I’ve been in Japan for 9 years now and work in a tiny family business where I do translation and various tasks for something close to the minimum salary a foreigner can get. The company isn’t striving but pays for my rent and I have been happy living a simple life out of a world that talks about raises and negociations every day (I did experience that in the past too).
Now, I just got an email from the 行政書士 who took care of my visa during the past years. As I haven’t graduated from a Japanese university, they basically say no renewal will be possible without passing JLPT2 or another business exam starting April 15.
(Details: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html)
I had prepared for N2 ten years ago and I’m confident I’d pass it fingers in the nose but I really don’t like the idea I have to pass an exam my employer doesn’t even care about. Tbh it sounds like a disguised tax to me.
It also seems a bit unfair considering the effort I put in learning Japanese and the way foreigners can be considered the root of all evil these days but hey, it’s not the first time I’ll hate Japan as much as I can love it. That being said this is another element in my reflection about my staying or leaving in the coming years.
Anyway, if you have time and consider staying in Japan longer, maybe pass your JLPT!
by Tremosir