How can I be a freelance journalist in Japan?
Q: How should I get a “journalist visa” to work in Japan. I have a good portfolio of samples of my work and some awards> However, I never completed my college degree and have only worked for the school paper. I don’t know where to go.
A: Read Justin’s “Getting a Journalist’s Visa to live in Japan”
Justin got his start with the Japan Foreign Correspondents Club—-They really need new members under the age of 60.
Without a degree (or getting married), Japan is a real pisser for a middleclass American. More importantly, it’s a pisser cause Japan really doesn’t want you. When you get engrish teaching jobs, you will always be paid less without a degree (and abused even more than the regular abuse).
White-collar jobs in companies will be a almost impossible without a degree. Japanese journalism as a freelancer is hard work—without Japanese fluency it will be hell. Mainstream newspapers in Japan hire only one or two gaijin a year, and they always require a degree (or 10 years experience with the New York Times).
Ok, ok, yes there are several non-degree gaijin working in Japanese journalism who scammed their way into a job (but they used less-than-legal methods which are harder to apply since Japanese Immigration finally got computerized two years ago). You’ve picked a damn hard way to start an already difficult career.
Bottom Line:
Do you really need Japan so badly that you want to stay as a non-degreed, second-class, non-citizen?
L8r,
Taro, the lame
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May 3rd, 2006 at 8:05 am
I have asperations on getting citizenship in japan after getting out of the military. I.m still currently in the states as of now. what are some tips on getting citizenship if your from the U.S.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
All the following things help,but NOTHING EVER can guarantee getting citizenship in Japan:
–Live here more than 3 years.
–Get married to a Japanese, and better yet have a Japanese child.
–Have a real (fulltime) job in a big Japanese company.
–Speak Japanese.
–Buy a house.
–Have a college degree.
None of the above things are a slam-dunk for Japanese citizenship, but in combination it is not that hard. Note I still don’t have Japanese citizenship or wven a Japanese “Green Card” after living 20+ years here, working for Hitachi, having a Phd, and owning a house. Go figure.
October 20th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
We are looking to hire journalists in Japan and Korea who can help us do some desk research and some interviews of business people.
Please send us your CV to community@fusionc.com
November 4th, 2006 at 3:25 am
This Fusionc.com company is like Gaijin criminals !! Never pay their bills I send them and always ask for more work but do not want to pay my money. I want to sue them.
Atsu xxx
November 5th, 2006 at 12:26 am
Hmmm, that sounds bad about Fusionc.com (and there are plenty of translation companies who never pay–even big companies) but I cannot find a lot of other people complaining about Fusionc.com on google. You have any links you would like to post to show other complaints about Fusionc.com?
May 6th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
hi there,
i am a 28 years old german guy and i am in love with a japanese girl since about 1 year. of course, i wanna live with my gf in japan. maybe we wanna move back to europe one day in the future. nice plan, but it seems impossible for me to move to japan. any ideas??? i feel helpless… :(