What are some possible jobs for foreigner in Japan?

Question:

I plan on studying abroad in Japan in the distant future, and I want to be able to make some cash while I'm there. What are some possible jobs for a foreigner that's NOT teaching English as a foreign language? I don't have anything against teaching English, but I would like to hear of other opportunities.

Answer:

Officially, it is illegal for exchange students to be employed in Japan (this goes for most other countries as well), with very little exceptions. Unless you are the child of an ambassitor, there is no legal way you can work in Japan under a student visa.

If you are considering working under-the-table, i.e. illegally, than your options are essencially your imagination combined with your ability to get someone to illegally hire you. In most cases, that's impossible for most respectable jobs. However freelancing is probably your best and only option.

People freelance mostly in teaching English. While you may frown on this, please understand that no country anywhere on the planet will hand out cool jobs to foreigners, especially when natives can do the same job with better language skills. However freelancing isn't always limited to teaching, it's just that's the unfortunate stereotype job that English speakers are stuck with (similar to Korean people here having to work in pachinko parlors).

Freelancing outside of teaching can encompass translation, journalism, graphics, virtually anything. However, you must note that you will be competing for work with trained professionals who have much more expirience and ability than you do. They also can do the same work legally, where as you can't.

My advice, if you REALLY want to work with a student visa, you should not turn your nose up at teaching English. Teaching private lessons will usually net you at least 3000 yen an hour (over $30), and I have known people that get as much as 10,000 yen an hour with the right clients. This also opens up to networking, so you can possibly get a better job if you decide to someday change your visa to a working visa... which is a different story altogether.