Most people think about moving to Japan. Few do it. Here's how.
Already in Japan, want into ITAbroad with IT skills, want to moveNot sure where to start
My first full-time job was as an English teacher. These days I do
network consulting — for global companies expanding into Japan,
and for domestic ones too. For most people, IT is the fastest
way in, no matter where they're starting from — and if it isn't
the right move for you, I'll tell you so, plainly.
Pick a slot instantly — no payment, no catch. Prefer email instead? Write contact@notyoursensei.com
Here for the career move? Keep scrolling — that's this page.Just here for the stories?Not Your Sensei, by Night →
$ show version
How I actually got here
The one head start I actually had was Japanese — I already had JLPT N2 before any of this started. No head start in tech, though: no computer science degree, no connections in IT. Here's the rest of it.
Supermarket Cashierthe till
Talked to hundreds of randoms a day. Weirdly useful now.
Mobile Phone Salesmanphone shop
Learned how to explain tech stuff without sounding like a know-it-all.
Club Promoterstreet promo
Walking up to strangers on the street every night. Got used to being told no.
Night Club Bouncercrowd control
"Politely" telling grown adults it was time to go home.
English Teachersmall-town schools
Best job I've ever had. Just me, some incredible kids, and a small town in the middle of nowhere.
Recruiterhiring
Saw how hiring actually works behind the scenes. Most career advice is just noise.
IT Helpdeskphone support
Where I actually started in tech — fixing stuff fast while someone's stressed out on the phone.
Network Engineerconsulting worldwide
This is the real job now — building and keeping networks running for companies around the world.
Expert-level routing & network designstudying, in progress
Working toward the hardest cert in the field. Because why not.
The technical side came after, not before — the certifications and
the hands-on practice, all of it built once I'd already committed
to the move.
Most people land on "teach English" or "learn to code" because they're the two paths anyone's heard of. There's more room than that, and the right one depends on you.
Path A
Teach in Japan
This is the route I actually used — JET, the ALT world, what the applications are really looking for, and the stuff nobody tells you about the visa and your first year.
JET / ALT / private-school routes compared honestly
What the interview panels actually screen for
Building an application that actually stands out
Basic visa pointers — what to expect, not a substitute for a lawyer or your embassy
What your first few months actually look like, so nothing blindsides you
Path B
Break into IT
No CS degree needed. I'll help you build a roadmap the way I built mine — certs and projects sized to the hours you actually have, not some bootcamp fantasy.
Which certs matter first, and which are a waste of money right now
Fixing your resume so it actually reaches a real person instead of getting auto-rejected by a computer
Interview drilling, rep by rep
Already work in IT? This path also covers transferring the skills you've already got into a role here
Japanese and already living here, comfortable in English, and curious about IT? Same path, same roadmap — this one isn't about visas or relocation at all
And even if you never go all-in on a full IT career, the skills carry into daily life and travel with you — useful in any job, any country.
Path C
Get an introduction
Some of this really is just who I know — my own company, old colleagues, other people who made the jump. It's not limited to IT or teaching — if it's a real fit for a role in Japan, tech or not, I'll introduce you. I'll be straight with you though: that's an introduction, not a promise. It depends on timing, fit, and whether there's actually an opening.
An introduction to a hiring manager or team, when it makes sense — inside IT or out
An honest read on whether you're ready for that intro yet
Job-hunt strategy for roles outside IT and teaching too, where I actually know the space
No promises — I can open a door, not walk you through it
Path D
Come on a working holiday visa
Japan has working holiday agreements with 30+ countries — a year in-country with the right to work, no employer or sponsor needed. It's not for everyone: age caps around 18–30 (18–25 for a handful of countries unless extended), usually one shot per lifetime, and it isn't open to every passport — Americans, notably, don't get this option at all. But if yours qualifies, it's one of the fastest, lowest-friction ways to actually get boots on the ground.
Whether your passport actually qualifies, and the real age cutoff for your country
How to use the year to build toward something instead of just traveling it away
Turning the working holiday into an actual work visa before the year runs out
Being straight about the ceiling — it's temporary, it isn't a work visa, and the clock doesn't stop
Path E
Study abroad on a language visa
A student visa gets you here long-term while you build the Japanese you actually need, not the classroom kind. Some people finance it and go full-time; others save up first. Either way, it buys you real time in-country and daily immersion no app or class back home comes close to.
