STUDY IN

JAPAN
between Nature and FuturePresident's
Message
With the world power dominance shifting to Asia, more Asian economics are
emerging with great potential. This is one of the reasons why many Japanesecompanies are moving to South East Asian, Central Asian and South Asian
countries. And as a citizen of Japan, I am proud to witness this growth, and I
know this is the best chance for us too!
Widely known as one of the countries with the best technology advancements,
Japan has evolved to be the world's second largest economy. And over theyears, with the changes in the immigration policies, Japan now welcomes more
foreign talents than ever. Along with the greater stand of Japan in the ASEAN
Region, many companies are actually more keen to hire foreign students who
have graduated from Universities in Japan. All these have created unforeseen
opportunities for many people who wish to explore better future prospects!
This is also why I have started the Study in Japan programme with my team in
2019. We want to act as a bridge between Japan and all students who areinterested in exploring to study in Japan. Not only are we able to provide andimpart necessary information to students, we are more than pleased to be able
to help in any ways possible along this journey. Our team believes in raising
young talents like you, by sharing as much information and experience that wehave, and helping you achieve your full potential within your own ability. I
strongly believe that if you have graduated with a degree from a Japanese
University or have studied in Japan, you will be able to ride this wave ofopportunities that will make your future bright.
Our vision is to share abundant information to all the rising teens, and create
well rounded, confident, independent and responsible individuals who aspire toachieve their full potential in an international environment, Japan. Realise yourdreams and kick-start your bright future with us!

Index
President's Message ···················································

1

Our Role···································································

3

Common Misconceptions and Why You Should Pick Japan ···3

How does the journey begin?·········································

5-6

Types of Educational Institutions in Japan ························

7

General Requirements to Study in Japan ··························

8

Regions and Prefectures of Japan··································· 9-10
Recommended Schools in Japan····································· 11-14
Accomodations in Japan··············································

15

Transportation in Japan···············································

16

Student visa requirements············································

17

Scholarships·····························································

18

How to open a bank account in Japan······························

19

Mobile Service, Healthcare and Insurance·························

20

Part-time Jobs in Japan···············································

21

Job Hunting in Japan···················································

22

Japanese Culture and Traditions····································

23

Common FAQs··························································

24

Contact Us······························································· 25-26

Kosuke Iida

Managing Director
Fifty One Media Pte Ltd
1 | STUDY IN JAPANSTUDY IN JAPAN | 2

Common Misconceptions and
Why You Should Pick Japan
Common Misconceptions“It is extremely
expensive to study inJapan”“I need to have Japanese
language skills or
knowledge before i canstudy in Japan”

What is our role?
Study in Japan team consists of a pool of different nationalities -mainly Japanese and Singaporeans. We understand that there are not much information available readily for students whoare interested to study in Japan or have a love for this country, hence with our wide knowledge
in the education industry in Japan, we founded Study in Japan programme where we provide
Educational Consultancy advice and help to Singaporeans and Foreigners who are interested to
study in Japan.
We have met more than 300 students within 1 year of our founding period, and have rendered
advice and help to students who need us! Before COVID-19, our team hosted numerous seminars
to help students who would like to hear more about Studying in Japan.
After COVID-19, we are constantly hosting free online webinars to help students despite the situation! Our team believes in raising young talents like you, by sharing as much information andexperience that we have, and helping you achieve your full potential within your own ability
and discover the exciting opportunities and better prospects in this challenging and competitive
world!

Yap Hui Yi

Ryu Nakane

Hiori WatanabeBusiness Development Manager

Educational Consultant

Educational Consultant

3 | STUDY IN JAPAN“My program/course/
studies will be conducted
fully in Japanese”“Qualificationsin Japan are lessrecognised, and what
about my future
prospects?”

Reality and Truth
Do you know that studying in Japan is more
affordable than in countries such as Australia,
UK and many more? According to a survey
conducted by theOnlineCitizen.com, an estimatedcost of studying in Japan for 4 years (including
your basic expenses such as lodging, school fees,
and living cost) will cost about SGD $91,777.
However, the estimated cost of studying in the U.S,
U.K and Australia for 4 years is SGD $395,140, SGD$305,337, SGD $259,196 respectively.

Many Universities in Japan now offer 100%
English-Medium Programs, where the programs
and courses are conducted fully in 100% English.
This also means that you can apply and enrol into
the school with 0 amount of Japanese language
skills and background, and study in english.
Moreover, most Universities will also provide
Japanese language modules during your timein the school, hence you are able to learn thelanguage as an additional language for free!

