Re:What it's like to join a startup in Japan
by w1ntermute on Thursday April 21, 2011 @09:52AM
(#2470595)
> if you are a straight guy, dating will be somewhat easier than in Silicon Valley.
Only "somewhat"? Haven't you read Charisma Man? Dating in Japan is like paradise for a nerd if you like Asian women. Actually, even Caucasian women are easier to get in Japan because you'll have no competition because all the other Caucasian guys will be with Japanese women.
Re:What it's like to join a startup in Japan
by nandemo on Thursday April 21, 2011 @10:21AM
(#2470693)
Yeah, I meant it as an understatement (same for "somewhat big earthquakes").
Re:What it's like to join a startup in Japan
by bluedanieru on Thursday April 21, 2011 @11:35AM
(#2471003)
I have never gotten this. And I've been here eight years. You're wrong afaik :-)
Re:What it's like to join a startup in Japan
by bluedanieru on Thursday April 21, 2011 @11:33AM
(#2471000)
The rent situation is accurate, in that discrimination is not illegal. On the other hand, it is definitely not something that prevents you from getting a decent place full stop, by any means. And none of my married (to Japanese) friends report any trouble at all, for that matter. And permanent residence is certainly on the table if you've been here long enough.
The dating scene is awful though, don't let anyone tell you different :-)
The Bad: as Robert says, working at Japanese companies can be soul-crushing; IT salaries are much lower than in comparable US areas; foreign web/software companies' presence here is very small in terms of R&D; rent in Tokyo is expensive; jobs that use English or otherwise hire foreigners are extremely concentrated in Tokyo; most Japanese cannot speak English, you need to learn Japanese; Japanese is not easy; many train lines in Tokyo are somewhat crowded.
The Ugly: Tokyo is ugly; you cannot easily get permanent residence even if you're married to a Japanese person, has a job and have lived here for years; most tenants refuse to rent to foreigners (discrimination is not illegal); we are subject to somewhat big earthquakes.