Why People in Japan Struggle to Get a Job

I asked people about their recruitment process in Japan!
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[@profected]

My mother used to work at Fujitsu in Tokyo after getting PhD in UCLA for Electrical Engineering, and her salary was only ~$40,000 USD plus they made her work overtime regularly. When she moved back to the US, her salary almost tripled and she worked way less hours. Japan is a great place but the work culture is extremely disappointing.

[@bloomelo]

What about the cost of living? Does the cost also tripled back in the US compares to Japan?

[@EricaInTokyo]

@@bloomelothis is a comparison many people fail to realize. The cost of living in Japan is so much less than the US, so the wages you’re paid tend to balance out. I’m moving to Tokyo from Philadelphia at the end of the year. You can’t rent even a studio (no bedroom and often under 300 sq ft/ 28m2) apartment here for under $900 per month, if you can even find one, yet you can find many apartments in Tokyo the same size for under $500. Check out some Tokyo grocery shopping vlogs. The groceries are SO CHEAP compared to here. You can’t buy lunch here let alone dinner for 1000 yen but you sure can in Tokyo. I’ve done so much research on Tokyo since I’m moving there and I’m floored at how much less expensive the majority of things are.

[@montaedean2211]

​@@EricaInTokyoI can't agree with this. Rent is always cheaper, but can't buy groceries in bulk AND it costs more for less. At least thats how it was in Nagoya. I think you're probably comparing Tokyo cost of living to somewhere like NYC. I can't think of any other reason youd think 40k in Tokyo goes a longer way than 120k in the US. That's just blasphemy

[@leanlifer]

Tokyo is just as expensive as most major US cities. Especially if you eat a lot. Buying in bulk is much cheaper in the US. $40k USD salary in Tokyo is really low considering the living cost. With a PhD in EE, you can surely get more than that in a lot of Chinese cities, which has way lower living cost. In Shenzhen or Guangzhou you can get a quick meal for US$2 to $3, a nice dinner for two for $15-$25, and a haircut for $3 to $5. Metro ride starts at US$0.3. Short taxi rides are only $2 to $3. Hard to beat this.

[@EricaInTokyo]

@@leanlifer but, it’s not. Sure, you can rent an apartment in Tokyo for $3000, but you can do that here, too. There are many apartments in Tokyo that are under $1000 per month which is unheard of here. Compared to where I currently live in the US, it’s way less expensive. I’ve been looking at apartments in Tokyo and my rent will be less than it is in the US for a similarly sized apartment. The groceries are WAY cheaper. I spend hundreds of dollars a month on groceries. Utilities and phone plan are cheaper. Public transportation is cheaper. Hell, the health insurance is cheaper.

[@kikou_]

I like how you put the Japanese characters for the subtitle as well as English; It is very beneficial for Japanese Learners.

[@monkey314159]

Surprised it wasn't really mentioned that your pay isn't based upon skills in Japan. It's based upon age and seniority.

[@valeoncat13]

@@Riorozen That's like saying "JP companies expect you to work? Wow just like unions?" The context isn't really the same at all. JP companies underpay and expect free labor from their employees. Unions exist to protect employees from things like underpay and free labor. Seniority is just a benefit that incentivizes people to actually stay at companies and isn't inherently a bad thing.

[@IamAWESOME3980]

@@valeoncat13 " Unions exist to protect employees" current employees you mean. they dont give a shit about future employees which is why they push for things that benefits those with tenures but completely screw over future young workers. it is similar to the social securities ponzi scheme

[@CountingStars333]

​@@RiorozenDer unions taking way er jerbs.. Meanwhile Fantasizing about the great 50s when unions were strong and people had good jobs

[@LaChicaconSuerte-1111]

Japan is still so backward.

[@Takemysenf]

If there‘s a recipe for desaster, its right that.

[@iyadart]

Forgive me for ranting, but after 14 years in Japan, during which I spent the last 7 searching for a job, I get emotional whenever the topic of careers in Japan is brought up. If you work in Japan, 99% of the time you are hired because the job requires an English speaker or the company wants a foreigner on the team for their public image. When I tell you that my skills and experience are getting me offers that are three times more than what I would ever dream of in Japan, you will begin to understand why I sound so bitter as I leave this country. For a nation that complains about aging populations and dwindling birth rates, it’s hard to feel sympathetic toward their “cosmetic” strategies. The country needs an immediate and radical shift in its work culture which will never happen without full internationalization of the work and education sectors. As of now, the system is failing to accommodate skilled international workers. Yes everyone should visit Japan to experience the culture but stay away if you take your career seriously.

[@Giminy]

If you don't mind me asking, what was your field of study and what types of employment were you applying for?

[@rokko_hates_japan]

Many people want to live in Japan because of the way it is. Once you start changing everything to suit your view, what's the point. You might make 3x more somewhere else, but you'll likely pay in other ways. higher crime, shitty neighbors, dealing with basketball americans, the list goes on. I'd take a 3x pay cut to live a simple life in Japan.

[@Giminy]

@@rokko_hates_japan Basketball Americans? Umm what?

[@rokko_hates_japan]

@@Giminy if you call them what they are, the censors get you

[@Giminy]

@@rokko_hates_japan Ah you’re a racist. You realize the video you just watched is made by a half Black guy right? As a fellow half Japanese, we don’t need your kind here either. Stay out.

[@yagxr]

5:53 this is my dream too. i don’t want to do anything crazy, i just want to be happy.

[@afonsoleal9736]

Same way here!

[@skyre2039]

Working in japan for a non japanese based company which has good work culture is what I would really like.

[@user-yo8ru4dj2e]

You don't really need to live in Japan, do you?

[@chappiescollectables]

​@@user-yo8ru4dj2elol

[@pikachuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

@@user-yo8ru4dj2e We do cuz living there is nice but the traditional work culture isnt so a lot of ppl look for internaltional companies

[@DOCTORKHANblog]

@@pikachuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Then don't go to Japan.

[@Robian_]

​@@DOCTORKHANblog"Don't go to Japan if you don't want to have unpaid overtime, be expected to work on holidays, and have to go to bars with your colleagues even if you don't want to"

[@nigelc.7818]

After working here for close to 30 years in mostly Japanese companies, I can say that Jenna would ace most interviews for a foreign company but would scare anyone in a Japanese company 😂

[@Grayt5]

She would scare all companies, because she dont need job since her parents rich.

