Has anyone here taken part in JET? If so what was your experience

of boy here we go

English teachers are fucking lame and everyone in this country hates them.

>>14511000
Have you ever had a teaching job before?
Have you ever worked with kids before?
If you havent, I suggest you do before you decide to go to japan and do that.
Kids in japan are well behaved but they are still annoying kids, so if you struggle teaching in your own country you will suck as a teacher over there too.

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>>14511000

http://www.marycagle.com/

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>>14511000
>It's a genuine dream of mine to do and I'm about a year away from the application window and trying to find anything that could improve my chances of being accepted or learn anything about Japan that would give me a better insight.

Check out this weeaboo

>>14511016
Why exactly? Are they viewed like tourists or?
>>14511017
I currently work in a primary school and have previously volunteered in another primary school for 6 weeks
>>14511021
ty

>>14511024
>Why exactly? Are they viewed like tourists or?

Tourists are viewed better than eigo senseis. It's just such a boring default job. Saying your an english teacher is the same as saying "I don't know what to do with my life but I just want to live in Japan so I'm doing this" which isn't so bad itself if there werent a billion people doing it.

>>14511000
Are kancho attacks on JETs still a thing? Protect your anus.

>>14511051
Is this view endemic across Japan or are certain areas more welcoming?
Are there any places you'd particularly recommend applying for?

>>14511018
le progressive SJW makes a comic about japanese children making micro aggressions.

This reminds me of the woman who wanted to ban horseplay in a japanese elementary because she thought kids playfully slapping eachother on the head was "abusive"
Also she complained about kids poking her in the butt too, i fucking hate foreigners who get all upset over this such insignificant things.
kids are racist, big fucking deal, everyone is inherently racist, leave japan alone for fucks sake.

>>14511110
>Is this view endemic across Japan or are certain areas more welcoming?
>Are there any places you'd particularly recommend applying for?

It's not a matter of welcoming because it's not like people will openly mock you for being an english teacher. Just expect to be minimally respected and have people go through an "oh, of course you are" thought internally if you tell them you teach english.

>>14511051
>"I don't know what to do with my life but I just want to live in Japan so I'm doing this"
This, english teaching is the go-to job for people who dont want to work very hard to live in japan, but cant get married or get a work visa to be a porn star courtesy of yakuza

>>14511120
>This reminds me of the woman who wanted to ban horseplay in a japanese elementary because she thought kids playfully slapping eachother on the head was "abusive"

There has been a big trend in recent years where physical contact is getting banned in playgrounds, at least here in Australia. I mean shit like hugging and high fives. Pretty ridiculous.

>>14511142
>>14511136
I'll keep that in mind. It kind of is like that for me as I don't know what I want to do in life but the only thing I have ever been sure of doing is this programme

>>14511110
What >>14511136 means is that English teaching is a meme job and Japanese have met tons of young american men/women who just LOVE to mention they teach english and just love to talk about it and play up the stereotypical foreigner in a foreign place teaching etc etc.
Japanese arent racist, they just dislike foreigners who act like douchebags and who dont respect or know about the culture, unfortunately even well established english teachers who LIVE in japan are just as ignorant and annoying as tourists sometimes.
Also japanese are humble, going about telling people how amazing you are for coming to japan and getting a job as a teacher is just untactful.
Its like if a mexican came up to you and started talking about how interesting it is that he jumped the border and got a job mowing lawns, you'd be like "ah yeah, of course. good for you..."

