I’m only making this post because the previous thread on this topic seems to have devolved into a bit of a semantics war, even though, ironically, everyone more or less agreed on the core point being made (despite how that point might have been made). I think it’s an important message for incoming and potential JETs to hear, so I wanted to restate it in hopes that it’s better received in a fresh space as well as including some important points I saw from a variety of people there.
Quick background: I'm a man in my late 20s who applied for the first time through the NY consulate. I was shortlisted and later declined the offer for a few personal reasons when placements were first released.
To be clear: this post is not targeting anyone, nor is it calling anyone out.
That said, earlier today, there was a post discussing situations that might justify rejecting a placement. The takeaway there, at least from my perspective, seemed to be that no one should ever reject a placement unless there's a medical issue involved. While I’m not here to bash anyone for having that opinion, I do want to offer the other side of the coin.
Yes, “everyone who applies to the JET Program should know what they’re signing up for.” Ideally, that’s true, and I’m sure many applicants do go into this with a clear understanding. But sometimes, even the best research or intentions can’t prepare someone for how they’ll feel once they see their placement or get to Japan. Someone might be fully convinced they’re ready for anything, city, rural, or in-between, only to realize after researching, or even upon arrival, that the reality feels completely different.
So I want to say this clearly: it is okay to decline a placement that you don’t feel you can survive or thrive in, for whatever personal reason. And I emphasize “thrive” because it’s okay to want more than just to get by.
It’s also okay to accept a placement and later get cold feet, whether that’s weeks or days before departure, and decide not to go. And yes, it’s okay to arrive in Japan, try it, and ultimately realize it’s not right for you. Your wellbeing matters. Your feelings matter. It is okay to prioritize yourself.
Some people may tell you to “tough it out” for the year and simply not renew. If that works for you, great. But if even one year feels too long, it’s okay to acknowledge that and go home. There is no shame in doing what you need to do for your health and peace of mind. Despite what some may say, the program will not collapse if you leave early. You are not “wasting resources.” People leave JET every year for all sorts of reasons, and you wouldn’t be the first.
That said, if you do make the decision to leave—whether before departure or after arriving—there are ways to do so responsibly. Be transparent with your contracting organization and CLAIR, and give as much notice as you reasonably can. Minimizing the disruption to others doesn’t invalidate your choice—it just shows maturity and respect on the way out.
Just to be clear, I’m not encouraging anyone to treat the program lightly or bail on a whim, JET is a serious commitment. I’m simply acknowledging that life happens, circumstances shift, and sometimes reevaluating what’s best for you is the most responsible thing you can do, and that's okay.
At the end of the day, I’m just another voice on the internet. Take what I say with a grain of salt and feel free to disagree with me and others, just please be kind in doing so. I hope this came across as clear, thoughtful, and respectful, I just wanted to offer another perspective in a way that makes sense and adds to the conversation.
TL;DR: Make the decision that feels right for you, not the one people on the internet tell you to make (that includes me).
by Ambitious-Ad-1787
10 comments
I agree that “if even one year feels too long, it’s okay to acknowledge that and go home”, it’s silly to torture yourself after really trying something. But you also have to give yourself time to try. Quitting after some research, or even after living somewhere for a few weeks or months, doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. You feel isolated a month after uprooting your life and moving to a new country for a new job? Well, yeah, that makes sense.
6-8 months is probably the sweet spot where it feels reasonable to cut the cord. But less than that is kinda ridiculous (barring obvious circumstances regarding terrible living arrangements etc.).
One hundred thousand percent agree. Well said, all of it.
[deleted]
You have way too much time on your hands.
I agree with most of what you say especially about changing you’re mind if you don’t think you’ll thrive in your placement, we all only have 1 life, make use of it. Apart from this part:
****It’s also okay to accept a placement and later get cold feet, whether that’s weeks or days before departure, and decide not to go. And yes, it’s okay to arrive in Japan, try it, and ultimately realize it’s not right for you. Your wellbeing matters. Your feelings matter. It is okay to prioritize yourself.*
*Some people may tell you to “tough it out” for the year and simply not renew. If that works for you, great. But if even one year feels too long, it’s okay to acknowledge that and go home. There is no shame in doing what you need to do for your health and peace of mind. Despite what some may say, the program will not collapse if you leave early. You are not “wasting resources.” People leave JET every year for all sorts of reasons, and you wouldn’t be the first.****
Fair enough if you change your mind a few months (or at the very least 1 month) before departure, the JET programme has PLENTY of alternatives that would jump at the chance to upgrade.
