going to tokyo after college?

Question

hey im goin to tokyo after college in georgia im in san deigo right now in high school but i have big plans for myself and my major is going to be computer science so im going to tokyo to live and be maryy if u can i need help geting there and staying there and i need to figur out a plan to get there

Answer 1

I am majoring in Japanese, so when I was looking for colleges, I made sure they had that. Although most colleges don't have Japanese as a major (I think 120 do-that's pretty small considering there's over 4000 colleges in the US), many have Japanese courses. It's kind of late in the school year to consider other colleges if the one you're planning on going to doesn't have Japanese as a major. That is highly recommended. (Hey, UCLA has Japanese...)

Anyway, Computer Science is very demanding. You must stick with it to get something out of the major. It's not for the faint of heart; let's put it that way. In fact, I'd probably go as far to say that Japanese is easier then CS. But everyone will differ in how hard they think something is.

A plan to get there? Check colleges. Again, a college doesn't have to have Japanese to have a program that will send you there. Though I would also highly recommend the JET program. I know somebody who went on the JET program (or is it programme...) and he knew no Japanese. He simply applied for it because he had been overseas before, not Japan, but nonetheless abroad. He felt he could gain something out of it. He did. In two years, he speaks better Japanese than I, and I've been studying for four years! So really, living there is the best way to learn.

But it's not for everyone. When I was in Japan last, a friend of mine told me that he has an American friend who has lived in Japan for 11 years and cannot speak Japanese beyond the basics. I was not totally surprised-Japan has made it easy for English-speaking foreigners to 'get by'. So you have to decide what is best for you.

That includes cities in Japan. Tokyo is also not for everyone. Some people hate Japan, but that's because they've only lived in Tokyo. So they really hate Tokyo. If you like Tokyo, that's great, but if you've never been there (I'm assuming), don't jump on that city because of what you think it is. There's tons more cities that you'll like-it doesn't have to be Tokyo. It is very expensive to live in Japan, but much more so in Tokyo.

I hope you have found some assistance in all these different thoughts of mine. Whatever you end up pursuing, make sure to never quit at it. Persistence is necessary in college, and in the end, you'll find that your hard work will pay off. Have fun in college!

Answer 2

Are you fluent in Japanese? If not, start taking courses when you get to college. While you're in college, look for study abroad programs in Tokyo. If you go as a student, use the time to network and meet as many people as possible. Research some companies before go - try to interview with them to find out whether you could get an internship, co-op position or entry level professional job after university. Also, consider working with a non-profit in Tokyo or the Tokyo area.

Please know, Tokyo is a seriously expensive city to live in. Most living spaces are very small compared to the average american apartment/house. Good luck.

Answer 3

I say bypass to Tokyo. it's going to be a tremendous adventure for you and the international learn adventure will look tremendous on your resume. in case you do no longer like it as quickly as you're there, you could continuously pass to a US college.

Answer 4

♡I would suggest you start studying Japanese as well as it may come in handy in the work place and everyday life.
～Check out the MOFA site for VISA information to find out how long you'll be able to stay here with the type of visa you'll be getting:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/02.html#a
～Here's some essential info you may want to read:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/index.html
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/
～Take a look at this site for more useful info:
http://www.gaijinpot.com/
You've already got lots of good info from the others. Especially the fact that you just can't pick up and move here. Sorry to say, it's just NOT that simple. (I live in Japan.) You should have a job lined up in advance with the proper visa. You may want to go with a company that provides your housing. Initial housing and telephone costs in Japan are VERY expensive.
Good luck and I hope this helps!♡

Answer 5

During college, do a 1 year or 1 semester immersion program to learn the language. While in your first two years, take Japanese each semester and at least 2 semesters of kanji study in addition to the Japanese 1-4 classes. Do that on top of your CS major classes. After you graduate apply for the JET program. Work as a JET for one year. During that one year, do not forget how to write code. With that experience, someone could hire you.

Answer 6

If you want a job in Tokyo, you need to take your Japanese Fluency exam. You must pass at least the level two to be able to work at a Japanese company. It is issued by the governemtn. If you don't speak or write Japanese, I guarantee you will have a very difficult time there.