Hi there! I’m working as a freelance artist making backgrounds for visual novels currently, I’ve studied Animation Film and I’ll be moving to Japan by the end of next year probably, with a Working Holiday VISA.
My Japanese lvl is less than basic since I’ve started taking classes on March this year.
I’d love to have some advice regarding your experiences looking for a job in Japan as a foreign artist, where did you search, if there’s a possibility to get a job at a company, and more!
Thanks!
8 comments
>I’ll be moving to Japan by the end of next year probably
I assume based on the rest of the post that you are going there as a student? or married?
Because to move there you would require a job first, and then a visa and then move there.
Equally, finding a job as an artist is going to be almost 100% impossible for a visa sponsor so, I really hope you wouldn’t be relying on that for the visa.
“*I’d love to have some advice regarding your experiences looking for a job in Japan as a foreign artist*”
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It should be easy to find an english teaching job 🙂
You’re not going to find a job as an artist. Plain and simple. You’d need native levels of Japanese, and to be incredibly good at what you do, and willing to work for less than minimum wage.
You can however find a job teaching english.
I think it strange that many people who ask these questions do not clarify their Japanese language skills… Personally, I’d like to see that added to the rules of this sub.
The ordering materials and client communication here are 100% in Japanese. In other words, you need to be able to understand Japanese. And if you can understand Japanese, finding background art jobs in Japan and how to apply is easy.
I recommend to send submissions to any Art call for submissions in your home country/elsewhere in your native languages area. You can do this while in Japan or anywhere. Like others mentioned, working in English tutoring or hospitality is realistic. You can also check out ‘workaway’ which I saw had some positions for pottery assistants and Art admin in Japan locations.
I have a friend who is an illustrator, and she HUSTLES for the illustration work she does get here. Also, she’s not able to work as an artist full-time, because, as others have mentioned, the industry is super competitive here and there is no incentive for places to hire artists full-time (especially foreigners who need visas). She works a variety of non-illustration jobs in adjacent industries that allow her to generate enough income for self-sponsorship. Art is not her main income stream; it maybe accounts for 40%.
She has a degree in art, is pretty well-known in her specific area of illustration, speaks Japanese considerably well and first came to Japan on a WHV and build contacts.
It’s not an easy gig to manage. Without good Japanese and good connections, you’re facing an uphill battle.
Possible, but very, very difficult. In fact, expect to make minimum wage doing art full time. I have friends who do this, they’re either hurting financially or they have a full time job in another industry.
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Skip the art career, and do art for yourself. Go to Japan and find a company you’re interested in, work on the skills you need, and earn a good wage.
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Read this: [How to do what you love and make good money](https://sive.rs/balance)
Seconding what everyone is saying here, and I went to art school in Japan lol.
I would recommend seeking out editorial work or something in print media, independent magazines, publishers, etc.
I have a (Korean national) friend who I went to the same school/did the same program as me and works for a fashion and music publication as a translator/stylist/editor. Granted, she is fluently bilingual in Korean/English and decently conversational in Japanese. She also is very well connected so that helps.
I have similar credentials as you, I freelanced for a comic publisher for 3 years and studied animation and sculpture in college. I HIGHLY recommend pursuing a career in an adjacent field and not to put all your faith in your raw talent as an artist. If you see some success, feel free to quit your day job.
If you don’t see success, you’ll run headfirst into a flaming pile of burnout and have no career to show for it.
Get established and comfortable in an adjacent field where you can be creative and devote time and energy into submitting proposals and personal work to shows. Then, you’ll beef up your resume enough to seek more substantial creative projects.
All that, and then get Permanent Resident status so you actually get hired. 🥲