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The guy with the dog is really living it up, and living it well. Congrats to you on your efforts, your success, and here's hoping any of us know a glimpse of that!
Brutal honesty from them all and I really appreciate that~ Great interviews from everyone selected with different backgrounds, job types, and cultural views to result in their defined experiences. Especially valued the honest discussion of the low pay-grades and salaries, sad but true, and the positive moments of the interviews were encouraging too. Thanks, Asian Boss!
@@BlackHoleSpain I’m saying the salary numbers for each person was honest journalism. There’s hundreds of “why Japan is good/bad” videos but a lot of them don’t go in depth on the low pay grade or work culture. And in my country, asking others what their salary is rude so it’s not always known.
This is cringe but you must remember some ppl never experienced cities and they maybe just go crazy on studies and money meanwhile other ppl already born in developed cities/country and they don't born in a farm etc
We all now chasing money meanwhile working on others home/city. Is it really imposible for all part literally get attention to be developed? The law is the ones in developed area just live their life but the one in very undeveloped area is quite stressing just farming 24/7 and some of them give up and become money clout etc chaser and its humaine because they saw the difference in their village and others who become semi city/main city
@21:05 I agree with him here, for many people, me included, working in Japan is far to be the best option, but outside of work, it's one of the best countries to live in.
However, in Japan, one works very long hours. One is spending more time at work. There is no point to be unhappy at work only to wish that outside of it is good. That is not a stable life.
'best' is definitely subjective. it's safer than most but people here don't live good lives really. most countries in scandinavia/northern europe has japan beat pretty handily
That was my attitude during my 2 year stay as an ESL teacher in my early 20s working for NOVA. Amazing times and adventures. Felt like a frathouse lifestyle with the other teachers😜🍻
@@remote3652 that is a lot for Japan, you can have a penthouse AND a 3bed house on land spit middle of Shibuya (think time’s square), and throw in a hardly used lambo if u want to and that is only an additional +100usd a month here.. very fine dining each night for 2 is only $50 usd, still very quality dining is $20-30.. Japan is very cheap
As a long-time resident of Tokyo, there are some things here you have to take into account when you talk about wages and income. First, many of these people, in addition to their income, have their transportation and some of the cost of their housing subsidized, which is not common in other countries. Second, Japan has not been hit by the wave of inflation which has overwhelmed places like America and Europe, so things like food are less expensive. For example, a combo meal at a Tokyo McDonald's now costs about half or less than what you would pay for the same meal in most of America. Third, basic housing is significantly cheaper in Japan than in America or Europe. You can rent a studio apartment in pretty much any part of Tokyo for a fraction of what a similar place would cost in NYC, San Francisco, London, or other places. Lastly, things like healthcare are cheaper in Japan than other developed countries. Japan is an economical place, as being "economical" is basically getting the most bang for your buck. Companies pay as little as they can to get work done, workers do only as much as they need to to earn their pay, businesses charge as much as the can get away with to customers, and customers spend as little as they can to get what they need, factories provide the minimum amount of quality for the highest price they can get away with, while consumers try to get the best quality for the lowest price. This constant struggle toward opposite ends provides a reasonable stable balance in which people may not always get what they want, but they at least get what they need. And it works pretty well as the playing field in Japan has a universal set of rules and expectations, and cheating is not part of the culture.
In Europe we have way more benefit to be honest than there, about inflation that is true and half also because yen is very cheap now so automatically its hard to buy foreigners stuff
@@fiftymiffy Hmm, a Big Mac set at McDonald's in Japan is 650 yen right now, while a Big Mac set in America is $10.19. It wasn't long ago that a Big Mac set was a good deal cheaper in America than Japan. There has been inflation in Japan over the last 2 years, but it hasn't been even remotely as high as in America.
@@twowheelsintokyo7039 twowheels, comparing Big Macs is a valuable metric to understand inflation, but not the only one. Also, you need to tell us what the price of a Big Mac was in the past in Japan in order to understand if they have inflation or not. Just comparing the price to other countries doesn't show if they have inflation or not. . Monthly cost of food for me in Japan has gone up roughly 30% over the last 2 years. Salary up about 10%.
@@earlysda A 30% increase in 2 years is much less than what has been seen elsewhere, and if you've had a 10 raise in your wages, you are better off than many others around the country. When I arrived in Japan some 16 years ago I complained about the price of food, at that time a Big Mac value meal cost half as much in America as it did in Japan.
People keep commenting about the food prices but it's more than that. It's the other aspects of life in Japan that makes people stay. A great healthcare system, orderly infrastructure, low crime, clean country, and polite and respectful people, just to mention a few.
he's like everyone who's been here for half a year. he's in his 40s but is talking like a college graduate come for teaching english. that will wear off soon
what i really like also about japan is that not everything is expensive there are so many ways and option to spend to cheap things but the quality is also good
my income level is the same as the local and im just new here so my salary is lower compared to them i am just making starting salary, and i can buy what ever i want but its need discipline @@CrunchySnacks
Worked as a customer support specialist on Airbnb for a company in Osaka when I was 26 and got paid 220k JPY monthly. I got less working as an English teacher full time when I was 23 making only 210k. After the Airbnb job, I did part time teaching since the pay was better and earned about 350k a month while working less hours. Then at 28, I made about 350-450k a month assisting foreigners with house rentals as a part-timer. I was definitely able to live life happily working part time rather than full time. So yes, in USD, it may seem like very little, but if you know the cost of living here, making 400k is above average
The cost of living in Japan is higher than Singapore, but the salaries in Japan is lower than Singapore. Singapore median salaries are around 600000 yen and above. Food cost in Singapore is cheaper than food cost in Japan. Public transport is also cheap in Singapore. Even tax is lower in Singapore. I myself who is just an average worker in Sg working in IT, I make about 650k yen per month and I pay almost 0 tax due to tax reliefs as I am a Singaporean.
I travel to Japan frequently, and I've always found it cheap compared to Canada where I'm living. In Canada, the absolute cheapest meal I can get in a restaurant (fast food, with a coupon), is at least 1100jpy. In Japan you can get a better, more nutritious meal at yoshinoya or a family restaurant for half of that. Hotels are also so much cheaper and better than they are here... and transportation as well.
