33M here. I've recently cleared the interview process with Gaba and will/should be presented with their independent contractor agreement soon.
I’ve read through a lot of Reddit posts about Gaba, and there’s definitely a recurring theme of the work being described as dehumanizing, especially since the Nova takeover. I’m curious to hear from anyone with recent experience—what’s the current situation like at Gaba? Has anything changed for better or worse in the last 12 months?
For context, my situation is a bit unique. I moved to Osaka with my Japanese wife two months ago (so no visa issues/limitations), and I’ve spent the last 11 years working in the sports management industry across India and the UK. In addition to teaching at Gaba, I’m planning to work with sports teams in the Kansai area as a sole proprietor while attending Japanese classes 1-2 times a week. My long-term goal is to go from sole proprietor to starting a sports market research business in the next 2-3 years once I’m more settled and proficient in the language.
A few other details:
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I interviewed with Gaba mainly because the work is flexible, the pay is decent, and there are two centers within a 10-15 minute radius of where we live.
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We're living rent-free in an apartment owned by my wife’s family, and she has a stable job where she eaens between ¥5-7 million annually.
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I’m aiming to earn ¥150K-¥180K (after tax) monthly to fund my consulting work and language learning plans. I’m an early riser and should be able to work mornings and weekends.
Would really appreciate any thoughts on what the work culture at Gaba is currently like and if you think my current situation (with all the other stuff I have going on) is probably suitable for a role at Gaba that seems quite flexible.
Thanks in advance!
by nassir_n