| As you're probably already aware, Japan is a very | | | | polite, western women. In the past, women |
| unique place. No where else in the world will you | | | | simply had to be attractive and turn up, now they |
| find the same outrageous opportunities to make | | | | need to be just as adept at being charming in |
| money that are open to just about anyone.English | | | | order to make the big money.Wedding |
| Teaching.The most common job for new | | | | minister.The white wedding business is huge in |
| foreigners is teaching English. Despite the | | | | Japan. It is the most popular type of ceremony |
| thousands of English schools and 12 years of | | | | from Sapporo to Okinawa and all those weddings |
| study at school, the English level in Japan remains | | | | create a demand for clean cut pastors to conduct |
| at lower intermediate, ensuring strong demand for | | | | the 20 minute ceremonies. In some cases, 20,000 |
| teachers. Every type of class and situation exists | | | | yen for the 20 minute ceremony and performing |
| from Elementary schools right through to Flight | | | | 20-30 per month on the weekends is normal, |
| Attendant Colleges. It can also be a great way | | | | making this one of the best ways to make yen. |
| into a previously non-existent position. I know of | | | | There are some properly ordained ministers out |
| one teacher at a top Advertising agency who | | | | there, but for the most part, basic Japanese and |
| later became an English copywriter. He had no | | | | rudimentary training is all it takes to move one |
| experience whatsoever in copywriting, they just | | | | man from the classroom to the |
| liked him and enjoyed his lessons.Acting/modeling | | | | pulpit.Headhunting.The Headhunting industry in |
| voice overs.Without a doubt, the epicenter for | | | | Tokyo continues to flourish unabated. New |
| entertainment work is Tokyo. There are around | | | | companies emerge quarterly and are still able to |
| 60 major freelance agencies that offer all kinds of | | | | bill fees of 30 - even 35% in some cases. Most of |
| work to foreigners living in the area. It is not | | | | the "recruiters" start out teaching English and |
| uncommon for first timers to walk into $1000 plus | | | | usually have very little in the way of professional |
| jobs, while their friends back home fight over | | | | experience. As English speakers though, they are |
| $120 extras work. Experience is not expected - | | | | considered to be experts in dealing with foreign |
| simply being foreign and having the right look is | | | | companies, which is more than enough to qualify |
| enough. In fact, most highly skilled dancers and | | | | them for the job. Here you will find recruiters - |
| actors would be appalled at how easy it is to get | | | | both male and female making 6 figures when |
| work and how the jobs are selected. Actual talent | | | | many would struggle to hold down simple jobs |
| is very rarely considered - it is all about the look.In | | | | back home. This truly is an extraordinary |
| many ways, the entertainment scene in Tokyo is | | | | opportunity open to anyone with some |
| a big break and a way to escape the comfort | | | | professionalism and knowledge of Japan.Japanese |
| zone and limitations of home. Many foreigners | | | | language skills.For teaching English and Headhunting, |
| living in Japan, doing the work, return home to find | | | | Japanese is almost not required at all. Speaking |
| their friends are just as broke as they were 5 | | | | with the students in Japanese is strongly |
| years ago, fighting over the same tiny piece of | | | | discouraged - they are there to learn English after |
| the entertainment pie, hoping desperately for a | | | | all, and in Headhunting, 95% of the candidates |
| break. They are not seeing that Tokyo is that | | | | need to be effective communicators in English. |
| break! Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, Ashley | | | | That leaves Wedding Ministers - the ceremony is |
| Judd and Cameron Diaz are among some of the | | | | read in Japanese, dancing/hostessing - where |
| current stars to have worked in Japan.Dancing | | | | some basic Japanese will be looked upon |
| hostessing.Japan was long considered one of the | | | | favorably and Acting/modeling/voice overs, |
| best places for working Dancer/hostess types in | | | | where in most cases there will already be a |
| the world. Whilst it still can be very lucrative, the | | | | translator and the pronunciation of 10 words in |
| rules have changed regarding visas. Whereas once | | | | Japanese is more important that speaking |
| a 90 tourist visa was adequate, immigration | | | | ability.An active interest in Japanese culture and |
| crackdowns have led to the introduction of | | | | the language will assist in daily life, but for the |
| entertainment visas for all women employed in | | | | people simply interested in Japan as a way to |
| the industry. The Japanese culture remains one of | | | | make as much money as possible, it is simply not |
| meetings and drinking, and corporate types still | | | | required.Matt Canham has lived on and off in |
| prefer to do both in the company of attractive, | | | | Tokyo for the last 7 years. |