Canada is honestly depressing. The expected starting salary for my career starts round 50-60k and I literally cannot afford an apartment. Everything is well above 2000$ a month, medication is insanely expensive and the cheapest houses around me run for well over 2500$ a month in mortgage alone if not more.
The Colombian girl was right. Here in Spain, even if it's in Europe, our salaries are miserable. I'm an IT Systems & Networks administrator with 15 years of experience and I'd be lucky to get more than €30k before taxes. And we've got 37% of taxes for that salary! But blue-collar jobs get about €18k so it must be a living hell for them, since just housing will take away €11k (60% of your income) from those €18k. Furthermore, there's a *huge* ageism trend over here. If you're older than 40, nobody will hire you.
I always knew there was a disparity between wages here in the United States and those in Europe, but I never knew it was that bad. Damn, 37% in TAXES?!
@@thelifewithnate It can be worse. As soon as anyone makes more than €60k (typically a manager with dozens of people under his command), you jump to 47% tax bracket. Over here in Spain, the lowest tax bracket from 0 to 12,450 euros is 19%, and then 24% up to 20,199 ... however in France or Germany salaries are doubled, so you can at least survive.
@@BlackHoleSpainvery interesting. So here in USA we have state and federal taxes. People usually quote their federal bracket but in reality the state bracket can be anywhere from 0-30% of their federal tax Anyway, I’d say my total tax bracket combined is like 50%ish….. but one big thing is here in America the tax code is crazy complex, and ultimately there are tons of tax deductions. So my “effective tax rate” (that is what I actually pay in the end) is 20%. Do you guys have such deductions? That’s a reduction of like 60% of the tax bill for me
Interesting to hear that. I live in Finland as an engineer and I make around 35k euros before taxes. bluecollar jobs like mechanics, warehouse workers etc will earn more than engineers here. Even IT-professional gets paid low comparing high taxes and expensive life. Only medical and doctors will get best salaries here.
68k USD is the starting salary for entry level software engineers where I live, and that is low compared to places like California. Although you have to factor in cost of living for any of this to matter. People who live in LCOL areas working remote jobs for companies in HCOL areas get the best of both worlds.
I like Mike's energy. He's living his dream, and he's happy. That's rare. Best of luck to you, Mike, and the rest of the interviewees....Thanks again, Asian Boss!
@@psy-k-loan That's because the visa requirements are so high on Indians. You basically need to be the most qualified foreigner to get into the US as an Indian.
Live in Japan for almost 30 years, I would also say Japan is not an easy country to make money as a foreigners, but life can be very fun and enjoyable outside of workplace. So, make your money somewhere else or online and have amazing life in Japan.
I love the guy who spoke very highly of Japan and its people. It is nice to hear when he made mention of his Japanese wife and to live in Japan forever.
I'm in IT data engineering, and still my compensation range in Japan is less than half the US equivalent. If you want even a chance at comparable standard of living, be an entrepreneur.
Please do an episode in China. I have lived in the US and China and from my experience and this video it seems like: US: high salary, high living cost China: high salary (international jobs only, the average salary is very low), low living cost Japan: low salary, low living cost
Yep agreed. Shanghai offer very high salary for those international company. For example I’m just normally customer service executive . I can make around 25000 rmb per monthly even not including bonus in quarterly.
Really interesting video. My oldest son works in Japan (University Professor). I think a big advantage is that he lives in Kanazawa where the costs of living are lower.
If you work for a Western company, even in Japan, where prices are low, safety and living infrastructure is well developed, you will be able to live stress-free and financially comfortable as long as you live in a foreign community where you do not interact with Japanese people.
I moved to Tokyo from Fort Walton Beach Florida. Cost of living is now 50% less than my life in Florida and I travel more, go out more, shop more, eat out more.
The tech guy is obviously in a pretty good financial position in Japan. 50-100k USD goes a looooong way in Japan. I’m happy for him he likes it but in a way he’s still seeing everything at a surface level and probably still feels like a tourist in a way. Who knows he may still continue to love it. But I would completely disagree with him about having meaningful conversations with Japanese people in bars. They’ll use you for a quick laugh or to try out their terrible English skills and as soon as you try to actually engage with them meaningfully they will just rudely turn on their heels and ignore what you just said. “Eeee where-a uuuuuu fu-ro-mu?”…. “Do uuu like Ja-pa-ne-ZUUU GALZUUUU” followed by laughing and asking if you have a big sausage. Very deep and meaningful indeed 👍
I earn like less than 4M a year as a fresh graduate, in Tokyo. It's not a lot, but it's decent. I don't have to do overtime, there's no any kind of pressure, getting along well with my coworkers, and I have few tasks (which isn't great for my career in the long run though).
@@xMoominHonestly, any Japanese company. In Japan, there's a culture of not seeking competence in fresh graduates. I came here as a student for an internship and stayed on a work visa. Tasks are spaced out, with a much lower level of pressure and expectations compared to the West (consequently leading to lower compensation, I suppose).
You always have to be wary of someone who gives their income in ranges unless they are in sales. You also have to be wary of someone who dresses their dog in Gucci.
Maybe just trying to be funny, but he seemed like a clever guy, I'm pretty sure he meant that income varies if you include stock options and what value you put on those etc..
He's in customer success with an American company, depending on the company he probably has around a 70-30 or 75-25 base salary-commission. Plus whatever equity his company gives annually. That's the reason for such a large range.
Why do you have to be wary? Imagine going to Japan as a foreigner and making it to that level. Though I’m sure his income comprises of less cash, but other options such as stock/RSU’s/variable targets, etc. that’s how American tech companies work.
As someone who’s been living and working in Japan I totally agree to 18:38 and 20:57. Japan is a great country but ONLY for tourism. It’s not a great place if you are planning to have a family. The work ethic and culture in Japan is TOO stressful and you can still feel the discrimination(it’s subtle because japanese people are so good at doing 建前 - public facade) not only within the workplace but even outside work. so I would rather also explore other options if I were given an opportunity. Which I’m currently doing, searching working outside japan 💪
Interesting! From an outsider's perspective, I never would have understood that. Is that level of discrimination something that has gotten better with time?
