₦airaland Forum

judecares1:
Try to buy bicycle even if na used one from bicycle shop and make sure dem register 🤣 am, get bicycle insurance just in case of any traffic accidents and also in case dem steal ur bicycle u fit report am go give police and dem go help you find am and also if u lost ur wallet or anything just report am give police as well dem dey help. D police get website wen dem dey use dey publish lost and found items on daily basis

Gerrard59:
You don't need an inkan/hanko to open an account. Your school needs to assist you with opening a bank account wirh JP Bank. The account will be linked to your mobile contract with a telecom provider. Normal signature can suffice. Getting a hanko is one thing as you will need to register it with the city office you reside to legitimise it to use for signature. A hanko without registration at the city hall is just an ink (I am open to be corrected here).

So JP Bank account > phone contract with a provider > My Number Card. In fact, if possible, get the My Number Card before the bank account. Your residence card will be mandatory for all stages.

It seems the procedure here (Fukuoka Prefecture) is a bit different.
i: Personal seal (i have now done that) is mandatory.
ii: To open a bank account, you will have to book reservation with the bank in advance. You cannot just walk in to any bank to open an account. Very frustrating. Upon that, they demand a Japanese phone number.
iii: To sign a mobile phone contract/get a local Japanese sim, you must submit your credit card


I have a hanko, but first bank account and mobile contract. Those two are more important than a hanko for a foreign resident.


I once was like that until I opened a JP Bank, then got my mobile contract linked to the bank.
Unfortunately, in this city, you will need a phone number before opening a bank account while you will need a credit card before you will be able to get a local Japanese sim.

Rictech:
judecares1, i am in Fukuoka City

Rictech:
judeca.res1, i am in Fukuoka City

Gerrard59:
I see and do sympathise with you.

Your school should have assigned a Japanese to you so you go through the system. Except things have changed, that was the flow of events and I had a Japanese labmate walk me through.

Rictech:
They did assign someone, but the supporter said he’s very busy preparing for a conference presentation with his professor. My labmates advised me to report that he’s currently unavailable to the International Students/Student Affairs Division, which I did. They’ve promised to look into it. By the way, all my labmates are non-Japanese PhD students.

judecares1:
I found this shop in your city with affordable price

Hideshima

https://share.google/dCxC4V8h9OKsxt4Ck

Rictech:
Thanks Judecares1! I actually already made a katakana hanko on Thursday and also visited the City Hall to register my address.

Oga blackbriar, hope you are good? It's been a while.

Modified: I am just got my Japanese SIM card now. I used my Nigerian ATM(MasterCard).

Rictech:
Thanks Judecares1! I actually already made a katakana hanko on Thursday and also visited the City Hall to register my address.

Oga blackbriar, hope you are good? It's been a while.

Modified: I am just got my Japanese SIM card now. I used my Nigerian ATM(MasterCard).

blackbriar:
Congratulations and welcome to Japan.
Thanks blackbriar

Transportation Saving Tips
1. Get a bicyle from a used shop for like 1 -2k yen, registered and get insurance for like 500 yen.
2. Usually schools sell discount public bus tickets, try to find out about this.
Noted. Na electric bicycle them suggest for me because of the hills wey dey my school

Phone saving tips
Be very very careful with this one. it can get really expensive fast.
I have seen students get into big debts of 20,000 yen monthly for phone and internet.
I dont think anyone uses their phone (sim i mean) but most of apps (LINE) and Whatsapp.
Na Rakuten I buy o. I asked my supporter, labmates, and a Nigerian to suggest the cheapest/most affordable one and almost everyone suggested Rakuten.
if you have wifi at dorm and at school, do you need a sim for now? That was what I initially thought. But because I do not have a Japanese SIM card, I have not been able to do most stuffs like opening a bank account. So it is very important here. I have been applying to some frontend engineering role and they require a Japanese number. I don too get rejection with my Nigerian number

Credit card
I think you can get a rakuten credit card. but be careful again.
you will need a japanese student colleague to help you apply for this one, so that your sign up for a wrong option.
Do I need it for now? I thought my bank (I will be opening a bank account after the public holiday) will give me one. Please correct me and I will appreciate your explanation on how this works

Food
1. See that "SAIZERIYA"; life saving restaurant!!!!!!!!!
however, if you cook, it is way way cheaper and healthier.
No foolow japese student dey eat cup noodles and ocha everyday abeg.
You will enjoy japan for its convenience with shopping.
keep a budget sheet for now to track expenses.
I have always preferred cooking. I don’t like eating out.

