Hello everyone,
me and my girlfriend want to move to Japan eventually \[Probably in 5-6 Years Time\] and I want some guidance.
So far my plans are the following:
Both of us have finished University, we live together in Bulgaria and we’re both working and gathering work experience.
I’ve been studying Japanese for the past few years and I’d say I’m about N3-N2 level right now. I try to fit in as much Japanese studying as I can in my free time. My girlfriend is starting to learn Japanese right now following in my steps and I will help her along the way.
I want to work as a graphic designer in Japan (hopefully in Osaka), I’m working as a prepress designer and general designer and hope to continue to do so in Japan.
I hope to eventually learn Japanese enough to be able to start applying for jobs as I am gathering more experience. Hopefully some company sponsors me a visa and I find a place to rent. I’ll take my gf along with a bride visa (or I forgot what it’s called) and she can start applying for companies that can sponsor her with a work visa too. These are our plans. I’m not sure if they are too shallow or naive, but we really want to do this.
Keep in mind this is within 5-6 years.
My question is the following : Is this plan realistic and feasible? Or do we need to make some basic changes to our plans?
5 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Moving to Japan With my Girlfriend as a Young Adult**
Hello everyone,
me and my girlfriend want to move to Japan eventually [Probably in 5-6 Years Time] and I want some guidance.
So far my plans are the following:
Both of us have finished University, we live together in Bulgarian and we’re both working and gathering work experience.
I’ve been studying Japanese for the past few years and I’d say I’m about N3-N2 level right now. I try to fit in as much Japanese studying as I can in my free time. My girlfriend is starting to learn Japanese right now following in my steps and I will help her along the way.
I want to work as a graphic designer in Japan (hopefully in Osaka), I’m working as a preprint designer and general designer and hope to continue to do so in Japan.
I hope to eventually learn Japanese enough to be able to start applying for jobs as I am gathering more experience. Hopefully some company sponsors me a visa and I find a place to rent. I’ll take my gf along with a bride visa (or I forgot what it’s called) and she can start applying for companies that can sponsor her with a work visa too. These are our plans. I’m not sure if they are too shallow or naive, but we really want to do this.
Keep in mind this is within 5-6 years.
My question is the following : Is this plan realistic and feasible? Or do we need to make some basic changes to our plans?
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One important thing to note: dependent visa requires that you’re married. Common-law marriage means nothing to Japanese immigration!
Plan makes sense. Honestly, this all depends on your portfolio and Japanese language skills.
If you want an easier (and maybe less enjoyable) time, UI/UX design may make getting sponsored more likely (or your GF goes into tech).
Please note that penetrating entire visual and graphic design industry in Japan as foreigner is super hard. There are few very well known artists who even do manga and I am pretty sure you know them, but they are exceptional snowflakes. I moved in 2017 with my girlfriend (wife now), both on work visa. She was super lucky her company had presence in Japan and was willing to keep her and relocate her when she announced she goes to Japan.
She is graphic designer and illustrator in product promotion; with 10+ years of experience and had super hard time to adapt to complete different environment (both as in what she had to work in and what kind of visual product people here expect). Even with job pre-secured she said basically all she learned in Europe was useless as Japan is very unique in terms of colors, typesetting, layout, visual elements, traditions, etc. – btw. that’s why most Japanese websites look like from 90s to us and why every website selling something has 3km long story about family that makes that something… and even nowadays she says that she wouldn’t be able to get proper job because there are zillions of talented locals who have natural understanding and skill.
Few things for your next 5-6 years from our experience:
– take JLPT asap, don’t self-assess. You will see where you are and have more time to improve. In graphic design N1 (and keigo) is must as in studio you usually work directly with its customer
– study Japanese design and try to understand its weirdness, beauty, dos and donts and traditions behind it.
– work on portfolio. there’s much more scrutiny and pedantism during portfolio review during interview than in Europe. You need to be exceptional and have some asset that locals don’t have – e.g. being able to apply some western aspect of work so it is understandable and acessible to Japanese audience or consumer
– and last and the most important – make sure you both want to do this and want stay together, get married way before you go. Chance you will both land job at same time is slim (even for us with all pre-set we went with 3 month gap to have admin done). If you get married 2 days before the luckier one of you two goes and apply for dependent visa it will be red flag for immigration. Also make sure your gf/wife will be able to pursue the career she wants in Japan. E.g. being doctor or vet is impossible without actually going through japanese university etc. and you don’t want to ruin her dreams to pursue yours.
How much time did you spend in Japan in the past? If anything less than 6 months try first to move there for 3-6months and see what actually means living in Japan.