@@thelifewithnate nah, not at all. All of my foreigner friends who are all working here said the same thing. It’s there but you won’t see or feel it unless! You live in japan for 1 year and so that’s the time the discrimination attitude is apparent. It’s really hard to describe when it started or when you’ll realize it. I’m also not saying this one-sidedly, even my japanese friends and co-workers even admittedly said so.
Also i can see that you are filipina, no wonder you said thaht because most filipina say that lol even at my work place, Only filipina think like that, but us pinoys? were not the same we built different lol@@riiventure3682
@@nevermore9588 well for my case, it’s hard to look for jobs outside jp bc of job requirements such as working visa but im continuously pursuing looking for a job outside. But for others, like someone I know as much as they wanted too, it’s either it’s hard for them to look for suitable job or they just got comfortable with their comfort zone and just accept the harsh reality. There are so many factors to be considered before judging us. It’s really difficult for us to move around just because we wanted to.
the best thing about working in japan is that the more you gain experience and skills the more you earn and dont forget also the benefits such as commute allowance, and yearly they increase your wages, so if i will compare it to my home country which is philippines, The gap is just too big
Plus, idagdag mo pa na mas matino ang mga Hapon (mostly) kaysa sa mga Pinoy na sakit sa ulo. Ultimo ako mismo nandidiri na ko sa sarili kong bansa at lahi.
The other side is Japan can feel cold and distant. People are too nice and respectful that they never really open up to you or say their honest thoughts
I work as a skilled tradesman in the Midwest region of the United States. My base pay is double what these people are making in Japan. I did not expect the wages to be so low over there.
Even in the heart of Tokyo, the restaurants are 1/3 the price (same portion, better quality), when you factor in tip. Rent is also about half if you are willing to live outside Tokyo a bit. This is all in comparison to my hometown in CA. So I would extrapolate these salaries to about double to be conservative i.e someone making 40k USD might be making roughly 60 to 80 depending on their life style. Traveling by train is also much cheaper than my annual gas budget. Roughly 4 to 6 usd a day.
Yeah the pay is generally gonna be more in the states than most anywhere else, but I think Japan and Tokyo especially will likely have a much higher quality of life than the midwest or the states in general. Then again, I suppose it's really all up to a person's preferences and want they value or want.
i loved the people in the interview that were so passionate, respectfull and gratefull for japan! In this day and age so many people are influenced by social media, these rich influencers, their lavish lifestyle, filters and wealth to the extend that plastic surgery is like a new shirt and what not but there is so much more beyond that. I though the interview was very inspiring :)
Yeah, and probably the low salary is what turning people off. or they just took the advantages of the girl. Because she would be paid a lot less in Indonesia. Perhaps half of her current salary. I'm not sure, but perhaps if the job require a certain qualification or certification of nursing, maybe it will have different salary range.
@ibiesang8408 NO, Thank you for your help in the most needed work place in Japan from abrord. You should be very proud yourself, and don't stress yourself so much while working.
Things like "unlimited paid time off" can be misleading. Here are some of downsides: 1) Realistically, people are not taking months off every year so it's not truly "unlimited" 2) Finding the opportunity away from projects to take 3 or 4 weeks off, or even 2 weeks off, is difficult 3) Taking more time off than your peers or industry standard may put in you "the bad books," blocking you from job growth opportunities and/or promotions 4) If you don't take time off, it doesn't get carried over to the next year or get cashed out (thus saving the company money) Not saying Japan's way is any better, but tech companies that provide these types of benefits are not your friends. At the end of the day, they are retention tools aimed at either creating profit or saving money for the company.
It’s sad how Japan as a developed market has lower annual salaries than some developing markets … it is also worrying as it means talent will be hard to come by at these levels as mobility for good talent is high.
@@montreal_1_1 tail end of the bell curve to represent the common man in the street? If that is the case, I am sure US$300k is nothing compared to what a Google software engineer makes in a year … and there are lots of these engineers in the USA
Cost of living is low, so it’s relative. You can make 3 times the amount in California, but your housing, vehicle, insurance and daily expenses will leave you less in the pocket than in Japan.
Yes but costs are also relatively low. Single people can live in a good studio for US $650/mo. Doctor visits are like $10. Compared to places like US cities, it’s crazy cheap.
Visited Japan recently (it was amazing) and even from a short trip I realised the working culture isn't great but like the guys said, OOF - out of office hours and waking up living in Japan may compensate the 9-5. I'm unhappy with where I live now and I definitely choose living in a space where my OOF hrs is better. Thank you for this video, also gave me insights on how much I should earn working in Japan!
I would love to live and work in Japan and experience life there. However as an expat in China I have become used to very high salaries and low cost of living. As a teacher here you can earn $3000 - $5000 a month. (My) rent and utilities are not even $600 a month. Food is cheap and the quality is very good for things like vegetables and fruits. Fruit is super expensive though. I want to add that I love living here, it’s a great place.
Very true. Very very true. Love it. I’ve worked for 13 years now in Japan, and I’ve been on both ends, high end and entry. Taxes are quite high once you go up as expected, but very manageable. And for expenses…. It depends, since if you have a child and want English language etc, it sure costs a lot more
Finally real people with real salaries. People need to know, that not every programmer/designer makes 100k+ a year, most of people are still making 3k-4k a month
Been in Japan 17 years. Make about 15M JPY a year. The average salary compared to US is smaller. But working at a Gaishikei company, you might be able to make more than average, based on your experience. For a Japanese corporate company, you can make big money, but you need to have high Japanese ability and a skill related to that company's business. You definitely need to put in the extra hours to move up. In general, Japan is relatively inexpensive to live, if you know where to go.
@@robocop581 I think it's about 33% for my range, but I don't know the exact figure. I also have had to pay a bit back home, since I make over the foreign earned income exclusion threshold as a US citizen living abroad, but this year and the exchange rate being so terrible, no extra payments are required for me this year.
