Any Work For Personal Trainers In Japan?

[M.C Ren]

as i cant seem to get japan and its customs out of my head, i am rounding up some info on the possibility of a working holiday.

is physical appearance a big thing in japan?

do many people go to the gym and does anyone know if there would be any work for a personal trainer over there or is it very limited?

i ran a franchise through fitness first so i have all my certificates and advanced first aid.

would my australian cert's hold up in japan?

thanks

[SKITTLES]

I really can't comment from proper knowledge, but when I was over there, there weren't many fatties, and people didn't really seem bothered by physical appearance.

Some of the younger people dressed up, that's about it.

But that said, there will be people over there who need a PT for sure.

Actually now that I think about it... I never saw a gym whilst in Japan. Not like Fitness First or Anytime, at least.

[*LOACH*]

There are plenty of gyms here, including some big franchises like Curves. Even the city council owned sports centres often have a weights/fitness room with a PT or two in there. As other posters have pointed out when people ask about non English teaching/translation jobs in Japan you have to be ready for stiff competion as I think (not from experience as they want native speakers for English teaching positions) employers will take a Japanese person before a foreigner. How is your Japanese? You are probably going to want to have great speaking skills as a PT and a JLPT Level 2 (preferably Level 1) will help.

Edited October 7, 2011 by *LOACH*

[elrodeo666]

Got a mate (Aussie) in Tokyo that is a fitness trainer but in all honesty you've got more chance getting work as an exchange lifeguard.

You will need primo Japanese and in all reality most Japanese people going to gyms dont want to associate with a round eye.

You will also need certificates in how to train people in the most dangerous manner possible.

Seriously, if you go in to a commercial gym in Japan you will be shocked at what fitness trainers get people to do. Absolutely no f-ing idea, period !

[M.C Ren]

hehe i could imagine, there are bad trainers in australia, worse trainers where i am now in colombia so i could imagine some of the trainers floating around in some of the gyms up there, not saying everyone as i am sure there would be some great trainers, just a couple who wouldnt have a clue. i dont speak japanese so that would be my biggest problem, although i speak spanish pretty fluent and my italian is quite good, i guess you could say im a fairly fast leaner of languages.

i might do a little bit of research and try to scrub up a little japanese. anyone have any idea what a base wage for a trainer would be over there.

1 more q, what is a jlpt level 2? (japanese level or japanese language)? thanks

[*LOACH*]

hehe i could imagine, there are bad trainers in australia, worse trainers where i am now in colombia so i could imagine some of the trainers floating around in some of the gyms up there, not saying everyone as i am sure there would be some great trainers, just a couple who wouldnt have a clue. i dont speak japanese so that would be my biggest problem, although i speak spanish pretty fluent and my italian is quite good, i guess you could say im a fairly fast leaner of languages.

i might do a little bit of research and try to scrub up a little japanese. anyone have any idea what a base wage for a trainer would be over there.

1 more q, what is a jlpt level 2? (japanese level or japanese language)? thanks

Japanese Language Proficiency Test - http://www.jlpt.jp/e/

It is a requirement of many jobs advertised in Japan although there is a different one for University entrance. JLPT 2 includes about 5000 words of vocab, 1000 Kanji as well as grammar, listening etc etc. I have heard that some companies will employ foreigners without it but make them pass it within a certain amount of time. One of my work mates said that in the last test he took a guy wouldn't stop writing at the end of the test so he got red carded and failed the test. At that point he picked up his chair and through it across the room. So yeah it is a big deal to some people and companies but others can get away without ever needing it.

[M.C Ren]

thanksfor the info mate, i might start to learn japanese in my spare time, im still living in colombia for the next year or two so iv got plenty of time on my hands.

[*LOACH*]

thanksfor the info mate, i might start to learn japanese in my spare time, im still living in colombia for the next year or two so iv got plenty of time on my hands.

No worries mate.

I used the Genki textbook series and a bit of Minna no Nihongo (which seems to be the series which many Japanese teachers teaching Japanese prefer). There is a ton of info on the net too. Some of the stuff I use:

Practicing Hiragana recognition http://www.learn-hiragana-katakana.com/complete-japanese-hiragana-game-reviewer/

Practicing Katakana recongition http://www.learn-hiragana-katakana.com/japanese-katakana-game-reviewer/

A great online dicitionary http://jisho.org/

Kanji dictionary http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/SortedByMoLa2THEnglish?OpenView

JLPT Level 2 study page http://www.jlptstudy.com/N2/

[M.C Ren]

cheers

[*LOACH*]

cheers

No worries, good luck!