If you’ve seen movies like Memoirs of a Geisha and The Last Samurai, then you may think you already know what to expect when teaching English in Japan. As you will quickly discover, there is a lot more to Japan than the stereotypical sushi, Samurai warriors, and sumo wrestlers. From the dazzling lights of Tokyo at night to the serenity of a Buddhist temple surrounded by gardens, Japan combines ancient traditions with modern technology. Millions of people visit each year. Popular tourist destinations include Mount Fuji, Shibuya (a bustling fashion and entertainment district in Tokyo), and Sensoji Temple. For those looking to teach English abroad, Japan can offer many diverse experiences.

Japan has also emerged as one of the world’s most powerful nations in the post-World War II economy (its gross domestic product is second only to the United States). You’ll find that Japan has some of the most cutting edge technology in the world. Ready to find out more about what it would be like to teach in Japan? Read on…

Education
The Japanese value high educational achievement, and Japanese schoolchildren consistently rank among the highest math test-takers in the world. For these schoolchildren, education begins early. Parents teach their preschool children manners, verbal, and number skills at home using educational television shows and books.

Many parents also send their children to preschools (called “yochien”), although these are not part of Japan’s official education system. The Ministry of Labor also supervises a system of government-sponsored day-care centers (known as “hoikuen”).

Children begin first grade at age six, marking an important step in the child’s life and education. The vast majority of elementary schools are public (less than 1% are private). Next comes lower secondary school, covering grades seven through nine. Subjects include Japanese language, social studies, mathematics, science, music, health, morality, and physical education. Students also study industrial arts or homemaking.

Like at middle schools or junior high schools in North America, teachers at Japanese lower secondary schools specialize in their subject. However, in Japan, it is the teacher, not the students who move from classroom to classroom.

Japanese youth are not required to attend upper secondary school, but most do. Upper secondary schools offer academic programs and also technical and vocational courses (including fish farming, business, navigation, and information processing).

Japan has both private universities and public national universities. Entrance to these universities is competitive and based primarily on test scores. University entrance exams are called "ny_gaku shaken." Students who are applying to public universities must take two entrance exams: a uniform achievement test (called the Join First Stage Achievement Test) and a test administered by the university where they are applying. Private universities only require prospective students to take their entrance exam. Many students who do not get accepted to their first-choice university will wait a year and retest the following spring. The Japanese call these students “ronin,” which means masterless samurai.

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Food
While sushi is a popular Japanese dish (especially among Westerners), it is not what Japanese eat most often. The Japanese diet focuses on foods like fish (since Japan is comprised of islands) and vegetables, usually accompanied by rice or noodles. Soba noodles are thin and grayish brown, while udon are thick wheat noodles. The Japanese have also incorporated ramen noodles (Chinese-style wheat noodles in broth) during the last hundred years. Some restaurants also serve combinations of rice and noodles. The most distinctive element of Japanese food is, of course, the attention to beautiful presentation. Whether simple or ornate, Japanese food is carefully arranged to be visually pleasing.

If you’re looking for a taste of home, then you’ll be glad to know that Western foods, such as spaghetti, hamburgers, and beefsteak, are also readily available in Japan. Western food is often called "y shoku." Larger cities like Tokyo tend to have the highest concentration of international cuisine.

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Housing
Many employers arrange furnished accommodations for instructors who request it. This eliminates the start-up costs typically associated with moving into a house or apartment; however, you are free to make your own housing arrangements, if you choose. Accommodations range from traditional to more modern. The important thing to remember in any housing arrangement in Japan is that space is at a premium, so rooms are generally smaller than Westerners are accustomed to. For more on housing in Japan, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_in_Japan.

Internet
Japan offers relatively cheap and fast Internet services across the country. Several companies offer support services in English. Rented houses or apartments are usually wired for Internet access already; however, you will need to contact a service provider to activate your Internet access. Most broadband connections cost around 5,000 yen per month. In addition, most cell phone providers offer email and Internet services via cell phone. You’ll also find Internet cafés located close to most major train stations, often combined with Manga cafes (where people go to read Japanese comics). Average prices at these cafes are about 1,000 yen per hour with drinks.

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Tourism
When you teach English in Japan, exploring your new country and soaking up the local culture is one of the most exciting parts of your experience. If you are not already living in Tokyo, then you may want to pay a visit, as it is one of the largest economic and cultural centers in the world. From window-shopping along the posh streets of Ginza to tasting exotic fruits and vegetables in the Tsukiji open-air wholesale food market, Tokyo has it all. West of Tokyo, nature lovers will appreciate the magnificent views of Mt. Fuji, which the Japanese have worshipped for generations. Climbing to the top to admire the sunrise (“Goraiko”) is well worth the early-morning trip.

Another popular tourist destination, Hiroshima has become a symbol of world peace post-World War II. Many consider the Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine in Hiroshima to be among Japan’s most beautiful sites. The Great Torii Gate (shrine gate) stands in the sea as a symbol of the temple. Whatever your travel interests, we encourage you to get out and explore during your time off. Japan’s two main domestic airlines are All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL). Both offer discounts on domestic fares if you purchase a roundtrip ticket from their website.

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