Winter Shopping
Winter is coming soonest.
Start planning for winter shopping.
Just go to UNIQLO. Must get are
1. Heat tech ( long johns and Vest)
2. Warn slipplers/mufflers for feet.
3. A good warm jacket. [You can check used store fo rgood cheap jackets, as brand new one would cost around 10,000 yen]
4. And if the snow are thick like in niigata and aomori, a very very good winter boot.
Noted! I came with 3 winter jackets, 3 head warmers (forgot to buy hand gloves). I will buy the rest here


Nihongo
Please, sign up for and attend dedicatedly the free basic japanese languge classes that the univeristy offers.
Noted !!!

And most importantly, have fun.
if you play any sport, get into it again.
I know a guy, who got a Job becuase the people he associated with all do taekwando, currently posted to USA branch of a global japnese comapny. that is networking.
Enjoy yourself and explore.

My humble 2 cents.
Otsukare.
Thank you Baba, I appreciate

Geetee111:
Big chief, i did pm you, i am looking to apply for Language school that opens in April


Ok, I had a serious issue in Nigeria. I had booked my flight to leave via Qatar Airways, but on getting to the Qatar desk in Nigeria the agent profiling me started asking for all sorts of things, my degree certificate, my nysc certificate, my admission letter, and all sort of nonsense. After I presented everything he then went and asked if I had paid my school fees. I told him I had paid and showed him the receipt. The man said he needed to see money leaving my Nigerian account to the Japanese account.
Meanwhile I had paid the money to a family friend who used his own money in Japan to pay so he didn't necessarily need to move money from Nigeria to Japan. This Qatar agent just went loco on me, he insisted I bought a return ticket again.
I was like how do you buy a return ticket on a two year travel visa? What date would I put on it?
To cut the long story short the man wickedly made me miss my flight. I was devastated,I then met one of his colleagues who said I should come the next day.
I got to the airport the next day and the there was a little back and forth with some of them at the desk and a more reasonable person asked me some questions and said he would allow me fly that I was good to go. But then I had to rebook another flight since I add missed my first flight but then no extra seat so I had go back home again. Anyways the all scenario set me back another 900k to rebook another flight for Wednesday. Got to the airport met with the people who profiled me on Saturday and finally left the country on the 1st of October.

judecares1:
Try to buy bicycle even if na used one from bicycle shop and make sure dem register 🤣 am, get bicycle insurance just in case of any traffic accidents and also in case dem steal ur bicycle u fit report am go give police and dem go help you find am and also if u lost ur wallet or anything just report am give police as well dem dey help. D police get website wen dem dey use dey publish lost and found items on daily basis

Gerrard59:
Together with the healthy food (but very little quantity to my preference), get ready to shed weight or not add weight at all.

duncanmighty:
Hello I have asked earlier and nobody answered me. I've been trying to book appointment for visa application VfS for over a month now without luck. Anyone with how to go about it?

Nfest:
Hello bro, I didn't see the mail...I am really sorry. I don't think this nairaland email works.

I didn't go through language school, I came here for masters so the process will be different. I think it's better you ask your questions out in the open here so you can have answers from more experienced people.

Geetee111:
I did apply to ISI and Arc languages school, both of them came back with a note that they don’t accept direct application for Nigerians because of proof of funds and COE, that I need a third party agent to help me do the application, I believe it’s as a result of forgery.

Geetee111:
I did apply to ISI and Arc languages school, both of them came back with a note that they don’t accept direct application for Nigerians because of proof of funds and COE, that I need a third party agent to help me do the application, I believe it’s as a result of forgery.