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>>14511160
>I don't know what I want to do in life
Go for it then

>>14511161
This is all helpful, thanks.
I really don't see the profession as something great or noble and I don't think I'm very arrogant so hopefully I won't be too affected by this but I understand why they dislike English teachers.
Without just sounding like a tourist, I just find Japan really interesting and if I can experience it while expanding my CV I can't see a reason not to

>>14511160
Every english teacher coming to japan wants to bring their own style of teaching, the issue here is they treat teaching in japan almost the same as a job as if they were missionaries, they bring with them their ideology, their american philosophy of life and they do not fully understand japanese opinions and japanese life, that causes problems. Parents dont always enjoy hearing about what new progressive notion Mr. Gaijin taught them in class, and the other teachers around them dont like the pushy attitude of foreign teachers, often times they let them do whatever they want because they dislike confrontation and the teacher ends up bullshitting the entire class and nobody learns anything. This is why Japanese english rates are abysmally low despite an overflowing amount of teachers. Many of them are too focused on their new and fantastic lives in japan that they do not focus on the fact that teaching is a very serious job.
If you want to succeed as a teacher, act as though you are japanese, and working as a teacher, do not push your style of life on the students, do not create your own style of teaching, conform to what the school demands of you. conform, conform, conform, and people will respect you.
Conformity is something a lot of foreigners overlook but it is integral to gaining respect of your peers, you can be "the cool english teacher" but your co-workers might not respect you, and your students might not learn anything.

>>14511017
Is it impossible to get in if you haven't taught kids before? I have a background tutoring English here, but only with adults.

>>14511208
Thank you! I'll make sure I do
>>14511211
No, all they require (for the UK, I don't know about anywhere else) is a passport, not having lived in Japan for 6 years in the past 10 and a degree. You don't have to have a teaching background or even speak Japanese

>>14511299
It's because no one wants to hang out with teachers besides other english teachers so you don't need to respect the culture as you only hang out with other foreigners.

>>14511326
>>14511299
I'm going to spend this year before I apply and the following year trying to understand as much about the culture while also trying to learn Japanese so hopefully I won't be one of those asshole JETs

People acting like you will have any sort of control over the class are just talking out of their ass.

Jet is not eikawa, all you really need to know is how to do cute activities and keep in mind you have about as much clout as a substitute gym teacher in America in every sense.

Use the excess free time you have to develop a useful skill or two while you're there & don't let bitter people who couldn't get in or convinced themselves they shouldn't even try color your mind before you get there.

>>14511415
thank you

I'm leaving for Tokyo in about a week to study abroad for law school and will probably intern at a law firm during the semester. Is it going to be similar for me? I've been browsing these boards to try to get an idea about Japanese culture before I go, honestly I'm not very familiar with it. Is all this otaku stuff mainstream? Or more of a subculture?

>>14511556
Assuming you don't know the language at all, and going based off of what you wrote, you will never interact with the Japanese equivalent of a /jp/ poster there. When you get there just do what everyone else does. Ask your mentor some questions. They'll expect you to be polite but not know what the fuck you're doing outside of work. Also, the western perspective of Japanese culture varies so widely from person to person there's not really any point in researching it any further. Just feel it out when you get there.

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>>14511556
douzo

>>14511024
>volunteered
for free?

>>14511746
Yeah I don't know any Japanese besides some basic greetings. I am a bit worried about fitting in with people and making some new friends if I can. It seems that I just need to keep my head down and go with the flow. I am also Korean-American, so hopefully I won't stand out as much.

>>14511000
Don't mention anime or japanese pop culture, I've talked to a JET recruiter, they specifically sift out anyone that looks like a weeb or otaku because they find they "don't adapt" to actual japanese culture.

Present yourself as actually interested in Japan as a country, it's people, it's customs and it's language.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/japan's-future-and-past/6990716

Here's a great podcast on actual Japanese culture and it's trends. Try take something from this in your interview.

Also be REALLY good at English (know all the tems, study sentence structure, study grammar etc etc), the English test they give you is fucking ridiculous, it's also filled with basically confusing trick questions.

>>14511120
I've read all of her comic. She doesn't really care about politics and treats the racial quirks of the Japanese with bemusement more than anything.

She is, however, big on the "look at me oh so nerdy >:P" attitude. Get your insults right nerdboy.

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>>14511803
To be fair though, she is probably the kind of teacher I wanted in junior high.

