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Plans involving Japan -
04-29-2008, 12:38 PM
Okay.
How viable is a music career in Tokyo? Is there an active ongoing music scene? Also. I've become aware that I need to have a 4-year university degree to obtain a work visa. So basically that means I cannot actually live in Tokyo unless I have a university degree right? (Unless I have a magical source of income) I am Singaporean if that makes any difference. Lastly, what is the standard of living in Tokyo? Thanks. 
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04-29-2008, 04:41 PM
The topic of work visa was previously discussed. Having a university degree is irrelevant to your eligibility for a work visa, what important is that your work skills stands out and what you are able to offer are considered to be talents thats not available in Japan. A good start for info is here: Japan Visa,Japanese Embassy Requirements,Work,Travel Visa Application Form,Tourist,Holiday,Student,immigration information
Your current citizenship is also irrelevant, all countries associate a risk factor to applicants base on their citizenship, in your case, you are probably low risk to anyone since Singapore is not known to be associated with any terror activities Standard of living is high comparing to other Asian countries. With living and transportation cost being the highest. I am not familiar with the music/entertainment industry in Japan. Maybe someone can comment on this. User MMM and Nagoyayankee usually have lots of info to offer as well, please look for their other posts
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04-29-2008, 05:21 PM
Quote:
The chances of being a successful musician are as good, if not worse, in Tokyo as they are in any other city in the world.
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04-30-2008, 12:24 AM
I mean working as a musician.
Anyway. More importantly. How realistic would it be to support myself with jobs on the side such as teaching,modeling,etc(basically whatever i can get my hands on)? Of course this is only if I can't support myself with music alone. This is taking into account the fact that I do not have a degree but I can have good english skills.
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04-30-2008, 12:29 AM
The university degree is sorta the key component, here. If you don't have it, you can't work in Japan at all. I also don't think being a musician would get you a working visa in the first place. You can get an "entertainment visa" as a musician, but those are typically only given out to people who already have a big reputation in the music industry (Marty Friedman, a guitarist who lives and does music in Japan, comes to mind).
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04-30-2008, 02:11 AM
Hello!
I don't know much about the music industry in Japan, but it seems to be a very hard living out there.  In Japan, there is nothing for free, and even wanabee bands need a lot of money to be able to play. For example, if you want to make a live in a Live House of a pub, you often need to pay a sort of rent BEFORE playing! So if nobody comes to your live ... You can see a lot of bands playing outside near train stations, in Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc. They try to distribute their albums and find public for their future lives. And I think also that finding a VISA as a musician is not a piece of cake! Does anybody have such an experience?
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04-30-2008, 02:54 AM
As a foriegner trying to live as a musician in Japan you are looking at an uphill battle. Not impossible, but uphill.
I played in a couple bands in Japan and did several shows, and basically after paying the club, the profits were enough for everyone in the band to buy a couple beers. We didn't do it for the money, obviously, but we had to get people to pay 25 or 30 bucks to come see US play. This is, of course, after paying for studio space to practice. Visa-wise, you need a sponsor. The easiest way will be to marry a Japanese, but after a University degree you can likely find teaching work. I have no idea about modeling, but there is no visa there, I am sure.
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04-30-2008, 02:55 AM
going out on a limb here, since it is not really my area of expertise (do i even have an area of expertise?), but getting an entertainment visa from the little i know is not very difficult. a fair amount of women from south east asia come on that visa, plus most bands or solo artists that perform here in japan. however, again from the little i know, i think they r rather difficult to extend, so if u r thinking of something more permanent i think u better look elsewhere. pls notice that i only think, not know.
for the entertainment visa u don't need a degree. one option might be to get a specialist visa becoming a studio musician. pls beware of that i have no idea whether or not that would be viable. as always contact the japanese embassy/consulate in ur country or try the immigration authority here in japan.
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