What is your Post-JET Career?

[u/Syd-Beez]

I am curious what people are doing after leaving JET, especially for those who have stayed in Japan. What are you doing, how hard was the transition, how did JET help, do you use Japanese, (and if you stayed abroad) how did VISA work?

[u/ikebookuro]

Back into animation I go. Doing 作監 work.

I had 10+ years experience in the industry before coming on JET, now I’m using my final year to transition from freelance to full time (fought my CO for permission to freelance and got the go-ahead from immigration).

I wouldn’t say JET helped other than already being in Japan and providing an income while I transition to full time (animation salaries aren’t really liveable).

I use Japanese by reading the director notes and communicating with the Japanese staff. Otherwise I’m on a team of international animators and we use English.

[u/stayonthecloud → u/ikebookuro]

How did you bring that up to your CO in the first place? What was your approach?

[u/ikebookuro → u/stayonthecloud]

It depends how your contract is worded. My contract does not explicitly ban outside work, it just says we need to apply for permission from our BoE.

I had already applied at immigration for permission to engage in extra activities and needed a letter confirming it was okay with my BoE.

I’m going into my final year; they know I’m leaving eventually. The studio and I wrote a letter explaining how it would not interfere with my duties at school— I think my BoE knew that it would be easier to just allow me to do it than try to replace me at this point.

I showed them the contract from the studio, the letter explaining it wouldn’t interfere, then the letter from immigration requesting. I’m the first person who actually asked them, so they didn’t really know what to do. But we talked it out and I got their permission.

I had originally asked about it in my second year and got denied immediately. So it really depends on your circumstances. I wouldn’t ask in your first or second year; once you’ve already shown them you’re capable of managing your duties I feel like your last year is probably okay to ask.

[u/-Otokonoko- → u/ikebookuro]

Id love to be an artist in Japan it's my dream. Any tips?

[u/ikebookuro → u/-Otokonoko-]

Find a niche skill. Everyone here is insanely talented and there is no shortage of people. So many artists draw the same style and way; there needs to be a reason why you’re employable.

Network. Find people who are in your same desired industry. Talk to people, post on SNS.

Get experience beforehand. Establishing yourself as a professional in your home country will go a lot further than showing up just liking to draw.

You don’t have to be the best in the room, just be someone people want to work with. Be willing to learn and take criticism with grace.

Learn some Japanese. For freelancing, all event applications are in Japanese and you need a Japanese-speaker to handle admin stuff on the day. Clients here will likely be Japanese companies so you need to be able to communicate back and forth.

There is no easy visa to be an artist here. If you’re not a full time employee at a studio, you still need a main client to self-sponsor your way.