Can a high school girl in Japan have a job at 17?

Question

I'm moving to Japan for one year soon, and living with a host family. It's in the city though, and I don't want to put any strain on their living. I'll be in my senior year of high school there, and I'll be 17 for half the year, and 18 for the other half. Is it possible for me to get a part time job while I'm there at the age of 17? Or do I need to wait until I'm 18?

Because someone asked, this is what I look like. I would think there's nothing offensive about me that would prevent me from getting a job....

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/3581/pic2su3.jpg

Answer 1

♡According to the MOFA site, if you have a 1 year General visa; Precollege Student *; 1 year or 6 months, this falls under the "Statuses of residence not permitting work."
You may want to check the type of visa YOU will have to make sure.
Take a look:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html#b1b
If you'd like to check the types of visas that PERMIT you to work, look here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html#b1a
You can check the MOFA site directly here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/
～In my opinion I doubt that you'll be "putting any strain" on the host family. If that were the case I doubt that they would participate in the program.
MOST all jobs in Japan require that you be fluent in Japanese, even at McDonald's.
If you want to work, you should secure a job FIRST, get the working visa and you'll be set.
I would just enjoy the student exchange program for the year. It's a great chance, (*^o^*)～why work?
Hope this helps!
Good luck and enjoy your time in Japan!♡
BTW, your looks have nothing to do with it, it's all about the visa.(^_-)-☆

Answer 2

Part time job is allowed for a foreign students studying in Japan. I am not quite sure how many hours but it may be about 20 hours per week or something. I am afraid it is not easy to find a job unless you can speak Japanese fluently. Furthermore, for high school students, there are not many options. You'll find only McDonald's sales staff or similar. I do not think your host family expects you to work, so why not study hard and enjoy high school life, and that's what they expect I believe.

Answer 3

Yes, you may work part time .BUT it also depends on your host family.They may not want you to work.There is a lot of face saving to be observed in Japan.
If you were staying with me I would think it will be a plus but again I am not Japanese.
They still have is WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK.Just to be on the safe side and cause no problem with your host family.Please check this out with the organizers of your home stay project

Answer 4

Anyone who has Japanese citizenship can work full-time at the age of 16, but usually they are only allowed part-tme job at high schools. If you come to Japan as an wxchange student, I don't think you can work. If you find job here after graduating schools, you can work full-time. But you still need work visa I think. This is as far as I know I have suggested above.

Answer 5

can show your picture? before i answer you =P i'm from Europe and i live in Osaka