>>14511802
>Don't mention anime or japanese pop culture, I've talked to a JET recruiter, they specifically sift out anyone that looks like a weeb or otaku because they find they "don't adapt" to actual japanese culture.
So, what, should I start getting really into Nichiren Buddhism then?

>>14511826
You joke, but a lot of people act like this.

It's a well known fact that these companies don't want extreme weebs, and probably 95% of JET people fall into this category, so everyone pretends to like some random Japanese culture / practice / historical period / art scene etc. instead.

>>14511826
Again, listen to the podcast, this is what actual discussion on Japan between adults sounds like.

>>14511000

That logo looks like it was made for some pedophile organization.

>>14511556
you an american?

What about for students who want to study(college) abroad (in japan)?

>>14511973
Doing grad school here, what about it :^

>>14511556
So you're going to Tokyo to study law from a different country? ...Okay.

what if my main language is spanish
is there any job for spanish teachers?

>>14511973
God damn it, you fuggin startled me with those surprise boxes...

>>14511990
how do you afford it what do you study how hard was it to get in

>>14511000
I know two friends, who went into the JET program and both are now married to Japanese women.

>>14511415
This isn't true. It depends on where you end up.

When I was on JET, not only was I responsible for making the lesson plans for half my classes, I was also responsible for running several big events within the English department. It was a lot of work.

>>14511016
Correction: Other foreigners in Japan hate them. Japanese people don't give a shit either way.

>>14512383
any of them marry former students?

>>14512350
Scholarship data science easy.
>>14512436
>Correction: Other foreigners in Japan hate them. Japanese people don't give a shit either way.

Japanese people don't hate them but I imagine it's bottom tier in terms of respect levels. Slightly above military.

>>14512414
I could argue that to them what you were doing was still defined as "cute events" and that nobody really took you that seriously BUT...

Yeah I do acknowledge that your experience is largely based on where you're placed and I was wrong to word it like it was impossible to have a heavy workload. My main point was that the most common mistake people make is taking themselves too seriously.

>>14511803
You can't possibly expect people to read things before criticizing them here on 4chan.

>>14512514
>Scholarship data science easy.
Pls expound. I'm considering going that route but I have a shit GPA & I'm not sure if I want to follow-up on my current undergrad or go do something different. You probably can't chime in on the latter problems, but I'd love to hear more about your process so far.

>>14512605
Process wasn't hard, just applying and getting accepted.

I don't know, for all the shittalking I did of English teachers in this thread, I can't help feel like a bit of my reasoning for continuing to study here is just to live here, much like them.

I might just find a wife and move into the country.

>>14512438
Nope; but in the case of one, a student did have the hots for teacher. Too bad, the girl wasn't all that good looking.

>>14511773
for free, my school ended around a month or 2 before I left for summer holiday so I volunteered at my own primary school because I had the free time and wanted the experience

>>14511802
>>14511826
>>14511861
I laughed at all this, I do like anime but it's not at all my reason for going so I just won't mention it at all

>>14511000
Wasn't a JET, but I've been in Japan for about 7 years. Taught English for 1.5, worked in UI design for 5.5. Having a halfie baby in a few days.

It's a great experience and totally worth doing. You will learn a lot about yourself and your own culture by seeing it from the outside.

One common denominator I've found in successful JETs is the willingness to give more than they take.

Show you are willing to work hard and not be a needy bitch.

Also show that you recognise you are part of a relatively faceless stream of gaijin that (lets be honest) don't matter and don't last more than 2 years.

The most important thing you can do is fit in smoothly and not be a pain when you leave.

>>14513375
post pic of wifey + yourself
were in japan you stayed ?

>>14512616
That wife would make you move back to the U.S.

>>14512000
please respond ;_;

>>14515794
No get otta here spic

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>>14511120
>>14511145
>>14511803
>>14511815
>>14512567

She is also a landwhale from pic related.

>>14515794
in Tokyo, yeah a little. But the pay is shit. Half an english teacher.

