Dear WS,

I taught in Japan when I was over 40.

A lot depends on whether you're already there or not. Do you need an employer to sponsor a visa? Do you have credentials in ESL? All these items may affect your chances of getting a job.

I worked for the YMCA (not a sports institution in Japan, but an educational one) and for a place called the Asahi Culture Center. There is an organization called Aeon that sends people over to Japan to teach (headquarters in Chicago, I think). I don't know if they have any age limits.

The international schools in Japan are often looking for teachers. That's another way to get a teaching job.

By the way, there is discussion group about Japan on TBD. Would you like to join us?

YOROSHIKU ("regards" in Japanese)

Arigatoo gozaimasu. I would like to join. (I joined a Japan culture group.) I don't have an ESL certificate and will be heading to Japan in September (for other reasons.) I'm furiously studying Japanese and convinced I'll never be able to converse in Japanese ever! Muzukashii desu!

Our group on TBD is called

"Japan: People, Culture, Travel, Language." You can post comments there and ask questions by clicking on the "join the group" label.

Welcome and "irasshaimase"--people will answer your questions, I'm sure.

I'm impressed that you're studying Japanese already, and I hope you won't give up. Yes, there are difficulties, but it's such a great language.

Where in Japan will you be living? I was in Yokohama.

Hi, Music Art and Language - (Love your name choice, by the way, I would choose something like that to describe myself, if I were renaming myself. I am an aspiring artist and speak several languages including German, French, a little Russian and have had training in the classical languages.) Anyway, I will be in Tokyo for four months . I have been on shorter visits before, but this will be my first chance to live there for more than a few weeks at a time.

I have never been to Yokohama, but I did take a trip to Kagoshima to see one of the famous gardens. By the way, my question about ageism relates to being over 50 not 40. I have an American ex-pat friend who teaches in a highschool and she worries about when they are liable to give her the old "tap on the shoulder." She is about 53, I think. I would love to teach English in Japan at some point, although at the moment I think I had better stay in my US job. Let me know if there are some little known things that I should watch out for and do while I am there.

Well, I live in Nagano City, which is relatively small for a Japanese city, and I have no problem finding work.

However, this is my second time living here and both times I have run my own business instead of trying to work for any of the local companies.

WS - you can never place enough emphasis on daily conversation in the native land of the target language as a means of rapid progression. Still, I have many miles before I sleep.

Let me know if you want some help finding your way.

Hi, JCD and MAL,

Okay - I'll be honest here. I heard that women in their 50s may have trouble teaching in Japan because of the belief that women should step aside at a certain age when they are no longer attractive to the "customer base." I have a friend in her mid fifties teaching a t a Japanese high school who is always worried that she is about to get the infamous "tap on the shoulder." I am sure I could always teach privately, if I ever get to the point where I can divest of pets etc and be free to move, but I would feel more comfortable having some official status and security.