However, you are absolutely wasting resources if change your mind days or weeks before departure. I don’t know the timings exactly but there is a cutoff where an alternative candidate cannot be sent, your indecision then leads to having no ALT to cover the leaving one, and someone in Japan has to clean up that mess, someone else has to then take over that workload on top of their own. If you leave early once you’ve arrived its even more of a headache.
If you give it a good shot for 6 months but really just can’t stick it out, I understand, but most people will feel some form of homesickness/culture shock once they get here – at least let the dust settle before making the big decision to go home. It’s not fair on yourself or your colleagues (and the Japanese taxpayer) to treat the programme so lightly.
To be honest I scrolled straight past that thread once I saw a few comments (and am not going to read any on here either sorry). ESID applies to us too. Not that I feel the need to justify anything, but I personally will be declining if I’m put somewhere very cold and snowy like Hokkaido because I’m from a tropical climate, I even mentioned this during the interview. I’m fine with some cold during the winter months but snow until potentially May? I’m not built for that. I’d have to buy an entire new wardrobe for starters and my currency is even weaker than the yen, I’m poor folks. I do want to go to Japan but not to be miserable, and there are plenty of enthusiastic alternates who feel like the people in the comments of the last thread
While it’s ultimately up to each person, I think absent some significant extenuating circumstances (death in the family, victim of a crime, unsafe living/working environment, significant mental health situation, etc.) you should “stick it out” even if the situation is not ideal. Thats part of life sometimes. Whether it’s your job or your living situation, etc. unless you are EXTREMELY priveleged you are going to have to deal with situations that aren’t ideal in life. One year is, in most circumstances, not as long as you think, and you should go into the JET experience planning on finishing at least that one year rather than “oh well I can just leave” being the default mindset.
Didn’t get your ideal placement? Don’t love rural/urban life? JTE isn’t letting you do much in class? Apartment is old and smells a little weird? Yeah sometimes parts of your life are going to be a bummer. But you can usually find other parts that aren’t that bad and even enjoyable while you put up with the less than ideal stuff. Cause I hate to tell you, when you get into the working world and are on a schedule you didn’t prefer or having to commute, or any of the many other unpleasant aspects of adult life you won’t usually be able to just walk away.
“It is okay to prioritize yourself” — but if it’s done at the expense of others you’re causing considerable *meiwaku* and showing a lack of consideration.
Days before departure is highly inconsiderate of all the people who have worked hard to get you on the way to this opportunity, and it’s inconsiderate to the alternate who will replace you. You’re effectively denying them the opportunity to participate in orientation with everyone and start off their time with that grounding and the connections.
If you’re going to decline a placement, do thorough research and make your best decision within a couple weeks and provide ample time to change another JET hopeful’s life, so they can start with the cohort right at the beginning.
If you realize when you get there that this isn’t for you, unless you have medical or family issues you definitely should give a couple months’ notice. A lot of people are involved in the process of selecting and supporting JETs. Give them time.
Note – if you’re severely isolated or in a horrible work situation to the point that your mental health is dangerously at risk, that’s a medical issue. JET does their best to select for people who can manage all kinds of situations with resilience, but there is still a reality to face on the ground. Your life isn’t worth risking. But if it’s not at a severe level, it’s *gaman* time — just bear it.
I say this as someone who loves Japan *and* experienced deep struggle at times even in a place with tons of benefits. I understand how tough it can be. Take care of yourself but there’s a way to take care of others too in that process.
Thanks for posting this with a fresh voice and for expanding on the issues that got lost in the weeds previously ✊🏽
It still depends entirely on context. What’s right for your life may not jive with my experience or other way around, certainly.
It also depends on what timing one chooses to go forth or to bail; for example, a post recently I saw was a guy who got all the way to Japan only to bounce on his employers and students within a very short frame of time under zero reasonable justification – and then devolved into shouting matches over why that’s not ok to do so in such a way in Japanese society.
Choosing to decline before you even step foot on Japanese soil is actually a rather smart way to go about it *unless it’s right before departure with no room for reasonable backup plans for other people* – you maybe didn’t like the placement, had other things going for you, higher paying job or career, other aspirations, whatever, and that’s fine, but not if it screws other people.
But let’s face it, more often than not it doesn’t go that way, and ends up with the jet becoming a hindrance to the job they were supposed to do. It’s ok to step away, but it’s equally necessary to be critical of poor behavior and poorer life choices one made depending on the actual post.
In fact, I’d say criticism is necessary in most cases, but hey this is the internet where absolutism and loudness reigns.