>>14513686
I lived in Saitama when teaching, Shibuya / Aoyama when designing. Just moved out west near the central mountains to start my own studio and snowboard.

I will pass on the photo. Don't need any of my clients knowing I spend my evenings shitposting on 4chan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Z2O9Nwt6c

currently watching this and hoping nothing like this happens. This guy's experience was from a different type of company so I think JET would be more legitimate than this but still.

Also for anyone that has been how much money would you advise initially taking, the guy in said video mentions $5,000+ because there were a lot of unexpected payments and late or small pay-checks

I worked in Kyoto as part of the JET Programme for five years, and I loved it; I've been back in the UK for 4 months now and this place is a shit hole.

I didn't have many of the negative experiences most people do because I was lucky enough to live in a city AND work at a high school which specialised in English, so I actually taught things such as debating, presentation skills and so on, rather than mind-numbing games all the time. I also had a very positive relationship with my teachers, as many of them had lived abroad and had a much more respectful attitude towards ALTs/foreigners than many Japanese teachers do, so while I had an almost uniformly positive experience, i know many who worked at junior high or elementary level don't have that job satisfaction I had and people who get stuck in the middle of fucking nowhere (as the majority of JETs do) didn't get so much out of it. The biggest problem I had was that the majority of the other JETs I met were absolute fucking morons, though that did mean I made more Japanese friends and met english teachers outside of the JET circle; as others on here have said, JET does seem to appeal to some real fucking autists and social outcasts, primarily because it's pretty easy to get on.

There's some good points in this thread and some bad; the main thing is you have to realise that Japan is a real country and not some anime wonderland and it more than likely won't match your expectations. If you do end up liking it, it will be because of what it is, not what you probably currently think it is.

>>14511861
>everyone pretends to like some random Japanese culture instead.
So would it be acceptable to mention liking gyaru?
Also
>historical period
Okay, so I can just go over there to talk about the Sengoku period ad infinitum?

>>14518190
>and then in the Bakumatsu period, Okita Souji went singing with Sakamoto Ryouma at the local pub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfSP7qYyI4Q
I bet I'll get in no problem with my flawless knowledge of Japanese history.

I wanted to ask as an Asian who's not Japanese, would it change the way people view English teachers if they weren't foreigners from looks?

I passed the JLPT level 2 and worked at some Japanese stores and clientele based on that one line in my resume. During my times there it didn't seem like I was making too many waves, but I did feel like I was being more warmly treated compared to my non-asian corkers (unless they were there for a substantially longer time than I did)

I do disclose that I am Korean and not Japanese, and mostly I was looked upon with surprise, but I have not been able to notice them treating me any different. Although I imagine it would be quite different if I was to work in Japan rather than a Japanese company in America.

>>14518212
I've actually tricked people into thinking I know a little about their culture via facts learned from movies. Didn't tell them this, of course.

>>14518302
To be fair at that point you probably do know as much about their history as most actual japs do. They forget everything they learned in high school just as much as other nationalities do.

>>14518058
>buttdevestated white man hates Japan
>chooses to stay there
>calls others weebs despite him being too invested to leave
holy shit, you can't make this up, literally kekking my ass off.

So anyone did GoGo Nihongo?

>>14518164
>the majority of the other JETs I met were absolute fucking morons
This is true.

...do people really think Japan is a magic place where everything is easy or is this a meme? I assume every place in the world is terrible to live, no matter what good stuff it produces. I like Geraman metal, but I know it's not easy work to start a successful metal band over there and I never assumed it was easy to learn German, move there, and become happy since I'm not even happy in my current country.

>>14518776
No and that's not my personal reason for going.
I'm 20 and being 30 has had this negative stigma for me, not because it's older but because I think that's that point you stop 'growing' and you start to be the person you're going to be for the rest of your life so I decided to fill these 10 years with all the cliche 'find yourself' things I've wanted to do and Japan has always been on that list, not because it's a dream land but because it's so different and fascinating, the huge cities, the small rural villages, the spirituality and temples, the history, food and culture. They're all things I'll only be able to understand from first hand experience

>>14518776
I love Japanese 2D media and got a job at a Japanese 2D related company pretty easily

am pretty happy no worries

>>14520045
What kind of job did they offer a gaijin?

