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Planning Jobs in Japan

Submitted by thecobra2 on Tue, 06/17/2008 - 16:04.

I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Planning program and I am interested in doing planning in Japan. Does anyone know how to find jobs in the planning industry in Japan or if anyone has any experience in this part of the world. I am also considering writing my thesis on planning in Japan.

Thanks for your help

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Wow, sour grapes

Submitted by m.adams on Tue, 11/16/2010 - 20:53.

Let's not go overboard with the "Japanese hate Gaijin" thing. I'm a white American, and I've gotten several different jobs in Japan. It depends on if you can convince them that you will be able to fit in and not be an ugly foreigner. There are so many examples of people like some of our posters here whining, complaining, and leaving before the employer can get a return on its training investment. Japan is based on stability, so the normal expectation is for employees to stay forever. And, in Japan reading context and unwritten rules is extremely important, so of course foreigners have a handicap with that too (in addition to language). There are plenty of Japanese who are interested in foreigners, just look at the number of Americans who are celebrities on TV here.

The main issue, as usual, is can you offer enough to balance your shortcomings (language, cultural background, flight risk). You should also know that there is a very high standard here for dedication (long hours) and attention to detail (not usually a strong point for Americans).

As for planning, it's true that city planning is dominated by the public sector (=civil service, nearly impossible for foreigners), and that the touchy-feely planning we know in the US is mostly unheard of. There are several firms like EDAW (whatever they're called now) doing business here, but the developers may be more interesting (integrated conglomerates build rail lines, residential/commercial and recreational facilities of all kinds as a huge package).

JET is a great way to get to know Japan for a year or two. Salary is great, work not too hard. Look at it as a sabbatical, not a career training program.

Why Japan?

Submitted by LArch Planner on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 06:37.

I'm curious about why all of the interst in Japanese Planning? There have been posts in the past about planning jobs in Japan as well. While I would agree it is an interesting and well ordered country, based on the responses here, including the description of Japanese society and what sound's like their disdain for "outsiders", why would anybody want to be a part of such an enthnocentric experience? There are plenty of countries that welcome planners from the USA or Canada (and other countries) and the expertise they can offer. I find that type of cultural exchange enlightening.

dekinai

Submitted by Mark James Hill on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 01:11.

In my opinion you most likely will not get a job here for the following reasons

1. Not fluent in Japanese- can be overcome

2. you are not Japanese- this one cannot be overcome. Japan is not like the west in their awarding of jobs They are reluctant to give people who are not citizens and Japanese (in other words even if you have permanent residency, are married to a Japanese, and get citizenship you will still not be Japanese but Gaijin). Japan is a homogeneous nation and would like to keep jobs at home and give them to their own people. You would have to be exceptional in your field with experience in something they don't have. In the 80's when demand was high they needed some gaijin but now the economy here sucks so they only need a few in new fields or fields where they don't have the expertise or trained personnel like IT, consulting in IP law etc.

The only thing I could suggest as a doorway in is through academia. 1.) You could learn Japanese then try to enter a 1 year masters program in planning here at Waseda University. That might get you the right contacts and friends in high places to get you a job (rare). Or get a PHD in the US or Canada and come as a professor for a semester or longer to make contacts.

Overall the chances are slim and none. Japanese people do not want foreigners in their country. They only have them here if absolutely necessary. Just look at the statistics if you don't believe me- Only 1% of the population is foreigners! Think about all the people they have to have here to speak English, as consultants, as spouses of Japanese nationals etc and it only amounts to 1%.

Sorry to discourage you but I would hate to see you waste your time.

JET is a waste of time unless you want to teach English forever or work as a community event organizer- (read
English teacher who organizes sports or western cultural educational events). Its not that JET is a waste of time but that everything is specific here.
mark james hill

h

Submitted by Kunitomo Kamizaki on Tue, 06/29/2010 - 10:15.

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Japan

Submitted by mdb02 on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 09:11.

I have some good Japanese friends, and they were saying there really aren't planners in Japan the same way there are here. Most of the planning is done by rail companies and associates. (This could be wrong)
But I do know for sure that if you intend to work for a Japanese company in Japan, you pretty much need to be fluent in Japanese and the Japanese way of doing things.
One friend recommended this book: Dogs and Demons. Its about problems in Japan. I can't attest to its accuracy, but it might give you some thesis ideas.

Hope that helps some...

That helps me out a

Submitted by thecobra2 on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 10:47.

That helps me out a bit......I will have a look at the book. Do you know the role that the government plays in the planning process? I would assume that they would have some control over development decisions. Do you know of any companies that does consulting work in Japan?

Try the Jet Program

Submitted by Failing_Grad on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 08:14.

Maybe your best way is to get into Japan thru the JET program. It's the program where you teach English in Japanese high schools. This, if anything, could be more a planning education than any master's program could possibly offer.

- preserverence is the way of the uneducated

JET Access Point

Submitted by Scotch on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 21:18.

Doing it through JET is a good way to meet planners. I did JET for four years, during which I became interested in planning. As a JET, you work for local governments (town/city or prefectural) and often work in the same building as the planners. In my case, my desk was next to the education infrastructure planners and I was able to get to know them quite well. They in turn introduced me to several municipal and prefectural planners. JET's also good because it's basically a cake job that gives you plenty of time to figure out the culture, learn the language, and make contacts for post-JET career options.

I'm in planning grad school now and am also considering going back to Japan eventually. The earlier comment about planning done by the government is largely true, in my experience. But, I don't wish working for a local Japanese government on anyone. Try looking at international firms, NGOs, etc.

Also, I wouldn't read Dogs and Demons if you don't have experience living in Japan. It's a take-down of the Japanese presenting them in the worst possible interpretation, equally as bad as Western tendencies to glorify Asian culture. One could easily write a book like that about Americans. Go there and learn about it on your own terms.

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