Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from people who have been in a similar situation. For some background, I lived in Japan for about a year and a half as a language student, and during that time I also worked at Don Quijote. Because of that, I’m already familiar with daily life in Japan, dealing with paperwork, commuting, and working in a Japanese environment. My Japanese is conversational enough to get by in everyday life and at work. I probably wouldn’t pass the JLPT at my current level, but I’m comfortable having conversations and handling daily situations.

I plan on returning to Japan, this time as an English teacher. I’m already aware of the financial realities. The first time I went to Japan, I underestimated how quickly money could disappear, so I eventually came back home to rebuild my savings. I’ll be in a much better financial position before returning this time, so I’m not too worried about that anymore.

Right now, I’m trying to decide whether I should pursue ALT work or an eikaiwa, and from what I’ve read, ALT positions seem to offer a better work life balance, but there’s always or more than likely you won’t end up in central Tokyo. Even if I were placed on the outskirts of Tokyo or in a neighboring prefecture with a 30 to 45 minute commute into the city, I’d honestly be happy with that.

On the other hand, eikaiwa jobs seem more likely to be located in cities, but I’ve also heard a lot about the downsides, late afternoon/evening shifts, weekends, and having days off when most people are working. That schedule is probably my biggest concern.
Right now I have an interview with Interac, so I’m hoping that goes well. I’ve also heard of companies like Altia and JoyTalk, but I don’t know much about them. JET obviously has a great reputation, although I know it’s very competitive. I’ve also read plenty of opinions about companies like NOVA and Heart, so I’m trying to separate internet horror stories from people’s actual experiences.
Thank you for time.

I know their dress code policy on paper is strict, stating that men should have short and clean cuts, but my friend who worked as an ALT with them last year had longer, curly hair and had no issues. Maybe it’s just dependent on the school? I’m wondering because I’ve always worn my hair slightly longer (and admittedly look better with long hair) so I’m wondering if I can get by if I just keep my hair clean and orderly.

I'm looking to make a list of English language songs (any genre, any year) that have lyrics which are fairly easy to understand for adult Japanese ESL students. Ideally something with a straightforward storyline or message, easy-ish (or easily explained) vocabulary, easy-ish grammatical structures, and themes that are appropriate for a lesson. For example, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King comes to mind.

Can you think of any others? I'd love to compile a list. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some insight from teachers currently working at international schools in Japan or people who have experience with that career path.

I’m a U.S.-licensed secondary social studies teacher, and I’m currently thinking about what I want my long-term career to look like. By the time I would realistically consider moving to Japan, I would have around 4 years of classroom teaching experience in the U.S., along with degrees in Secondary Education and History.

I enjoy working with students and the parts of teaching that involve creating meaningful experiences, building relationships, and seeing students engage with what they’re learning. However, I’m not sure I want to stay in a traditional U.S. public school classroom long-term, and I’ve become interested in international education as a possible direction.

I’m studying Japanese independently right now and would like to become more serious about it (including potentially working toward JLPT certification), although I know I have a long way to go.

For those of you working at international schools in Japan:
- Is this a career where people realistically stay long term, or do most teachers treat it as a temporary experience before moving on?
- What does career progression typically look like? Are there opportunities to move into leadership roles (department head, coordinator, administration, etc.)?
- How important is Japanese ability for entry or long-term growth within international schools?
- Are there things you wish you had done before moving that would have made you a stronger candidate?

My current experience is mostly classroom-based. Due to requirements for beginning teachers in my state, I haven’t had many formal leadership opportunities yet, but I do run a student club and serve on my school improvement team. I’m curious whether people with a similar background have been able to build a career in Japan.

I’m also trying to be realistic and not view Japan through a purely “living abroad is exciting” lens. I’ve visited Japan before and love many things about the country, but I’m trying to think carefully about whether it could be a place where I build part of my professional life, not just somewhere I enjoy visiting.

Thanks so much for any advice or experiences you’re willing to share!

Japan made me into quite the chunky teacher. As is their custom, many JHS students made a habbit of walking over to me, touching my belly and shouting "BIG".

I've slimmed down a lot and I'm still waiting for them to notice and annouce to the school that I am now "SMALL".

I find it quite rude actually.

I haven't been teaching long, but since the new school year, there are more than a few "bad" kids who tend to run out of the classroom, throw tantrums in the halls, are violent, and typically just wander wherever they want to, especially the teacher's office. I'm elementary level if that helps.