[@DanDanJanJanJP]

Who is Jena? The condescending American lady with a Thai sidekick? Dude, with that arrogance, she will struggle to get a job anywhere.

[@ZorbadTheGreat]

Source? @@Grayt5

[@brendan12882]

@@Grayt5 nailed it!

[@dkmljfujii5371]

Why is she looking for a job in Japan and saying she will not work for a Japanese company? Speaking Japanese "well" vs native are two completely differnt things. Even Japanese students need to learn Business Japanese and Keigo to function in a corporate environment. She is scary for foreign firms hiring in Japan as well.

[@speedycatz]

The computer science guy, perhaps the reason why he got rejected because lots of companies don’t wanna go through the hassle applying for H1B visa for him.

[@azuth20]

it's not just the hassle, but the H1B visa is hard to get for just comp sci. for An H1B visa you need to proof that the person is an expert in the field and there isn't a qualified citizen with the same expertise level available.

[@bswill5077]

is a hassle. why get a visa for the foreign applicant when you have lots of local talent

[@bobbywhite5319]

@@bswill5077Agreed, also the comp sci bubble popped

[@nightskylights]

​@@azuth20 It is a hassle but not impossible, well mine is a miracle from God because I got my H1B/PERM straight to green card process a few years ago at just 1 year out of college in my early twenties with a comp sci bachelor's degree here in US and my case was even more difficult than most. My company is Forbes 100 super competitive and says "no sponsorships" in career fairs. All glory to God

[@Zelielz1]

@@azuth20Also there is a “lottery”, around 45% of all HB1 applications get approved after passing all the requirements

[@michaelhodge8635]

They're such young dynamic people!!

[@southcoastinventors6583]

Yeah to bad they are trying to get jobs in Japan I feel for them

[@grtoocool]

Jesse, I just wanted to say that I like the way you interview people. You are genuinely curious when you ask each person and you always seem to encourage them as well which is awesome to see. Keep that positive energy going and thanks for the videos, they're always a fun watch.

[@ichiroutakashima4503]

Somehow, I'm not surprised. And yes, we who took computer science does have some regrets, like, yes, we do code, but we sure need some one hell of a luck if we want to get accepted and actually become decent employees in a company.

[@leanlifer]

not really if it was several years ago. If you could write a for loop and while loop, then you can get a decent job at a lot of major companies. Now days it's way harder.

[@mat.9862]

1. No, we have no regrets. 2. Nah, you don't need luck. You just need to be good and not expect 200 thousand paycheck while working from home. There are plenty jobs and easy to get but nowadays most people want 150k+ salary and WFH while working 5-6h a day. If you read some reddit you will see how entitled and lazy some people are.

[@zot2698]

my dad is a manufacturing expert that worked in Japan for a few years & is fluent in Japanese. Recently we wanted to go on holiday and suggested him to visit Japan together. He refuses to go! Mom said he had such a terrible experience working in Japan, he refused to go back to Japan or speak Japanese unless he has to. We have no idea what happened tho. I visited Japan multiple times and had a blast. I guess working there is a different story.🤔🤔

[@Volthan]

That sound like something else happened actually, maybe something that might come up when entering the country and going through border control. That being said, if he only refuses going to Japan in particular.

[@John3.36]

Coming as a tourist is one thing, but actually understanding the culture and people is quite another.

[@larrycampbell5649]

Yes! Working here is terrible. English teaching is not a sure bet either. I can honestly say after working as an English teacher for 5 years it has been hell! I started my Master of Tesol and I'm almost finished with my first semester. You would think 5 years experience, a good level of Japanese, and Master of Tesol would get you any job. Think again! I saw the future and I decided to change my major because I have heard people having all the qualifications black people and white people getting turned down because of how they look. Japan is a great place to visit and the people that are not Public school teachers, Japanese teachers of English, Japanese English conversation staff, and Japanese business bosses are great.

[@alexishi2000]

Such a elderly male dominated culture.

[@BallKing0]

@@larrycampbell5649eh is it that bad? so i guess it will be even more if i worked there since im from 3rd wrold country asia + look very tanned. its disheartening that working skills wont matter

[@5drtfygunjm]

Jenna is the stereotypical American - just telling it exactly like it is, completely blunt, speaking her mind without holding back... so, not at all like a Japanese person 🤣🤣

[@eechaze12]

Frankly speaking Americans are only blunt from a distance or behind a keyboard and never in person

[@user-Korpan]

yea, it was hard to watch. she goes to japan and said does everything she can to avoid working in a Japanese company.. like whatt??

[@strigoiu13]

no serious company would hire her with just cv and interviews and no connections in any country with that attitude

[@dumbtex6107]

2:07 I relate to this guy so much I’m here in the states and just landed my first job at a legitimate robotics company. I applied to about 50 jobs a week for the last month or so and finally got this one. The STEM world is packed full of talented people and until you get that in person interview you’re just numbers on a screen. My advice (coming from a more mild mannered kinda guy) is to really go over the top and sell your passion while wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s super cheesy and embarrassing but it worked for me.

[@michaellong2439]

it took me 250 applications to get a job as a software dev with a comp sci degree. this is in america though

[@retrograder3303]

I have 3 years of experience... been sending out hundreds a day trying to get a position that doesn't pay like crap lol

[@aleatoire6110]

can you please tell me the marker for web developers market right now how is it i am coming next year as a language student i have 2 years of experience in it in my native country and average skills please if possible tell me about your experience!

[@cassiebelmont993]

¥1200 does NOT equal to $12 USD, and it hasn't for a long time!

[@ron9699]

yep its around 8 bucks 💀

[@Mwoods2272]

They are generalizing because of the fluctuations. Today the yen is 140 against the dollar but just a year ago it was 109 against the dollar. It's also easier for people to calculate 1 to 1 than having to add the 30 yen difference.

[@philipe1502]

"What are currency exchange rates?"

[@AdriDwitomo]

The way to have a life in Japan is pretty much work freelance or with a foreign company, that way you can still experience japan akin to a tourist while actually staying there for long. Without the horrible work life balance 😅

[@chandumudunuru]

Exactly do your own gig but also enjoy the perks of living in Japan.

