Rezz's Japan Forum Q + A Thread

[Rezz]

Rezz,

How much do you get paid?

Dan

Does anyone else want to answer that question?

[MASSEY]

soo rezzin man how well could you speak japanese before you went over there and is it a hard language to learn ?

when getting a job as an english teacher you must be able to speak japanese but did you have to get a degree or something/

and im going for an light mechanical apprenticeship now but after i get a trade ticket would like to move over there do you think any workshops/manufactures would be interested in hirering an oz mechanic or pre aprentice?

cheers man as soon as that bloke ask y ur name was rezz i had that sneakin suspision...... can ya get much of that shit over there or is it never seen?

[DaiOni]

Does anyone else want to answer that question?

too much? :wassup:

[Rezz]

soo rezzin man how well could you speak japanese before you went over there and is it a hard language to learn ?

when getting a job as an english teacher you must be able to speak japanese but did you have to get a degree or something/

and im going for an light mechanical apprenticeship now but after i get a trade ticket would like to move over there do you think any workshops/manufactures would be interested in hirering an oz mechanic or pre aprentice?

cheers man as soon as that bloke ask y ur name was rezz i had that sneakin suspision...... can ya get much of that shit over there or is it never seen?

I did a 6 month course in basic Japanese grammar before I came, and a further 3 months doing private classes with a really cool divorced 50 year old lady... she was tops, she bought ME lunch after she taught me! Before I came to Japan I was probably Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 4, now I could probably study for Level 2. I think Japanese is quite hard to learn, but anything can be learn with the right positive frame of mind.

You don't need a degree to teach (been covered many times before in the Japan forum), but it would definately make things easier especially if you were after a proper work visa.

As for working as a hired hand in Japan... I have no idea. 'topi' on these forums did work experience with 'JUN Auto Mechanic', so he might be able to point you in the right direction?

Btw, don't believe what people say about ganja being scarce in Japan... it's who you know not what you know... I can sort anyone out with some green if they want it.

[InspectorGadget]

Does anyone else want to answer that question?

The average fulltime salary for an Assistant English Teacher is around 250k - 300K. They may also throw in perks like free or subsidised accomodation, depending on the location, comapany, and your experience.

IG

[lwells]

So, that's about $32-40000: not a lot I wouldn't think, given Japan's reasonably high cost of living?

LW.

[DaiOni]

I make $3,353 a month after tax - that's a touch over A$40k after tax, per year (plus I work an hour of 'on the side' work per week, which nets another A$6,684 per year) + the odd bit of other side work (someone always wants you for something, usually willing to pay) = close to A$50k nett - per year. Which, IIRC, is about the average australian gross wage. On top of that, being a civil servant, there are some extra perks - subsidized rent (I pay 35,000 per month for a large apartment), travel expenses, unlimited paid sick leave, 20 days holiday (whenever I want, + a week's worth of standard winter vacation), etc

...so it's not so bad. I definitely would be making more $ in australia, with real career prospects (I was a magazine editor when I left), but I happily made that sacrifice - I get to live in a totally different (amazing, positive) culture, on the other side of the world, living what many people would consider a 'permanent holiday'. What price can you put on that???

I will add the following points:

* japanese tax is less savage than australian tax

* the exchange rate, when I left, was significantly better - was a very nice wage at the time

* australian average wage was significantly less at the time

* australian 'cost of living' definitely has risen since I've been away

* the average corparate teaching job is 250,000 (before tax, I assume) - combined with the fact that most postings are urban - let's just say I wouldn't want to be on that wage (unless you bring $$$ with you, you will struggle to buy/own/maintain a nice car with that wage)

let me make one comment about 'green' - best to leave that to trips back home - you don't want to get busted with it here. At the very least you will get immediately deported (following a significant period of interrogation and detainment) - at worst, you will rot in japanese jail for a long time. This isn't the western world - this is typical asian policing on drugs - there is very little distinction between 'soft' and 'hard' drugs (if at all). There are a few horror stories on the net about 'poor' gaijin rotting in jail hell... might want a read one of those before you toke

/granpa

[Rezz]

Ok I get A$45,000 after tax.

