Hi, I’m (American, HS Senior) wondering if I need a reality check of some sorts before I get too far ahead of myself in planning things. I’m an aspiring sports media creator, either in photography or design, and hoping one day to work in Japan and do this, as I love the Japanese baseball culture. I know this is already a lofty goal, but to make things worse I am transgender/queer. As it is I hope to start learning Japanese (have done some self study, but will do formally in college) and go over to Japan on exchange sometime during my undergraduate studies. Additionally, to make things easier before I go to Japan at all I will change my gender markers and forms here in the US so I don’t have to get sterilized for Japan’s standards.
Should I just give up completely on my goals given being 1. a westerner, and 2. being queer? Or not? Thanks for reading
Edit: I mentioned going on exchange as a way to experience life in Japan first hand to “test the waters” or prepare, not as my overall goal! Sorry
3 comments
why would being a westerner mean you should give up coming to Japan on exchange? there’s plenty of westerners that live here both short and long term.
also plenty of queer and transgender people here.
If it’s just an exchange I can’t imagine any of that being a deal breaker.
At my old Uni we had one American come and give a talk on working as a baseball correspondent in Japan. He had some nutty stories and I’m guessing that his experience was out of the ordinary. My brother and a bunch of his buddies were in the news business. One of his friends in particular, he is a broadcaster, had to move out to the Midwest to get his career started.
I’d give you the same blanket advice I’d give to anyone. Get a college degree that has some use, minor in Japanese and aim for a decent JLPT level by the time you graduate. Coming here on an exchange sounds like a great idea as well.
I wouldn’t get caught up in worrying about your gender or sexual orientation. As far as being a Westerner in Japan, yes. You can not fully assimilate. That doesn’t bother me.
Focus on your university plan, internships, building up your resume, and getting your first job. I assume that it’s going to be very difficult to land a job in media in another country fresh out of college.