[@rokko_hates_japan]

the problem with that is, getting a VISA. not many companies outside of Japan will need to have employees inside Japan, and they don't exactly hand out visas for "freelancers"

[@meimei37167]

@@rokko_hates_japan i wish they handed out visa for freelancers too because we technically are earning too

[@larrycampbell5649]

Your exactly right!

[@user-to3bn2rs5d]

I personally feel like work life balance of foreign company is more terrible than the one of Japanese company. Obviously, it depends upon which company tho.

[@rons4620]

I often find many foreign workforce complain getting job in Japan without much Japanese skills. They can get it eventually but that will be difficult without any outstanding skills.

[@CameraGuy19]

They are only 21, 22, and 23. And here I am almost 26 and only an intern in an IT company. I envy these guys.

[@Aaron-bh5cp]

Not really much of an age gap. Wouldn't sweat it

[@teawithmilknhoney]

Hey, my 20 year old friend got accepted into literally the biggest IT company in my country as an intern about a month ago. I'm drowning in jealousy. I'm 21 myself and I'm nowhere near the internship status. You gotta keep the grind up nonetheless though! It's better late than never!!! ❤

[@AYVYN]

Me too, but they offered me a full-time position today. I love the job and the people I’m working with.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

You envy people that get paid less than you can make taking care of old people in the US ?

[@rzt430]

i am 25, have a computer engineering degree. i only started working this year, part time minimum wage in the food industry :) you're above me my guy

[@jacksonsplace9754]

Great topic. Personal experience, I used to work in Tokyo for a period of time. At the very end, I chose to come back to my home country (Canada). For the same position, my pay was a little more and less stressful.

[@marydrawz3565]

I don't usually write comments, but this is a great topic! I'd love to see more content about job hunting (shūkatsu) in japan❤

[@EricaInTokyo]

Notice something about the Americans you interview? They’re all very young, and/or moved to Japan when they were still in their early 20s. This means they likely had minimum work experience prior to moving to Japan. I don’t think they can realistically compare what it’s like to work in the US when they’ve probably never had a real salaried career, and only worked “jobs”. Working here can be just as toxic and demanding depending on the field you work in. I’m not as privileged and have been working since I was 14. If you’re working an hourly paid job, and especially if you live in a major city, you’ll easily have to work more than the “standard” 40 hours per week to survive. You’ll likely even have more than one job. Living in the US is incredibly expensive and as our cost of living goes up, our wages have stagnated. I’ve worked in food service (restaurants and cafes), veterinary medicine, and retail sales. You were always expected to show up to work before your shift started and your “end” time was always an approximation. In restaurants it was understood that you could be there at least an hour past closing time (which was when your shift “ended”). In veterinary medicine, I literally never left work “on time”. If my shift ended at 6pm, it was not unusual to be there until 8 or longer. I always did unpaid work from home and could expect to get emails and text messages all hours of the day and weekend. Our national minimum wage is less than $7.50 per hour (some states and cities have their own rates that are higher). For restaurant servers, it’s $2.83 per hour. We don’t have people falling asleep on the sidewalk on their way home from work, but honestly I think this is because it’s so much less safe here. If you did that you would either have the police called, EMS called, or you’d be mugged.

[@ThiagoCosr]

Do you work In japan? If so what field? I'm thinking about moving there.

[@EricaInTokyo]

@@ThiagoCosr yes I live and work in Tokyo

[@AIIIAKS-vn4co]

Many people think the working environment in Japan is toxic, but in the end it depends on the company. I work for a big Japanese company, and I work about 7 hours a day, plus there are no arrogant bosses and my boss is younger than me. In the end, those who are competent can work for white companies, while those who are incompetent have no choice but to work for black companies.

[@yuuyan-bw2pp]

I think so too. A company with an old constitution that anyone can join is really terrible, but even in an old company, if it is a large company, there is a workplace with a pretty good environment.

[@zenyxz018]

Can you be specific with white and black companies? It’s news to me..

[@embodimentofimperfection5694]

​@@zenyxz018confused the hell outta me for a second but black (purely color, not racial) are companies that are more likely to work/exploit you in harsh and sometimes illegal conditions

[@bruh-cs4zu]

@@zenyxz018 so a "black company" refers to companies that exploits their employees, expects them to work unpaid overtime etc.. I personally haven't heard the term "white company", but I guess it's just used in contrast to the black companies, so they are the ones that don't exploit their employees.

[@TheNobleFive]

​@@zenyxz018Japanese slang for healthy vs shady companies.

[@fumofucoy]

i have a view japanese friends who works in japan for 10 years, and info from them this is the culture so far : - the youngest are not allowed to be smarter than the oldest even if it's can truly help grow up the company - to be smart is not important for company, to make so much relationship with many company is more important to grow up the company - the senior will always using the junior to finish 70-80% the job and take 90% the credit in front of the boss for doing nothing no wonder the number of worker suicides in Japan always big until now

[@anonimo5912]

Fumogucoy, yeah that sounds like the book "48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene...

[@Gkdjd558]

@@anonimo5912Don’t tell them the hidden gem book haha

[@thekoopaninja]

@@anonimo5912 I am surprised to see someone mentioning that book here. But it is necessary to use in the workplace and in life in general.

[@masa_411]

Similar to many Indonesian companies but with much less payroll I guess.

[@kabu506]

@@thekoopaninja being able to spot sociopaths and assholes is very useful indeed

[@Ifecaneat]

This was a fun watch! I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives from both local and foreign young people. Now I'm just getting ready for gear 5 the is weekend🙌🏾

[@LightningXIII6366]

This is a very good topic man, great video!

[@Darubana]

・給料安い ・国際的にみても特異な労働文化がある ・賃金テーブルが年齢にも応じるため、初任給が先進諸国の中では最低 ・転職文化があまり根付いていないため、平均勤続年数が長く 企業もそれを望んでいる 正直 日本に産まれて英語話せるなら外資系にいかない理由はないですね 地獄のような国になってきたよ

[@user-ry4be9bh3v]

そりゃあ、敗戦国だからね😊

[@user-yo8ru4dj2e]

口当ても、未だに強制の所多々あり。

[@morisoba2550]

社員が自覚をもって働けば、改善の余地はかなりあるはずです。 非生産的な労働慣習を止めれば、時間当たりの賃金は上げられます。

[@darknessbroadcast4139]

そして首相が岸田のクソ。私たちは次の選挙で革命を起こす必要がありますね。みんなで上手いビールを飲みたい。 英語を話せたら殆どの人が出ていくでしょう。

[@Rudeus6767]

Anyone tell me what are you lot on about

[@daokopiano8721]

Loved this interview esp because you interviewed such a nice variety of people!!!!