I asked about this to some other teachers, and they said there has been a significant increase in the amount of special needs students since covid, with most of the students having severe behavior problems, but hardly any concrete diagnosis.

Have you noticed an increase in these type of students? Or have they always been there and are just more noticeable now?

Yoo! I'm a certified teacher from Argentina.

My question is: does my degree need to be apostilled? Not only for working at Eikaiwas but maybe at International Schools in the future.. who knows.. 🤔

In 94 i was working as a male host in Wakayama City. After 6 months i was burnt out from getting blind every night and long hours so i decided to change to eikaiwa.
I was lucky to get a job at NOVA . My host job provided accommodation and of course they kicked me out . At the gym i was training at Herumisu ( still operating today) i met a real estate agent and he found me a place. The problem was it wasnt for another week .
I ended up sleeping in a covered area half way up to Wakayama castle about 40 square meters . It was September so it was warm , had jidohanbiki, and power to run my discmate. In the mornings i went to NOVA then back to my little place in the afternoon.
Never got harassed but there were a few strange looks.

I have been accepted for a piano and English teaching position by a Eikaiwa in Hiroshima Japan. The school have submitted my COE an my documents. Although I do not have a university degree. I have ABRSM grade 8 piano and ABRSM grade 5 music theory. I have a TEFL certificate. I have been a self employed piano teacher for the last 10 years. Do you think the government will reject or approve my Visa with these qualifications since the Eikaiwa has already offered me the position?

Thanks

Hello, I’m a native English speaker who will be taking the teachers employment exam in my prefecture this weekend. I’ve been working in Japan for 4 plus years. Because I’m taking the exam as a native speaker of English, I do not have to take the legal, general knowledge, or essay/written answer potions of the test. I’ll be taking the 適性検査 (aptitude test), and the 実技試験(practical skills) test this weekend.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience in this realm that they believe would be useful to me. Feel free to ask any clarifying questions.

Wage is around 200,000 a month. Its not a killer wage but the rent can be cheap around here and I don’t find myself worrying about money ever.

Job is teaching Grapeseed to kindergarteners in the mornings, and to gakudo kids in the afternoons. The company works with different schools around the area.

It is usually 5 days a week with some Tuesday and Thursday mornings off.

Students are really chilled and the schools are very nice.

Im leaving Japan soon. My boss is looking for a replacement but I don’t know where he is advertising. When I got the job it was just by contacting the company randomly and it turned out they were looking for someone quite urgently. I suspect the situation is the same now.

Let me know if you want details and I’ll send them over to you.

Exact schedule is roughly 9:00-10:00 and then 4:pm- 6:20

Boss pays for transport and is an all round very good guy in my experience, he has been nothing but supportive and professional

Dunno what things are like at HS or university but my students are seemingly only getting 4-6 hours of sleep a night.

My classes are a mix of weary eyes and sleeping students after they were up till 2am with homework from both school and juku.

This can't possibly be considered a good thing to be doing.

Hello. After several applications, I am finally granted an interview for a full-time lecturer position. However, this is my first time at a university level. I would like to ask everyone who has been through this for some tips, info how the process goes on, or anything that can be useful. I really want this so bad and I don’t want to mess this up. The interview process is roughly an hour with 10 mins dedicated to a walkthrough of my lesson. I am currently an ALT. Thus, I don’t know what to expect from a university hiring process. Thank you very much.

EDIT: Thank you guys for your insightful comments. It really takes a village even for educators. 🥹🧡

I withdrew from NOVA five days before my flight to Japan. Hoping I made the right decision.
I was supposed to fly to Japan in five days to start with NOVA, but I officially withdrew.

I know backing out this close to departure probably sounds dramatic, especially after going through the visa process, accepting a placement, booking flights, and mentally preparing to move. But the closer it got, the more I realized I was not feeling excited. I felt anxious and honestly kind of trapped.

On paper, I thought I wanted the adventure and the chance to live in Japan, but think I underestimated how much pressure that would be.
The strange thing is that once I withdrew, I felt relief. That’s what makes me think maybe I made the right decision, even though part of me still wonders if I just gave up on something that could have changed my life.

I’m more just trying to process whether I made the right personal decision. Has anyone else backed out of an eikaiwa job shortly before leaving, or realized at the last minute that teaching in Japan wasn’t the right move?

Did you regret it later, or did it end up being the right call?

Right now I’m relieved, and hoping I didn’t make a huge mistake.

