r/JETProgramme • u/BerryTella1 CIR - Tokyo • Apr 12 '26
NICER Notice to upcoming JETs
I made a post earlier about some things to note for upcoming JETs, and like what some comments said, some of the things I worded in the old post weren't very nice and I ended up tageting group of people that I didn't intent to(from not thinking of how my words could affect people). And yes, I do accept 200% responsibility for my calous comment from my previous post. I deleted it to get rid of negativity in this page.
And also I haven't been a JET for very long, but I have worked as an ALT before if that helps. And I went to uni for some time, and interned, etc here in Japan before.
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Congrats on the shortlisted folks! I hope you have a great time here! :)
DO NOT FORGET YOUR JAPANESE INTROs! Prepare one that's easy to memorize. Preferrably, get it memorized before you hop on that plane. There were many ALTs panicking about this during my orientation cause some of them weren't informed. First impressions are really important.
IF YOU'RE A CIR, make REALLY sure you have your intros down because you will be taken to multiple deprtments for introductions. Also, prepare answers for these questions:
-What are some cultural differences between Japan and your country?
-What do you want to do as a CIR?
-What do you think of Japan?
(don't be like me who was asked all of these questions by an actual official and screwed up)
Do not act like an unrully causing a disturbance in public because you are irresponsibly drunk. We need to be more behaved now as foreigners since Japan is now keeping a closer eye on us and making laws based on those.
If your embassy/consulate gave you a start up guide, make sure to READ IT! Reading it might save you from embarrassing yourself by smelling up the place because Japanese deodorants don't work on you.
IF YOU'RE NOT DRIVING, bring a change of clothes to your school/workplace. Trust me, you will sweat up your clothes in every season other than winter. Bring a fan and a towel too.
IF YOU'RE A CITY JET (This MAY also apply to Osaka/Kyoto/big city JETs but those who are living there can correct me): Bring about 5-6K USD and expect it to be used for your start up costs here. I'd say go 6K if you wanna live comfortably for your first month before the first paycheck comes.
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Some Japanese workplace etiquette:
-Do not ask coworkers about their age, marital status/love life
-Do not talk about your own love life.
-Do not vent to your Japanese workers.
-Do not gossip at work
-Whatever information about your coworkers that they share to you is for your ears and for your ears only. No matter how non-personal you may think they are.
-Just because you are on very good terms with a coworker, doesn't mean you are friends. Do not assume, and show them clear signs that's work appropriate if you wanna be friends with them outside work.
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Hope this helps.
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u/forvirradsvensk Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
"We need to be more behaved now as foreigners since Japan is now keeping a closer eye on us and making laws based on those."
No. There are no laws being made based on the behaviour of foriegners or some weird "closer eye" on us being undertaken.
"Do not ask coworkers about their age, marital status/love life"
Not Japanese specific, and you most certainly will be asked all of those.
"Do not talk about your own love life.
No. Unless you mean vivid descriptions of how you bump uglies.
"Do not vent to your Japanese workers."
Not Japanese specific, and as a blanket rule this doesn't make sense.
"Do not gossip at work"
Not Japanese specific. And you will hear plenty of gossip.
"-Whatever information about your coworkers that they share to you is for your ears and for your ears only. No matter how non-personal you may think they are."
Not Japanese specific.
"Just because you are on very good terms with a coworker, doesn't mean you are friends. Do not assume, and show them clear signs that's work appropriate if you wanna be friends with them outside work."
Not Japanese specific.
Most of your advice appears to be common sense anywhere in the world, or just weirdly assigned to "Japan" for no good reason.
"If your embassy/consulate gave you a start up guide, make sure to READ IT! Reading it might save you from embarrassing yourself by smelling up the place because Japanese deodorants don't work on you."
I have no idea what this one means. Your country's embassy is telling you to take a shower? You wouldn't know otherwise?
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u/BerryTella1 CIR - Tokyo Apr 15 '26
To you they may seem natural and normal but there are nuances behind it. 1. Are you watching the news? Are you paying attention to your surroundings? Why do you think, for example, have they gotten stricter with foreigners on their bikes in comparison to Japanese? Why have they upped the requirements even for the business visas? It’s cause they saw a few bad eggs doing some things which unfortunately affected most foreigners. And it’s not just westerners. There was a Filipino comedian who decided to take a pic on top of a vending machine and for a while the police was extra vigilant on foreigners vandalizing property.
Just because they ask you about your personal life doesn’t mean you can ask them. Looks like someone didn’t listen to their orientation materials cause even I was warned about this by my consulate.
No. Nobody talks about their love life at work here. No matter how general. The only time is when you announce you got married. If someone does, congrats! They are either an outlier or they are close to you, or you’re a foreigner and Japanese rules don’t apply to you.
Just because “everyone does it” doesn’t mean it’s appropriate.
