I will be going to Japanese language school after I graduate University for 2 years and then apply for Japanese English Teaching programs. I might teach for a few years. Then after, I am not sure what I can do with Geography major. I love the Japanese culture. I was thinking about Tourism/Travel Agent, but would they make enough money? Any ideas for jobs?

It will be very hard for you to do anything other than teach english in Japan. That is the truth; a lot of people don't seem to want to hear it as shown by the amount of thumbs down I've seen those answers get (I'm probably earning myself a few at the moment!). A lot of people are interested in the Japanese culture and want to go and live there, and they want to believe that they will be able to live in Japan the same way that they live in their own country, but for the majority it just won't happen.

You will not be able to work in Japan unless you have a working visa and it's very hard to get one for anything other than English Teaching. Foreigners are encouraged to come to Japan to become English teachers because that is a role that native Japanese are not able to fill. For other jobs there are plenty of Japanese people available.

That being said there are some jobs that foreigners do in Japan; always because a foreigner is needed in that position. If you go head-to-head with a Japanese person in a normal job interview you will lose.. why? because your Japanese will be nowhere near as good as theirs, and you will not be Japanese. There are some jobs foreigners do eg. a secretary in some kind of international institution, Disneyland as a dancer/performer, you can work as a priest for 'fake' western wedding ceremonies, I have a friend who works for a scientific journal proofreading papers, there are some jobs in publishing foreign media, bar/hotel work. (The one exception seems to be some kind of IT/programming jobs which seem to be more available). The thing with all these jobs is a lot of people are thinking what you are.. I'll teach for a year or so then look for another job.. which means competition is very high.

Long story short, it is possible to get another job in Japan but it's difficult. I'm not even sure it's going to be so easy to get an english teaching job in the future. the conversation school chains are having a hard time (basically because they've been ripping students off for years and people have realised that they're not a great way to learn english) so people are turning to smaller independent schools.. and those schools are looking for experienced, qualified teachers.. not just people who have a degree in whatever, like the eikaiwa's do.

As far as tourism/travel goes you will also find it hard.. for the few jobs where you need to be able to speak english there are many Japanese people who's english is good enough (and probably better than the average english speaking person's japanese will be after just a few years study) that they can fill all those positions themselves. Getting a job in your own country as a tour guide to japanese visitors is a lot more possible.

Sorry to be a downer, I'm not trying to put you off (although I'm aware almost everything I wrote is negative!).. it's better that you have an accurate picture so you can prepare better. I wish you good luck.

See how you enjoy the English teaching.When you get a job, be sure you do your research into the best company for teaching with. JET is excellent if you can get in as they subsidise your accommodation , have a social network, and you are looked after . Some of the language schools are not so good. There is also a big variation in pay. My daughter and son have both taught there although my son only as a fill in job. He was with Nova who went bust. They were terrible compared to get. GEOS sounds quite good.He is working in IT - but does speak very fluent Japanese.

Once you have had this experience you will no doubt have a better idea of what you want to do.You should keep an open mind until you have done a year or two in Japan.

My daughter loves the teaching having returned home and not enjoyed working in an office. She now thinks teaching English in a uni or polytech is what she would like to do!

If you do the CELTA course you can teach English all over the world.

duno dude

Your degree will be of zero value. Most jobs would require that you speak, read and write Japanese at a native level. And jobs will always go to a native Japanese first.
You haven't even got there yet and you're already talking about what you're going to do after you've taught English ! Did you know most people quit after the first year?
Have you even been to Japan ? Seeing it and actually living there are two different things.

Do the English teaching thing.

I live and work in Japan now. You will be an English teacher. That is the only job you can get unless you can speak Japanese.