Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some honest advice from people who have experience with Japan, language schools, or the game industry.
I’m 24 (turning 25 soon), currently living in Germany, and I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s in Game Design & Interactive Media. My focus is mostly on 3D art, environment design, and some level design. I also did a 6-month internship as a 3D artist / junior technical artist.
Right now I’m considering applying for a 1-year Japanese language school starting in October, with the long-term goal of working in the game industry (ideally in Japan).
My situation:
German citizen
Bachelor’s degree (game design)
Portfolio with 3D/environment work
Internship experience in a small studio
Currently about -2500€ in my bank account, but starting a new job soon (~2000€/month income with tips)
My plan (rough idea):
Save money over the next ~6 months
Apply for a 1-year language school (student visa)
Work part-time in Japan (how possible is it?)
Improve my portfolio while studying
Aim to reach JLPT N2 and then try to enter the game industry
My questions:
Is this plan realistic financially?Especially considering I’m currently in debt but will be saving over the next months.
How realistic is it to go from language school → job in Japan?I’ve heard mixed things, especially about needing N2 Japanese.
Is it worth moving to Japan for this, or would I be better off starting my career in Europe first?
For people in the game industry:Should I focus purely on becoming a strong environment artist first, or try to push toward game design roles early?
Any major mistakes I should avoid?
I’m really motivated to do this, but I want to make sure I’m not making a bad long-term decision or underestimating the difficulty.
Would really appreciate honest feedback, especially from people who’ve gone through language school or are working in Japan 🙏
by shadowhilal