I desperately want to live in Japan when I grow up. Is this possible?

Question

Well I currently live in America and have really have an interest in Japan.

Although I'm 15 now,I tend to think far ahead. I want to live in Japan for at least a few year after I finish college. Besides just the interest in Japan I have a legitimate reason to move there. I want to be an investor, and I personally think that America's economy is sinking, and that the Japanese market is where the business is going to be. Of course, I'm not here to argue about that.

I already know a bit of Japanese, and I live in an area with many Japanese immigrants, and so I get a lot of practice and they also teach me about culture and stuff.

I'm just wondering if my dream is crazy and out of the question or if it's something actually achievable and possible?

Answer 1

Japanese don't like foreigners even if they don't say in in front of you. If you want to live there, I think you can with a work visa for some skill they need. But their economy has been going nowhere for the last 20 years, where do you get the idea that you would do better there?

Answer 2

Just for correction to the Japanese girl above,

The Japanese government is NOT planning to accept 10 million immigrants from overseas in the next 10 years, but they just began considering  their concept to accept 10 million immigrants in the next 50 years.

Of course it is still a concept.

Answer 3

It's definitely believable.

I have plans to move to Japan, too, once I get out of college.

Answer 4

I don' t see why not, it's perfectly realistic ambition provided you are willing to put hard work into making it reality. If someone like Jero can do it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jero) why not you!

If you want to work in Japanese company in Japan, it will be very important to learn to read and write as well as speak so best to start studying seriously now.  

Answer 5

uhh.. I think there have been 5 questions like this today.

Each week there are dozens.

You have never been to Japan. You can't make yourself understood in the language. You would be a minority and suffer immediate discrimination (few Japanese would hire you for anything but manual labor or as an English teacher). Come here to Japan and try to live. Just for three months - see how it is....

OK. Now, thumb me down all of you 13 year olds that love Japan and know nothing substantive (look the word up) about life in Japan for foreigners.

Answer 6

Yes as long as you study your japanese and study what it takes to get there,like reading books on moving to Japan,and preparing for it.I suggest you read living abroad in Japan by Ruthy Kanagy it is a useful book,I need to re-read it myself.Im going to re-read it this year im a junior I got to plan my life out.Im an intermediate in Japanese,japanese is starting to get rough now.I've been studying Japan(history,culture,etc.) since I was 14 and Japanese when I turned 15.I desperately want to live there myself,it's been my dream since I was 14.I hope I make it.I've been interested in Japan since I was 13,but kinda sort of when I was younger.I just wanted to only visit before,but one day I thought why not live there instead of being isolated from it.It's a great country with great people,culture,and it's a democracy.Yes it's possible as long as you're not being an otaku,sitting around watching anime all day and just dream about it.Like I said as long as you study what takes,you will make it.But you got a long way you'll probably be able to go there when you're 24,same for me im 18 now.Take small steps and you'll be successful.You're pretty d**n lucky to be living in an area with a lot of japanese people,where I live there's not many here so I don't get to use my Japanese much :(.Im probably going to be working with computers for my career over there.

hang in there and don't give up hope!

Answer 7

Hi, I'm a Japanese girl.

You might have a great oppotunity in the next 10 years.

The Japanese government is now planning to accept 10 million immigrants from overseas in the next 10 years.

I dont know where the government will accept the immigrants from though. It could be only from poor countries like Brazil, China, Thailand or other poor Europe like Spain...

But it might be a great chance to anyone who wanna immigrant into Japan!

But remember you have to pass the requirement of Japanese language.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Don't worry, man. I, too, want to move to Japan someday. It all depends on what happens between now and then... But you knew that. It's not a crazy plan, in my opinion. Many people move to another country someday. It just all depends on when and why [ I'm sure the country, itself, can be an issue as well... ]. If you want to move bad enough, I'm sure you will. But it's not something to worry about now. You'll get there.

Answer 9

I am an American and have lived in Japan for five years and graduated from a Japanese university.  If you want to work in Japan without spending years perfecting your ability to speak the language, your best bet is probably to apply for an international company with offices in the U.S., and then request a transfer to a Japan office.

There are also many large companies that accept foreign applicants in Japan (Morgan Stanley, BMW, Mitsubishi Fuso, etc.)  There are also many IT companies that are based in India and operate in Japan that will hire and train foreigners.

I would recommend studying business, economics, finance, etc. in college as well as Japanese because that will boost your chances.