Ideally, you want to have a job lined up before coming to Japan. There are some practices that can make things tricky for anyone that tries to find a job after their arrival. Part of the problem is that most employers will require you to have a valid visa and residence in the country before application. Unfortunately, without employment or another type of visa sponsor, it is impossible to stay in the country. It is also next to impossible to find a place to live without a company or other type of guarantor. Read for a first hand account. This Catch 22 can result in many foreigners living in Japan at the expense of their careers. Japan is an excellent place to live, but because of the labor laws and practices you will want to make sure that it is the right career move. The English teaching business and other industries like sales are currently the best options for foreigners who are non-expatriates and are interested in Japan. People with Japanese ability have more opportunities in industries like IT and technologies, but most companies are looking for workers with Ikkyu (JLPT1) proficiency or higher. Whatever field of work you chose, make sure that the experience will count towards a future career to avoid this common pitfall of working in Japan. That means that people interested in staying in Japan longer than the period of time allotted by their tourist visa will need to consider finding work, assuming they are not a student or involved in another program that takes care of these issues. For motivated individuals, there is always a way to find work or a visa sponsor, but as a general rule, you will want to do all of your planning before you arrive. You should know where you will stay, where you will work and how long you will be there.
Day Care is a booming business in Japan. This is especially true in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area where many women are working as well as their husbands. However, trying to find an appropriate Day Care can be daunting. Obviously, your company should be your first stop for questions and information about how to proceed. You are probably going to want someone who can translate for you when you contact the schools. If you need an option besides going through a company, you can consult the Yellow Pages. Try searching under Nursery School , Baby Hotel , Hoikuen and Takujishou as well. Otherwise, you will want to contact your local Ward Office ( Kuyakushou ) or City Hall ( Shiyakushou ). Most areas have publicly run Day Cares that aren't listed in the Yellow pages.
If for some reason you encounter discrimination or other issues in the workplace, you can contact the Department of Labor Standards Inspection, No one ever expects to have these kinds of issues, but things can get pretty tricky as a foreigner in Japan. It is not uncommon for English schools to try and force foreign workers to work longer then their visa permits, violating their visa status, so that employers can exercise control over the worker by threatening to report them to the Immigration Bureau. If such a situation ever arises, make it clear that you understand the law and if necessary contact the proper authorities. Contact the authorities before you yourself have broken any laws.