There are more than 700 Universities in Japan andout of these, 5 of them (such as University of Tokyoand Kyoto University) are ranked the World’s Top 100
Universities in 2021. Also, many Universities in Japan
have more than 95% employment rate for theirstudents who graduated because these Universities
tend to enrich students with many hands-on-training
in actual workplaces, or extra modules or courses forstudents to choose, making their students graduate
with a better portfolio. This is why more employers areinterested in tapping into a University graduate fromJapan in recent years. Graduates from Japanese
Language Schools also find themselves with betterjob placements or a higher chance of admission intohigher education institutions. According to a survey
conducted by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry,
the average starting salary for fresh undergraduates
in Japan ranges from 210,000 Yen to 320,000 Yen
per month in 2019!
STUDY IN JAPAN | 4

How does the journey begins?
Step 1B
Understand theRequirements to
Study in Japan

Step 1A
Know the Types of
Educational Institutions
and Programs available

5 | STUDY IN JAPAN

Step 2
Prepare theDocuments Required
for Applications

Step 3
Keep updated aboutother necessary
information

Step 5
Be preparedfor your flight
to Japan!

Step 4
Be familiar with theculture and life
in Japan

STUDY IN JAPAN | 6

Types of Educational
institutions in Japan

General Requirements to
Study in JapanThe exact entry requirements for each school may be different. Note that the information
given below is the general requirements to studying in Japan but each school has
different standards and may be stricter or more flexible in their conditions of admission.

•It is compulsory to be 18 Years or above in order to be eligible to study
in Japan.
•You must have completed 12 years of education or more (for example
in Singapore context, it means that you must have graduated from a
Polytechnic, Junior College, ITE, or an International School with an IB
Diploma)
Note that the above requirements stated apply to studying in Japanese Language Schools,
Universities and Vocational Schools.

Japanese Language Schools
Japanese Language Schools are your stepping stone to further studies
or better career prospects in Japan. It is where you build your Japanese
language foundation and skills.

Universities
Universities are where you obtain one of your highest education, be it
associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree.

Vocational Schools and Professional Training Colleges
These are schools that provide training for a specific career or trade.
Vocational Schools focuses on practical applications of skills learned,and generallycomprises lesser theory or traditional academic skills.
A large part of the education in vocational schools is hands-on training.
Most vocational schools also allow students to enrol straight into the 2nd or 3rdyear of University!

7 | STUDY IN JAPAN

Additional Things to Note for
Universities Studies
Many Universities in Japan now offer 100% English Medium Programs, which means the
programs and courses are conducted fully in English (100%). For such Universities andits English-medium programs, no amount of Japanese language skills or backgroundis required for students to be admitted. You are hence able to apply and enroll into theschool and its program with 0 amount of Japanese language skills and background,and study fully in english.
However, there are also programs and courses available in Japanese. Hence if you areinterested in a program that will be conducted in Japanese, a certain level of Japanese
language proficiency will be required before you are able to apply.
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a standardized criterion-referenced
test to evaluate and certify Japanese language proficiency for non-native speakers,
covering language knowledge, reading ability, and listening ability. JLPT consists of fivelevels - N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5, with N5 being the lowest and N1 being the highest levelof certification.
Therefore if you are looking to apply for a program conducted in Japanese, you willneed a certain qualification level of JLPT, depending on the schools’s expectations.
If you fall under a special case and do not meet any of the general requirements above, feel free to contact our Educational
Consultants at sales.sg2@fiftyonemedia.com and they will assist you further.
STUDY IN JAPAN | 8

Regions and Prefectures of japan
HOKKAIDOKANSAIKYUSHU & OKINAWA

1. Hokkaido

24. Mie25. Shiga
26. Kyoto
27. Osaka
28. Hyogo
29. Nara
30. Wakayama

40. Fukuoka
41. Saga
42. Nagasaki
43. Kumamoto
44. Oita
45. Miyazaki
46. Kagoshima
47. Okinawa

TOHOKU
2. Aomori
3. Iwate
4. Miyagi
5. Akita
6. Yamagata
7. Fukushima
KANTO
8. Ibaraki
9. Tochigi
10. Gunma
11. Saitama
12. Chiba
13. Tokyo
14. Kanagawa
CHUBU
15. Niigata
16. Toyama
17. Ishikawa
18. Fukul
19. Yamanashi
20. Nagano
21. Gifu
22. Shizuoka
23. Aichi