@@j134679 But salaries over here are usually €35k for a white collar job, like and engineer, a teacher or a doctor, so you won't get to 60k unless you're a manager or a CEO
Compared with other developed countries, Our wages look lower than them but prices in Japan are much lower than them. For example A Coca cola we can buy for 1 USD anywhere in Japan is 3 to 4 times more expensive. The prices of food in restaurants are enormous. I was almost fainted to see the prices when I visited there,
Teaching at an Eikaiwa in the 90's, my base salary was ￥250,000 per month but, no bonuses, no health insurance and no rent subsidies. Golden Week, Obon and New Years were very stressful with no income.
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Sure!
I have been living here in Tokyo for 5 years and I am struggling. Definitely paycheck to paycheck.
5:10 Guy explains that he doesn't know Japan well yet without saying he doesn't know Japan well yet.
Good luck!
What's the name of guy with dog...
@AsianBoss how to get a professional job at japan as a foreigner?
More in-depth than most other videos of this style. Great work
I love when the man said "I have two loves of my life, Japan and my wife."
I found it a bit weird that he said a person he met at a bar“will come” to his wedding at the end. Hmmm…
@@User989_2 lol
50k weekly. millioner 😅
Thanks to everyone part taking in this interview for their honesty. Giving us a real look into the diversity of the current picture of japan.
I definitely like how honest they are and how they highlighted the bad and good parts
The guy with the dog is really living it up, and living it well. Congrats to you on your efforts, your success, and here's hoping any of us know a glimpse of that!
That's the way to go! Getting a US-based job that pays USD and living in Japan. Best of both worlds.
Yes! He's so articulate in answering the question too! Kudos to that guy.
The nurse from Indonesia is very sweet and humble. I respect her.
Brutal honesty from them all and I really appreciate that~ Great interviews from everyone selected with different backgrounds, job types, and cultural views to result in their defined experiences. Especially valued the honest discussion of the low pay-grades and salaries, sad but true, and the positive moments of the interviews were encouraging too. Thanks, Asian Boss!
So, in your place everybody would be lying about their salaries?
@@BlackHoleSpainwhat logic is that lol. The commenter only said that they appreciated honesty
@@BlackHoleSpain I’m saying the salary numbers for each person was honest journalism. There’s hundreds of “why Japan is good/bad” videos but a lot of them don’t go in depth on the low pay grade or work culture. And in my country, asking others what their salary is rude so it’s not always known.
This is cringe but you must remember some ppl never experienced cities and they maybe just go crazy on studies and money meanwhile other ppl already born in developed cities/country and they don't born in a farm etc
We all now chasing money meanwhile working on others home/city. Is it really imposible for all part literally get attention to be developed?
The law is the ones in developed area just live their life but the one in very undeveloped area is quite stressing just farming 24/7 and some of them give up and become money clout etc chaser and its humaine because they saw the difference in their village and others who become semi city/main city
@21:05 I agree with him here, for many people, me included, working in Japan is far to be the best option, but outside of work, it's one of the best countries to live in.
Ark, your sentence is incomprehensible.
Working in japan are the worst, japan is good for visit, but not for live in
I think there are some more balanced options than the two he presented lol
However, in Japan, one works very long hours. One is spending more time at work. There is no point to be unhappy at work only to wish that outside of it is good. That is not a stable life.
'best' is definitely subjective. it's safer than most but people here don't live good lives really. most countries in scandinavia/northern europe has japan beat pretty handily
I really enjoyed the section with Mike. He's really passionate and fully takes advantage of living in Japan.
who is mike? 4:22...is he mike?
Mike is literally in Honeymoon phase I love it
That was my attitude during my 2 year stay as an ESL teacher in my early 20s working for NOVA. Amazing times and adventures. Felt like a frathouse lifestyle with the other teachers😜🍻
@@21Kikoshi how you know his name is mike? and whats his @/linkedin
@@21KikoshiNaw he's just fully embraced his weabooness
is it bad that I immediately knew the Indian guy was a software engineer before he said anything?
Stereotypes exist for a reason.
I mean c'mon, an Indian working outside of India is going to be an engineer.
😂
As an Indian....... thats fair to say 😅
i can sense it 😂😂😂 The Indians I know were software engrs 😂😂😂
I have lived in JP for 30 years so I find these responses very interesting. The young grad from Cali was spot on with his observations.
Jesus christ, that dog's living the high life on that dude's salary. And only 9-5 as well. In Japan. Inconceivable.
That dog deserves the high life if it’s working 9-5. My dog is a lazy bum.
Is that a lot in Japan? For the head of customer success, that's actually below average, IMO.
@@remote3652ui/ux making less than 40k equiv feels criminal to me, I think salaries (esp with the weaker yen) come out to be below average
@@remote3652 that is a lot for Japan, you can have a penthouse AND a 3bed house on land spit middle of Shibuya (think time’s square), and throw in a hardly used lambo if u want to and that is only an additional +100usd a month here.. very fine dining each night for 2 is only $50 usd, still very quality dining is $20-30.. Japan is very cheap
My cats are working 9-5 to keep me happy. I wish I could show how thankful I am toward them. Their names are Judy and Lisbon.
Good topic. And interviewees are very open to share. Thumbs up!
As a long-time resident of Tokyo, there are some things here you have to take into account when you talk about wages and income. First, many of these people, in addition to their income, have their transportation and some of the cost of their housing subsidized, which is not common in other countries. Second, Japan has not been hit by the wave of inflation which has overwhelmed places like America and Europe, so things like food are less expensive. For example, a combo meal at a Tokyo McDonald's now costs about half or less than what you would pay for the same meal in most of America. Third, basic housing is significantly cheaper in Japan than in America or Europe. You can rent a studio apartment in pretty much any part of Tokyo for a fraction of what a similar place would cost in NYC, San Francisco, London, or other places. Lastly, things like healthcare are cheaper in Japan than other developed countries. Japan is an economical place, as being "economical" is basically getting the most bang for your buck. Companies pay as little as they can to get work done, workers do only as much as they need to to earn their pay, businesses charge as much as the can get away with to customers, and customers spend as little as they can to get what they need, factories provide the minimum amount of quality for the highest price they can get away with, while consumers try to get the best quality for the lowest price. This constant struggle toward opposite ends provides a reasonable stable balance in which people may not always get what they want, but they at least get what they need. And it works pretty well as the playing field in Japan has a universal set of rules and expectations, and cheating is not part of the culture.