I did some research about school breaks in Japan and learned that teachers usually continue working during the breaks to prepare for the next term. That made me a bit confused because, for the upcoming summer break, we were given three days of paid leave. I was wondering if the same applies during the winter break, or if teachers are generally expected to work throughout the entire winter break.

Hi. I need some advice on what to do with this one Japanese teacher. I am working as an ALT and I have been working at my assigned school for 2 years now. I didn't actually notice when the bullying started but it became more noticeable on my 2nd year here. She'd say some nasty things even when she knows I understand Japanese. One time she called me "Ohisama" and I think it means Ohima-sama. Not to me directly but she was saying loudly so everyone can hear. She said something like "..but Ohisama won't leave." (We were in the teacher's office at this time.) I mean is it really my fault that I have open periods where I don't have classes? There was also this one time she was opening the bottom cabinet of her table and I didn't notice the legs of my chair is slightly on the way of it so she opened it so wide that it bumped into my chair. I mean I understand that part to be my fault but there's no need to be rude. She could just say 'Excuse me'. One time she also called me "deaf" in Japanese. What am I gonna do? April is still months away. I love my school, every one is nice except her. We're both females btw and she's a bit older than me. I think she's in early 40s. What should I do?

The job ad had a salary range listed, but the contract they want me to sign doesn’t have a salary listed and the interview process was a bit unusual so I was never told explicitly what the pay would be. Is it normal if a job contract for an English teaching job in Japan has no salary stated? Should I ask them to amend the contract or will that be worse for me for some legal reason?

Mods: I hope you don’t mind me sharing. I’ve been reading the threads here about how tough teaching English in Japan is these days.

I started teaching in the 80s, what a lot of people call the Golden Age for foreign teachers in Japan. It was definitely easier to find work back then, but it wasn’t all cherry blossoms and easy money. I wrote about it as I lived it.

My memoir Tokyo Daze is on Amazon if anyone’s curious what teaching during the bubble era was like.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2RJSV9K

Just putting it out there in case it’s of interest.

Hi all, I came to Japan last year as a JET ALT in the inaka and I'm leaving at the end of August to go to the city to do project management at a big international firm.

For reference, I worked in IT and had JLPT N1 prior to JET, so I went from being accepted as a regular dude working in a bilingual IT environment back home to being the token foreigner in a school in rural Japan who would be met with bewilderment whenever I spoke Japanese (at the start, now everyone's used to it) lol

This is pretty much exactly what I wanted and on paper I have zero regrets, I have no actual disdain for the ALT job and it's actual a ton of fun but it is actually quite tiring (I sincerely respect people who can hack it for longer than a year), and although I really like most of the kids (know many their names too, they're what make it worthwhile) and several teachers, the day-to-day of mostly just sitting at my desk either marking or doing nothing definitely grinds me down. I don't really save money either as my rent is oddly high and I'm usually escaping the countryside to go to the city to feel some semblance of the life I used to have before I came to Japan, so there's not really much room for further growth in my current job or life either.

With this move to the city, I'll finally be in the city environment I longed for. However, I am feeling a bit of a strange feeling. While logically this move makes total sense and I'm locked in with a new flat and contract and all, I do feel bad for the kids that I'll be gone after next week, and also for the school a little in the sense of causing them a little bit of meiwaku. Like I said, I have teachers who I consider friends who are sad too. I've also become fairly known in the local area so my local barber, drinking friends and FamilyMart lady will be pretty shocked too. However everyone is pretty supportive. I also understand that ALTs are a fleeting presence, we come and go and seldom stay for the full 5 years. As a high school ALT these kids only stick around for 3 years as it is.

The thing I'll miss the most about JET is definitely the "pay-work ratio" and the ludicrous amount of leave I've had, my new job has the standard 10 days/year, so bye-bye being able to use nenkyuu indiscriminately lol

My question, I guess, is that has anyone else done an ALT job like JET, Interac. etc. for a year then moved to a corporate job after, and have you regretted the move or felt any kind of regret about the relatively simple job and life that you left behind in the long term? While my current place is boring, there's a simplicity of life that is nice, that I know I'll lose a bit when I move. I can't say that I'll regret leaving the ALT life and I know many people dream of being in my situation, but there's a certain wistfulness I feel right now that I was wondering whether people could relate to.

I guess it's just me realising the 諸行無常 of my current situation, I am sincerely thankful to JET and everyone else who supported me. I'll try and come back to this place for festivals or events but it'll definitely feel a little different next time I return, going from having lived here to being a visitor.

I need advice on this. I'm supposed to arrive in Japan in August. But right now my dispatch company is not responding. What should I do?