1

CHUGOKU
31. Tottori
32. Shimane
33. Okayama
34. Hiroshima
35. Yamaguchi

2
5

3

SHIKOKU
36. Tokushima
37. Kagawa
38. Ehime
39. Kochi

6
26. Kyoshin Language
Academy (Kyoto Campus)
26. Kyoto University of
Advanced Science16
40. I・RO・HA Japanese
Language School

31

32

37

46

24

36
44
45

42

25

28

33

40
43

18
21

34

35

41

26

39
38

29

27

30

27. Kyoshin Language
Academy (Osaka campus)

7

15

17

23

13. Bunka Institute of Language

9

10

20
19
22

19. Unitas Japanese Language School (Kofu Campus)

4

11

14

13. Unitas Japanese Language School (Tokyo Campus)

8

13. Kyoshin Language Academy (Tokyo Campus)

12
13

14. Yokohama International
Education Academy
47. IT College Okinawa

47

9 | STUDY IN JAPAN

Recommended
Schoolsin JapanMore information on the next few pages!

STUDY IN JAPAN | 10

UNITAS Japanese Language School

Yokohama International Education Academy
Y.I.E.A. has been providing quality Japanese language education forover 34 years. They are ISO 21001 & ISO 29991 certiﬁed. Theircurriculum utilizes the “collaborative learning” method and emphasizeson the balance of input and output. Their enthusiastic teachers arealways happy to help in both your language studies and future planning.
Name and Details of Programs
Standard Japanese Course: Course duration ranges from one to two
years. There are 4 intakes yearly; in April, July, October and January.
Various elective classes and complimentary support in Kanji areavailable. Graduate School Preparatory Course is a 9-month course
beginning in July.

UNITAS is operated by the Teikyo University, one of the largest private universities in Japan. With a history of
more than 50 years, more than 10,000 students from over 40 countries have studied at this multinational
Japanese language school.
School highlights:

Basic requirements to apply for above programs:
Japan Immigration requires a minimum of 150 hours (or JLPT N5

1. UNITAS can recommend students to enter Teikyo University after you graduate from UNITAS.

equivalent) of Japanese language study prior to enrolment.

2. Students can study high quality language programs at an aﬀordable tuition fee.
3. Students can choose either of the 2 campuses, [UNITAS Kofu] or [UNITAS Tokyo], based on individual's

Any fee reduction schemes or scholarship available?
Government subsidy is available for outstanding students after 6 months of enrollment.
43 Miyazakicho, Nishiku, Yokohama, Japan
admissions@yiea.com https://yiea.com/en@YIEAjapanesebudget and preferences.
Name and Details of Programs
3 types of courses:
1. Preparatory course designed to mainly prepare students to enter Japanese universities, graduate schools,
or vocational schools.
2. General Japanese course designed to mainly help students ﬁnd employment in Japan or learn the Japanese
language for various reasons.
3. Short-term course designed for students who would like to learn the Japanese language and immersethemselves in the culture for 1 to 3 months (short-stay visa).

Bunka Institute of Language

Basic requirements to apply for above programs:
1. Financial ability to cover all expenses during course of study
2. Motivation and perseverance to study
3. Completed high school education (or completing soon)

IT COLLEGE OKINAWA

Any fee reduction or scholarships applicable?

Japanese Business Department: Students

There are 3 scholarships available; JASSO Scholarship, Kyoritsu

learn Japanese language, cultures, customs,

Maintenance Scholarship and UNITAS Scholarship. *Only students inbusiness manners, etc. Cyber Security

their second year of course are eligible to apply for these

Department, IT Specialist Department, GameCreator Department; in these 3 departments,

BIL, established in 1980, is a Japanese

students learn networking, security,

language education institute certiﬁed by the

programming, game programming, CG

Tokyo Metropolitan Government. They teachdesigns, etc. It is possible to transfer toJapanese as an integral part of culture which

Universities in Japan as a 3rd-year student

deepens the mastery of the language. They

upon graduation from IT College Okinawa

are committed to preparing students for(2-year course).