In Europe we have way more benefit to be honest than there, about inflation that is true and half also because yen is very cheap now so automatically its hard to buy foreigners stuff
"Japan has not been hit by the wave of inflation"
> Where have you been the past year? lol
@@fiftymiffy Hmm, a Big Mac set at McDonald's in Japan is 650 yen right now, while a Big Mac set in America is $10.19. It wasn't long ago that a Big Mac set was a good deal cheaper in America than Japan. There has been inflation in Japan over the last 2 years, but it hasn't been even remotely as high as in America.
@@twowheelsintokyo7039 twowheels, comparing Big Macs is a valuable metric to understand inflation, but not the only one. Also, you need to tell us what the price of a Big Mac was in the past in Japan in order to understand if they have inflation or not. Just comparing the price to other countries doesn't show if they have inflation or not.
.
Monthly cost of food for me in Japan has gone up roughly 30% over the last 2 years. Salary up about 10%.
@@earlysda A 30% increase in 2 years is much less than what has been seen elsewhere, and if you've had a 10 raise in your wages, you are better off than many others around the country. When I arrived in Japan some 16 years ago I complained about the price of food, at that time a Big Mac value meal cost half as much in America as it did in Japan.
People keep commenting about the food prices but it's more than that. It's the other aspects of life in Japan that makes people stay. A great healthcare system, orderly infrastructure, low crime, clean country, and polite and respectful people, just to mention a few.
4:22 Mike is me for sure, man his energy and love for Japan is impeccable
he's like everyone who's been here for half a year. he's in his 40s but is talking like a college graduate come for teaching english. that will wear off soon
Love this. Everyone around the world can benefit of such videos...
what i really like also about japan is that not everything is expensive there are so many ways and option to spend to cheap things but the quality is also good
Not everything is expensive there as in USD to JPY? Once you start making their level of income, then you may need to budget more.
my income level is the same as the local and im just new here so my salary is lower compared to them i am just making starting salary, and i can buy what ever i want but its need discipline @@CrunchySnacks
i have so many friends working in canada yea the wages are high but whats the cost? i save more money than them@@CrunchySnacks
Asian Boss should have the same interview with people living outside of Tokyo but in other major cities like Sapporo or Fukuoka, etc.
only 1 day millionaire and lazy people will say japan is expensive, you can afford it but it doesn't mean you will abuse your income @@terenceyuen4424
I wasn't expecting a positive video about Japan coming from Asian Boss. I am pleasantly surprised 👏👍.
They are the bosses of Korea lol🤣
Worked as a customer support specialist on Airbnb for a company in Osaka when I was 26 and got paid 220k JPY monthly. I got less working as an English teacher full time when I was 23 making only 210k. After the Airbnb job, I did part time teaching since the pay was better and earned about 350k a month while working less hours. Then at 28, I made about 350-450k a month assisting foreigners with house rentals as a part-timer. I was definitely able to live life happily working part time rather than full time. So yes, in USD, it may seem like very little, but if you know the cost of living here, making 400k is above average
The cost of living in Japan is higher than Singapore, but the salaries in Japan is lower than Singapore. Singapore median salaries are around 600000 yen and above. Food cost in Singapore is cheaper than food cost in Japan.
Public transport is also cheap in Singapore. Even tax is lower in Singapore. I myself who is just an average worker in Sg working in IT, I make about 650k yen per month and I pay almost 0 tax due to tax reliefs as I am a Singaporean.
@@jamesmadison3108 But Singapore is boring and hot
@SkyHermit I don't disagree, that's why we Singaporeans love to go holidays overseas because we can easily afford it.
Do you mean in JPY or USD
I travel to Japan frequently, and I've always found it cheap compared to Canada where I'm living. In Canada, the absolute cheapest meal I can get in a restaurant (fast food, with a coupon), is at least 1100jpy. In Japan you can get a better, more nutritious meal at yoshinoya or a family restaurant for half of that. Hotels are also so much cheaper and better than they are here... and transportation as well.
Canada is honestly depressing. The expected starting salary for my career starts round 50-60k and I literally cannot afford an apartment. Everything is well above 2000$ a month, medication is insanely expensive and the cheapest houses around me run for well over 2500$ a month in mortgage alone if not more.
love these interviews
the last guy is awesome! amazing attitude towards life!
The Colombian girl was right. Here in Spain, even if it's in Europe, our salaries are miserable. I'm an IT Systems & Networks administrator with 15 years of experience and I'd be lucky to get more than €30k before taxes. And we've got 37% of taxes for that salary! But blue-collar jobs get about €18k so it must be a living hell for them, since just housing will take away €11k (60% of your income) from those €18k. Furthermore, there's a *huge* ageism trend over here. If you're older than 40, nobody will hire you.
I always knew there was a disparity between wages here in the United States and those in Europe, but I never knew it was that bad. Damn, 37% in TAXES?!
@@thelifewithnate It can be worse. As soon as anyone makes more than €60k (typically a manager with dozens of people under his command), you jump to 47% tax bracket.
Over here in Spain, the lowest tax bracket from 0 to 12,450 euros is 19%, and then 24% up to 20,199 ... however in France or Germany salaries are doubled, so you can at least survive.
@@BlackHoleSpainvery interesting. So here in USA we have state and federal taxes. People usually quote their federal bracket but in reality the state bracket can be anywhere from 0-30% of their federal tax
Anyway, I’d say my total tax bracket combined is like 50%ish….. but one big thing is here in America the tax code is crazy complex, and ultimately there are tons of tax deductions. So my “effective tax rate” (that is what I actually pay in the end) is 20%.
Do you guys have such deductions? That’s a reduction of like 60% of the tax bill for me
Interesting to hear that. I live in Finland as an engineer and I make around 35k euros before taxes. bluecollar jobs like mechanics, warehouse workers etc will earn more than engineers here. Even IT-professional gets paid low comparing high taxes and expensive life. Only medical and doctors will get best salaries here.
