Foreigners can get any type of visa, so long as the company shows a need for them, or sufficiently explain the applicants unique abilities. This sounds pretty harsh, but in reality it really isn’t – if the company wants you, you *will* be able to get a visa. Any company that says you MUST have a visa beforehand is simply too lazy to do the paperwork. This is common practice though, I know, but if I see that in a job advertisement it will instantly tell me that isn’t the kind of company I want to work for.

Secondly, I think you need more confidence in those qualifications. Agreed, with those alone you wouldn’t be able to get a job in a design company in Japan, since most business and daily activity will no doubt be conducted in Japanese – however if you do have a conversational or better level of Japanese I think you would be more than capable of getting that kind of work here.

May I ask if you’ve looked, or tried to find work in the publishing /design industry? Is your Japanese a reasonable level? Do you have a portfolio of work?

In my experience, connections are necessary on top of qualifications to get better jobs. People in English language teaching jobs aren’t unskilled, despite the low regard with which many foreigners hold them. They are either satisfied with the status quo for various reasons or they don’t have the connections to move into other types of work.

It’s also important to keep in mind that foreigners, unless they have a particular type of visa (e.g.,spouse, permanent residence) are not permitted to do any job that a Japanese person is capable of doing. Jobs get redefined in areas where qualified people are in short supply, but you can’t get a work visa for just any job in Japan.

Orchid64’s latest blog post is…Variety Friday: Tastes Change

p/s – Just found your site today via the Japan Blog Matsuri. I really enjoy it.

Allen Taylor