[lwells]

More important than the actual amount: do you find that you can live reasonably well on your salary?

LW.

[Rezz]

More important than the actual amount: do you find that you can live reasonably well on your salary?

LW.

I can... I can pretty much do whatever , whenever on that salary.

[InspectorGadget]

I'm on about the same as DaiOni with the same conditions.

Living on that salary isn't a problem, and I have found that I have a fairly high disposable income. But then again, I'm not running a car, or paying rent.

With regard to da 'erb. I would strongly advise against going anywhere near the stuff in Japan. If you're caught, the authorities here are draconian:

* 28 days in detention in harsh conditions for starters.

* If convicted, you can expect a LONG prision sentence, as Japanese law makes no distinction between 'hard' and 'soft' drugs. Japanese prisions are clean, but extremely tough. eg solitary confinement for up to 23 1/2 hours a day. Japanese prision guards are sadistic, and a lot of stories are coming out now about the wholesale abuse of prisoners that makes Abu Grahib look like a nursery school for gynmasts

* Japanese courts have a 99% conviction rate. If you end up in court on charges, you may as well fire your lawyer and piss in his briefcase, as it won't make any difference to the final outcome. There is no trial by jury.

* Limited access to lawyers to prepare.

* Deportation, which WILL affect your ability to travel to other countries around the world.

IG

[LANFOH]

Ive heard smoko grows wild in parts of Japan ie parts of Hokkaido, is there any truth to this?

[DaiOni]

yeah, it's true.

I've been told that the mountains near my house are chockas full of it - but I've not found the time to go hiking,

[InspectorGadget]

Ive heard smoko grows wild in parts of Japan ie parts of Hokkaido, is there any truth to this?

A lot of the stuff is a psychoactive strain that was cultivated before the war. Hemp used to be widely used here for everything from rope, to sacking to clothes. They then banned it.

Some rural people still have licences to grow it for cultural purposes.

The cops know all about where the old plantations and fields are, and keep a close eye on them . . . . . .

IG

[Rezz]

Not going against what IG and 'Oni said, but fear of being caught by the authorities just doesn't really bother any of the (Dj's, club owners) guys that I know who regularly smoke. Yes the penalties are harsh, but the chances of getting caught are pretty slim... well unless the club you're at gets randomly raided (which is rare - but happened to 'The Underlounge' here in Osaka just 2 months ago, multiple arrests for possesion) or you're noticebly smoking weed outside or in public view. I'm not saying "it's ok!!!", but just saying that more people talk about the dangers of getting caught with weed than people actually getting caught... or maybe my mates are just really clever about it?

[DaiOni]

I know japanese and gaijin who smoke - the key is discretion - they are very low key about it, and you are either 'in the know' or you aren't. It's far less 'in the open' here (for obvious reasons).

I also know of people who have had their life destroyed by being busted - it's very real, and very possible. Notably, most were busted trying to ship the gear here (idiots). One guy got busted because he was driving bent and had his stash in the car (idiot).

As long as you can do the time - do the crime. Though it's not fun for the rest of us when the rep gets tainted. At least once year I get into a conversation with co-workers when they bring up the news that yet another english teacher has been busted.

On the other hand, sometimes you can find interesting things at headshops. I've noticed 'special K' openly on sale (maybe not so now - as I noticed an expose on it in the news the other week), as well as datura (bad, bad stuff), seeds, and a variety of 'legal' highs. And of course, this was the land of the mushroom not that long ago.

[DaiOni]

there are several online shops, btw, for interested residents... not very hard to find

[Rezz]

But as for the general population, getting caught hardly even registers. You just *be careful*, don't go being stupid with it.

DaiOni I'm quite suprised you know of English teachers that have been caught... could you tell us what happened? Or how?

[LANFOH]

From my experience there's fair bit of hashish around usually from the Middle East. Have you learnt much about the やくざ while youve been there? 　

[Poida]

Rezz, you sound a lil' scared in that last post ..

Anyway.. More questions from me.. Sorry.. Kinda getting used to living in Tokyo now.. Rezz just wondering.. do you do any private tuition? And if so, how about do you/did you go about getting them?

Thanks =)