Lots of people want to work in Japan. It's an incredibly intriguing place, now positioned as the world's third largest economy and playing a vital role in the global community. It's no wonder people want to live there and see what it's like. Unfortunately those without a degree are very much restricted when it comes to obtaining employment in Japan due to entry requirements, meaning that funding life over there would be difficult. There is an opportunity to overcome this however, by applying for a Working Holiday Visa.
The governments of the UK and Japan have put great emphasis on building a strong and equal relationship amongst their citizens, and so each have developed entry schemes providing wider opportunities for people to experience a different way of life.
Under the "Working Holiday Scheme", a limited number of UK citizens who wish to stay in Japan up to one year primarily can be granted a visa which allows them to enter Japan for up to one year, and take work for up to one year, incidental to their holiday in order to supplement their travel funds. There are a variety of prerequisites for applications, and various documents must be submitted. There is a limit of 1000 citizens that will be granted entry on the Working Holiday Scheme each Japanese financial year, which runs April through March. Applications close when 1000 visas have been successfully issued.
If you meet the necessary requirements, then it's important to get your application in early. I've spoken to many people who have been disheartened by the working entry requirements for Japan. The levels of interest in living and finding a job there are quite staggering, and a recent survey carried out by TEFL England highlighted Japan as one of the most sought after TEFL destinations on the planet. The Working Holiday Scheme is a fantastic idea in my opinion, offering the chance for those who would otherwise be refused the chance to live and work in Japan (and vice versa) the chance to give it a go, and experience a completely new and very different lifestyle to what they may be used to.
Whilst pushing the boundaries of modern technology, the Japanese somehow manage to sustain their ancient philosophies and their strong cultural heritage. It's an amazing country, and there are various working opportunities available there. For all UK citizens, whether you're based in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland, this could be an enormous opportunity for exploration in 2013.