68k USD is the starting salary for entry level software engineers where I live, and that is low compared to places like California. Although you have to factor in cost of living for any of this to matter. People who live in LCOL areas working remote jobs for companies in HCOL areas get the best of both worlds.
I like Mike's energy. He's living his dream, and he's happy. That's rare. Best of luck to you, Mike, and the rest of the interviewees....Thanks again, Asian Boss!
Thank you! ❤
Americans living in Japan 🙂
Indians living in Japan 😇
Americans living in US 😎
Indians living in US 🗿
Tu thoda sa bkl hai ?
@@genius-m555sahi mein yaar aise log bhot chutiya lagte hai
@@AdityaSingh-ho8fh tbh indians highest earning ethnic group hain america mein.
@@psy-k-loan That's because the visa requirements are so high on Indians. You basically need to be the most qualified foreigner to get into the US as an Indian.
@@GAGONMYCOREY well american born indians bhi exist krte hain, maine indian ethnicity in general bola.
Live in Japan for almost 30 years, I would also say Japan is not an easy country to make money as a foreigners, but life can be very fun and enjoyable outside of workplace.
So, make your money somewhere else or online and have amazing life in Japan.
If you are a white Male everything is supreme for you like that white guy lmao
100% If you love Japan, great. If you want exploit things to make money, it's the wrong place.
Except your visa won't let you work remote while living there...
@@DC-wo2yb if you work not in a japanese company that is outside of Japan, then what's the problem? will they control my internet traffic or what?
2:04 OMG that doggy 😍
I love the guy who spoke very highly of Japan and its people. It is nice to hear when he made mention of his Japanese wife and to live in Japan forever.
Super useful! Please do series like this on other expat hubs like Seoul, Bangkok, Saigon, Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.
The guy who begs his wife to not move back, Is a whole another vibe!!
He's definitely the hero of his own story.
I want an uncle like that
we need more of him, whats his @?
@@australianpainter42069 me too! He is so full of positive vibes!
He’s love of living in Japan is so genuine.
The Gucci dogs harness…so adorable ☺️
I'm in IT data engineering, and still my compensation range in Japan is less than half the US equivalent. If you want even a chance at comparable standard of living, be an entrepreneur.
Isn’t the U.S. market more competitive though? I have acquaintances in the field who struggle with job security at the moment.
this was really insightful, really nice people I appreciate their honesty
That was the first shock for me after moving to Japan - I expected to see cheap seafood and fruits. How naive I used to be...
Everyone had amazing advice. Kudos to them!
Indian people always speak so wisely and they are fluent in english too..
That's because we're taught English from a very young age in our schools, so a good grip on the language comes to us naturally
Japan has a special place in my heart as well. Thinking of moving back.
Please do an episode in China. I have lived in the US and China and from my experience and this video it seems like:
US: high salary, high living cost
China: high salary (international jobs only, the average salary is very low), low living cost
Japan: low salary, low living cost
Interesting! Where did you live in China? I have always wanted to visit, but never had the opportunity yet.
@@thelifewithnate Beijing
Yep agreed. Shanghai offer very high salary for those international company. For example I’m just normally customer service executive . I can make around 25000 rmb per monthly even not including bonus in quarterly.
definitely not low living costs in tokyo the rent there is crazyyy
Portugal: low salary, high living costs 😅
Love the humorous American and the one recommend to do your own research before going to Japan. Really learned a lot from your insights.
Really interesting video. My oldest son works in Japan (University Professor). I think a big advantage is that he lives in Kanazawa where the costs of living are lower.
Mike has fantastic energy hahah
Great choice of questions! Good work asian boss! This interview was very informative.
If you work for a Western company, even in Japan, where prices are low, safety and living infrastructure is well developed, you will be able to live stress-free and financially comfortable as long as you live in a foreign community where you do not interact with Japanese people.
no, i want to have a japanese wife. but i'm asian
the suiss guy is the best one in this interview , looks smart , value life , wise .... money can not buy class absoluetly true !
I moved to Tokyo from Fort Walton Beach Florida.
Cost of living is now 50% less than my life in Florida and I travel more, go out more, shop more, eat out more.
What's your age range and what do you do?
@@ustuff247
44, retired
@@Dangic23retired already😮
Bostonian here, also 44. I am thinking of retiring anywhere on 2k budget per month. Japan seems a good option.
@@SoYappyNot possible unless your spouse is Japanese or you plan to start a business (500k minimum).
With that salary, the ALT is definitely a JET. If you're an ALT for a dispatch company 230k a month is the absolute highest pay you'll get.
Poor nurses in Japan, they don't make that much. In my country Greenland, arctic: They get about 5.700 dollars before taxes.
taxes are probably that much higher though
@@Vendrix86 after taxes more than double
skide godt!
5700 a month??
8-15k/month for RNs in the US, with plenty of extra overtime hours available.
The tech guy is obviously in a pretty good financial position in Japan. 50-100k USD goes a looooong way in Japan. I’m happy for him he likes it but in a way he’s still seeing everything at a surface level and probably still feels like a tourist in a way. Who knows he may still continue to love it. But I would completely disagree with him about having meaningful conversations with Japanese people in bars. They’ll use you for a quick laugh or to try out their terrible English skills and as soon as you try to actually engage with them meaningfully they will just rudely turn on their heels and ignore what you just said. “Eeee where-a uuuuuu fu-ro-mu?”…. “Do uuu like Ja-pa-ne-ZUUU GALZUUUU” followed by laughing and asking if you have a big sausage. Very deep and meaningful indeed 👍
You sound like fun
The guy with the dog spilled the truth, man! I get it!
i would love to live in Japan, but my Salary as Composite Specialist would be just 1/4 and holydays would probably go down from 5 week to a few days.
