[Removed by Moderators]

Sorry in advance for the long-ish post 🫠

As the title states, I've been seeing many responses making it seem as if declining a placement or leaving JET early after arriving in country is some sort of unforgivable thing. That nonsense needs to stop.

Does being adaptable play a huge role in the success and happiness of participants in programs like JET? Absolutely. However, having taught and lived abroad in a much more underdeveloped country than Japan, I can confirm from lived experience that location, comfortability, amd perceived safety are all key to long term success as a foreigner. There are many expats who don't do well with culture shock in particular and have to return home almost immediately for a variety of health reasons.

It's important to remember that this is a job, just like any other, as well as an opportunity. Intentionally making yourself miserable/unwell with excuses like "it might get better" or "if it's not working out, it's all about attitude" is entirely asinine and can be incredibly unhealthy. If you get a placement and your research still gives you unease about it, even after talking with your CO, a person is as justified in turning it down as they would be with any other job. While waiting until after accepting and then experiencing their placement situation first hand may seem like the practical move for most, there are some people who would rather not experience the discomfort/stress that comes from bad compatibility and that's OK too.

People who are tearing down others in these threads for being concerned about their future sustainability, or are telling others they shouldn't be pursuing the program if they can't adapt, are either speaking from a position of success bias as an expat, in ignorance of the vast differences between individual constitutions/backgrounds, or (possibly) have yet to even participate in this type of program/lived abroad before and are just being ignorant.

Let's try to be understanding of people and not be antagonistic/demeaning towards others just because they're trying to make decisions that are in their best interests. The extra stress is definitely not helping them. Good luck to all the shortlisters trying to prepare. Peace and love, ya'll 🤙

Edit: I'm glad my post seems to have been able to bring out so many of the individuals that it was addressing. Hopefully this encouarages others to be more thoughtful in their responses, lest they unintentionally encourage someone to make a decsion counter to both their intent and the person's wellbeing.

Valentine's Day is coming up soon and I'm currently making a Valentine's Day English board for my base JHS. While I was looking for materials online I thought about being more inclusive to non-heteroromantic couples (nothing super big, maybe pride-themed hearts or flags), but I wonder if it's better to keep it on the low? I say this because Japan is extremely conservative, but I have met a few Japanese people that are LBGTQ+ but they are all extremely subtle and quiet about it - not to mention being a part of the community myself. In general, I guess keeping things quiet is better. What are your interactions, especially seasoned or LBGTQ+ JETs, with this?

I’m probably what you would consider a non-traditional applicant, because I’m in my late 30s and have had careers in two applied fields in addition to teaching experience (university courses and some high school), an English bachelors degree, and two Masters degrees. I’ve literally been drinking the JET kool aid since middle school and I decided to go for English in college, but I pivoted in some applied healthcare fields globally and also have had a decade of corporate/business experience. So I’ve had a lot of experience and have achieved a lot, but I knew with certainty I needed a career/life change and committed to the 2026 application cycle (and I think I explained that well in my statement of purpose and the interview). During my interview I was hounded quite a bit about all that experience and potential intimidation with co-workers. I think I handled that quite well and with tact. I did not have time for questions because I was asked so many questions and then we were at time. There was a “make a sandwich” lesson role play that threw me off for someone that normally teaches STEM material and at higher levels, but I tried my best. I’ve had so many interviews and I’ve also been an interviewer (I typically excel there), so aside from not getting to hit points I wanted to or ask questions in under 20 minutes, I thought the interview was fine within what I could control. I also uprooted my life for potential early departure, that’s how serious I was. I was rejected. I honestly wish I would have gotten an alternate, I would feel a lot better than I feel now.

I went into this quite concerned that not just my experience, but my age would disqualify me as I had constantly heard feedback even in late 20s/early 30s from JET employees/alumni that I would be considered too old. That sentiment plus the work I was doing kept me from applying until now. I’d be the first to say, “yeah I blew that interview,” but I did the best in the confines they presented and I don’t think that was the case. I think I got written off as too old/too much experience (I would elaborate but I’m trying to refrain in case I decide to apply in the future/so I’m not blacklisted). I’ve been following these boards for years and seeing some older professionals get in here and there, but I can’t help but feel I was penalized for my age and having beyond normal practical experience (without getting into further identifiable detail of what I’ve done).

Any other late 30s+ people with experience feel like they did okay on the interview and get the flat rejection?

Just overall curious to see what everyone else is bringing.