[@fujigoko007]

In Japan's socio-economic system, only those who endure these labor rules have a high probability of protecting their families. My father only had a junior high school diploma, but he worked for over 40 years and left his wife a bereaved family pension of 100,000 yen even after he died. Together with her basic pension, she will get 170,000 yen until her death.

[@mgoncalves5596]

Did he enjoy life and his family?

[@josho225]

i hope they have no debts cos that is sweet f all money mate especially if the house is in a city

[@user-nd7zk9df3t]

It is very tough to work in Japanese companies. As many of people in this video mentioned, working culture is extremely weird. Age and how long you work in that company speak all. The trick is this is not experience but how long you have belonged to the organization matters. Also companies force workers to be very submissive. Decision is slow. Everyone is afraid of new things because of accusations from bosses. I hope Japanese companies will change that old fashioned cultures but it seems it is too late.

[@larrycampbell5649]

I hope so too but I doubt that will ever happen!

[@kmr5938]

日本のGDP:3位 確かにもう遅すぎるようですね笑

[@Unan1mouz]

I hate job hunting with a passion!! I'm in that phase now and it's very difficult... Too many people to compete with and little to offer.. 😢

[@hainavidotcom]

Go into business for yourself. Go where there are no crowds but lots of opportunities.

[@Unan1mouz]

@@hainavidotcom Business is not that easy to do as well, especially in my country where it is oversaturated and there's not enough market for it..

[@hainavidotcom]

@@Unan1mouz Then go somewhere where it is. Do not let your circumstances define your greatness. if I can make it, anybody can.

[@hainavidotcom]

@@Unan1mouz Seems you are Vietnamese if not mistaken. So many countries down there to explore options. Singapore! HK! They both have free markets. find the niche and go for it. The internet is abundant with information.

[@Veniks]

Everyone always says that Japanese work culture is horrible. But it really depends on the company. The work culture has improved a lot in the recent years. Startup companies, international focussed companies or just companies run by younger people are often not bad to work for at all. I have been working in Japan for 6 years now, and really enjoy it here. I never do overtime, my colleagues are all friendly and I can just freely talk to my boss. The main thing is the salary. That is often quite a bit lower compared to Europe or the US.

[@jonasdinis3326]

Exactly, china is way worse but no one really cares.

[@jimbocho660]

The cost of living in Japan is lower than the west too, isn't it?

[@GoofyPilled]

@@jimbocho660not in tokyo 💀

[@laujack24]

@@jimbocho660 not even remotely true, their currency devalued by more then 25% over the past couple years. mainly what ever thye need to buy in international market (oil, gas, food) all will be 25% more expansive. thats why they have to jack up interest now, because they also got huge inflation issue.

[@krisb-travel]

awesome video man, well made and great host.

[@taikihoriguchi4781]

thanks for having me on the video!!

[@jayfife4213]

The guy talking about recruiting is completely talking out of his ass. Recruiters do not make even 8,000,000 (which he stated was the "lowest" amount) If a recruiter made 8.000.000/ year that would be considered very high, and that would be someone doing a ton of overtime, cold calls, etc. The guy doesn't speak any Japanese so maybe he's confused on the numbers. Recruiters typically make anywhere between 3,000,000 ~ 7,000,000 (7,000,000 being quite rare and for only high performers and management). There's a reason recruiter often gets lumped in with English teaching as one those laughable throwaway "gaijin jobs" If you want to make money in Japan, learn Japanese. Why would you want to live in a country and not speak its language? This is Japan, speak Japanese.

[@arigato_tokyo2404]

Nah man I speak Japanese and I wasn’t speaking out my ass😂 I’m speaking from people at my company and team but for others it could be different! Understand it’s not realistic for all but that’s just my experience ☕️

[@AYVYN]

Is this yen or dollars? I love my job, but I might be in the wrong line of business

[@jayfife4213]

@@arigato_tokyo2404 Then you're in a very very niche area and are a very rare exception. Generally recruiting is a field that consists of former eikaiwa workers that are desperately trying to change fields for a very slight pay raise. Good for you though.

[@arigato_tokyo2404]

True man. Good call out though not expected and not a norm! Cheers brother

[@ericng5707]

It depends on what roles/industries they're recruiting for and their commission rate. If they're recruiting really niche roles or high-paying executive roles, then it's possible that they can take home a lot. But it's usually the more senior recruiters/directors that tend to get those lucrative commissions, not the entry-level ex-English teacher associates at the bottom.

[@dandon1968]

wow, it's a very good video! nice topic, nice interviews, and the content is edited very nicely (i particularly like the edit where we see contrasting opinion on 2:40). and i really love the subtitle format. really beautiful. thanks for making the video.

[@BBaiaman]

Very informative video you have filmed dude , keep it up , we are still growing, thanks for your work labour, stay strong!

[@straysheep5312]

As someone that is learning Japanese, majored in Japanese, study abroad in Japan during college, I don't want to work in Japan because the work culture and the amount of money I will be starting will not reach my financial goals. I need to be more realistic and think about my future. That's why I have been focusing more on actual skills that are helping me make more money, saving up for my future and retirement. In the meantime, I made learning Japanese more of a hobby. But because I made it a hobby, I am not getting as much practice as I would if I lived in Japan and worked over there. I think I simply have changed priorities but don't want to give up the enjoyment I had when learning Japanese. Perhaps, I will be mediocre with my Japanese in life and travel to Japan occasionally as a tourist, with the relief that I have a full-time well paying job back in the states and I have a home to return to when I decide to retire.

[@eikementira1604]

Retirement in Japan is tough, if you buy a house here in Japan expect the price to drop dramatically, only country which houses/apartments decrease in their value plus you need to compulsory renovations in your place every 15~20 years, costing a lot of money.

