Hope this is right sub for this kind of post. This is technically work related but not postings/looking for jobs.
I moved to the US for a job right after graduating 3 years back in Japan, and finally got into an industry that I have always wanted to be in (entertainment/anime industry) here in LA.
While I like the US a lot, I do not think I will settle here, so I will go back to Japan at some point. My family and my partner of 6 years all live in Japan and their chances of moving to the US is close to zero.
The only problem is work life balance. My 2 workplaces have been so good here in the US, both are Japanese companies but every employee who have worked in Japan says how the work culture is so much different and how stressful it was, and the opposite here in the US.
I have never worked in Japan except for part time, and I absolutely hate overtimes, nomikais, backstabbing and kissing shoes which seems to be completely normal in Japan.
Is it realistic to move to Japan for work? I do understand this hugely depends on the industry, department and luck, but I love entertainment in general so I want to stick to that, unfortunately not a lot of options for English speakers in this industry though, unless video games/coding which I have no skills.
Any input on how to successfully land a decent job in Japan, or tips while job hunting, would be very much appreciated.
by nexusultra
6 comments
You might be able to talk to your employer to continue to employ you while you’re in Japan as a contractor or use an Employer of record service. Depends if you want to continue with this company, and you feel they would want to hold on to you.
It is realistic to move back to Japan, but it depends a lot on your specific industry and how flexible the company is with work-life balance. The entertainment industry, especially anime, can be competitive, and work culture may still involve long hours. If you’re sticking to English-speaking roles, options might be limited. Focus on networking and looking for international companies or roles that value your skills. Getting the right job may take time, but it’s possible with persistence.
In your current situation/industry, sadly I would probably have to tell you it won’t be a great transition. All the things you mentioned about not liking about working in a Japanese company, all still exist.
Just the way the economy is built, Japan is not a great place to build up a “career” or to make a lot of money. Not saying it’s impossible, or that there aren’t trade offs, but salaries are low and the culture is challenging (That being said, it sounds like you got very lucky with the company you are at in LA… a lot of Japanese companies in the U.S. are run just like it was Japan).
Weighing the fact that you are separated from your partner and family, I can definitely understand some powerful arguments for moving back. I would start with your current company and see if they can transfer you over to see how it goes, or maybe do some research on other companies in the industry to see if there is anything that is a younger more western mind-set in how they run the company and see if you can get a job there.
Some of us in California have a saying: once you leave, you can never come back.
It’s because of the outrageous house prices. If you’re not here participating in the real estate market, eventually you get priced out. I think the same might apply to almost any big city in the US compared to Japan.
Of course, once you get used to Japan, I’m not sure you’d want to comeback anyway.
Find a way to bring your family to the US. Surely there is a way.
Question: how realistic is it for you to get US citizenship, this would be a way of your partner to move there. Or you could consider a third country like somewhere in the EU perhaps?