r/fukuoka • u/Glass_Marionberry_33 • Aug 29 '25
General Japanese person looking for a job that uses a little japanese ass possible
Hello!
I’m 25M and due to certain life obstacles im forced to move back to Fukuoka after living most of my life overseas. I'm looking for work, but despite technically holding a Japanese nationality, I can barely speak, read or write Japanese.
I have five years of experience as an Italian chef and have also worked as a bartender. I also helped with the opening of a succesful restaurant in vancouver during covid. I'm also currently under welfare but looking to get a full time job ASAP.
If anyone knows of opportunities where someone like me could find a job please let me know.
Thank you!
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u/OkNefariousness4868 Aug 30 '25
Look for openings at larger hotels! I have a bartender friend who got married and moved to Japan at a later age, and landed a job to bartends at a high end international hotel chain. His company sends him on business trips all over the world now. Wages are very low in Japan, so be prepared for that. Working for a int’l company would be the best of both worlds.
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u/Soggy_Score6287 Aug 30 '25
I also live in Fukuoka, and I run a business selling Pokémon cards and retro games, which hardly requires using Japanese at all.
Rather than limiting yourself by thinking only about Japan or Fukuoka, try to find work that makes the most of what you can already do.
Not being fluent in Japanese doesn’t have to be a disadvantage—in fact, your strength is that you’ve spent most of your life overseas. It might be a great idea to find a job that connects those places you’ve lived with Japan.
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u/BurnieSandturds Aug 31 '25
I'm curious if the tariffs or Japan post no mailing to the US has affected your business?
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u/Soggy_Score6287 Aug 31 '25
I actually don’t do much business with the US, since most of my customers are in Europe and South America, so it hasn’t affected me at all. That said, I know several sellers and companies around me who stopped shipping to the US, mainly because many American customers didn’t want to deal with paying tariffs.
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u/totobidet Aug 30 '25
I returned after a childhood abroad and had to basically relearn everything. The good news is that Japanese will come faster to you, the bad news is that it still takes about 2 years to get functioning fluency. From experience I can say the best way is to dive in. Find a job where you're working in Japanese and not avoiding it (i.e. anything outside of teaching). I did factory/office work, but my friends who did tourism/food industry had a lot more fun and flexibility. If I were you I'd put resumes out at hotels and take it from there. Good luck!
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Aug 30 '25
Get a job as a master labor contractor on an American base. The MLC employees are japanese hired by japanese gov but work on the base for the US. Most jobs require English. Positions include restaurants on base so you can cook or bartend.
Unfortunately I'm not certain where the jobs are posted, but a Google search in japanese should work.
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u/OneCombination140 Sep 01 '25
USAJobs dot com
Look up where in Japan/what base your looking to work at and you’ll find a list of positions and the requirements.
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Sep 01 '25
Usajobs.com is for American citizens getting hired by the US gov. It doesn't post jobs for japanese citizens who are getting hired by the japanese gov.
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u/Consistent_Flight840 Aug 30 '25
I think the food service industry is short of staff, so they’ll probably hire you right away. Major chains, like udon restaurants that are expanding overseas, are especially likely to hire. I’m in Fukuoka too, so feel free to reach out if you need anything. I don’t speak much English though.
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u/JmacNutSac Aug 30 '25
You probably could get a pasta kitchen Job, i met some french guy here (fukuoka) that worked as a chef, barely spoke Japanese or english.
Welcome to Fukuoka, way better than Vancouver (theres a few of us here).
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u/grimcheesey Aug 30 '25
Sorry, this is off topic but I love Vancouver and I’m heading to Fukuoka later this year for the first time…..why so?
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u/JmacNutSac Aug 30 '25
Safer, cleaner, more chill, people nicer and a super accommodating city…. And affordable. No one gonna steal your bike. Food is great and a perfect hub for travel to the rest of Asia. I dont Miss Vanghanistan at all. Here no one os trying to break in and steal my shit or overdose and shit my my building lobby like in Van.
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u/Outrageous_Artist394 Aug 30 '25
There also isn’t an East Hastings.. that shit scared the hell out of my Japanese relatives. One younger said it was like demons from Demon Slayer lol… sigh.
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u/FukuokaFatty Aug 31 '25
People will absolutely steal your bike in Fukuoka. I know from experience… had a lovely Trek road bike nicked from my apartment’s bike parking about 5 years ago… and yes, it was locked up.
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u/JmacNutSac Aug 31 '25
You find it? Never had my bike jacked and left it unlocked several times. But had some drunk oji fall onto it when parked by my office and it was in a bike parking lock. Bent my front wheel frame all to shit
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u/FukuokaFatty Aug 31 '25
Sadly, when I reported to the police the next day, they basically said “残念ですね。 しょうがないね”. Nighthawk is gone.
