Hey everyone, I am 26M, graduated with a bachelors degree from a top university in Australia and have been working in advertising for the past 4 years or so. I have worked for a couple of the worldwide advertising giants so I do feel like I have a solid resume and rich experience. It has always been my dream to try and live in Japan, and so I have been planning on taking action. I have started studying Japanese last year, and right now I am around upper N4 or lower N3 level (haven't taken the JLPT yet).
I want to slow down a bit and enjoy my mid – late twenties and the money I have saved so far, while I am still unmarried and have no family responsibilities. As when I get older it would be more difficult.
My top priority is to just be able to try living in Japan, to enjoy the country and explore the rich culture it has to offer, so I don't really care about the how. I just want to be able to legally live in the country, and the way I see it there are 2 main pathways for me.
- Do my masters in Japan. I have done my research and if I do end up going down this path, I'd most likely enroll for a masters program at Keio University and do a degree that would support my career trajectory in the long run. I have the funds to pay the full tuition + extra safety net (although would be even better if I get offered a scholarship). This way, I can give myself the time to slowly adapt to the environment, take Japanese classes offered by the university, get N1, do part time jobs and understand cultural nuances in a more "forgiving" and slower paced environment. Post-graduation, I would like to apply for full-time jobs relevant to my skillset (preferrably with international companies in Tokyo). The only problem with this plan is, I am unsure of my employability after leaving my career for a couple of years while finishing my degree and doing part-time work.
- Plan B is to do an intra company transfer as my current company has branch offices in Tokyo, and they have mentioned that this is something that they MIGHT be able to support me with if I can maintain good performance for at least 1 more year here in Australia. The problem with this route is that I would be diving straight into the Japanese work environment, with little to no understanding of how people operate there not just at an organisational level, but also in day to day life. I would also be swamped with work 5 days a week on a 9 – 5 basis from the time I arrive in the country, with little to no time for me to enjoy and explore the country. I see it as the higher stress option and thus, it is not my preference.
I have around 1.5 years to prepare for this, so I will continue studying Japanese and do even more research. Of course, moving to a new country in and of itself will always be a challenge no matter what path you take. But yeah, I wanted to hear what other people think of this.
N.B. I do not have an Australian passport, so I am not eligible for a Working Holiday Visa.
by batstidskuy