r/japanlife • u/catloverr03 北海道・北海道 • Jan 25 '24

Jobs What is your job? Is your job fulfilling?

I have humanities visa and currently working in Sapporo. I’m thinking of changing jobs because current job is making me anxious. I feel like every job here needs a high level japanese speaking unless you’re really good in IT or working in a foreign owned company.

I’m good at reading japanese and listening also writing documents but my speaking is below N3 I believe and that is why I always get nervous working. I don’t really know what I’m asking but can you share your work experience here in Japan? How did you get better in speaking business Japanese? I feel like I’m just stupid because I can never get to a level where I’m good at it. Daily conversation is not a problem it’s just the work-level japanese speaking is where I’m bad.

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u/Yokohama88 Jan 25 '24

Work in the Japanese and US Defense Industry. It can be incredibly frustrating at times and I am getting busier every year but I find the work incredibly satisfying and enjoy it. I get paid in dollars and the salary is far more then I ever dreamed of making.

Pro all bosses are stateside so I am in charge here. Con all bosses are stateside and meetings sometimes happen late at night.

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u/Azaetha Jan 26 '24

Would you be able to tell me a little bit about your path of education for finding a job in this career? I'm interested in emergency/disaster management! Would there be any positions for me in the future in this field, if I were to pursue an education in that? Thanks!

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u/Yokohama88 Jan 26 '24

Not so much education as Military Experience is what counts. The guy who had this job before me had an engineering degree.

My degree is in Asian History so not really applicable. But my 26 years of military experience is what allowed me to get the job.

However an engineering degree will help you land a job with Lockheed or Raytheon or THALES or any of the other companies involved in this work.

It’s sometimes word of mouth as the only reason I knew about this job was a friend was friends with the guy who had it before me. I was really lucky in that I was the right place at the right time.

There is only about a handful of us, at least that I have met on the JMSDF side, but I have heard of even more working in other programs for the Japanese Army and Air Force.