success in their next step of education. Join

1-1-77, Higawa, Naha-shi, Okinawa,
900-0022, JAPAN
pr@it-college.ac.jp
www.it-college.ac.jp @itcollegestudents
11 | STUDY IN JAPANthem at the campus in the heart of Tokyo.
3-22-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
bil@bunka.ac.jp
www.bunka-bi.ac.jp/en@bunka.bil

scholarships. The school staﬀ select applicants based on their grades, attendance, and overall class attitude.
Do you have a dormitory?
Although UNITAS does not own dormitories, they can introduce relatively inexpensive apartments and sharedhouses located near the school. Estimated Cost (Unitas Kofu): Single room: 30,000 JPY〜/month、Double
room: 15,000 JPY〜/month Estimated Cost (Unitas Tokyo): Single room: 70,000 JPY〜/month、Double room:
40,000 JPY〜/month. Please contact UNITAS for more information.
Unitas Kofu: 〒400-0034 (1-20-22 Takara Kofu Yamanashi, Japan)
Unitas Tokyo: 〒169-0072 (22 Sankyo bldg. 3F, 2-2-9 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan)
Unitas Kofu: japanese@unitas-ej.com,Unitas Tokyo: japanese-tokyo@unitas-ej.com
www.unitas-ej.com/en @unitas.kofu @UnitasTokyoSTUDY IN JAPAN | 12

I・RO・HA JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL

Kyoto University of Advanced Science

At IROHA JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL, they oﬀer both short andlong-term courses specialized in equipping students with the Japaneselevel necessary for higher education, career, travel or JLPT exams. They
are proud to have assisted students from over 30 countries to study
Japanese language at their school.
Name and Details of Programs
There are 4 enrollments a year; in January, April, July and October.
Classes ranging from beginner to advanced levels are available.
An early graduation can be considered upon assessing the student's
progress, if he/she meets the graduation requirements.
Basic requirements to apply for above programs:
1．Foreign national who is 18 years old and above 2．Completed formal
education in a foreign country, equivalent to 12 years of education in
Japan 3．A positive and self-motivated learning attitude
Any fee reduction schemes or scholarship available?
IROHA JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL oﬀers two types of scholarships; a one-year scholarship which consists

KUAS is located in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto is an academic city where traditional cultures and advancedof monthly stipends, and a one-time scholarship which is awarded annually.

technology coexist. KUAS provides their students a professional and practical education to help them grow

1-1-33 Hakata Kindai Bld.8F, Hakataeki Higashi,Hakata-ku Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka,Japan 812-0013
fjls@fukuokaschool.com www.fukuokaschool.com @iroha.fjls

into leaders of innovation and ensure that they are capable of taking on the diverse challenges that they may
face in the society. Graduates are fostered by the program to become global street-smart engineers, ready tomake an immediate impact in Japan or anywhere else to pursue their dreams.
Name and Details of Programs

Kyoshin Language Academy
KLA is one of the biggest Japanese Language Schools in Japan, operating 10 schools
with a capacity of 4,000 students. 8 levels of Japanese classes ranging from Beginner
to Upper Advanced level are oﬀered. Students from 38 countries are studying
together to achieve various objectives. Many events are often held on campus.
Name and Details of Programs① Long-term Course (student visa required): 6 months to 2 years ② Short-term
Course: 2 weeks to 3 months ③ Special Summer Program: 2 to 3 weeks in July
④ Art Course (optional for long-term course) Enrollment opens in April, July,
October and January yearly. Please contact KLA for details.
Basic requirements to apply for above programs:

In 2020, KUAS established the Faculty of Engineering which provides a multidisciplinary program specializing in Mechanicaland Electrical System Engineering. It is taught entirely in English. They also oﬀer a “Capstone Project” whereby students
can gain hands-on experience while working in a team to tackle real-world challenges provided by real tech companies.
International students are also provided with intensive Japanese language classes to broaden their future career choices.
Basic requirements to apply for above programs:
Proof of English language proﬁciency is required, but Japanese language
proﬁciency is not required. For more details, please refer to the Application
Guidelines PDF available on KUAS's website.
Any fee reduction or scholarships applicable?
KUAS oﬀers two types of scholarships: Super KUAS-E Scholarship and
KUAS-E Scholarships. The academic performance of each scholarship
recipient is regularly reviewed. Scholarships will be revoked if recipients do not
perform up to the university's academic and social standards.

18 years old and above, and has completed higher secondary education. N4

Do you have a dormitory?