>>14520099
Programmer

>>14520554
what can you program and where did you learn
what certificates you got etc
why they hire you
why the japanese cant program

>>14518058
He's absolutely right though. Do not work in Japan. I've read some shit about software development jobs in Japan and it is a complete nightmare; the JET program isn't really a job in Japan and don't take it as an idea of what working in Japan is like.

That said, I've applied for the JET program myself for the experience and chance to grow my language skills as well as do some development in my free time. Maybe in a few decades when Japan gets its shit further together I'd be willing to do software work over there.

>>14518164

Current JET here, this post is a good post and is highly reflective of my experience.

I'm in a tiny rural town in Ibaraki Prefecture, but luckily I'm right on the Joban line so I can travel around and I'm not completely isolated in the sticks. I teach at high schools, one lower-level school, one medium level school and a trade school for fishing industry and factory shit. Here's my experience in a nutshell.

1) The kids are just kids. Some of them are goofs, some of them are shy, some of them are jerks and some of them are stereotypical asian studious types. If you can match their energy and read them well enough to find things to interact with them about, you'll do just fine. Just don't let the fact that some of them want to sleep or talk through your lessons bother you, that's just how they roll.

2) I can't really give advice about teachers, all three of my schools are highly atypical in terms of their staff. Based on conversations I've had with other JETs, non-JET ALTs and other locals, I'm extremely lucky in terms of having teachers that are far less demanding of conformity, are far more respectful and open to new ideas, and just don't fit the general mold for Japanese teachers. That said, the biggest tip I can give is always meet people halfway. Learn some Japanese, even if its just a few words, and choose your English carefully so you're easier to understand. Help out with shit, share the load with cleaning and carrying things and grading papers even when you don't have to. Do social activities like bars and restaurants when you can to break those walls down, buy little gifts like chocolate when you go places, share your pictures, just do normal office shit and don't be weird or self-conscious. The best possible thing you can do it make a good first impression and keep it up for like a month. The more goodwill you earn at the start, the easier it will be to take liberties and get comfortable later.

3) Be prepared to suffer annoyances. Many small things about Japanese life may inconvenience you. I am blessed to have befriended both a bi-lingual Gaijin business owner and a semi-fluent native working at my local bank, so I have resources to help me through them, but you'll have to find your own ways of dealing with them, even if its just begging the other English teachers for help. But the more you can handle shit on your own, the more respect you'll earn.

4) You won't know what to expect from your duties until you're here. I have friends who get worked to the bone and have tons of classes and prepwork, where as my class load is fairly light and requires a lot less prep work. Some schools expect more substantive lessons, some expect just games, some expect culture lessons and presentations, some expect extracurricular activities or club participation. A lot will depend on the type of school you get and the number of schools you cover. Generally I find that ALTs who work at one school or at higher level schools have to work harder, I have 3 schools plus an occasional special location and they're all fairly low-tier so I have it relatively easy.

Oh and a last tip: be prepared to deal with passive aggression. That's the number-one way that people handle problems here. Either be prepared to conform when faced by it, or be prepared to deflect/endure/congenially confront it so it will eventually stop. Both methods will work. For example, I got an email from my supervisor that somebody complained about me drinking soda at a special ed school when it wasn't allowed. They decided to wait until I had done it three times and then report me instead of telling me the rule directly the first time. I could have been butthurt, but decided to just let it go and just stop bringing soda. A different time when the "cool biz," period where it's acceptable to not wear suits ended and I didn't start wearing suits and kept my Business casual style going, I got comments from a minority of teachers that, reading between the lines, might have been attempts to get me to wear suits. I played them off with jokes and a other responses containing obliqueness about the implied meaning, nothing more serious or direct asking me to conform to the dress code happened even though I was making a point of making friendly conversation with the principal every morning so he could see my clothes, and the comments eventually stopped.

