Honestly I’m just curious on how day to day living is, how to get clothing, shoes (US 15-16), furniture I won’t make look tiny, if I’ll constantly be hitting my head everywhere I go lmao, can I fit on public transportation, etc;. I’m not overly concerned about much else besides maybe being black, but I’ve heard that people are generally friendly and that its rare to have an issue with your race. I plan on being a graphic designer with a background in computer science so I’d figured it probably won’t be too hard to get a job. If anyone has any advice it’d be helpful!
Edit: I 100% appreciate the advice, I didn’t think a visa would be that hard to get, but maybe it’s for the best I go as a English teacher first or something then try to do graphic design over there
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Embrace it and become a living Kaiju that all the ladies will flock to. Buy tiny furniture to accentuate it. Online shop for clothes that you actually need to fit you.
I’m sure someone else will know more but in the meantime, my impression is that for certain things you might need to stock up when you visit home (esp. for things like large shoes) re: work, I am a graphic designer who plans to move to Japan one day and the advice I got was to make sure I was very advanced in my Japanese language ,basically N1, (+ knowledge of Japanese design customs) to even have a chance of getting an interview, at least for most jobs with Japanese companies.
I think there are way more issues to be concerned about when moving to Japan than being 6’6…. like who is going to sponsor a visa for graphic design. (Why would you be better than a Japanese person who has the same education and speaks fluent Japanese) Also look at pay if you are in North America you might be getting a way lower starting salary.
>how to get clothing
You’ll need to order it online. Even the “Big & Tall” stores probably won’t have anything that’ll fit you.
>shoes (US 15-16)
***Definitely*** will need to order online. Most Japanese shoe stores top out at a 28. *Maybe* a 30. I’m a US 12.5/13 (30/30.5cm) and I only very rarely find shoes in stock in my size. You’re a 34/35cm, which means… Nope.
>I’ll constantly be hitting my head everywhere I go lmao
Learn to duck through every doorway. Hell, at 6’6″ you probably do that anyways. Learn to duck *more*.
>can I fit on public transportation
Yes, but you’ll have to duck through the doors, and watch your head on the grab rails.
>I plan on being a graphic designer with a background in computer science so I’d figured it probably won’t be too hard to get a job.
Do you speak *fluent* Japanese? Graphic design require much more than the usual “N2 is enough to work in Japan”
Being black is way more of a thing than being tall. Everything you need is on Amazon. What will be harder is actually getting a job and a visa.
Here’s something…maybe not much. But I was an exchange college student at Nihon University. I was the only white dude in my college (the university is divided into many colleges around the country). There were a few Asian foreign students as well. I’m 5’10 and decided to join the basketball club. It was over the top practicing to the point I couldn’t study and I dropped out. My point is that you could use that height advantage if you play the sport. If not, don’t bother. But, yeah, you will be a tall dude in a short culture…but that is sometimes a good thing and rarely, anymore, something that may hold you back. Good luck, my friend.
You need a visa. It’s not like USA, you actually need the proper paperwork and a reason to be here.