Is it Hard to Manage Work in Japan?
You’d have to be crazy to pass up a chance to work in Japan. An opportunity like this can get you a front seat to an amazing and captivating foreign culture that will help give you a better understanding of the larger world. Japan is the place to be if you want to learn, earn and become a better person. Before anything else though, it’s important to know that there are some challenges that you need to overcome to work there.
Language
The written form of the language is characterized by hundreds of characters in katakana, hiragana and kanji scripts. You need to memorize more than a handful of these to get by. This is just the written part of what you need to learn. You also need to familiarize yourself with how the language is used orally. This may sound like a no brainer for you but working in Japan means you need to use polite speech as taught in the principle of Keigo.
Work Standards
Many Japanese companies demand utmost diligence and discipline from their employees. This is even if you are a foreigner still trying to adjust to how things are done. This means your bosses will require you to reserve your duty hours for official responsibilities only. Moreover, you will also be tasked to follow exact standards as outlined by such concepts as Lean production and 5S. That being said, employees will be more than likely to still adopt the principle of Kaizen or continuous improvement. This is even if there are strict standards for work in Japan.
Way of Life
Your job is not the only one that comes with certain rules. There are also some unwritten cultural policies that you’d have to get the hang of for Japan work. Sharing with a community is one of these. You may have to share more than just sleeping quarters and mess halls. In Japan, bath areas may also be communal, in which case, you’d have to get rid of your notions of privacy.
Living Costs
You should expect to have to pay quite a bit for food and accommodations in Japan. Even if you plan to prepare your own meals, you’d have to prepare around 50,000 yen a month for ingredient purchases. For accommodations, a budget of about 70,000 yen will get you decent lodging. Expect to spend even more if you plan to occasionally dine out or enjoy night circuits. If you want to save, you can apply for positions in winter resorts where food and rooms are usually free.
Climate and Weather
The weather in Japan can be extreme from one place to another. Depending on where you come from, you may find the change a bit jarring. Hokkaido which is home to the finest winter resorts can register temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Okinawa where summer activities can be surrounded by heat of up to 37 degrees Celsius. Get a job in a spot where you’d love the temperature.
You’d undoubtedly lovejobs in Japan for foreigners. Aside from the benefit of cultural education, you also get to experience the beauty of such a refined and majestic country. Just make sure you know how challenging working there can be too. This will help you prepare yourself so you’ll get the most out of your job.
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