>>14521811
All that text and nothing about dating Japanese girls.

>>14521874

I know a couple of bars that are considered spots for locals to meet English speakers because they're owned by foreigners. I haven't gotten any "dates," but I've certainly gotten a lot of numbers. They like my beard.

One girl saw I have a hairy chest through my collar and stuck a hand down the back of my shirt because she wanted to touch it. Unfortunately that little adventure did not come to fruition because she later pounded four shots in like 40 minutes and ended up locking herself in the bathroom so she could puke her guts out without anybody seeing.

Also I think the school nurse at one of my schools might be into me. She's always smiling at me when she thinks I'm not looking.

>agreeing to live in rural Japan
For what purpose? That's like moving to the American south and being surprised by all of the crazy, racist rednecks?

Anyone have any stories of JET teachers fraternizing with students and getting in trouble?

>>14521811
>The kids are just kids.
Are any of them highly erotic?

>>14511120
this

i fucking hate this cunt who makes comics like this and has no understanding of the culture

yet insist that they are wrong and she is right

>>14522149
see
>>14511803
>>14511815
>>14512567

>>14512515
>I could argue that to them what you were doing was still defined as "cute events" and that nobody really took you that seriously
No, I'm not as oblivious as you think. These events were actually really important and stuff that the school got funding for from the prefecture.

I was in a high school, though, and a fairly academic one, so that's probably the difference.

Why do that when you can just get a few penpals and then eventually meet them in person?

One of my friends did that and spent a few months there before eventually going back home.

>>14521811
Thanks
>2)
Are chocolates a common gift or seen as something more romantic? That might just be something I'd seen in anime though. I'd like to make a good first impression but I don't want to go against social norms so what are common/casual gifts often given in Japan?

>3)
How did you go about making friends? I know that drinking in bars is common for socialising but is that seen as an informal or formal thing? Because here I know if someone invited you for a drink there would typically be romantic implications.

>4)
So as a JET you can end up working in multiple schools simultaneously? Can this happen to anyone or is this a slightly different application?

Finally what is your opinion of where you're staying? I've heard people complain about how isolated rural towns can be, do you often have to leave your town and would you prefer a city over your rural town?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to get a good understanding of what I'm getting into

>>14522768
Well, some people actually want to live in Japan and not just visit.

>>14522943
Not the same anon, but:

>chocolates
Chocolates are most often given as gifts for Valentine's Day and White Day. Other foods, however, such as cookies, senbei, etc. are commonly given as gifts, especially at the workplace.

>making friends
Frequenting the same shops/restaurants will certainly help get you acquainted with local folks and get you started on friendships. Also look into activities at your local community hall - there are often classes or clubs that meet that you can use to make friends. Friends of opposite genders do not often go out together as just the two of them because of implications.

>multiple schools
This happens to many (if not most) people; no separate application, it's just the contract you are assigned.

>rural towns
I also live in a rural town and I love it. I can take the train and get to the nearest "city" in an hour, but to get to a city of any major scale, it'd take 2.5 hours and 8000 yen round trip. But I was never one for exciting night life or much socialization, so the small town way of life is a nice fit.

>>14523223
thanks. You're probably the first person I've read of who has been happier with a rural town. What is your town like?
If I end up in a rural town like yours with restaurants, shops and town activities then I imagine I'll choose the small town way of life too because I don't really care about big cities, I'd just like a town with enough in it that I don't need to regularly take long train trips.

After living there are there any areas in Japan you'd definitely recommend/ discourage? I know that's a broad question but I still am completely open with where I will apply to

>>14524607
My town is quite small but gets a decent number of tourists passing through on holidays. All the shops are centrally located near the train station, but if you venture about 5 minutes away from there in any direction, you'll find yourself surrounded by rice fields or at the foot of a mountain. The people are incredibly kind and generous - probably more open because I speak some Japanese. I've been quite accepted in almost all regards except where the government is concerned. Managed to marry a local, but still waiting for confirmation to get a visa that lasts longer than a year...

