helping except for applying the CoE, hwa107 might have better luck in that helping department, but for a typical fully Japanese run company I think this is pretty much the norm. Heck I went for final interview with the 役員 is with my own dime.

Like any other jobs Head hunter Paying me well? I can place a bet that I'm probably getting 1/2 of what your salary is, or maybe 1/3, I don't get bonus as well Oh you been to Japan 10 years ago?? I've been to Japan 7 years ago working in the same "so japanese"-type company and it wasn't for me as well But this time I'm know what to expect.

It probably not gonna end well, but its my last hurrah/YOLO moment before I settle down. A redo I suppose. Honestly I didn't have any plans to go back at all  I just got a comfy job at Mimos and supposed to report in Monday next week.      Now I'm having sleepless night on how to reject them at the last minute, and all that.