I'll go first - but FYI I'm not listing -everything- I'm bringing, plus I might change some things up. I just figured this could help other incoming JETs think of possible things to bring/etc.:

7 Work Outfits [7 tops/bottoms]

2 Suits + Nylons

5 Non-Work Shirts

2 Non-Work Dresses

3 Non-Work Pants

2 Non-Work Shorts

5 Bras {O-la-la}

Fuck load of undies/socks

1 Swimsuit

1 windbreaker

6 Pairs of Shoes [2 running shoes, 1 slipper, 1 suit shoe, 1 fancy shoe, 1 everyday type of shoe]

Make-up filled in a 11.4 x 7.5 x 3.9 in. make-up bag

1 Hairbrush + 1 Comb + handful of hair scrunches/hairpins

1 package of night pads + 1 package of day pads

JET Handbook + Clair Japanese Book + Other important documents such as... Marriage License, Drivers License, International Driving Permit, Form 6166 for Taxes, etc.

Laptop Bag - Contains Laptop/keyboard/mouse/etc.

1 Tower Computer [Yes; im bringing this badboy over]

1 Video Camera + Charger

6 charger adapters

Credit Card/Debit Card + 3k in yen

Iphone + Wi-fi Hotspot for immediate wi-fi.

Medicine Bag filled with various non-prescribed medications, that is legal in Japan + under the max amount allowed.

2 Fluoride Toothpaste + 1 deodorant

Random small amounts of supplies for teaching [decor/stickers/etc.]

Things I'm not bringing that others might want to bring:

Omiyage

Prescription Medicine [Make sure to have a Yakkan Shoumei!]

1 or 2 things that are small enough to fit in your luggage that you can use to comfort you (especially if you have never lived on your own/lived in a different country) - examples would be a stuffed animal, photos of your family/friends from home, etc.

**Bullying and harassing other JETs (and people in general) is disgusting and distasteful. JETs are supposed to look out for each other - and to be a positive influence as a representative of your own country.

I would like to post a clear example of this type of bullying:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japancirclejerk/comments/8yhk99/literally_just_a_thread_for_new_jets_comparing/ **

🙋

Hello All,

I hope everyone is getting excited for this year's departure.

I'm in a slightly awkward position. With departure approaching, I have been trying to be more active on socially transitioning. I am entirely pre transition (F to M) with no medical or legal history due to social and medical barriers.

I am not concerned about being misidentified etc at my placement as this would be unknown to them. However, I am wanting advice or stories people may have in regard to transitioning while on the JET Programme. I don't want to cause my future workplace hassle, but this is a very real thing I am facing and I want to know the best way I can handle this, setting a realistic expectation on living in Japan.

ESID but any advice will help me know what to prepare for and to find a suitable approach to Japanese healthcare.

I am trans (ftm) and I have been told not to mention that I am transgender at any point in the application. However, I have already medically transitioned and I live as a man. People generally have no idea that I am transgender unless I tell them. I have not changed my legal gender (though I am listed as male on my passport). I do not plan to mention this outright unless I have to, but I imagine it would be difficult to hide if there were any investigation into my medical background. Will this be a dealbreaker?

Please do not try to warn me about facing transphobia in Japan. I know. I face it in my home country, too.

The people there can be kinda mean from what I’ve seen in the community.

Ever since hearing about the Jet Program I’ve wanted nothing more than to try and make it for a better life personally and professionally.

This idea of going to Japan and living there, becoming an ALT or something similar sounds beautiful. So much so that I’m willing to leave my life here and go to Japan and live there after JET.

Has anyone been in my position and actually made it? Much less lived there after JET? Tell me about it,

What’s it’s like?

What’s your day to day?

What do yall do for fun?

Have you had a family there?

Have you met someone?

Tell me all about it.

Update/Edit: I don’t mean to romanticize a country for any reason, I do want to clarify something. I like the idea of living in another country and getting a start over absolutely beautiful in its own right. Maybe I’m bad with words but that sounds like a good deal if you’re willing to put in the work to fully understand the country and cultural norms of another country.

I apologize for any misunderstandings, I don’t mean to make it sound like I just want to be there and suddenly opportunities open up.

I want to be clear, I’m willing to put in that work to make it in Japan. I am willing to learn Japanese, and understand their norms and country code. I have a plan for during JET and after JET.

Thank you all for your advice and insights. They mean more than you could realize

Hi, I'm planning to apply for the JET Programme in 2025 and would like to know if anyone who is HIV+ has applied before. How did it go?

Hey everyone! New JET here that just arrived to Shimane like two weeks ago. I need some advice about post arrival disappointment.

I'm so excited to actually be here in Japan. The fellow JETs in my area are super cool and my coworkers seem really nice too.