[@redgrant4897]

Smart guy. Like your comment a lot. Like you, I majored in Japaneae in college. Then, spent 7 years in Tokyo teaching English. I stayed too long. I should have stayed 2 years max. Meanwhile, my friends back in the U.S. were working hard getting in to nursing school, dental school, medical school, learning to code etc. while I was hitting the clubs in Shibuya and Roppongi. There is no future in Japan and time for some reason moves much faster there. Good luck.

[@whiteberry3184]

You'll thank yourself in the long run for this. Japanese market is bad.

[@shunkasyuto]

Recently, there has been an increase in videos of foreigners interviewing foreigners in Japan.

[@koheitanaka0622]

This is really interesting and fresh. I've seen both sides of the spectrum (Japanese and foreign companies) and I won't choose one over the other, both had its pros and cons.

[@gosekinz]

The minimum wage in Japan is just a pittance - I believe it is half that of NZ and even less than that of Australia. Honestly I was shocked to find out how bad it was. Combine that with the terrible work/life balance and unless you're in a high level job where you make your own hours I can't see any incentive to live & work here. Retire here is another matter.

[@whiteberry3184]

We'll unfortunately Japan has an inherence tax if you live over 10 years there. So once you die potentially the government can take 40 percent of your built up assets. Good luck transferring wealth to your future kids family if that happens.

[@yo2trader539]

@@whiteberry3184 Perhaps if you're super wealthy. Inheritance tax is usually 5-10%, and there is exemption threshold. It's only the rich that get affected. The paperwork is super difficult part.

[@user-zo6hu1ho5t]

こないだ秋葉にいたのを遠くからチラ見させていただきました 今後も頑張って

[@bethelchimezie2418]

Wow! Awesome interview. Thank you Jesse. I need the contact of some of your interviewees expecially the recruiter guy because i am learning Japanese Language in Japan and would like to secure a job here as soon as i am done with my program

[@PanWhitee]

Thanks for ur work man peace

[@user-cd6oz4iy3u]

This is very important 👏

[@Enforcedcraft]

Ladies and gentlemen as you can see how different cultures are, Korean guy at 2:46 is optimistic and has learned the language properly and says its not a problem if you know the language, whilst the British guy complains that is hard to find job cause you need high level of Japanese(a bit ironic, not to be rude to anyone but it's kinda that last decade mindset of ya know) and probably doesn't speak as good as Korean guy does. Meaning he probably came to JP with expectation of not needing a high level of language which is a rookie mistake unless that country has English as their official language like Singapore.

[@red_andrew2793]

the british guy probably believes he could get a job easily by having white privileges lol

[@JeromDR]

Entitled cultures vs disciplined cultures.

[@Enforcedcraft]

@@JeromDR pretty much yeah. I always wonder where does Jesse find these people.

[@henryliu6558]

Went to the exact event and I swear to god most people there are not like this

[@bongs26]

Hahaha you're taking this way too personal man, chill out it's really not that deep lol

[@haroldberserker]

Love u man

[@Spidermonkey04]

Thank you so much Jesse for this video!!! I went to japan for three months and have been looking for a way to go back for a longer stay! Maybe a work visa may be an issue. 😂. Japan is a great place and you can have a total blast but I agree with them though….youths are somewhat overlooked for the older generation. 😅 Great video though!! I am inspired that you have a job in japan that you seem to like and enjoy and your Japanese is amazing too!! Makes me not want to give up on my own goals of returning to japan and being fluent in Japanese. 😊

[@eddcalistenia8671]

Now, that's a very useful video.

[@fujigoko007]

The wages you get when you move to a country don't just consist of what you get from your company. The more developed countries become, the greater the difference in services obtained from the accumulated social capital stock.

[@saxpride100]

Also when they say wages are higher in the US, that might be true, but cost of living in the US is also much higher too.

[@nurijimenez07]

For years, my dream was to live and work in Japan, but this year, while searching jobs I faced the reality and even when I told japanese people and foreign friends living in Japan, they told me that for tourism is cool but living there no, so now I'm thinking about becoming a translator here in my country where I have the chance of buying a house and spend also time with my family and friends and going to Japan just for holidays

[@Giminy]

Good idea. It's very difficult to live in Japan with the current weakening yen and competitive job markets. Things are also projected to get worse over time due to the declining birth rate. Prices for everyday essentials are also going up while wages are stagnant. So your friends were correct - Japan is an amazing place to visit, but a very difficult place to live.

[@yo2trader539]

It really depends on the job, education-level, skill-set, etc.

[@SplitDecision11]

Very smart

[@afsmeg]

I wanted to work in Japan, but given how my field is going AND work culture in Japan, I've been reconsidering.

[@oskarschell8567]

性格がよく出てるし、同時に興味深い共通点もあって面白かった！

[@spiderliliez]

A BIG NO. But yes, I love Japan to bits and come there twice a year. But working there is a different story.

[@blackpassenger]

when we moved back to japan from cali two and a half years ago, I told my wife that she can never ever work for a jpnese company, or I will be calling them everyday if she has to work overtime. shes been working for a US company for the last two years, completely remote. she can work from anywhere, even when we go back to the the US on holiday.

[@theoc007]

3:53 its actually now at $8.42 for 1200円 and 4:35 3000円 is $21.06 for a programmer job. Thats probably the main reason Japanese Jobs aren't favorable since they pay less for the amount of work you do.

[@RebiGames]

I'm not sure why people round it up 100:1 ratio. 21.06 usd and 30 usd is a massive difference.

[@theoc007]

@@RebiGames since last year and a few months ago it was standard but the yen dropped off a lot since then.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

@@RebiGames Still peanuts compared to what you can make in the states only upside is Cost of living is less as long as you don't buy a ton of Japanese kitch

[@whiteberry3184]

The yen is completely fucked rn. It's like 140 plus to 1 usd ATM.