Japanese language proﬁciency or higher is required for January intake, no

KUAS provides several dormitories that are located on or near campus. EachJapanese language skills is required for other intakes.

room is fully furnished, ready for international students to move in and begin

Any fee reduction schemes or scholarship available?

their lives in Kyoto. Monthly room rent ranges from JPY 29,000 to JPY 63,000,

KLA oﬀers various ﬁnancial support schemes for international students; fee reduction scholarship ranges from 30%
to 100% subsidy. These scholarships are open to all students in their ﬁrst year. However, from the second year
onwards, the student's academic performance will be evaluated as part of the scholarship eligibility assessment.
Various schools in Japan, with top 3 in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osakacontact-kla@kla.ac www.kla.ac @KyoshinLanguageAcademy
13 | STUDY IN JAPANdepending on the dormitories.
18 Gotanda-cho, Yamanouchi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
admission@kuas.ac.jp
www.kuas.ac.jp/en@KUASeng2020@kuas̲faculty̲of̲engineering
Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS)STUDY IN JAPAN | 14

Accommodations in Japan

Transportation in Japan
Japan is renowned for its fast and efficient transportation system, especially its advanced
train network. Anyone, including students, can commute easily around cities using trains,
buses and taxis. For long distance travel, you can take highway buses, Shinkansen or evendomestic flights. Understanding the different modes of transportation will help you getaround the country more easily!
First and foremost, you should get an IC card at train stations or ticket counters. An IC card
is known as a prepaid card to pay for your transport fares in Japan. It can also be used in
vending machines, shops, konbini and even restaurants. Some popular IC cards are Suica,
Pasmo and Icoca. If you are lucky enough, you can even get limited edition IC cards.

Bunka Institute of Language

Hokkaido University

Most of the Universities, Japanese Language Schools, and Vocational Schools will havedormitory facilities available for their own students. At the dormitory, you can either choose
to opt for a shared room with another student(s) or you can get a single room for yourself.
One advantage of the dormitory is that you can interact with your schoolmates in different
kinds of languages. Even better if a Japanese native student shares a room with you andyou will then be able to improve your Japanese language communication skills. The monthly
rental of a dormitory differs for each school but may range between ¥25,000 to ¥80,000
depending on the location, facilities and many more. In Tokyo, the dormitory may cost you
around ¥60,000 to ¥70,000 Japanese Yen per month.
Other kinds of accommodations available in Japan are Homestays, or your own Rented
Apartment, which may cost you a range of ¥30,000 to ¥100,000 per month.

Kyoto University of Advanced Science

Train

This is probably the most convenient way to travel around Japan. Trains
timings in Japan are always accurate and typically come every few minutes. There are express routes such as “Rapid” and “Special Rapid” where
the train stops at fewer and selective stations, hence increasing efficiency
during rush hours for some people.

SubwaySubway stations are found in major cities, connecting popular shopping
and business districts together. Some subways start operating from asearly as 5am, and stop as late as midnight. You can expect lesser delays
as these underground trains are less affected by typhoons and weather
conditions.

Shinkansen

Shinkansen, also known as bullet train, is a high-speed train which covers
most of Japan. Weekend trips to another city in Japan are made possible
and much more accessible! Although costly, this high-speed train saves
you time as you travel in comfort. You can enjoy snacks, bento (ekiben)
and even free wifi during the journey.

City BusAn alternative to trains - you can opt to take a city bus to reach more
remote destinations in Japan. The fare is usually cheaper and you get tominimise walking distance to your destination. Hop on a city bus for a morerelaxed sightseeing tour around the city.

Highway Bus

Highway buses allow commuters to rest comfortably during their journey.
These buses usually take you to destinations that are far away and takea long time to reach. For example for night bus services, you can wake up
to your destination the next morning. From airport bus terminals, you canalso take a highway bus to get to neighbouring cities.

Taxi

You can get to any destination via taxi during late nights when train or bus
services are no longer available. Don’t get mixed up - Red display light 空車
means available, whereas green 賃走 means occupied. You can use apps
such as JapanTaxi or call the taxi company to reserve a taxi.

Ritsumeikan APU

Ladies-Only Passenger Cars
These are train/subway cabins intended for women only. Some are in effect during rush hour,while some others throughout the day. Look out for the pink sign on your next trip.

