The essentials on finding a job in Japan plus invaluable background information on its history, language, way of life, culture, manners etc.

The question we hear so often from people who want to live and work in Japan: "Can I make a decent enough wage to live comfortably and save for the future while working in Japan, even if I do not know Japanese?"The answer is YES, and this book will show you how.Japan is not like the West, so it makes sense that there would be a learning curve to figuring out the job market here. The problem for so many people wanting to come to Japan is that the learning curve is so steep that it can seem impossible to start moving up. It isn't, but getting in the mindset that will help you in Japan is hard.If you aren't happy making a sub-par salary with no benefits.If you want to make enough money to do what you want to do, guilt-free.If you want to be treated with respect at your job so you can be proud to be a teacher.If you want to have options for your career, so you can have the confidence to quit a job that isn't working for you.Then this book is for you!We have built a system that will show you how to get from Zero to One, then from One to Ten!ZERO = Living somewhere outside Japan and wondering how to get here.ONE = Living in Japan and loving the life here, but making a pitiful salary and not learning much at work.TEN = Getting the best salary of your career in Japan, loving your job, your life and your free time, with money to spend, save or invest in your future!The Tools you get with the Smart GuideWhich qualifications do you need and which can you do without - how to leverage your qualifications to achieve your goals.Effective strategies that give you a road-map to the best jobs, and show you how to present yourself to be the #1 candidate.Get people to actually read your resume by crafting a narrative.Increase your interview request conversion rate; stop playing the numbers game and get the jobs you choose.Learn the markers that Japanese employers are looking for in a candidate.Templates to construct your resume, cover letters and emails to employers.Unlock the secret jobs market, where the top pay and best working conditions are, but are never advertised.How to use your network to get you jobs without having to compete with other teachers.These are tools that will be useful for your entire life, including resume writing, interview skills and job search tips that will put you head and shoulders above the competition!

With vivid prose, Karen Ma takes us on a momentous journey with a Chinese family as it tries to grow new roots in a foreign land."-Geling Yan, author of Banquet Bug, White Snake, and The Flowers of War Karen Ma's debut novel chronicles two Chinese sisters, one raised in China during the desolate years of the Cultural Revolution; the other in Japan during the freewheeling years of bubble capitalism. They reunite as adults in Tokyo in the early 1990s, and as the sisters circle warily, their distrust grows, fueled by family lies and secrets. Exploring themes of identity, alienation, love, jealousy, and family obligations in the face of cultural and geographic adversity, ultimately each must confront a fundamental question: what's the meaning of home when your roots aren't secure? Karen Ma is the author of The Modern Madame Butterfly (Tuttle Publishing, 2006). She has lived a combined twenty years in China and Japan working as a writer and journalist."

The first English translation of the classic Japanese novel that has sold over 2 million copies—a childhood favorite of anime master Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle), with an introduction by Neil Gaiman. First published in 1937, Genzaburō Yoshino’s How Do You Live? has long been acknowledged in Japan as a crossover classic for young readers. Academy Award–winning animator Hayao Miyazaki has called it his favorite childhood book and announced plans to emerge from retirement to make it the basis of his final film. How Do You Live? is narrated in two voices. The first belongs to Copper, fifteen, who after the death of his father must confront inevitable and enormous change, including his own betrayal of his best friend. In between episodes of Copper’s emerging story, his uncle writes to him in a journal, sharing knowledge and offering advice on life’s big questions as Copper begins to encounter them. Over the course of the story, Copper, like his namesake Copernicus, looks to the stars, and uses his discoveries about the heavens, earth, and human nature to answer the question of how he will live. This first-ever English-language translation of a Japanese classic about finding one’s place in a world both infinitely large and unimaginably small is perfect for readers of philosophical fiction like The Alchemist and The Little Prince, as well as Miyazaki fans eager to understand one of his most important influences.

Everything You Need to Know about Working in Recruitment in Japan: Whether it's your first job in Japan or you're considering a career transition, working in the recruitment industry can be extremely rewarding, fun and lucrative. This guide will walk you through the ins and outs of the Japanese recruitment landscape, provide actionable tips, and set you up for success throughout the entire interview process. Why Recruitment? In 2013 there were over 3,000 registered recruitment agencies in Japan. Five years later, the number has more than doubled to over 7,000 firms. There is a severe labor shortage in Japan, an increase in foreign investment, and a growing need for high quality recruiters. Since many of the recruitment agencies work with international companies, it's a job that you can do with relatively little to no Japanese language ability. What You'll Learn: This eBook covers everything from submitting your resume, choosing the culture that bests fits your, exclusive interview tips, and negotiating your own salary. What type of recruitment agency is right for you In-depth review of recruitment business models/styles How to ace role-play interviews and answer trick questions Dozens of great questions you can ask interviewers Biggest mistakes to avoid and overcoming the perception of being a "flyjin" Salary structures, perks, and how to negotiate favorable terms And that's not all...I've also compiled a list of tools, resources, websites, and books that will help you along the way. Who should read this book? Entry level/new graduates: Get the low down on the recruitment industry in Japan to decide whether it's the right move for you Step by step instructions to tailor your resume for recruitment Hear from recruiters who joined the industry right out of college Ex-English teachers: Featuring interviews with teachers who successfully made the transition into a new industry. Learn how to spot the "bad" recruitment firms Scripts for interview role-plays and salary negotiation Mid-level/senior professionals: Actionable advice for anyone looking to move into recruitment in Japan Extra salary negotiation tactics, contract types to consider and tax-savings tips And much more! Featuring Advice from Experts in the Industry: Romen Barua: Serial Entrepreneur. Ex-recruiter covering e-commerce, travel and blockchain-based talent solutions, 8+years recruitment in Japan Matthew Marzi: Recruiter at Booking.com Japan. Previously worked with Netflix, Spotify, and Facebook. Jared Campion: Co-founder at GetUp Japan, Employer Branding, 8+ years Japan recruitment experience. Anthony Beasely: Career doctor/manager @ Pac Recruitment covering IT/Web. 15+ years as an executive-recruiter, Japan-based covering APAC.