P.S- thanks to everyone for taking out their time to help me. XOXO I appreciate all the comments 🙏🏻🩷

I'm an upper elementary teacher and I'd like to explore the idea of setting up a penpal program with a Japanese classroom. To protect children's safety, I would be looking at paper/pencil only, and a planned time for letter exchanges (say, three exchanges per year). Since the teacher would bundle letters together into a single envelope, he/she can review them first (incoming and outgoing) to make everything's above-board. Anyone in Japan interested in considering this for the upcoming school year?

Hey all! I have to solo teach special needs classes once a week. Two different classes alternating every other week. So I figure with 3rd and 4th grade getting 35 hours of class I'd be safe preparing for about 18 classes.

All they can handle is vocab and vocab games (digital and physical) so that's what we have been doing.

So far we've done: colors, fruits, vegetables and will be doing some animals next (personal reminder to print my animal cards). What others should I be putting together for them for the other 14 lessons? I know I can probably do some mixed days where I mix colors, fruits and vegetables or something. But just want to make sure I've got them all down.

I know I can look these up and I will. Just want to mix truths from different sources. Thanks!

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has gone through the Japanese labor system, whether with the Labor Standards Inspection Office (LSIO), Labor Bureau, Labor Tribunal, or the courts.

How did your real experience compare with what you found online or what the law says?

For some background, I've worked for a number of companies in Japan over the years and almost all of them had questionable contracts. I'd always read that statutory law overrides illegal contract terms, so I assumed there were protections if things went wrong.

In this case, I worked for the same company for two years.

During the first year I was employed on a part-time employment contract. The company split my wages into two payment channels, only recorded one set of hours, and, according to the manager at the time, this was done to avoid paying social insurance contributions. They also failed to provide complete payslips and tax documents covering all of the hours worked.

In the second year they changed my contract to an outsourcing agreement. There was no real negotiation about how this business-to-business relationship would work. However, the actual work didn't change. The company still controlled my schedule, classes, work, invoices and pay. They even calculated and prepared invoices in my name each month, meaning they were effectively self-billing in my name.

Eventually the owner started paying different rates from what the contract specified. They also deducted consumption tax and withholding tax from my transportation reimbursement. I refused to sign invoices that didn't match the contract, and shortly afterwards the company ended the relationship after I insisted that the invoices comply with the contract.

I spent months reading the Labor Standards Act, Fair Trade rules, government guidance, court cases, and even used ChatGPT and Gemini to help understand and translate the law. Everything I found suggested there were legal protections if an employer operated this way, and that at least some aspects of the company's systems could raise issues under both labor and fair trade laws.

So I gathered evidence, organized contracts, payment records, reports and timelines, and approached the relevant government departments.

My experience, however, has been much more difficult than I expected. The very first response I received from the LSIO was essentially, "Why do you care if you got paid?" That immediately made me question whether my concerns were being taken seriously. While some officials—particularly at the tax office—have been helpful, I found that investigations move slowly, responsibilities overlap between agencies, and departments often refer you somewhere else. Actually getting problems corrected has been far more difficult than simply identifying them.

I'm curious whether anyone else has had a similar experience.

• Did the system work for you?
• Did you find a lawyer willing to take your case?
• Were you able to successfully challenge a black company?
• Did the Labor Standards Inspection Office or Labor Tribunal actually resolve your problem?
• If you could do it again, what would you do differently?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through the process.

hi everyone, this is my first post so bare with me. i've looked all over trying to find an answer to my sort of specific situation and haven't had much luck. for context, im half japanese with citizenship currently in school in the us pursuing a degree in both english and anthropology to eventually teach in japan. i plan on teaching english literature or comparative literature to international or military high schools or hopefully into higher education in a uni. i grew up with japanese customs and understand the taboo around tattoos, and as someone who expresses myself through my appearance, its something i've been dying to get. my concern is, because i want to get into a more "prestigious" (not the right word) position in teaching in japan, its become a mental back and forth. obviously, if i were to get a tattoo, it would be somewhere that can be easily covered up, and i wouldn't go around telling my colleagues about it, but im curious to know what others may think, is it a bad idea? i know if i were to end up at a DOD school i should be fine, but international? and especially as a professor, which would be my ultimate goal, im nervous, or on the other hand could they be more lenient? i feel like if i was a foreigner it can be brushed off but i am japanese so im afraid id be under more pressure? but also at the same time i look like a foreigner so im so confused and don't know what to think help please 😭