News On Japan

Why More Foreigners Are Choosing to Work in Japan

TOKYO, Sep 14 (News On Japan) - The number of foreigners living in Japan has reached a record 3.67 million. Some have realized long-held dreams of working in the country, such as a Polish woman who became an animator, while others are keeping traditions alive, like a French rickshaw puller in Kanazawa. What kind of work do these residents do, and how much do they earn?

Average monthly pay in Japan hit a record 330,000 yen in 2024, but comparisons with overseas wages highlight gaps. A man from California working in IT said his annual salary is around $79,000, or about 11 million yen—nearly three times the Japanese average on a monthly basis. But he added that high living costs in the U.S. make life difficult, with rent alone reaching around 400,000 yen. A German flight attendant said his monthly pay exceeds 500,000 yen, but stressed that Japan’s salaries are low compared to Europe. He also noted that Germany typically offers 30 days of paid leave a year, far more than Japan.

Still, many choose Japan for reasons beyond money. A French woman working at a university office in Tokyo said she appreciates punctual trains and attentive service, though her monthly salary of 270,000 yen leaves her vulnerable to the weak yen as she repays loans in euros. To manage, she seeks out late-night discounts at supermarkets.

For some, Japan offers the chance to fulfill lifelong ambitions. A Polish woman who loved anime since childhood moved in 2024 to work as an animator, earning about 400,000 yen a month. She admitted she spends much of it on anime merchandise but said she is happy to live out her dream.

Others are still preparing to enter the workforce. A Spaniard named Marina, who arrived five months ago, is studying Japanese in hopes of becoming a voice actress. Living in Saitama, she pays 56,000 yen in rent for a one-room apartment—cheaper than in Spain—and said she appreciates Japan’s affordability and safety, noting she can walk alone at 11 p.m. without worry.

Some foreigners are even embracing traditional Japanese roles. In Kanazawa, French engineer Joris pulls rickshaws once a week, earning about 50,000 yen a month on top of his main job, which pays over 400,000 yen. He said he was drawn in by the chance to experience something uniquely Japanese and to share the city’s culture with visitors.

As Japan’s foreign resident population grows, their stories reflect not only salary comparisons but also the attractions of life in the country—from safety and service to the opportunity to turn personal passions into a career.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

As of 6 a.m. on October 10, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was moving northward and bringing the Daito Islands in Okinawa under its strong wind zone. Forecasts show the typhoon approaching Okinawa’s main island and Amami on October 11, southern Kyushu and Shikoku on October 12, and reaching southern Honshu and the Izu Islands on October 13 — coinciding with the three-day holiday weekend. Authorities are warning of strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas from Okinawa through the Kanto region, potentially disrupting travel and outdoor plans.

Tokyo has confirmed its first case of a dog infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks. It is the first time an animal infection has been recorded in the capital.

Bear attacks are intensifying across Japan, with fatalities in fiscal 2025 already matching the record high set in 2023. Experts warn that the rise reflects not only an increase in bear numbers but also changes in human society that have blurred the line between mountain habitats and residential areas.

Typhoon No. 22, classified as a very strong system, made a direct hit on the Izu Islands, leaving widespread damage across the region. On Hachijo Island, located about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo, the storm brought record-breaking rainfall and violent winds, leaving residents stunned by the destruction.

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released The Official Record of Empress Kojun, chronicling the life of Empress Kojun, wife of Emperor Showa and grandmother of the current Emperor.

Typhoon No. 22, classified as a very strong system, made a direct hit on the Izu Islands, leaving widespread damage across the region. On Hachijo Island, located about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo, the storm brought record-breaking rainfall and violent winds, leaving residents stunned by the destruction.

In Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, workers carried out the traditional practice of “komo-maki,” wrapping straw mats around pine trees to protect them from harmful insects as the autumn season deepens. The activity takes place each year around “Kanro” (Cold Dew), one of the 24 solar terms marking the seasonal transition toward winter.

Two police officers from the Hyogo Prefectural Police have been arrested for possessing marijuana, admitting they kept it for personal use.

A bear entered a supermarket in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture on Tuesday night, attacking two male customers before escaping to the south.

Footage filmed near the Harumi Flag Apartments in Tokyo shows groups of motorcycles revving their engines loudly into the night at a nearby intersection, disrupting the peace of families living in the new residential complex built on the former site of the Tokyo Olympic Athletes’ Village.

Police have arrested a 43-year-old former employee of Tsuda College in Kodaira, western Tokyo, on suspicion of property damage after he allegedly took a female student’s shorts from a locker and defiled them with bodily fluid.

The Naha District Court’s Okinawa branch has ordered a group of former youths and their parents to pay more than 4 million yen in damages to Okinawa Prefecture over a riot that took place three years ago when a crowd surrounded the Okinawa Police Station and destroyed vehicles and other property.