_______________ 'Surreal and unsettling' - Observer Cultural Highlight 'Wise, comical and exceptionally relatable' - Zeba Talkhani 'Quietly hilarious and deeply attuned to the uncanny rhythms and deadpan absurdity of the daily grind' - Sharlene Teo _______________ A woman walks into an employment agency and requests a job that requires no reading, no writing – and ideally, very little thinking. She is sent to an office building where she is tasked with watching the hidden-camera feed of an author suspected of storing contraband goods. But observing someone for hours on end isn't so easy. How will she stay awake? When can she take delivery of her favourite brand of tea? And, perhaps more importantly – how did she find herself in this situation in the first place? As she moves from job to job, writing bus adverts for shops that mysteriously disappear, and composing advice for rice cracker wrappers that generate thousands of devoted followers, it becomes increasingly apparent that she's not searching for the easiest job at all, but something altogether more meaningful... _______________ 'An irreverent but thoughtful voice, with light echoes of Haruki Murakami ... the book is uncannily timely ... a novel as smart as is quietly funny' - Financial Times 'Polly Barton's translation skilfully captures the protagonist's dejected, anxious voice and her deadpan humour ... imaginative and unusual' - Times Literary Supplement

Tokyo is ground zero for Japan's famous "geek" or otaku culture--a phenomenon that has now swept across the globe. This is the most comprehensive Japan travel guide ever produced which features Tokyo's geeky underworld. It provides a comprehensive run-down of each major Tokyo district where geeks congregate, shop, play and hang out--from hi-tech Akihabara and trendy Harajuku to newer and lesser-known haunts like chic Shimo-Kita and working-class Ikebukuro. Dozens of iconic shops, restaurants, cafes and clubs in each area are described in loving detail with precise directions to get to each location. Maps, URLs, opening hours and over 400 fascinating color photographs bring you around Tokyo on an unforgettable trip to the centers of Japanese manga, anime and geek culture. Interviews with local otaku experts and people on the street let you see the world from their perspective and provide insights into Tokyo and Japanese culture, which will only continue to spread around the globe. Japanese pop culture, in its myriad forms, is more widespread today than ever before--with J-Pop artists playing through speakers everywhere, Japanese manga filling every bookstore; anime cartoons on TV; and toys and video games, like Pokemon Go, played by tens of millions of people. Swarms of visitors come to Tokyo each year on a personal quest to soak in all the otaku-related sights and enjoy Japanese manga, anime, gaming and idol culture at its very source. This is the go-to resource for those planning a trip, or simply dreaming of visiting one day!

Shivya Nath quit her corporate job at age twenty-three to travel the world. She gave up her home and the need for a permanent address, sold most of her possessions and embarked on a nomadic journey that has taken her everywhere from remote Himalayan villages to the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador. Along the way, she lived with an indigenous Mayan community in Guatemala, hiked alone in the Ecuadorian Andes, got mugged in Costa Rica, swam across the border from Costa Rica to Panama, slept under a meteor shower in the cracked salt desert of Gujarat and learnt to conquer her deepest fears. With its vivid descriptions, cinematic landscapes, moving encounters and uplifting adventures, The Shooting Star is a travel memoir that maps not just the world but the human spirit.

A new way forward for sustainable quality of life in cities of all sizes Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Build American Prosperity is a book of forward-thinking ideas that breaks with modern wisdom to present a new vision of urban development in the United States. Presenting the foundational ideas of the Strong Towns movement he co-founded, Charles Marohn explains why cities of all sizes continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, and reveals the new paradigm that can solve this longstanding problem. Inside, you’ll learn why inducing growth and development has been the conventional response to urban financial struggles—and why it just doesn’t work. New development and high-risk investing don’t generate enough wealth to support itself, and cities continue to struggle. Read this book to find out how cities large and small can focus on bottom-up investments to minimize risk and maximize their ability to strengthen the community financially and improve citizens’ quality of life. Develop in-depth knowledge of the underlying logic behind the “traditional” search for never-ending urban growth Learn practical solutions for ameliorating financial struggles through low-risk investment and a grassroots focus Gain insights and tools that can stop the vicious cycle of budget shortfalls and unexpected downturns Become a part of the Strong Towns revolution by shifting the focus away from top-down growth toward rebuilding American prosperity Strong Towns acknowledges that there is a problem with the American approach to growth and shows community leaders a new way forward. The Strong Towns response is a revolution in how we assemble the places we live.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • 2 MILLION+ COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider “One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days. “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?