Realistic job paths in Japan for a Japanese citizen raised in Canada?

Hi all,

So I’m a Japanese citizen that grew up in Canada. I went to a Japanese school in Canada as well as Japan until I was around 7. I am now 31, and I currently hold the JLPT N3, and I’d like to get the N2 soon and eventually N1 in the next 2 years or so. My current Japanese level is conversational (although childish/informal,according to my cousins), good enough for daily life and casual conversing but not for difficult topics or keigo just yet, and reading is about what is expected of an N3, I guess.

In terms of career, I have a background in site merchandising, marketing, and advertising. I also have a degree in advertising, about two years of copywriting experience, and around six years at an online grocery and retail company and before that I spent around 6 years working grocery retail in Canada. I’m fluent in English, but I’m still building up my Japanese to a business level.

I currently have my grandma in Yokohama so I’d likely start there, but my long-term goal is to settle in Sapporo since the climate and lifestyle feel like a better fit. Ideally, I’d love to join Costco, start in a retail role, and eventually work my way up into an office or management position.

How realistic is it for me to land stable full-time work in Japan right now? Am I basically looking at retail roles at first, or are there other paths I should keep in mind? Also, aside from climbing the JLPT ladder, are there other certifications or qualifications that would make me more competitive? Also, also, does being a Japanese citizen really make a big difference compared to foreigners applying for the same jobs? Should I quit my job in Canada and move to Japan to find a job, or is it at all possible or realistic to find a job first while in Canada and then move to Japan? I have never been a resident of Japan if that matters.

I would like to position myself within a career choice that values my bilingualism, doesn’t typically provide visas, and pays well enough to live a more or less normal/average life here – if this at all possible.

I apologize for this big wall of text, and thank you in advance for any advice!