petina wrote:

QUOTE:
2. Possible to get a visa to work as a barrister here.. but not likely to get visas for the others you mention.

It can catch some people out in it's spelling but a Barista and Barrister are two entirely different things . Only found out probably a year ago what a Barista is!

Barista is someone who makes and serves coffee.

Barrister is someone who works within the legal system.

petite_pixie wrote:

QUOTE:
any1 living or having spent time in japan ever seen an expat working as anything other than an english teacher? ie. barista, bartender, actor, model, waiting staff, secretary, voice-actor, sales assist. in shop??? entry to mid level jobs?

pls dnt badger me with posts like 'get a degree' or 'no!'...i've read so i kno...just looking for some helpful ans 2 my q's pls.

The thing is, depending on your circumstances for being in Japan (primarily work, being a student, being a spouse) will dictate what kind of work you can and can't do.

From the jobs you mentioned above, it's only possible to get a Work Visa for being an Actor or a Model if you decide to come to work in Japan as these would fall under an 'Entertainer' Visa. The other jobs do not fall under a specific working visa (perhaps the entry to mid level ones would, but you it would depend on the work)

I have seen foreigners working in Bars full time and also seen one or two foreigners working as a sales assistant. How these people got these jobs were either because:
A ) They were students, having a student Visa in Japan allows you to work unrestrictedly as long as it doesn't violate anything considered illegal or immoral. You can only work a certain number of hours per week though.
B ) They were on a Spousal Visa, as in married to a Japanese National, where you also can work unrestrictedly as long as it doesn't violate anything considered illegal
C ) They were on a Working Holiday Visa. A specific visa only open to certain countries where you can travel to Japan for roughly a year (and only for that year) and allows you to engage in work while you are there (usually these jobs are the ones you mentioned above like a Barista, Bartender, Waitress etc)