Hmm, despite living in Japan for several years, I haven't gotten to travel around too much. When I initially listed my preferences for region, I opted for areas with a warmer climate since I know I don't handle cold well. If that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, then there's not too much to worry about.

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>>14522061
Monitoring this thread.

>>14524831
Yeah I was planning on learning some Japanese to assimilate easily into the community. That might be nicer, being around the mountains and rice fields.

My only other main concern is racism, I'm mixed race (black/white) and I've heard that many people in Asia have strong negative views of anyone black or even any other darker skinned or tanned Asians (I assumed it was to do with class, those of darker complexion would would get that by working outdoors opposed to those who were wealthy indoors, like rednecks in America) . I know that fair/white skin is almost idolised there and like 40% of women in China bleach their skin so I was wondering what's it like in Japan?

>being a jet
>not going to a language school ala Kansai
>not getting into Tokyo or Osaka U after 2 years at Kansai

lol, its not even that expensive. 36,000 should be enough for two years at Kansai.

>>14521874
japanese women like to cheat and use english speakers to learn english. sure, ive dated some that actually loved me and wanted to be in a relationship. but the majority only want you for the english and to show off that they can get a cool gaijin boyfriend.

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>>14525227

>>14525227
You'll be better off anywhere in Asia than anywhere in the West, so it doesn't matter.

>>14525227
I know that some Japanese folks are a bit more hesitant to talk to non-white, non-Asian foreigners, but if you don't freak out on them and behave like a decent person, you ought to do alright. Kids at school and in your neighborhood may try to touch you, though, purely out of curiosity.

>>14526532
I'm understand prejudice so I won't get annoyed at people treating me differently and I don't mind kids because they are just kids, I just don't want like deep southern America racism

>>14526621
Yeah, you don't need to worry about getting chased around with pitchforks or anything like that. People like to say that Japanese are racist but I feel like that's inaccurate; they're largely ignorant of people and cultures outside of Japan, so they only know what they know through media coming in from overseas. You might get some thoughtless comments regarding the color of your skin, your family life, etc., but 99% of the time, they don't mean anything bad by it and are genuinely curious about what you and life where you live are like.

Lots of japanese avoid speaking to foreigners because they just arent confident in their own ability to speak english.
MANY foreigners take this as a sign of racism that a japanese person might just ignore them when spoken to, but in reality they are probably just incredibly nervous.
If you speak the language very well and you respect their social rules, you wouldnt have much of a problem.

>>14525227
I didn't experience that at all in Japan, and I'm darker than you. 9/10 of the people that go on about racism in Japan are white people either not used to being scrutinized for their skin color or who are racist themselves. A lot of the complaints are pretty ironic too, if you've grown up in the suburbs.

It's really not that different from America. You get judged more than white people for fucking something up, but you get more praise than a white person would for handling something particularly well. (the negative isn't magnified nearly as intensely out in the Japanese countryside as it is in America's though).

It's something to be aware of but it's nothing new. Just don't fuck up as I'm sure your parents taught you.

>>14526871
That's a real relief. Racism has been played up to be a big thing and it was my main concern for a while, now I can just focus on learning about the culture, language and choosing places to apply to...

If anyone in this thread knows of any very nice cities you'd recommend to apply for please let me know! (outside of extremely popular places like Toyko, Kyoto, Osaka because although they're great the chances of getting them is slim)

Are the English teachers over in moonland even competent, most of the ones here in burgerland are fucking retarded.

>>14526981
The Japanese ones? It's about 40/60, I'd say. Many of them have no idea what they're talking about (especially in elementary schools) and have never been overseas aside from a week-long stint in Hawaii or somewhere similar. But a decent number of them are pretty good.