Geetee111:
I did apply to ISI and Arc languages school, both of them came back with a note that they don’t accept direct application for Nigerians because of proof of funds and COE, that I need a third party agent to help me do the application, I believe it’s as a result of forgery.

Rictech:
To Gerrard59, davodyguy, majisuka, moonraker, komia, blackbria & co, I want to specially appreciate you all for all your wonderful

Yampotatocarrot:
Good day house,
@Ric.tech, please correct me if I'm wrong, I've read through the thread and discovered your journey, from applying to arrival lasted for around 5 months... Please, does that mean I can meet up with April if I start the process now, or have you started already before coming to this thread?

@Black.briar and Gerrar,d59, it's interesting to read about the research route both of you have spoken extensively about, actually the first time I'm hearing of such and would love to try it out, now my question is, considering I have a certificate of English proficiency from my university, can that be used in lieu of the IELTS? (I used it in all my applications to universities in South Korean and Latvia and none rejected it, just want to know if same can apply here).

PS: I have a B.Sc in Plant Science and Biotechnology, so will be applying for something in that line

Also, how INTENSIVE is the research study in Japan, from my research about S.K, I found out the research process is so intensive one basically spends the whole day, every work day, in the lab, hence leaving no room for part time jobs. Is that the same with Japan?

Aside the normal factory PT jobs, can one get a part time job as an English teacher in a tutorial centre? (I have the necessary certificates for that, such as TEFL certificate and C2 certificate in English proficiency)

Discovering that one can actually get residency stuff in Japan is what's making me gradually look away from SK

Gerrard59:
Yes. Now is the time to start, esp between now and the middle of next month. Start messaging those profs. To gain admission into a Japanese university as a grad student (postdoc is different), you commence the application SIX MONTHS ahead of time.

This "residency", is it eventual permanent residency? No permanent residency pathway in South Korea?

Geetee111:
I did apply to ISI and Arc languages school, both of them came back with a note that they don’t accept direct application for Nigerians because of proof of funds and COE, that I need a third party agent to help me do the application, I believe it’s as a result of forgery.

Yampotatocarrot:
Good day house,
@Rictech, please correct me if I'm wrong, I've read through the thread and discovered your journey, from applying to arrival lasted for around 5 months... Please, does that mean I can meet up with April if I start the process now, or have you started already before coming to this thread?

@Blackbriar and Gerrard59, it's interesting to read about the research route both of you have spoken extensively about, actually the first time I'm hearing of such and would love to try it out, now my question is, considering I have a certificate of English proficiency from my university, can that be used in lieu of the IELTS? (I used it in all my applications to universities in South Korean and Latvia and none rejected it, just want to know if same can apply here).

PS: I have a B.Sc in Plant Science and Biotechnology, so will be applying for something in that line

Also, how INTENSIVE is the research study in Japan, from my research about S.K, I found out the research process is so intensive one basically spends the whole day, every work day, in the lab, hence leaving no room for part time jobs. Is that the same with Japan?

Aside the normal factory PT jobs, can one get a part time job as an English teacher in a tutorial centre? (I have the necessary certificates for that, such as TEFL certificate and C2 certificate in English proficiency)

Discovering that one can actually get residency stuff in Japan is what's making me gradually look away from SK

Geetee111:
I did apply to ISI and Arc languages school, both of them came back with a note that they don’t accept direct application for Nigerians because of proof of funds and COE, that I need a third party agent to help me do the application, I believe it’s as a result of forgery.

Gerrard59:
Try the Human Academic Japanese language school

I have met two Nigerians who are undergoing the language program at the school. I have also met another Nigerian who studied at ISI, but he previously lived in Hong Kong.

investorcj:
Good morning sir, please I intend on going to Japan to work,maybe on an E9 visa,that's the unskilled labour like factory jobs, farming and the likes,but it's not showing on their site I guess they don't give it to Nigerians,is there a way I can get a company in Japan or even Korea that will be able to give me employment from over there so I can be able to travel from here,and show the embassy here that I got employed already to work sir, please anyone with any knowledge at all should please leave a comment