While eBay’s success in the Western world is well known, in Japan eBay failed to make a good first impression and the online auction giant pulled out of Japan in March 2002. If you try to visit eBay’s Japanese website now you will find an apologetic message, and a link to another Japanese auction site called Bidders. Bidders has only a tiny fraction of current the Japanese online auction market.

The demise of eBay Japan is no great loss and Yahoo! Auctions is enjoying immense popularity. Even when eBay Japan was in the running, Yahoo! enjoyed a 95% share of the online auction market, compared to eBay’s piddling 3%.

Yahoo! has made great inroads in Japan, both through their Yahoo! BB broadband services and also the ubiquitous Yahoo web portal. Yahoo! has been very well accepted in Japan and has gained the respect and trust of the Japanese people.

Cultural differences could place more of a part than it first appears. Yahoo! has been careful to tailor their service to the Japanese way of thinking and of life.

Even online, the famed Japanese politeness and etiquette is essential. For example, leaving feedback like ‘Great buyer’ or ‘Bad seller’ will just not cut it. Nor will leaving over factual or emotional responses. There is a definite requirement that all communication between the buyer and seller is respectful and verbose.

If you have ever used eBay, one thing that may shock you about Japanese online auctions is their trusting nature. I have bought a number of different items where the seller has sent me out the item before I’ve even paid for it! This works because most Japanese will feel guilty and run down to make their payment straight away. I’ve even bought from proper online stores and been given the same payment terms, delivery now… pay later! If only Western society was like that.

Another reason for Yahoo! Auctions’ rise to the top was perhaps their Yahoo! Payments system. Yahoo! Payments allows the seller to receive the funds from the sale into their bank account.

A browse through Yahoo! Auctions reveals a world of items that Western collectors would drool over. But before you attempt to logon, you’d better have several years of Japanese studies under your belt. Unless you can converse like a native, with all the intricacies of the Japanese politeness you won’t get far. You’ll also need access to payment methods that you can only do in Japan, such as a local postal money order. International payments are definitely not accepted - and a Japanese delivery address is a must.

Most sellers wont even sell to overseas for these reason, and also because they don’t want the hassles of international delivery. Why would they? With a population of around 127,000,000 people, potential buyers in Japan are not exactly hard to come by.

For travelers of Japan who intend to cover any distance, trains are the best way to get around. And nothing is quicker than the famous Bullet Train. If tickets are purchased per journey instead, these Shinkansen trips can cost almost the same as the equivalent airfare - but the range of destinations is not limited to cities that only have airports. Shinkansen simply means ‘New Trunk Line’ in English, however it’s more commonly referred to as the Bullet Train.

The other convenience factor of the Japanese bullet train is probably not immediately apparent. For example, imagine catching a plane. You’d need to get yourself right out of town to the airport, check in early, go through the screening and boarding procedures and then do it all again at the other end! It could add many hours to a journey that may only entail 1 or 2 hours flying time. With the Shinkansen bullet trains, assuming you have an un-reserved seat, all you need to do is turn up at the station, wait about 15-20 mins for the next train and jump aboard.

The Shinkansen schedule is very regular and but I recommend picking up a Shinkansen timetable as the services do stop overnight. That way you won’t get caught out. Stash your luggage out of the way and relax! There are even food & beverage carts that are wheeled through the train just like in the air! You can purchase snacks, hot meals and even alcohol, and the seats have fold down tray tables too! When you arrive at your destination simply grab your bags and alight. Most Shinkansen bullet trains run from stations fairly central in the cities so are easy to get to.

You will find that your Japanese trip is much more pleasurable by train, and you can take in the sights too, albeit at pretty high speed. If you plan on traveling by train a lot in Japan, a Japan Rail Pass is definitely recommended and allows you unlimited travel on JR (Japan Rail) trains for 7, 14 or 21 days depending on the pass purchased. But be carefuly, since many other train companies other than Japan Rail and the Japan Rail Pass is not valid for all train services. You will find the JR Pass saves you an absolute bundle especially since you can have unlimited Shinkansen bullet train travel using it.

The Japan Rail Pass lets you use all Shinkansen services apart from the Nozomi class, which are the current fastest bullet trains. Since usually the Nozomi shinkansen will be a full express service to the destination, you are probably going to want to take the other Shinkansen service anyway to get off along the way for your sightseeing in Japan. A trip on the bullet train is a must-do for the total Japan experience!

Japanese culture has many ancient traditions. For example, when entering a Japanese home did you know that you are required to take off your shoes? In Japan culture plays an important part of everyday life, so it’s essential to show respect and always remove your footwear when entering houses in Japan. This means that slip-on or easy to remove shoes are a must.

Obviously, if you are wearing high lace up boots then it is going to get annoying real fast when you have to take them off every time you enter Japanese homes. It’s a good idea to purchase some new socks before your trip too and make sure to always wear clean, hole-free ones as you never know when you may need to take off your shoes. Some Japanese restaurants, temples and traditional hotels will also require that you remove your footwear too. The idea is to keep the dirt from the street outside and preserve the clean Japanese home decor. Most Japanese homes will also feature what is called ‘tatami’. This is the traditional straw matting that you may have visions of Japanese samurai sitting on. Walking on the Japanese tatami mats in anything more than socks is a definite no-no and you will quickly offend your host.