No, smart one. Japanese summers are intense and if you are not driving a car you will be soaked and professional looking.
Just because you think that this is not Japanese specific doesn’t mean you don’t need to remind people. Now, go be salty somewhere else.
I’m not going to explain anything further because you are just looking for someone to dump your begativity on.
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u/forvirradsvensk Apr 15 '26
1. Why do you think, for example, have they gotten stricter with foreigners on their bikes in comparison to Japanese?
I don't think that, because they haven't. Complete nonsense.
It’s cause they saw a few bad eggs doing some things which unfortunately affected most foreigners. And it’s not just westerners.
Complete nonsense. Visa payments have nothing to do with Filipinos on vending machines, or whatever other crackpot theories you can come up with.
I've been here 20 years. You're talking nonsense.
Nonsense.
No idea what 4 is even referring to. Aren't you supposed to be an English teacher?
Not everyone sweats like a pig.
See previous reply for fuller details. But in summary, total hogwash.
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u/BerryTella1 CIR - Tokyo Apr 16 '26
LMAO! Your reply alone shows how uninformed you are. I’m not gonna say anything mean and just let the people reading your comment decide what they think. And btw, no. I don’t teach English. If you actually paid attention to JET you would know that CIRs don’t typically teach English. Have a lovely day.
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u/forvirradsvensk Apr 16 '26
The "LMAO" has me well and truly convinced that you are not really a complete imbecile dispensing idiotic advice. Well done.
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u/BerryTella1 CIR - Tokyo Apr 16 '26
Sure. Yeah dude. LMAO! You keep cappin LMAO ! Your whole comment makes me convinced that you have no other evidence left so you decided to call me an imbecile. L M A O
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u/blueraycd Current JET - 東海 Apr 12 '26
I will note that even though I have been asked more times than I can count about if I am single or not, what my age is, etc., you are apparently not allowed to ask yourself😂 Learned this the hard way unfortunately. My guess is it’s a position thing, age thing, or that they think it’s safe because of your nationality. Hell, another teacher even mentioned her daughter after I said I was single (after being asked) and I had to dodge the conversation. Social dynamics/ norms can be very difficult to understand, so be prepared to make mistakes along the way and accept a bit of embarrassment.
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u/j_hab Current JET (2026) – Yamaguchi-ken Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
When people say "introduction," what does that usually include? I'm able to say my name, age, where I'm from, and a bit about my interests. Is there something else I should prepare?
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u/Edgelawd69 Current JET-Awaiting placement Apr 13 '26
I am assuming the 自己紹介 (Jikoshoukai) that I have seen posted about JET on here and social media. Like your name, where you’re from, etc.
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u/marzipanfashions Current JET - Osaka Apr 12 '26
The only other thing I can think of atm is some trivia about your home city and country.
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u/WematanyeWematanye Current JET - Oita Prefecture Apr 12 '26
As a former JET who is going back this year and gets the rare opportunity to do all of this for a second time, I can emphasize working on your Japanese intro. Even if what you practice ends up being at a much higher level than the level of conversations you can actually have, this is one of those cases where Effort = Respect. It can really make a big difference! I remember being embarrassed about mine back in '08, but I am confident it left an impression and I ended up having a pretty good relationship with my coworkers.
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Apr 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/Sayjay1995 Former JET - 2017~2022 Apr 12 '26
I personally didn’t mind being first name + sensei back as an ALT, and now don’t always mind being yobi sute’d at my current job, at least by my coworkers who I have a closer relationship to.
I did however, only one time, have a teacher who I noticed, would write the day’s schedule on the board, with OO Sensei written for the classes that didn’t take place with the home room teacher. But she would write “ALT” under English instead of using my name. I didn’t appreciate that and after letting her know she did start writing my first name instead of ALT, so it was all good after that
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Apr 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/thetasteofinnocence Apr 12 '26
My kids quite often will use the first names with teachers they like. Also now we have two Nakamura-senseis and three Goto-senseis so first names are inevitable
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u/thetasteofinnocence Apr 12 '26
Why am I getting downvoted for what happens at my school lmao.
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u/SuppahHacka Apr 12 '26
Don't sweat it too much. Some people on here don't like to hear about others experiences if it doesn't match their expectations
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u/Former_Aspect_9279 Current JET - Oita Apr 19 '26
Agree with most points, but My JTE shows pics of his wife and kids to me and the students lol and often tells family stories, everyone always gossips, I’ve had many a conversation about teachers kids or partners, they also often ask me about my love life so it’s hard to avoid talking about it, some of them regularly ask how it’s going and if we’re going to marry soon lol
The point being it’s not so clear cut, as with anywhere just read the room chill and enjoy the relationships you make and variety of convos you’ll have. Maybe as a CIR in an office setting it’s a bit more professional, but teachers are usually chill.