Tokyo International University
15 | STUDY IN JAPANSTUDY IN JAPAN | 16

Student VISA
Requirements
If you wish to stay in Japan for more than 3 months, you are required to get a Student Visa. If all
the requirements are met, the visa may be obtained without any delay. Keep in mind that you
have to be 18 years or above to obtain visa.
To start off, you have to decide on the schools you are going to apply. The step of applying visa
comes last. With the list of schools you are intending to apply, the next step is preparing thenecessary documents (listed below) for a Certificate of Eligibility.

What is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)A fundamental step towards a student visa is the COE. It is not a VISA. It is a document you need
to apply for your student VISA.

Scholarships forInternational Students

What you need to prepare for your COE
1. Self-completed Student Application Form obtained from the school
2. Identity Card Photos (8 pieces)
3. Photocopy of Passport
4. Academic Documents (such as your Graduation Certificates, Transcripts etc)
5. Proof of Financial Viability (either yourself or the authorised party who is sponsoring youreducation)• Bank statement• Income Statement• Financial Award Letter• Scholarship award Letter• Letter of sponsorship

Many universities, language schools, and vocational schools have their own in-house scholarships
available for foreign and international students. Apart from those, there are also many
Japanese government-subsidised scholarship programmes. Some will require a good grade toapply, while some are like subsidies - as long as you are a foreign student, you are entitled toapply, but redemption slots are limited. Scholarships may range from ¥50,000 per month to¥180,000 per month. Some popular scholarships that foreign students will apply for are like theJapan Government Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarships and JASSO (Japan Student Service
Organization) Scholarships.

Depending on the source of your financing, your documents to provide may differ. Financial
viability documents need not have all of the points stated above, but this is a case by case basis,hence it is advisable to provide whatever documents you have.
All documents provided must be in Japanese or in English.
After preparing the necessary documents, you can use it to apply for your COE. All you have to
do is pass these physical documents via mail to the school you have applied to, and they will be
the person-in-charge of applying for the COE in the Immigration Bureau in Japan on your behalf.
Note that most of the time, you will have to cover the postage cost for mailing. It may take about
2 to 3 months to get your COE.
Once you get your COE from the school via direct mail, you must take all the original documents
including your Application Forms, COE, Academic Documents and original proof of Financial Viability to the Japanese Embassy in Singapore or your own residing country. From there, your visa
can be applied with ease.
*Note that the documents required to apply for COE varies for each school, and they will be explained detailedly to you during your application process.

17 | STUDY IN JAPANSTUDY IN JAPAN | 18

Mobile Services
in Japan

How to open a bankaccount in Japan?
The most widespread bank in Japan is Mitsubishi UFJ Bank (MUFG). It has ATMs at various
places around Japan.
At the Post Office in Japan, it is much easier to make a bank account. You may visit thepost office nearest to you to make the account. The advantage is that even if you live inrural areas there are ATMs.
There may be local banks in your prefectures. These local banks may have a widespread
network within your prefecture.
What you need to open a bank account:

There are many companies that provide mobile phone services. NTT Docomo, KDDI(au)and Softbank are the most dominant players in the market. In recent times, there aresmaller players popping up in the market offering cheap to reasonable prices. They aremainly Mobal, Sakura Mobile. Nuro Mobile, Biglobe SIM, DMM Mobile, IIJmio, Mineo,
U-Mobile and Rakuten Mobile.
Some companies like NTT, KDDI or Softbank may offer home packages including Wi-Fi toyour Apartment with the mobile service, unlike in other countries where you may have to
pay a separate fee for a Wi-FI service. If you stay in your school's dormitory, some of themdo provide Wi-Fi service at no additional cost, but some do charge a separate fee.

1. Resident Card
2. Passport (Not necessary but would be better to carry it with you for verification
purposes in case it is requested)
3. Your personal Seal (Inkan)
4. Minimum sum of ¥1 to open a bank account
It is advisable to get a Japanese Friend along when you open your bank account. The
customer service is usually very good at banks or Japan Post Bank, but the Japanese staff
may not be able to explain everything detailedly in English.
Personal seal (Inkan) is somewhat like your signature. It is not a must to have an Inkan, but
without it, you cannot do any banking activities over the counter. You can get your personal Inkanfrom many different places such as Stamp Shops. But this may be a bit expensive.There are otherplaces like Donkihoutei, which you can create your own Inkan for about ¥500.