I earn like less than 4M a year as a fresh graduate, in Tokyo. It's not a lot, but it's decent. I don't have to do overtime, there's no any kind of pressure, getting along well with my coworkers, and I have few tasks (which isn't great for my career in the long run though).
you work as ?
not really, a small company@@xMoomin
admin clerk@@smtkumar007
L3 compliance; very chill but 4m is kinda meh @@smtkumar007
@@xMoominHonestly, any Japanese company. In Japan, there's a culture of not seeking competence in fresh graduates. I came here as a student for an internship and stayed on a work visa. Tasks are spaced out, with a much lower level of pressure and expectations compared to the West (consequently leading to lower compensation, I suppose).
The guy who said who is making 140K-280K USD in Japan is living life!!!!!
You always have to be wary of someone who gives their income in ranges unless they are in sales. You also have to be wary of someone who dresses their dog in Gucci.
Maybe just trying to be funny, but he seemed like a clever guy, I'm pretty sure he meant that income varies if you include stock options and what value you put on those etc..
He's in customer success with an American company, depending on the company he probably has around a 70-30 or 75-25 base salary-commission. Plus whatever equity his company gives annually. That's the reason for such a large range.
wut? He is the head of customer success. Do you think he will get his salary in cash?😂
Why do you have to be wary? Imagine going to Japan as a foreigner and making it to that level. Though I’m sure his income comprises of less cash, but other options such as stock/RSU’s/variable targets, etc. that’s how American tech companies work.
You have to. E wary about what someone is wary about. Maybe you are projecting your own shadiness....
As someone who’s been living and working in Japan I totally agree to 18:38 and 20:57. Japan is a great country but ONLY for tourism. It’s not a great place if you are planning to have a family. The work ethic and culture in Japan is TOO stressful and you can still feel the discrimination(it’s subtle because japanese people are so good at doing 建前 - public facade) not only within the workplace but even outside work.
so I would rather also explore other options if I were given an opportunity. Which I’m currently doing, searching working outside japan 💪
Interesting! From an outsider's perspective, I never would have understood that. Is that level of discrimination something that has gotten better with time?
@@thelifewithnate nah, not at all. All of my foreigner friends who are all working here said the same thing. It’s there but you won’t see or feel it unless! You live in japan for 1 year and so that’s the time the discrimination attitude is apparent. It’s really hard to describe when it started or when you’ll realize it. I’m also not saying this one-sidedly, even my japanese friends and co-workers even admittedly said so.
I have so many people already telling that but they are still in japan, how ironic isn't it?@@riiventure3682
Also i can see that you are filipina, no wonder you said thaht because most filipina say that lol even at my work place, Only filipina think like that, but us pinoys? were not the same we built different lol@@riiventure3682
@@nevermore9588 well for my case, it’s hard to look for jobs outside jp bc of job requirements such as working visa but im continuously pursuing looking for a job outside. But for others, like someone I know as much as they wanted too, it’s either it’s hard for them to look for suitable job or they just got comfortable with their comfort zone and just accept the harsh reality. There are so many factors to be considered before judging us. It’s really difficult for us to move around just because we wanted to.
Well balanced selection of foreigners! They gave a pretty good actual picture of how much a foreigner can earn and potential pitfalls/tips.
the best thing about working in japan is that the more you gain experience and skills the more you earn and dont forget also the benefits such as commute allowance, and yearly they increase your wages, so if i will compare it to my home country which is philippines, The gap is just too big
Plus, idagdag mo pa na mas matino ang mga Hapon (mostly) kaysa sa mga Pinoy na sakit sa ulo. Ultimo ako mismo nandidiri na ko sa sarili kong bansa at lahi.
The guy from Zürich looks like the grown-up Harry Potter
When he was asked where he is from I said "4 Privet Drive" out loud 😂
5:07
Exactly my thoughts. It's safe, quiet mostly, cleaner than anywhere in the world (sorry Singapore), people are nice and respectful.
The other side is Japan can feel cold and distant. People are too nice and respectful that they never really open up to you or say their honest thoughts
@@dengist8172ほんまにそうやなぁー！
日本人とほんとのいみで仲良くなるのは難しいと思う！😿
I love Mike! What passionate guy!
I work as a skilled tradesman in the Midwest region of the United States. My base pay is double what these people are making in Japan. I did not expect the wages to be so low over there.
you will be suprised how cheap everything in japan is
Even in the heart of Tokyo, the restaurants are 1/3 the price (same portion, better quality), when you factor in tip. Rent is also about half if you are willing to live outside Tokyo a bit. This is all in comparison to my hometown in CA. So I would extrapolate these salaries to about double to be conservative i.e someone making 40k USD might be making roughly 60 to 80 depending on their life style.
Traveling by train is also much cheaper than my annual gas budget. Roughly 4 to 6 usd a day.
Yeah the pay is generally gonna be more in the states than most anywhere else, but I think Japan and Tokyo especially will likely have a much higher quality of life than the midwest or the states in general. Then again, I suppose it's really all up to a person's preferences and want they value or want.
PPP bro
These salaries are brutal!
Mike cracks me up. I agree with everything he said but man now I feel old!
who is mike? 8:28....is he mike?
@@vincentnnyc Yes, that's Mike. Check out the part starting at 20:12. Almost fell out of my chair laughing
Bruh, I keep hearing Celine Dion singing at the back. Why is that??? LMAO
Cuz of how they edited the interview
i loved the people in the interview that were so passionate, respectfull and gratefull for japan! In this day and age so many people are influenced by social media, these rich influencers, their lavish lifestyle, filters and wealth to the extend that plastic surgery is like a new shirt and what not but there is so much more beyond that. I though the interview was very inspiring :)
you didn't even need to ask the guy with the dog wearing gucci, it was already obvious he's ballin lol
Wow, the income situation in Japan looks pretty grim. Working there would really be a labor of love.
You are trading the income for other things. A safe country, great healthcare, polite society, cheap liquor, low-cost housing and a better lifestyle.
@@Mwoods2272 problem is that you can take your money from the USA and move anywhere. That will be a lot harder if you've made your career in Japan.
Best video in a while
I love how you guys didn’t randomly cut them off mid sentence.
The nursing home girl is most needed among others in this country right now.
definitely :(
Yeah, and probably the low salary is what turning people off. or they just took the advantages of the girl.
Because she would be paid a lot less in Indonesia. Perhaps half of her current salary.