[@redgrant4897]

There are limited work options in Japan. Of course, teaching English is the most prevalent with getting on the JET program the best option - but only a three year limit. The commercial language schools can be racket. Some with good reputations and many mediocre and not good. The best area is software engineering. Japan historically has been deficient in software engineering and coding. You need to specialize: front end dev, back end dev, full stack whatever. You, also need to have an online portfolio with your code. Surprised at Shun. With a degree in CS from Univ of Nebraska, he should know this. The CS degree as standalone means nothing. Shun should use his savings for coding boot camp, build a portfolio and come back. Had a couple of friends doing recruiting in Japan. It is a tough world. Nobody liked it and burnout is quick. . Did Japan twenty years ago and here is my advice. Don't teach English for more than two years. Beyond that only stay if your are building a skill set and this 98% of the time means some form of coding. Do not time drift in Japan. It is VERY easy to do. One day you wake up and realize 10 years have got behind you. Japan is an amazing adventure but have a detailed plan and do it right. Best of luck to everybody.

[@rokko_hates_japan]

if there's a place to time drift, Japan is it.

[@eikementira1604]

My situation is kinda weird: I'm third gen of japanese (from Brazil), I can work any type of work to renew my visa (3 in 3 years). Knowing english + some noob coding portfolio can I get a good junior dev job here in Japan? I don't mind doing boring job, I already faced the factories here in Japan, no way I'm going back that way again.

[@echoingthroughthefloorz1869]

Even having a portfolio with code and projects isn't gonna get you anywhere. I tried applying for over 500 data science jobs right out of college with a college degree + portfolio + bootcamp and I still couldn't find anything because most jobs required at least 2 years of *professional* work experience and referrals from those employers. Regardless of what you do, the entry way to a career in tech is always gonna be bottlenecked

[@redgrant4897]

@@echoingthroughthefloorz1869 I agree and trying to do it in Japan is even harder. When starting out, it is going to be about " knowing somebody " and that means networking on Linked In and not applying to adverts. So many people have been pouring g in to data science the last few years, the field is probably getting saturated. It is hard all around. Good Luck!

[@BallKing0]

@@echoingthroughthefloorz1869 eh such things, are u curently in Japan? from wht i heard if not graduate from prominent uni there skills not matter much, thats why many of my frend doing oddjobs there with tokutei ginou visa

[@chevon5707]

Ah, to be young with your future ahead of you 😅 Truly wish life to be kind to these young people 💛

[@philjenkins1138]

Great video

[@mattx1875]

Yes, you must speak Japanese to get hired in Japan at a Japanese company. That should not be a surprise.

[@Luimusic]

The lady in the blue is ON FIRE. You can tell she is in for the business, and any business would be fortunate to have her.

[@rokko_hates_japan]

you mean the entitled american girl? i'd never hire her. looks like a headache and a hassle.

[@alexyounghunlee]

That's a character Japanese companies hate most, they want slaves who would not stand out.

[@polinka1213]

I wish I had her level of confidence. The way she speaks is also very clear

[@shortsbyburmesecat]

I just think she is just a little bit immature? When she talked about a staff asking to fill an address during job application, it seems she did not understand that a company has their own system for a record of job applicants. The staff is just doing her assigned task. It is just their system and if you are not happy with it, you should not apply for that company, that’s it. No need to be upset or angry about it.

[@shortsbyburmesecat]

One more thing when she said that one of her friends is white, from Finland got look down by the staff. I think it is not appropriate to mention the color here. I think she is the one who has biased opinion regarding colors.

[@dnce5065]

I’m always laughing when non-Japanese people say something about Japan as if their countries were better than that lol. They’d better focus on their nation’s’ problems

[@huneylove5]

Or you can stop pretending Japan is a wonderland. They are actually there and your not. Stop fetishizing a country, everywhere has problems.

[@ponderingmonk525]

Yes sir! Homie from Nebraska reppin my home state

[@OliverSeiler-jm4tj]

Very good Video. Thank you very much. 😀

[@risa8834]

Coming from a developing country I've no complaints about the Japan's work culture.I'm just grateful for the opportunity to work and study here .

[@jkkmane]

I’m sorry but if you don’t understand this very basic concept of knowing the language first in a foreign country, and want to land a job in a highly competitive society, then that’s their own fault. I don’t agree with japans work culture either which is why I won’t ever work there. The girl in the blue sounds smart and seemed to know this already so went and did something on her own.

[@hponehtetlin]

oh!! i really love the attitude of Jenna. Making me wanna leave the japanese company right now xD

[@emmanuelowino9626]

Girl in the blue shirt was very honest and charismatic.

[@akeithkira]

The blue shirt girl ... not sure if she has the right attitude to be entrepreneur. One thing she is clear about is that she wants to be rich in Japan.

[@fsmithh]

Shes very confident, seemsassertive and us driven. Ialsoloved listeningzo her. She will achieve her dreams.Iamsure of that. I agree with youkn the ,becoming rich - part. Mostof the time if youfocus on the user experience and value it brings to thecustoners - you will perfect it and make lots of money simply bc ppl love what youdo. Becoming rich is tge sidepart of enrepreneurship, and shouldnt be the whole focus. However I strongly believe she was semi joking as she seems smart and knows what she wants. ❤I'm rooting for you incase you read this

[@attilethehunnic]

Man you literally interwieved bunch of newly graduated prople in their early 20's. They are not experienced, they didn't worked enough in different countries, nor jobs and compalining about Japan. That's unfair. I am 29 years old and I am working for the last 15 years ( got my first job when I was 14 ) , I will tell how it is actually really bad in Europe, USA etc... Japan is a heaven, worked there for 3 years in an hotel and I was feeling like im in a dream. Salary is good, people are best, safety of country is the best, overall best experience I had. Going to work there again next summer. Counting days.. So if you have plans about working in Japan, just do it. Don't let others tell you otherwise, everyone got their own unique characters, People who complain about the working standards in Japan may have problems themselves. Something that I have a bad experience about might be a good experience for you !

[@whiteberry3184]

Alright maybe for some gaijin weeb like yourself it's heaven. For the majority of the Japanese populace the work environment is abysmal.

[@user-zg2yd5mg6g]

Absolutely agreed!

[@attilethehunnic]

@@user-zg2yd5mg6g thank you ^-^

[@wecx2375]

​@@whiteberry3184I'd kill for lifetime employment in the U.S.A. Currently you can be fired at anytime.

[@cheekysaver]

I have been listening to some short stories translated to English on youtube. When you hear about someone getting in trouble at work and having trouble finding work after... I thought it was just about the story. I had no idea work was so hard to achieve in Japan. I am in Canada.