Japanese interiors may feature tatami prominently, however these days most houses in Japan only have one traditional style tatami room. It may be furnished with a sparse amount of Japanese furniture, while the rest of the house will often be of a Western feel. Even without the Japanese tatami room, most Japanese homes will feature a traditional part of Japanese decor called the ‘genkan’. Japanese interiors are usually raised higher, while the genkan will be lower so that you step up into the Japanese home.

Remove your shoes at the genkan and leave them there. There may be place to store them, or you may turn them around ready to step into when you leave and put them to the side out of the way. Or, you may even return to find that your host has neatly arranged them for you, a polite gesture in the culture of Japan. So remember to always where clean socks and remove your shoes when entering a Japanese home and pay respect to their Japanese traditions and culture.

If you are considering teaching English in Japan, I thoroughly recommend you to check out Craig Desorcy’s guide,
The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook

Craig’s handbook is full of valuable tips and information that will help you find and prepare for this life-changing experience as well as how to succeed as an English teacher and lots of insider info about the teaching business in Japan.

As you’re probably already aware, Japan is a very unique place. No where else in the world will you find the same outrageous opportunities to make money that are open to just about anyone.

English Teaching.

The most common job for new foreigners is teaching English. Despite the thousands of English schools and 12 years of study at school, the English level in Japan remains at lower intermediate, ensuring strong demand for teachers. Every type of class and situation exists from Elementary schools right through to Flight Attendant Colleges. It can also be a great way into a previously non-existent position. I know of one teacher at a top Advertising agency who later became an English copywriter. He had no experience whatsoever in copywriting, they just liked him and enjoyed his lessons.

Acting/modeling/voice overs.

Without a doubt, the epicenter for entertainment work is Tokyo. There are around 60 major freelance agencies that offer all kinds of work to foreigners living in the area. It is not uncommon for first timers to walk into $1000 plus jobs, while their friends back home fight over $120 extras work. Experience is not expected - simply being foreign and having the right look is enough. In fact, most highly skilled dancers and actors would be appalled at how easy it is to get work and how the jobs are selected. Actual talent is very rarely considered - it is all about the look.

In many ways, the entertainment scene in Tokyo is a big break and a way to escape the comfort zone and limitations of home. Many foreigners living in Japan, doing the work, return home to find their friends are just as broke as they were 5 years ago, fighting over the same tiny piece of the entertainment pie, hoping desperately for a break. They are not seeing that Tokyo is that break! Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, Ashley Judd and Cameron Diaz are among some of the current stars to have worked in Japan.

Dancing/hostessing.

Japan was long considered one of the best places for working Dancer/hostess types in the world. Whilst it still can be very lucrative, the rules have changed regarding visas. Whereas once a 90 tourist visa was adequate, immigration crackdowns have led to the introduction of entertainment visas for all women employed in the industry. The Japanese culture remains one of meetings and drinking, and corporate types still prefer to do both in the company of attractive, polite, western women. In the past, women simply had to be attractive and turn up, now they need to be just as adept at being charming in order to make the big money.

Wedding minister.

The white wedding business is huge in Japan. It is the most popular type of ceremony from Sapporo to Okinawa and all those weddings create a demand for clean cut pastors to conduct the 20 minute ceremonies. In some cases, 20,000 yen for the 20 minute ceremony and performing 20-30 per month on the weekends is normal, making this one of the best ways to make yen. There are some properly ordained ministers out there, but for the most part, basic Japanese and rudimentary training is all it takes to move one man from the classroom to the pulpit.

Headhunting.

The Headhunting industry in Tokyo continues to flourish unabated. New companies emerge quarterly and are still able to bill fees of 30 - even 35% in some cases. Most of the “recruiters” start out teaching English and usually have very little in the way of professional experience. As English speakers though, they are considered to be experts in dealing with foreign companies, which is more than enough to qualify them for the job. Here you will find recruiters - both male and female making 6 figures when many would struggle to hold down simple jobs back home. This truly is an extraordinary opportunity open to anyone with some professionalism and knowledge of Japan.

Japanese language skills.

For teaching English and Headhunting, Japanese is almost not required at all. Speaking with the students in Japanese is strongly discouraged - they are there to learn English after all, and in Headhunting, 95% of the candidates need to be effective communicators in English. That leaves Wedding Ministers - the ceremony is read in Japanese, dancing/hostessing - where some basic Japanese will be looked upon favorably and Acting/modeling/voice overs, where in most cases there will already be a translator and the pronunciation of 10 words in Japanese is more important that speaking ability.

An active interest in Japanese culture and the language will assist in daily life, but for the people simply interested in Japan as a way to make as much money as possible, it is simply not required.

Copyright 2006 Matt Canham

About the author:
Matt Canham has lived on and off in Tokyo for the last 7 years.
He has a resource site at: http://jobs-in-japan.marinerblue.com

And don’t forget to take grab a copy of Craig Desorcy’s excellent guide, The Super Teaching in Japan Handbook before you go!