I'm not sure, but perhaps if the job require a certain qualification or certification of nursing, maybe it will have different salary range.
Thank you for commenting im very touched 🥹
@@ibiesang8408
No, Thank you so much for your help in the most needed work place in Japan. Please be safe and don't stress yourself while working.
@ibiesang8408
NO, Thank you for your help in the most needed work place in Japan from abrord. You should be very proud yourself, and don't stress yourself so much while working.
@7:20 The music just fits perfectly in his storytelling 😂
Things like "unlimited paid time off" can be misleading. Here are some of downsides:
1) Realistically, people are not taking months off every year so it's not truly "unlimited"
2) Finding the opportunity away from projects to take 3 or 4 weeks off, or even 2 weeks off, is difficult
3) Taking more time off than your peers or industry standard may put in you "the bad books," blocking you from job growth opportunities and/or promotions
4) If you don't take time off, it doesn't get carried over to the next year or get cashed out (thus saving the company money)
Not saying Japan's way is any better, but tech companies that provide these types of benefits are not your friends. At the end of the day, they are retention tools aimed at either creating profit or saving money for the company.
It’s sad how Japan as a developed market has lower annual salaries than some developing markets … it is also worrying as it means talent will be hard to come by at these levels as mobility for good talent is high.
but did you paid attention to the indian guy make close to 300k usd.?
@@montreal_1_1 tail end of the bell curve to represent the common man in the street? If that is the case, I am sure US$300k is nothing compared to what a Google software engineer makes in a year … and there are lots of these engineers in the USA
Cost of living is low, so it’s relative.
You can make 3 times the amount in California, but your housing, vehicle, insurance and daily expenses will leave you less in the pocket than in Japan.
LOL Talk about USA again, How about the bills? can i buy house there? wtt
@@JoneLang
Yes but costs are also relatively low. Single people can live in a good studio for US $650/mo. Doctor visits are like $10. Compared to places like US cities, it’s crazy cheap.
That senfransico guy is living my dream life 😭😭😭
Hahaha the guy from Zurich is my friend. First time seeing someone I know in a street interview
Wow thanks for this video. So informative!!!
Great content, thanks Asian Boss!
Hey, I know that guy from Zurich! He's always helping me to get back to Tokyo, good guy!
Asia boss deliver as always, thank you!
free content xD
Super useful as I plan my own move. Loved the range of experiences!
May I know what’s your world and move ?
Wow ! Loved it !
19:15 this guy really needs his own UA-cam channel!!
Visited Japan recently (it was amazing) and even from a short trip I realised the working culture isn't great but like the guys said, OOF - out of office hours and waking up living in Japan may compensate the 9-5. I'm unhappy with where I live now and I definitely choose living in a space where my OOF hrs is better. Thank you for this video, also gave me insights on how much I should earn working in Japan!
I would choose usa. And go for 1 month vocation to japan. 3 tims a year 😂
This is the best thing you could do if you like japan .
@@ze9445US is going down I heard economically and security wise ? It is true ?
What is that happy life style outside of work ?
not 9-5 but 7-9
Yes the level of safety and lack of chaos means as a non-Japanese you experience an incredible amount of freedom. It is quite remarkable.
0:05 damnit Jurgen Klopp
😂
Thank you for making this video. You asked the perfect questions and I found this to be very helpful.
7.54 isnt he ajay pandey the you-tuber (part-time)with his dog , hes been in japan more than 10 years 🤔🤔🤔
7:15 song came right on cue
Thank you asian boss this was interesting
I would love to live and work in Japan and experience life there. However as an expat in China I have become used to very high salaries and low cost of living. As a teacher here you can earn $3000 - $5000 a month. (My) rent and utilities are not even $600 a month. Food is cheap and the quality is very good for things like vegetables and fruits. Fruit is super expensive though. I want to add that I love living here, it’s a great place.
Very true. Very very true. Love it. I’ve worked for 13 years now in Japan, and I’ve been on both ends, high end and entry.
Taxes are quite high once you go up as expected, but very manageable. And for expenses…. It depends, since if you have a child and want English language etc, it sure costs a lot more
Finally real people with real salaries.
People need to know, that not every programmer/designer makes 100k+ a year, most of people are still making 3k-4k a month
Been in Japan 17 years. Make about 15M JPY a year.
The average salary compared to US is smaller. But working at a Gaishikei company, you might be able to make more than average, based on your experience. For a Japanese corporate company, you can make big money, but you need to have high Japanese ability and a skill related to that company's business. You definitely need to put in the extra hours to move up.
In general, Japan is relatively inexpensive to live, if you know where to go.
What is your income tax rate?
@@robocop581 I think it's about 33% for my range, but I don't know the exact figure. I also have had to pay a bit back home, since I make over the foreign earned income exclusion threshold as a US citizen living abroad, but this year and the exchange rate being so terrible, no extra payments are required for me this year.
@@saishowaguu2 Lucky. Here in Spain anything over 60k is taxed 47%
@@BlackHoleSpain I would cry if half my salary is taken away from me
@@j134679 But salaries over here are usually €35k for a white collar job, like and engineer, a teacher or a doctor, so you won't get to 60k unless you're a manager or a CEO
Crazy to rent in Tokyo with many of those salaries. Thank you for the second section!
Was the titanic music on purpose or was that actually playing in the background because that timing was gold 💀😭
I'm Japanese.
i graduated a graduate school.
My salary was ¥250,000.
yearly salary was ¥3,500,000.
Compared with other developed countries, Our wages look lower than them but prices in Japan are much lower than them. For example A Coca cola we can buy for 1 USD anywhere in Japan is 3 to 4 times more expensive. The prices of food in restaurants are enormous. I was almost fainted to see the prices when I visited there,
It’s all about purchasing power parity. I’m definitely making much less by choosing to move from Canada to Japan, but it is so much worth it
We need a full « a day in my life » episod with Mike!
Teaching at an Eikaiwa in the 90's, my base salary was ￥250,000 per month but, no bonuses, no health insurance and no rent subsidies. Golden Week, Obon and New Years were very stressful with no income.