From my 7 years in Japan: 1. Get a Japanese girlfriend if possible. (Don't believe the sterotypes though, or you will be as disappointed that she isn't like Japanese girls in the movies as she is that you are not like Brad Pitt. Sample quote from mine: "submissive my ass") 2. Be sure to learn kana - hiragana and katakana. If you are good at English spelling, then kanji may also be easy for you to learn. 3. FOCUS ON SPEAKING, that is what you will need in Japan or in interviews to get there. If you lack social skills, you can also learn how to conduct basic conversations with other people by learning their names, hobbies, etc. 4. learn how to use chopsticks by eating a large can of M&M candies. They are small and hard, you'll be a pro by the time you finish. 5. go back to 3, FOCUS on SPEAKING. My gaijin boss in Japan could only speak, couldn't read a thing, but was awesomely effective and very highly paid.
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From my 7 years in Japan:
1. Get a Japanese girlfriend if possible. (Don't believe the sterotypes though, or you will be as disappointed that she isn't like Japanese girls in the movies as she is that you are not like Brad Pitt. Sample quote from mine: "submissive my ass")
2. Be sure to learn kana - hiragana and katakana. If you are good at English spelling, then kanji may also be easy for you to learn.
3. FOCUS ON SPEAKING, that is what you will need in Japan or in interviews to get there. If you lack social skills, you can also learn how to conduct basic conversations with other people by learning their names, hobbies, etc.
4. learn how to use chopsticks by eating a large can of M&M candies. They are small and hard, you'll be a pro by the time you finish.
5. go back to 3, FOCUS on SPEAKING. My gaijin boss in Japan could only speak, couldn't read a thing, but was awesomely effective and very highly paid.