[@lih4736]

みんなすーごい印象いいですな！ほんと、応援してます！同年代だから頑張らないと。

[@Singlajayin]

日本語のコメント見つけた

[@moon268]

4:35 I hear he says he gets around $11 per hour from his internship,1100円. It might be cheaper than normal part-time job payment in Tokyo. Everyone has great dreams, and that makes me more motivated!!

[@yuuyan-bw2pp]

In Tokyo's 23 wards, even the cheapest part-time job is 1,200 yen. Even high school students working at convenience stores are like that. Recently, even restaurants are offering 1400 yen.

[@horuzz2009]

1100 yen is like $8 now so it's really low still

[@moon268]

@@horuzz2009 OMG, it's just $8!? Yea, that would be true. Yen is still getting weaker. So I don't think working in Japan is good, I think Japan is a good place to visit for sightseeing tho.😔

[@rburns1182]

my full-time 正社員 job in Japan has me earning 1350円 an hour, making me realize I'm earning close to what an intern does in my 30s. Love to see everyone have these dreams and hopes for how they'd like to work in Japan tho, and I'm sure there are a lot of great opportunities out there, especially in Tokyo :)

[@marie-michellefortier2993]

​@@moon268And that's the highest minimum wage in all of the prefectures in Japan. Most prefectures minimum wage is between ¥900 and ¥1,000. Many part-time jobs or low skills jobs in the Kansai area start around 950 yen/hour (US$6.70 on August 7, 2023). Even jobs such as translation, localization, game testing can be paid as low as ¥1,000-¥1,200/hour (I'm currently job hunting in Japan and it's rough without N2 (I'm N3 speaking-wise)). I applied for a localization job for a big gaming company in Japan. They were asking for the salary we would like. I think I said ¥4.5M-5M yen/year (US$31,765-$35,294) would be nice, but they replied in an email later that they couldn't meet my requirements. 😅

[@FukaRado]

I've been casually looking for a job in IT here in Osaka/Kyoto, but usually they require N2 level of Japanese, a degree, and the pay is around 7-8mil yen, while working at the office/hybrid (4 day in, 1 day WFH). So I am sticking to my contract from European company for 10 mil xD Less hassle, more money, but more taxes to figure out.

[@BallKing0]

wow thats amazing! if dont mind, what's your github porto? i planned to attend undergrad in japan but not sure if comp science will be any good.. btw what visa are u using?

[@Singlajayin]

​@@BallKing0I wouldn't recommend doing an undergrad in computer science from japan unless it's from a top10 Cs school in japan. Japan is famous for being a IT wasteland and you don't learn literally anything useful In class. If you're majoring in something else it's still better but definitely not computer science

[@Singlajayin]

Core engineering is quite good In japan. Humanities is also good to study in japan especially since the fees are quite Low when compared to American university and quality of the program is comparable.

[@BallKing0]

@@Singlajayin after much thought i might want to go for economics haha, what uni would you suggest in Japan?. preferably a public/national uni that very affordable, but privat like waseda keio is too expensive too far fetched for me i think.

[@Singlajayin]

@@BallKing0 Economics Is alright if if you're interested in the subject and are fluent enough to study in an all japanese program. Generally Most finance and Economics jobs in japan require japanese fluency. I don't know if it's relevant but you can also consider finance, business, project management, accounting, linguistics. if you are interested in working in japan.

[@stakamaka]

Well they're at a Career Forum so that's a start. Career Forum is like the only place we get job offers for a more international company.

[@kevenCodes]

Channel is dope.

[@ElMexipon]

Wonderfully done interview! From my own experience, I advise you to put in the effort, learn GOOD Japanese, and get moving instead of acting so entitled.

[@chandlerjones-stroud5046]

Hey man, I'll be in Japan in a couple months. Would love to see some content about popular types of food, what and where people prefer to eat in certain places

[@lullemans72]

youtube is literally flooded with that kind of information. it's at your fingertips, just a few clicks away.

[@hainavidotcom]

Jenna is hilarious! love her! Thank you Jenna for speaking raw facts! Become an entrepreneur who produces cash flow! it's the only way to live life productively in this monetary system.

[@SmackProedit]

the girls are so focused theyll go far for sure

[@armorbearer9702]

The foreigners interviewed did not want to work for a Japanese company. The preference was to use Japanese company as a stepping stone or start up your own business. Japan is gonna have trouble attracting foreign talent.

[@larrycampbell5649]

They are in trouble! Low English speaking ability, no interpersonal skills, no idea of international matters, superiority complex, xenophobic and a declining population. I live here and I have no problem with Japanese people but the facts are the facts.

[@strigoiu13]

did you see any talent here that was not already available from locals?! locals first, foreigners second IF there really are NO locals. worked so far pretty well for japan!

[@huneylove5]

@@strigoiu13 You mean thats why they have a workers shortage and a severly declining birth rate?

[@yo2trader539]

The foreign talent that Japan needs is specific to certain fields and occupations. The so-called "Highly-Skilled Professionals" have fast-track Permanent Visa opportunities because they have advanced technical skills, language fluency, and relevant degrees. I've heard of HSP visa-holders from Russia, Brazil, and France receiving Permanent Visa in 3-4 years.

[@laujack24]

japanese companie r just waste of time for foreigners, for a same degree job u gonna get paid 1/3 to 50% more in the us. I just dont see why any one would want to work for more hours and less gain unless they r a nut head. even the young japanese graduate left their country to presuit a better wage and work/life balance in australia/us/canada.

[@Teeman44]

アラフォーです。私が新卒の時は日本で働くことは賃金はアジアでは圧倒的に高く、欧米の一部よりも高く日本で働く魅力は多少ありました。最近は日本の新卒の賃金と欧米、上海、香港、シンガポールなどと比べると安すぎてビックリします。そんな中、値上げや賃金上げを渋っているこの国を見ていると10-15年後はもっと引き離されているんでは無いかと心配になります。

[@Teeman44]

@@user-iz2jt4rf3v I believe in 2023, South Korea’s per capita GDP is slightly higher than Japan. I think Korea just surpassed Japan this year with per capita GDP. In the 90s and early 2000s Korea’s GDP was only about 55-65% of Japan’s.

