Any way to house with family in Japan to work for multiple years

Any way to house with family in Japan to work for multiple years?
I've seen about homestay programs, but I'm wondering if maybe there is a way I can stay with a family and just work for the family doing whatever employment? Or finding outside employment and paying rent to the family? Also, if I stay with a family, can I be hired by a Japanese company and then acquire citizenship for working there?
Japan - 7 Answers
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1 :
No. Sorry. You need a four year degree to qualify for a work visa. That means a BA / BS degree. This is the requirement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The only jobs available are those that a Japanese can't or won't do. Most work visas start at one year. The employer must sponsor the employee. If a Japanese can do the job, they will always be hired first. You have to live in Japan for no less than five years before you can apply for citizenship.
2 :
Hmmmm, not everything what Carl is saying is right. I know a lot of native Japanese who work those jobs they can't or won't do and they have degrees. Also, there are some foreigners who have a BS/BA and are working at crappy jobs over there due to the fact they did not take the JLPT, are not citizens, and didn't finish taking the required test for the jobs. Yes, get a college degree so you won't have to be limited to awful jobs over there. But, make sure you are good in Japanese and take those qualifications. Although, I do agree with him on what you are limited to if you do not have a degree. What I think you should do is to get a degree, pass the required test and gain citizenship. After that, see if you can stay with a family and work from there. That way, you are not limited and will be able to work at the jobs you want because you are qualified. Also, look to see if you can work at foreigner friendly areas such as Tokyo and Roppongi (tons of foreigners). Since the Tsunami, they want a lot of foreigners helping out. Also, they will hire a foreigner who's highly qualified over a Japanese who's not. Especially if that company is dealing with a lot of foreigners and people who speak English and Japanese highly well or can relate to their foreign customers. Good luck! Edit: Don't listen to these three posters, everything they say are always negative and no one chooses their answers because they are prejudice and ignorant. How come I got good jobs over there you three losers? I've read their comments and they are really untrue because I was over there myself. Go witness Japan for yourself and see.
3 :
Everything Carl said is correct....Much of what the other poster said makes no sense at all. No employer is going to hire an outsider for a "crappy" jb when there's already many people to take these jobs ! The poor paying jobs often go to Chinese & Koreans. And you CANNOT apply for citizenship unless you've lived there for 5+ years. and that will take STEADY employment. Maybe ILN needs to learn more ?
4 :
Noooo, ILN saying does make sense but, you do need to stay in Japan for awhile in order to work there so that's true. Even if you have a four year degree, BS/BA and citizenship that still does not guaranteed you to get a job in Japan since they are going to allow the Japanese to have them so Carl is half wrong. There are foreigners in Japan who work, but I don't see too many. Some work at restaurants, bars, etc. ILN is right, these three always have negative comments, they need to get lives. Edit: Also, I've read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site too and it depends on the jobs as well. You need a visa for labor jobs of course because they do not require much skill at all. But, If you want to become a doctor, nurse, etc. in Japan (unless you don't go through the military), you have to know Japanese and pass medical exams too. So, you guys really need to do more research. The link above helps. If you want a professional job, you have to be good at Japanese or get it through a University and connections. So network too. Make friends.
5 :
i don't think there'll be any families willing to put up their homes for a visitor like you, they will get in trouble for harboring an illegal immigrant.
6 :
What do you mean by working "for the family"? Usually, Japanese families do not hire foreigners for maid job or something. If you want to get a working visa of Japan, you must be hired by a company. So your employer could not be a family. If you are talking about finding a job and living in a family, it's not likely because there is no reason for Japanese families to accommodate you. Japanese houses are usually small. If you have a close friend in Japan, perhaps it's possible. To get Japanese citizenship, you must keep living in Japan 5-10 years under working visa.
7 :
Apparently, you think Japan is like the US where illegal aliens can live and work without any fear of being deported. Read carefully: the Japanese (that's people and government) take immigration laws seriously. They have no qualms about reporting and arresting illegals on the spot and deporting them within 48 hours. There are no idiotic groups protesting for illegals' right like in the US. To work in Japan you need a visa. You cannot go to Japan and then search for a job and then apply for the visa. You have to prove you have employment before you can even get a visa to work in Japan. You cannot buy or rent property in Japan without proof that you are allowed to be in Japan and renters usually will not lease an apartment to you unless you can prove that you are allowed to stay in Japan for more than a year - norm is 2 years. As for employment, are you fluent in Japanese? If not, forget it. Do you have a college degree? If not, forget it. Do you have experise in a field that Japan is short of? If not, forget it. Japan is a modern 21st century nation where good paying jobs only goes to the best qualified and the bad paying jobs go to a Japanese first before all others and since unemployment is already high and has been for years, you can forget menial day labor types of work. Japan is not like the US.

Will Blu-ray discs from Japan work in the UK

Will Blu-ray discs from Japan work in the UK?
I plan on importing some anime from Japan, now I'm in the UK so I know that the DVD's work over here, but I'm wondering if Blu-ray will work over here, i'm unsure on if there any region restrictions. Just for some extra info I'd be using my PS3 to play the Blu-ray discs, don't know if that would change anything or not. Hope someone can answer this soon, much appreciated :)
Other - Electronics - 1 Answers
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1 :
Blu Ray discs have the same region restrictions that regular DVD's have.

Work in Japan as graphic artist, advertising? How about starting a business

Work in Japan as graphic artist, advertising? How about starting a business?
This is more of a what-if? question. As at this point, I don't seriously intend to move to Japan but like to think about it...We (wife + I ) would want to be in Kyoto (or maybe elsewhere in Kansai - but mostly Kyoto) I have 20+ years self employed experience in graphic arts, illustration, design (Mac) - as well as copy-writing, art direction.. I currently work mostly for fashion, retail and travel clients, I have a strong work ethic.. I know there is a lot of English marketing and design already in Japan and with my experience I imagine I would be a terrific asset to a small firm.. I can also draw "kawaee" little logo characters, and do a lot of "youth-oreinted' kind of work. any ideas if I could find work easily? what kind of pay? If I were to re-locate and cash out my assets here, would have in the neighbourhood of 50million Yen. How easy would it be for a Gaijin to buy a home or start a (izakaya) business with that kind of money? domo arigato - okini! ; )
Japan - 2 Answers
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1 :
Yes you can buy a house and start business. Only and the biggest problem is that whether you speak Japanese or not. Mostly ppl doesn't speak English in Japan. English is not official language either.
2 :
The most important thing will be whether you speak Japanese or not. Though many people in Japan speak English as a second language, it's not anywhere near official and you will have a seriously hard time finding clients. Also, getting a visa will be very hard if not impossible. You would be better off trying to get a job with a company there and hoping you can get a visa that way. Otherwise, just take a vacation and come back home. Japan is a wonderful and beautiful place (it did give me my fiance), but they are not too good about allowing foreigners to move to their country. In fact, you basically can't get a visa without a bachelor's degree. If you want to buy a home and start a business both, then you would need more money, but I have not done enough research on this to give you a firm answer. My fiance is moving here, because we found that we both can make more money here in California and the cost of living is much less. If you do speak Japanese, then I wish you much luck, you will definitely need it.