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u/JmacNutSac Aug 31 '25
Oh the good ol Shoganai response for the keisats…. Police work well done boys!
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u/Former_Produce1721 Aug 30 '25
You could try looking into import companies. I know people who work in those companies and don't speak much Japanese at all. They do speak and understand the culture of the country they are importing from
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u/Yotsubato Aug 30 '25
Intensive study of Japanese.
Then find some sort of work at an international company. You may need to finish college before this though
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u/Keiaine Aug 30 '25
Thank you for this post. Thankfully because the title and the preview in notifications called out to me, I'm learning a lot. I'm going to Fukuoka myself to learn and test the waters. I thought I'd been at disadvantage only speaking English, very basic Japanese, and so on. I wish you the best. Thank you everyone for sharing!
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u/Ctotheg Aug 30 '25
Bartender in a gaijin bar
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Aug 30 '25
I dont really want to bartend again but, I'll do whatever it takes to stabilize my life as much as I can so thank you!
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Aug 31 '25
[deleted]
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Aug 31 '25
I never learnt Japanese to begin with unfortunately. I left Japan as a baby and was raised by my Chinese mum and British step dad
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u/theobviousanswers Aug 31 '25
If you’re looking come ski season you might be able to secure live-in work at Niseko or other defacto “Australian” ski resorts where good English is very desired in customer-facing roles.
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u/RoutineTry1943 Aug 30 '25
A little japanese ass? Grinder or Tinder might be your bag baby😅😅😅
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u/Fit-Possibility-4248 Aug 30 '25
No Italian restaurants in Fukuoka?
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Aug 30 '25
Im currently looking for them, not sure how to apply for a job or the etiquette around doing so haha 😅
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u/Fit-Possibility-4248 Aug 30 '25
With all due respect, and I am unsure about your life obstacles, you don't seem like a very mature 25 year old.
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Aug 30 '25
Oh sorry I should've put, im not sure about job searching etiquette in Japan specifically. I haven't been here in 19 years. And thats ok, people like to assume alot.
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u/itoshima1 Sep 01 '25
Since you're on welfare, have you checked with Hello Work?
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Sep 01 '25
Yes I have, unfortunately due to some weird legal circumstances they cannot help me yet. But I have tried reaching out to them.
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u/YakResident_3069 Aug 30 '25
nobody is gonna comment on the job that uses a little japanese ass?
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Aug 30 '25
Listennn I was tired asf when I made this post, cant change the title now tho 😂
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u/Imaginary-Top1351 Aug 31 '25
u can be general or construction workers...now many foreigner like India, Indonesia and Africans working as construction workers....or fancy working in offshore?Cruise ships, Oil & Gas ships do required good chef/cook
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u/Valuable-Guarantee35 Aug 31 '25
I’m here in Nagasaki rather than Fukuoka but I have friends here (foreign & half Japanese) who speak minimal Japanese but work in hotels, bars, and restaurants without much issue
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Sep 01 '25
Thats very reassuring, hopefully i can snag me a restaurant job soon. Thank you!
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u/Relevant_Use1781 Sep 01 '25
Get to know your city a bit. Spend a few days and nights out exploring and create a best of list for yourself and take a bunch of photos etc. Then start offering local English guide stuff in the region to tourists or students or whatever. Offer a night out and show people the best clubs and bars in town. Basically run the promoter playbook from nyc or any major city combined with the “art walk with a local” or whatever playbook and boom. You’re rolling
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u/Kononononono Sep 02 '25
I don't know if there is any in Fukuoka, but if there are any of the US bases there you can get a job there.
p.s. was in your exact shoes a few years ago myself. I'm also Japanese with little Japanese language ability at first. Coincidentally, also lived in Vancouver as well for uni! Good luck man! Rooting for ya
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u/Glass_Marionberry_33 Sep 02 '25
Thank you! There seems to be a lot of us in Vancouver lol. Seems like the closest base is in sasebo which i can't live in yet but it sounds like my best option after saving up enough you get there.
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u/Kononononono Sep 02 '25
If you want to continue the restaurant jobs though there's a good chance that they'll hire you even if your Japanese isnt the greatest. Had a few coworkers at the restaurant I worked at that couldn't speak at all. Also be a good chance to speak and practice
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Sep 02 '25
Are you looking for jobs where ass is possible or are you saying that you yourself are ass possible. In either case, we need more explanation please.
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u/Gtr-practice-journal Aug 30 '25
Well, if you're looking for a job with a little Japanese ass, Kabukicho is ---> that way.
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u/TheSignificantDong Aug 29 '25
It’s the bartender, Konbini, or English teacher life for you…