[@AYVYN]

I know it’s for increasing exports, but I will never get over hearing a million yen in regular conversations

[@Mwoods2272]

1 million yen is only 7,000 dollars US not that much.

[@AYVYN]

@@Mwoods2272 Yes. They devalue their currency to increase exports. America also does this, and it’s not the same as inflation.

[@JerichoRandomStuff]

can you elaborate on how Jenna is planning to create a startup for travel plan bundles? are foreigners allowed to do that since it's considered as making a business? maybe it's a good video to make next

[@kazuhirala]

Personally when it comes to office work of any caliber in Japan it’s likely going to always be a resounding “No” for foreigners. Which could be damaging to their economic progress for future development in all their sectors. Many of the Emirate countries adapted to Western work culture and now they’re seeing a flush of foreign workers heading their way. Japan really needs to do something about this element in their work culture in the coming decades

[@leanlifer]

Especially given Japan has such a low birth rate and shortage of young workers in the near future. Foreign workers should be more welcomed. Same issue in Korea.

[@user-yo8ru4dj2e]

​@@leanlifer Japan is said to have a low birth rate, but it is higher than Italy and Spain and about the same as Germany. It's good that the birth rate is going up, but foreigners may take it too exaggeratedly.

[@EAFSQ9]

To be quite honest, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and even China will be facing significant labor shortages when they don't want to make the workplace (and work culture in general) much more flexible. To me, Japan loses out especially due to the extracurricular things and events employees are "invited" to attend (aka volun-told). Combined with the poor wages, it's sad because there's foreign talent out there that likely would be able to learn Japanese and would move to Japan if it weren't for those impacts.

[@sage1476]

​@@user-yo8ru4dj2eBut those countries have a lot of immigration as compared to Japan.

[@user-yo8ru4dj2e]

@@sage1476 Conversely, accepting immigrants does not increase the birth rate.

[@user-yr5jj5fs4z]

この動画は本当に面白い、いま日本で働いている身としては本当に日本の労働環境は過酷で精神的にもしんどいことが多い。しかし、日本人は海外の働き方、文化を知らないので日本の過酷な働き方が普通だと思ってしまい自ら命を失う人が多いい、本当にいつか海外で働きたい。

[@khoirunnisa2801]

Mungkin nanti suatu saat jika ada kesempatan pergilah untuk bekerja di luar negeri seperti di Eropa atau Amerika. Tapi di Amerika pun bukan berarti lingkungan kerjanya akan menjadi seperti di surga 😅. Hanya saja gajinya daripada bekerja di perusahaan jepang memang lebih banyak.

[@MsSaywut]

The person with BSc in computer science come to Israel you will be able to find a job with only a degree it is hard and takes time but possible. I am a junior backend developer without a degree and I learned everything by myself and I was able to find a job. It took some time but it is possible.

[@DavidEsparzaAlba]

The last guy is too honest 😅, "I don't have a specific skill, and I'm not learning any new skill; that worries me" Yeah, you should be worried. Well, in the end, he says about his English skills, so that's something he could use.

[@mD9H1O]

I live and work in Japan, and recruiters put me off. You may find the occasional good one but it seems most of them are only in it for the numbers. As someone who's also involved in the hiring process now, I can say that they are not liked by both parties that use them, but are used because of underdeveloped in-house recruitment departments.

[@lullemans72]

i currently work as a in-house TA. i used to be an agency recruiter. the really good recruiters will balance both sales and good relationships with people. for every 10 recruiters, probably half at least aren't that great. but it also depends on the company. some are a lot more KPI driven than others.

[@pedrotech1000]

​@@lullemans72Mind if I ask what sector you recruit for?

[@lullemans72]

@@pedrotech1000 i recruit in IT

[@pedrotech1000]

@lullemans72 More experienced roles or entry level?

[@lullemans72]

@@pedrotech1000 i'm internal, so i cover everything.

[@DiamondFlame45]

Love these young kids drive and optimism! Get that money lol

[@krashme997]

Just wanna say that we're way past the time where 100 yens equals 1$, now it's more like 150 yens for 1$, so the exchange rate in this video is a bit wrong.

[@lotsoflove8368]

Next teaching English in Japan!!

[@minimalistminx4518]

don't work on blue collar jobs like factory worker. I've been a factory worker for 13 years mind you power harassment from your seniors,leader or boss is a thing. It's very pressure and depressing.

[@spitzy4156]

wassup Jesse!

[@aaronvaughn1954]

If Japan is concerned about an aging population, there should be some definite work culture changes to be made so people can have a life balance and be able to have time to have children with the funds to raise them -- better pay, more time with your partner and family. And overworking actually produces stagnancy (Swedish 32 hour work week?), so it really behooves the corporations and business models to change.

[@Qwerty10254]

Population is aging in every single developed country and work hours have very little to do with it. In Europe we have abysmal birth rates and when you see a country with an usual high one, it's ALWAYS because of immigrants.

[@user-oy2yj3du9f]

It was an interesting interview. Taiki speaks English very well and handsome.

[@Uzzlangified]

Wow I wish I could speak Japanese as well as that guy who studied in America could speak English!! 😮

[@southcoastinventors6583]

If you got a spare 3-4 years and study/listen/output/read 1-3 hours a day it is easily done

[@yyyymmddhhmm]

There's like a home advantage for Koreans because of the similarities in language and culture. Language-wise, the Koreans have it much easier than other Asian countries because the grammar is identical (Similar to Germans learning English). As for Korean men, the overload of work and stress in Japanese companies might be something they're used to considering how militaristic Korean culture is. Not to mention compulsory military service as well.

[@Aaron-bh5cp]

Korean men get quite a bit of advantages in japan...

[@yyyymmddhhmm]

Not that they get it but they kinda earn it tbh

[@DOCTORKHANblog]

No they really don't. Have you ever heard of discrimination against Koreans.

[@yyyymmddhhmm]

@@DOCTORKHANblog Those are the Zainichi Koreans. You're bringing up a different category of Koreans lol

[@breakloop]

@@yyyymmddhhmm Cannot believe you think racists would even consider that distinction

[@manabu_dev]

Be entrepreneur and owned your own startup here ❤

[@juanpAAA2059]

Eso es mi pana!!!

[@tonoshikikai]

That hourly conversion rate on that dude's pay ain't even close. Sadly the economy is really weak here.