How to transfer money from your home country to Japan?
1. Hand carry to Japan
When you carry 1 Million Japanese Yen or over, you must declare it at the Japanesecustoms. You are required to fill up an application form for the purpose of
declaration of the amount you carry in.
2. Transfer from your current bank account in yourcountry to your Japanese Bank account.
There will be a certain charge for each transfer.
For example in Singapore, bank transfer charges
may be around SGD$30 to SGD$140 to your MUFG
bank account in Japan. It may typically take 1 to
2 days for the money to be transferred successfully
and reflected in yourJapanese bank account.

Healthcare &Insurance
If you are planning to study one or more years in Japan, you are required to apply for the
National Health insurance by the government which could cover up to 70% of your healthcare bills. You need to head down to your nearest municipal office (known as "City Hall" inJapanese terms) in your area/city to apply for the insurance. They are usually located inconvenient locations.

Personal Seal (Inkan)
19 | STUDY IN JAPANSTUDY IN JAPAN | 20

Getting part time jobs
in Japan
Most of the privately funded international students engage in part-time jobs in Japan.
Average income of a part-time job in Japan would be around ¥ 50,000 per month .
However, you must get an approval from the Immigration Bureau in Japan in order tocommence a part-time job as your visa is only a student visa. You must apply for permission
by the name “Shikakugai Katsudo Kyoka”. It will allow you to work 28 hours a week during
school days and 40 Hours a week during school holidays.

Job Hunting in Japan
Job Hunting during your 4th year of studies
This is for those who are interested in working in Japan after studying there. In Japan,
job hunting is called “Shushoku Katsudo”. Once you finish your 3rd year of studies in a
University, most students will prepare for Shushoku-Katsudo, hence it is highly advisable that you do the same. In most cases, 80% of the graduates will find jobs before
their graduation. Most of the Universities and Japanese Language Schools also havetraining programmes for students to prepare for job interviews.

It is recommended for the students to engage in Part time jobs as it offers many benefits
・ It will help you to improve your Japanese language communication skills and hence living inJapan is much easier・ You will be able to experience the working culture of Japan and the working ethics.
・ It will offer you extra living expenses. Depending on the location and your abilities, thehourly pay may differ. In general, the hourly pay would be 800 Yen to 1500 Yen, which isquite a reasonable and good hourly pay if compared to many other countries’ rate.
・ A student who has done part time jobs may be in an advantageous position during future
job interviews compared to a student who has not done any during their academic years.
There are many students who cannot extend their period of authorized stay in Japan due totheir poor attendance at school. Usually the reason behind this is the part time work they do.
Make sure you have enough financial backing before you endeavour your journey in further
studies in a foreign country. Some students are deported by the Japanese Immigration Bureau
due to the fact that they have worked extensively than the number of hours allowed by the
Immigration Bureau. Make sure you abide by its allowance, and not breach the rules.
Also beware of Frauds and scams promising high-paying jobs while studying in Japan.
Example:--- > You can earn ¥3,000 per hour--- > You can earn ¥200,000 to ¥300,000 while studying
Do not choose any agent just because they promise you wonders. You must make sure thatyou are not a victim of various scams which are circulating around.

21 | STUDY IN JAPAN

What Japanese companies look for inInternational Students?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Communication Skills
Cooperativeness
Creativity
Sense of Responsibility
Leadership Qualities
Ability to work as a group
Leadership Qualities
Multilingual Language Skills

Now, employers do not just look at which school you graduated from, but what
you further enrich yourself with during your school life, for example the internships
you take, or the extra curricular activities/courses you have signed up for. Many
Universities in Japan have more than 95% employment rate for their students who
graduated because Universities in Japan tend to enrich students with many handson-training and challenges in actual workplaces, or extra modules or courses forstudents to choose. This is why more employers are interested in tapping into a
University graduate from Japan in recent years. Graduates from Japanese Language Schools and Vocational Schools also found themselves with higher chances
for better job placements.
If you are interested to work in Japan after studying but can't find a job before yourgraduation, you may head down to the Immigration Bureau in Japan to request fora change of your Student visa status to "Designated Activities". The period of stay is
about 6 months and you can actively continue your hunt for a job.

STUDY IN JAPAN | 22

Japanese Culture and Traditions
A culturally rich country like Japan has an extensive range of etiquettes andcultural practices. Beautiful Sakura sights and Autumn foliages, the outdoorskis you can do during winter, a good soak and dip in a natural onsen, and thewide variety of authentic Japanese food makes the country an idealistic place
to be. If you are looking to live in Japan (be it for short or long-term purposes),
you will expect cultural differences that you will have to learn to adapt to. Hereare some handy tips for you to fit right in this beautiful country!