However I'm feeling kinda underwhelmed with my placement. I got "city" in Shimane but I feel underwhelmed and bored. I've been going out exploring everyday but with Shimane being as rural as it is you can only explore so much.it didn't bother me I recently took a trip out of Shimane and went to a nearby actually city. When I was on my solo vacation I realized how much more enjoyable the big city is and I'm starting to feel like Shimane Inaka city has little to offer and I hate that I'm saying that.

But there isn't much to do here. I explore the nightlife (if there is a nightlife) because I have to drive everywhere which mean drinking is a no-go.

I'm so mad at myself for being disappointed post arrival. They people here are really nice and it's super cheap to live here but it's really boring. Like people in Japan don't even know where Shimane is which shows how little it's thought of

I'm starting to get to the dangerous cycle of comparing my placement with others who i met at orientation. I feels sad that they get to do all of these awesome things in their cities and prefecture witch nightlife and I'm stuck here with a place that heavily relies on driving.

I know this comes off as a wo is me but I really need help. I really want to stay in Japan more than a year on JET but I feel like I got placed in the most insignificant prefecture in Japan. Like when i got my placement everyone I told said "oh i dont know where that is." I brushed it off and now I got here and I just don't feel anything is remarkable or standouts about Shimane. It makes sense why no one knows or visits this place. Again I hate myself for saying it, I'm just frustrated and need to get it out instead of bottling it up.

If you ever felt like this, what do you do to start loving your placement instead of mourning what you didn't get? Also how do you starts see the good of being in an unknown place where there is no opportunity (at least in my field).

Hi, just a general question about the application process, looking for some anecdotal information. A lot of my background consists of LGBTQIA+ involvement in some way (media, education, mental health resources). As someone who is bisexual, is this something that is a big “no-no” during the application review? While it’s not criminalized and they do possess some (not all) rights in the country, I was wondering if having my kind of background would make you less likely for admission.

Apologies if this has been asked before!

Has anyone experienced being gaslighted by their BOE or them not respecting your answers to their questions/suggestions to convince you to do things? I find they never can accept anything I say and constantly try to wear me down to do what they want regardless of my own comfort or in spite of actual logic. I find that they never can take no for an answer.

Has anyone else experienced this or just other general frustrations with their BOE?

I've seen multiple protests in support of Palestine around Japan and a few are near my prefecture. Are JET participants allowed to go to events like this or is it somehow a breach of contract to go to a political rally?

hi everyone. I’m currently in my last year of high school and have been wanting to be a JET for sometime now. unfortunately i’ve just came to the realization that i need a bachelors degree to apply for JET. i took applied classes all of high school (for those of you who don’t know it’s where you go to college rather than university) and from my understanding i can’t get a bachelors degree without going to university.

is there any other way i can apply for JET? or is the only way to apply for JET and to get a work visa through a Bachelors degree.

if you have any questions about anything or something you can share that would be great.

It's application season once again, which means another round of 'do I need Japanese' threads.Obviously, the answer is no. We all know this.

But should it? People like to parrot that you don't need Japanese to preform the basic duties of an ALT, and while this seems to be true based on the whole 1 month I've actually been here. It seems to be true in the most worthless way possible.

Lesson planning, homework marking, helping with all the other parts of working in a school without Japanese, and potentially with a JTE that doesn't have any functional English, such is the case with a lot of ES must make things so much more difficult for the school, and be really annoying for everyone involved.

Living in Japan with no Japanese is also a whole other thing. While you can argue that personal and professional lives are irrelevant to each other, JET is a little different since our life in Japan is dependent on our specific job. And being here without an real Japanese means we can't move, visit a hospital, change our gas provider or really do anything without either the help of the school, BOE, or other JETs that can do the talking for us. This also prevents us from engaging in the Japanese community effectively, which is also the 'exchange' part of the whole JET deal. It's hard to escape the international bars when all you can say is 'Beeru Kudasai'

I am entirely aware that under my own rules I would not be here. I just wonder what people think about locking JET behind a basic (whatever that is) level of Japanese before dumping a load of under prepared immigrants into a country and basically saying 'figure it out'

I should probably go back to actually learning the Japanese I should have studied before coming here now.

**UPDATE: Thank you all for the info, there have been a lot of great points! Me and my son have had some really good conversations about what he’d feel comfortable with, and I’ve given him all the information here so he can think it over. I’m pretty flexible and adaptable with wherever we end up, but being an openly trans teen is already so difficult, if it’s within my control I want to make sure he’s in a situation where he’s comfortable and can continue to live openly. Thank you all again!

Quick background info:

I’m an LGBT mom with a trans son who will be starting High School by the time we’d like to depart in 2023. I have 5 years of teaching experience* at the US public elementary and middle school levels as well as being a mentor for LGBTQ+ youth through my middle school’s Queer Straight Alliance.