Comparing schools that actually build your Japanese, not just your certificate wall
Realistic costs, and how people actually fund this
Using the visa as a soft landing — starting the job search while you're already here
What it doesn't do: it's not a work visa, part-time hours are capped, and you need a next step lined up before it runs out
Path F
Transfer with your current company
If your company already has an office here, or is looking to expand into Japan, an internal transfer is the safest path there is — you keep your employer and your track record instead of starting a cold job search from scratch.
How to actually check if your company has a Japan presence — most people never ask
How to raise it internally without sounding like you're already halfway out the door
What to expect if it moves forward — relocation support, timeline, visa handled through the company
An honest read on whether this door is even open for you — it isn't for everyone
Question 1 / 10
This quiz gives you a starting direction, not a visa determination — working holiday eligibility (age, passport, program rules) varies by country and gets confirmed on the call, not here.
Same three steps every time, whichever path you're on — the order is what makes it work.
01
Recon
We look at what you already have — teaching,
service, sales, whatever it is — and figure out what actually
transfers. Most people undersell this by a mile.
02
Route
A roadmap that fits your actual budget and hours
— certs and projects if you're headed into IT, applications and
credentials if it's teaching. You walk away with an order of
operations, not a reading list.
03
Execute
I rewrite your resume and application
materials so an actual person sees them, not just a filter. Then we
drill interviews — the same way I drill for my own exams, over and
over until it's automatic.
a quick gut check
Who this is (and isn't) for
THIS IS FOR YOU IF —
You've dreamed about living and working in Japan and haven't found your way in yet
You're teaching, in hospitality, recruiting, or another field with no clean line to either path
You're stuck in a helpdesk or junior IT role and want to actually move up, not just add another certification to the pile
You'll actually do the work — you just want the order right
You want a plan sized to your week, not someone else's
You want a straight answer, even if it's not the one you were hoping for
You're willing to put in a few hours a week outside our calls — this only works if you do
THIS ISN'T FOR YOU IF —
You want a new job overnight, with no work between now and then
You want a resume rewrite with no follow-through on interviews
You're already deep into one of these paths — you need execution, not a route
You're looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear, not what's true
You'd rather talk about making the jump than actually do it
You're hoping I know a secret shortcut nobody else has
You want someone to do the work for you instead of walking you through it
before you book
Questions people actually ask
Skipping the FAQ fluff — these are the real doubts people email me with before booking.
How much Japanese will I need?
More than none — no sugar coating. Some people have the finances to move out and go straight into full-time language school. Most don't: they study alongside their current job and come out once they've hit a usable level, JLPT N3, then keep pushing for N2 once they're on the ground. Higher is always better. No real way around putting in the work long-term.
What if I have zero tech background at all?
That's most people who book. Path B exists because I started the same way — no CS degree, no connections. The first call is about mapping what you already have (even service/teaching experience) onto a realistic entry point, not assuming you already know networking or code.
What if the call turns out to not be useful for me?
Then I'll tell you that directly instead of trying to upsell you. The free 15-minute chat exists specifically so we find that out before you spend anything. If a paid session isn't the right next step for you, I'll say so.
How long does this actually take to work?
Depends on the path and how much time you put in weekly — there's no overnight version of this. Some routes (like JET) run on fixed yearly cycles no amount of momentum can compress; others move faster. The Transition Sprint is built around getting real forward motion inside 90 days — a plan, applications out, momentum — not a guarantee you'll be relocated by then. The free chat will give you an honest read on your specific timeline.
What happens right after I pay?
You'll get an email from me within 24 hours to lock in a time — I'm one person doing this alongside the day job and the podcast, so it's not instant, but it's fast.
rates & what's included
Book a session
Early rates, while I'm still taking these calls straight off the podcast. They'll go up once I've done a few dozen of these. Prices are listed in USD — PayPal converts automatically to yen or whatever currency you use, so you don't need a USD account to pay.
no cost · a few a week
Quick chat
Free / 15 min
Just to see if this makes sense for you
No action plan — a straight answer
If it's a fit, I'll tell you exactly which session to book next
Pays via PayPal. I'll email you within 24h to lock in a time.
If cost is a real barrier — student budget, between jobs, whatever the situation — email me and we'll figure something out.
listen & watch
Podcast & channel
The unedited version of this move, and what came after it.
podcast
Not Your Sensei
Nine episodes so far, starting with the origin story — how I
got from teaching English to where I am now. Branching out from
here into general career advice and life in Japan too.
The stuff that doesn't fit in a careers podcast — dating,
culture shock, and the things I actually saw dishwashing, working
the door at nightclubs, and every other job before this one.