Tip1 : Things to say
before and after a meal
It is common and polite to say Itadakimasu (いただきます) before
you start eating. Itadakimasu can mean "let's eat" and "I humbly
receive this, thank you for the meal. "Japanese do this for every
meal. Especially at a guest's house, make sure you say Itadakimasu before the meal, or it will reflect very badly upon you!
Gochisosama deshita(ごちそうさまでした) translated as "thank you
for the meal" is said after a meal. This is also an extremely polite
way to express your gratitude to the one who prepared the meal.
Be sure not to mix them up!

Tip2: Proper titles to address
different people
There are many kinds of Japanese honorific titles, but let's narrow it down to the 3 common ones that you will definitely use.
San (さん) is probably the most commonly heard, and it is thesafest and most respectful way to address someone, for example "Yamamoto san". This is often used in business settings,
equivalent to using Mr. and Mrs! Chan (ちゃん) is used informallytowards young females whom you are close with. It can also be
used on children or animals. You will see that this is often used
in a couple or by someone who is fond of a girl. Chan can also be
used when you find someone/something cute, but you definitely
should not use it in the business context! Kun (くん), on the other
hand, is used to address young males. You will often see Japanese superior using this towards the younger male subordinates.
Friends can also address each other by Kun in a casual context,
for example "Watanabe Kun".

Tip3: Mobile manners
in public transport
In Japanese' point of view, talking loudly in public transports isextremely rude to the surrounding passengers. The Japaneseplace great importance on this, which is why you would see manysigns in the trains indicating to speak softly. If there is an urgent
call to take, they would alight the train to answer the call or speak
as softly as they can and alight right at the next train station.

23 | STUDY IN JAPAN

Common FAQs
Q: What are the requirements

to study in Japan?

A: General requirements to study in Japanare covered in page 8. However, note that eachschool has different standards for their entry
requirements and may be stricter or more flexible
in their requirements.

A

Q: What if my education

doesn't add up to 12 years
but only 10 or 11?

Q: Do you need a certain level ofJapanese language proficiency
in order to study in Japan?

Q: How early do you recommend

planning a route to studying
in Japan?

: 12 years of education is the general guidelineof the requirement to study in Japan. If you don’t
meet this requirement, you are still eligible to study
in Japan if have an International Baccalaureate
Diploma, Abitur, Diploma, or GCE A-Level, or if you
have completed an education in a country with a 11
year curriculum, which has been approved by the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (MEXT) of Japan.

A: The answer is both a yes and no, dependingon the school and program you are applying for. If
you are applying for a program that is conducted
fully in English (increasingly common in many
Universities in Japan), then no Japanese language
skills are required. But if you are applying for a
program that is conducted in Japanese, then yes
a certain level of Japanese proficiency is required.

A: We recommend students to start researching
about the schools and programs 12 months before
as most applications for an intake open 9 months
before, and then you will still be able to havetime to prepare for application and documents
preparation.

A: Sadly speaking, you are not able to apply early

secure a slot in the school for another intake.
Q: Some of us have National Service and
There are different application periods for different

or other personal commitments, intakes, and once you apply during this application
for this particular intake (for example
are we able to apply for a school in period
applying in June 2021 for April 2022 intake), yourJapan now and secure a slot first, application and slot in the school will only bewhile admitting maybe 2 years valid for April 2022 intake. Hence we recommend
researching first, and applying during the correct
later?
application period for the year you are looking tostudy in Japan.

We know that students will bound to meet many confusions during this journey, hence our Educational Consultants arealways happy to help. If you need any clarifications or additional information, please feel free to contact us!
STUDY IN JAPAN | 24

Contact Us
Fifty One Media Pte Ltd

Special mentions:
Wakaba Education Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. (www.wakabaeducation.com)
Singapore Students’ Association (Japan) (https://www.ssaj.net/)
Manabu Japanese Language Edu.(P).Ltd (https://www.facebook.com/manabu.edu)

25 | STUDY IN JAPANFacebook: @studyinJapanSG
Website: www.studyinjapansg.com
Email: sales.sg2@fiftyonemedia.com
Contact Number: +65 9183 6558

STUDY IN JAPAN | 26

STUDY IN

JAPAN
between Nature and Future