tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post4862984463706192323..comments2024-03-29T16:46:19.227+09:00Comments on Japanmanship: J-Dev Confidential 6Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-5083316424022300012008-11-30T23:03:00.000+09:002008-11-30T23:03:00.000+09:00I know, what a conundrum. The mystery deepens.I know, what a conundrum. The mystery deepens.JC Barnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00122980021264683075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-37569669944947846092008-11-30T21:47:00.000+09:002008-11-30T21:47:00.000+09:00"I know that proposal hasn't been made into law or..."I know that proposal hasn't been made into law or some such, so you're right to say it's not a requirement right now."<BR/><BR/>But as I and Y. Datura seem to understand it, it was never proposed as a <I>requirement</I> to begin with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-9454278541169061462008-11-27T06:30:00.000+09:002008-11-27T06:30:00.000+09:00It was my understanding that Japanese proficiency ...It was my understanding that Japanese proficiency (as demonstrated by passing the JLPT 1 or 2 I would imagine) would simply lower the amount of work exp. one needs to get a work visa - not be any sort of requirement to get one. I think this is a great idea, and it's similar to the points-based system used in Canada for English and French.Y. Daturahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10561017513622285467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-73057022035895357452008-11-26T16:44:00.000+09:002008-11-26T16:44:00.000+09:00I know of one company (my own, in fact, which I wi...I know of one company (my own, in fact, which I will refrain from revealing) that has no problem with making foreign employees 正社員 and has actually been very progressive in their opportunities for upward mobility. I started in localization back when there were only a couple of us. Before long, we had a half dozen or so people working together. At that point, we all became 正社員 together (the bonus system changed my lifestyle completely). Since then, two of us from that original group have gone on to become full fledged producers (or - in my case, at least - assistant producer).<BR/><BR/>My company is quite large, though, and has a reputation for being on the international side of the spectrum in terms of the way they think. I hardly think that they represent the norm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-74019232208580695542008-11-26T14:13:00.000+09:002008-11-26T14:13:00.000+09:00@pamu:The problem with "arbeit" is two-fold in tha...@pamu:<BR/>The problem with "arbeit" is two-fold in that employers really don't take it that seriously, as you said not really seeing you as part of the firm and such, and secondly the security for the employee. <BR/>Going seishain is useful for the long-term immigrant, in that it solidifies your position in Japan, which helps getting loans, apartments, bank accounts and all that. Also, it is much harder for an employer to let you go if you're seishain. <BR/>I have been both; as a part-timer I really felt there was no way to be taken seriously. In one instance I had to have a word with my boss about something I thought was a little uncomfortable, and when my boss told this to the offender in question (it really wasn't a big deal though), the response was, "so what? He's only a part-timer".<BR/>At another company I had to fight for my seishain. I had to tell them, give it to me now or I quit, and they did. At a subsequent company I was offered seishain even before my probation period was over. So I think times are changing and it's much easier these days to become a full employee. My problem with seishain is the hated "bonus" system, so I did eventually elect to go keiyakku instead.<BR/><BR/>The security of a seishain can be a very important factor for your average gaijin. I don't think companies are against offering those to foreigners anymore but it'd probably help if, during the interview, you make clear it's your intention to become seishain in the near future, so they know that's what they have to offer to keep you. <BR/>I'd say "part timer" is best avoided as it comes with many restrictions (glass ceilings, being part of the company, security, etc.) It also shows how serious the company is towards you as an employee. Your situation, pamu, sounds iffy to me, sorry. Without the details I'll of course reserve judgment, but there is simply no reason for them to not make you a full-time employee if you are already doing that work and you request it.JC Barnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00122980021264683075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-66310345185875332732008-11-26T13:57:00.000+09:002008-11-26T13:57:00.000+09:00I don't really want to get into the details of my ...I don't really want to get into the details of my salary, but I also get bonuses and some benefits are available to me. While they are not as large as those of the salaried employees, I am still fairly certain that in total I still edge them out. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, other than the "prestige" of being 正社員, for someone like me, a single person who will return to their home country in a couple years, it probably makes more sense for both me and the company to keep me as arubaito. But at the same time, there is still this kind of tension between salaried workers vs. part-time/haken, and as part of the latter group you never feel like you're "part of the company" in the way that the former "belongs to the company." Of course, this problem is not limited to the video game industry or even Japan. But I'm just wondering how willing the industry is to *fully* accept hiring non-Japanese not just by giving them jobs but by giving them salaried positions with possibility of upward mobility.<BR/><BR/>While I don't want to speak for JC, I think this is an issue particularly relevant for those like him who have their lives and families here and plan to be here forever or so. The problem is that many Japanese companies either assume that we don't plan to settle down here, or, more ominously, make it so that we can't or end up not wanting to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-66420485668321104592008-11-26T13:16:00.000+09:002008-11-26T13:16:00.000+09:00I think the main difference between 正社員 and アルバイト,...I think the main difference between 正社員 and アルバイト, which makes me want work as the first, not the latter, is the benefits and bonus, although it may seem that your salary working as アルバイト is higher.Sinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00389444143234021289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-72934056227185187982008-11-26T12:51:00.000+09:002008-11-26T12:51:00.000+09:00Hi JC,I'm just wondering if you were full-fledged ...Hi JC,<BR/>I'm just wondering if you were full-fledged 正社員 at the company you were at. I am also in the video game industry and even though I work full-time, I am classified アルバイト. While the fact of this impenetrable ceiling gets me down sometimes, I'm usually comforted by the fact I make more money than the salaried workers who have been here for years. In your experience are non-Japanese developers usually hired as salaried employees or as "part-timers"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-27980526415583011512008-11-26T10:51:00.000+09:002008-11-26T10:51:00.000+09:00Hi Aaron,I remember reading about the language pro...Hi Aaron,<BR/>I remember reading about the language proficiency in various news sources a while back, but at the time it was a proposal to make it mandatory. As far as I know that proposal hasn't been made into law or some such, so you're right to say it's not a requirement right now.JC Barnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00122980021264683075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650776.post-60418109866015150532008-11-26T03:57:00.000+09:002008-11-26T03:57:00.000+09:00Hi. I've been following your blog for a bit and i...Hi. I've been following your blog for a bit and it's been extremely interesting. I just joined the industry as a localizer a few months ago, and I've seen that a lot of what you describe is true at my company too.<BR/><BR/>You said:<BR/><BR/>"Proposed minimum entry requirements of level 2 Japanese Language Proficiency,"<BR/><BR/>I remember reading in the newspaper about <EM>special consideration</EM> being offered for language competency, like described <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ0ZqSIdPkA" REL="nofollow">here</A>. It's not a "requirement" or barrier to entry. Do you have a source that says otherwise?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com