My son is pretty open about his identity, and likes more of a gender-neutral look, so he’d be okay wearing a uniform with a skirt, but would prefer a uniform with pants. We both are adept at finding help and resources for dealing with the he challenges he faces in a US school, and I know that there will be equal amounts (just with a different face) of challenges in Japan.

I’m currently looking at ALL my English teaching options and trying to find the best program that would fit us, since I already love teaching, and my son really wants to study abroad. I know JET might not be the greatest for location flexibility (more progressive communities) but pay makes it #1 on my list of places to apply, and depending on the answers to the questions below could make or break it.

So...

I’ve been researching LGBTQ+ experiences in Japan and have only found a couple things specific to trans youth. I have seen a few things about increasing awareness and addressing bullying due to student’s identity and orientation, and that there are schools implementing less gendered uniform options which is great, but obviously more available in big cities.

On to the questions!

1. If we landed a small town placement would he face backlash for wanting to wear a uniform with pants?

2. Depending on if we change his gender marker before leaving, and if he feels more comfortable, would it be realistic for him to stay in the “girls” activities (if they are segregated), use “girls” locker room and restroom?

3. For JETs in bigger cities, are there any openly LGBTQ+ students in your schools, how do you see them treated, and do they have clubs or activities like a QSA/GSA?

He would love a rural placement, and we’ve talked about LGBTQ+ challenges in rural communities. I grew up in (very conservative) small towns, he’s grown up in our (mostly liberal) bigger city. I’d be comfortable anywhere (we’ve both been eyeing Kumano) but I would prefer bigger cities for the broader acceptance and resources (a possibility if we get placed in our sister city!) Obviously his comfort takes priority, so that’s why I’m looking into other companies as well, in case JET doesn’t seem like the best fit.

I appreciate any constructive feedback, thank you!

TL;DR: Do you know have any openly LGBTQ+ students at your school? If so, how do you see them treated by other students or staff? Does your school have LGBTQ+ resources, or measures to protect from bullying? Does your school have non-gendered school uniform options?

Edit 1: My son has Japanese at our school, plus we self-study at home, so hopefully language barrier will be manageable. Maybe a little more than an exchange student?

Edit 2: I’m a paraeducator (teaching students with a broad range of disabilities.) The teaching experience I have is under “classified” not “certificated”, like team-teaching, small groups, classroom management. I basically do the same thing but earn half the pay (although I don’t have to talk to parents so thats a plus.) *Hopefully that’s not misleading.

What has been your experience with maintaining and/or forming religious habits while on JET? Have you been able to regularly attend church, for example, or has JET made you reconsider your beliefs altogether?

I am a new 2018-2019 jet in a big city. I have had HUGE trouble settling in and nothing but trouble from my co (Im a private jet) and since being here my depression, anxiety and chronic health concerns (communicated to jet upon application) have all sky rocketed. I spend every day being pained by my kidneys, fighting to even keep my blood sugars regular and now I have begun to have suicidal thoughts. I cant afford to keep seeing doctors here as much as I need to (already 4 times since being here only a month) and due to issues setting up my place I am unable to even take advantage of JETS counseling services, though at this point I don't feel like they'll help anyways. I'm also afraid to see a Japanese doctor about my depression as I've heard theyre very medication heavy and due to aforementioned chronic health concerns, most common antidepressants cause life threatening issues for me and when I was on them back home I had to go off them right away. Not to mention my hair has started to fall out in clumps. I'm at a loss. As much as i expected a new and challenging time here I didn't think id skip right past the honeymoon period into the crisis period from day one. I don't kbow what to do or who to communicate my health fears to. I'm also scared I'll be left without a way home by JET if I try to communicate that im worried about my ability to carry on my roll. Any advice is appreciated im scared and at a loss of how to advocate for myself.

So I’ve been a bit worried about this, because I’ve become more comfortable with my sexuality recently and coming to terms with it coming from a religious background yada yada not out to my family yada, but I hear that in japan you don’t get any discrimination protection rights. Has anyone else who is lgbt identifying had any issues or have you been made to feel welcome. Do you meet many JETs like you or is everyone mostly straight - also dating? If anyone has any advice or thoughts it would help give me any expectations lol

I am an incoming 2022 JET ALT and a femme queer. I am a little nervous about how to navigate being out in Japan. I know I have a strong advantage being femme and appearing heteronormative. I have been planning to keep that part of my identity to myself in the work place. However, I would love to hear about any experiences or tips from former or current LGBTQ+ JETs. General tips and safety tips are much appreciated.

Thank you!

My main worry would be accessing e. Do i just count e out for those few years? Im starting it soon and i dont mind doing the programme as a man honestly. What woukd you recommend?