Great video! Do modeling/acting jobs pay well in Japan? Of course there's no need to disclose actual numbers, I'm just wondering if it's possible to make enough to support yourself long term
Yes, some jobs pay really well in Japan, but they are difficult to get. It was definitely possible to support yourself before corona. However, due to covid, the number of jobs is still quite low. I personally do it semi-full time and teach a bit on the side to make sure I get enough income and also save money.
Question: Do only us gaijins who wants to do acting in Japan only do reenactment dramas mainly and/or just other kinds of work, like J-Dramas and indie movie projects?
Well, if you want to solely focus on acting, then unfortunately as a foreigner you will be only able to do what you've mentioned. Personally, I avoided doing reenactment and J-dramas as they are underpaid. I mostly focused on TV commercials and photoshoots. The awesome thing as a model is that you can do a variety of things ranging from commercials, movies, TV shows, photoshoots and others.
@@MattFinds Oh, thank you! Because I been hearing that only a couple of gaijins only had just reenactment dramas to play in! But I’m also thinking of doing modeling too in the future! Thank you for the hope too!
Thank you for the Video. I wanted to ask this: i want to go to tokyo in summer for 3 months as tourist without visa(i come from germany) and would it be possible to do one or two modeljobs for me? Its not about money but more for experience. Is something like this even possible or is it technically impossible because i dont have a visa?
Hello Julia, Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, it won't be possible as you need an entertainment visa or a granted permission from the immigration office stipulating that you can do other activities outside of your current visa. It's not possible to do modeling jobs with a tourist visa :(
Okay so if your a complete beginner but can speak Japanese very well and don’t have any experience modelling would you recommend going with a freelance agency first, or would you go straight In and try and get a contract agency? Also do I have to get a job there as teacher or are there jobs where I can work less hours to focus on modelling?
Thanks for your question. It depends on your goals. However, I'd suggest to register with a freelance agency at first as you can gain experience. For instance, if you submit your portfolio to a professional agency and don't have any experience, they won't probably accept your application. That's why I'd recommend to register with freelance agencies. Yes, you could find a side job (a few days a week) to make sure you have some income coming in.
Merci beaucoup! Thanks for the answer! I'm writing a new message because I can't reply to the previous one. I also wanted to ask if age plays a strong role for a male model in Japan? If already for 30 years?
I have a question exactly how the Visas work, can you do modeling while on another Visa or do you need the entertainment VIsa. I currently work in Korea modeling and in Korea it's very strict I have an entertainment Visa
You can do modeling on other visas, but you will need to go to the immigration office to ask if you can do jobs outside of your visa. You need to fill in a form, but most modeling agencies usually provide it. But of course, the best option would be to have an entertainment visa. However, a modeling company would need to sponsor your visa before coming to Japan.
Hello Matt! Thanks for the video and information! I am interested in how to become a contract model, an actor in video advertising and voice acting for a period of three months, for example. I myself am not from Japan and live very far from it. Is it possible to achieve this through e-mail on trusted sites? I heard that there are modeling agencies that pay for the flight, accommodation and meals, but then they charge the amount spent on accommodation and meals from the money that the model earned in the end, but you can still earn not bad. I'm interested in this. I would be glad if you can give me some advice! Best wishes!
Hello! Thanks for the comment :) Unfortunately, it isn't possible like that. The only way would be to register to an agency in your country which we call ''the mother agency''. And they would send you to work in other countries as a contract model for periods ranging from 3-6 months.
Can you apply for a visa before trying to apply for agency's? Or do you need to be hired first? I don't live in Japan but would like to for a little while
I think it is possible to work as model under a student visa. You would need to go to the immigration and ask for "permission to engage in activities outside of the visa". If accepted, they will stamp the back of your resident card. However, modeling agencies usually want you to be available the whole day when having shootings which can be difficult as student.
Was registered at about 5 agencies, and didn’t land any job during 1 year 🥲 I wasn’t able to make entry for a lot jobs, because I have my main visa supporting full time job, but anyway It was so traumatic, so I quit… I just though, am I so not attractive? Am I so bad on photos? Or they want younger girls? (I am in my thirties) Japanese people always tell me that I am pretty and have model looks, I thought I will get at least 1 or 2 jobs in, like, a year? Of course that coronavirus thing changed the game, but anyway 😅 Maybe I will try again…
Most of them won't help you with living arrangements except if you sign up with a premium/pro agency. Agencies only pay the travel fees if you have a job outside of Tokyo.
@@MattFinds Thanks for the info. One more thing. Do they help out with work Visa's at all? Thanks a bunch you got great info. I've been curious to try this out myself.
@@richardsamueljordan1569 Unfortunately, most agencies don't help with work visa if you are outside of Japan. They only do when you are already in Japan with a visa. They will help with extending and changing it only when you already got one. Thanks a bunch. I really appreciate it :)
Thanks for creating this thorough discussion about modeling in Japan! More videos please. 🙃
Thank you very much for the support Arni! Will def do more videos this year :)
Do you have a recommendation?@@MattFinds
Glad to see you again
Thank you again for the support! :)
Really full of crucial information on particular sujee
Thank you very much for the kind words! Yes, I tried to be as detailed as possible :)
Great video! Do modeling/acting jobs pay well in Japan? Of course there's no need to disclose actual numbers, I'm just wondering if it's possible to make enough to support yourself long term
Yes, some jobs pay really well in Japan, but they are difficult to get. It was definitely possible to support yourself before corona. However, due to covid, the number of jobs is still quite low. I personally do it semi-full time and teach a bit on the side to make sure I get enough income and also save money.
@@MattFinds Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this very detail facts
Thank you very much Sofia! I tried to give as much details as I could :) I will do more videos on this subject.
Question:
Do only us gaijins who wants to do acting in Japan only do reenactment dramas mainly and/or just other kinds of work, like J-Dramas and indie movie projects?
Well, if you want to solely focus on acting, then unfortunately as a foreigner you will be only able to do what you've mentioned. Personally, I avoided doing reenactment and J-dramas as they are underpaid. I mostly focused on TV commercials and photoshoots. The awesome thing as a model is that you can do a variety of things ranging from commercials, movies, TV shows, photoshoots and others.
@@MattFinds Oh, thank you! Because I been hearing that only a couple of gaijins only had just reenactment dramas to play in! But I’m also thinking of doing modeling too in the future! Thank you for the hope too!
Thank you for the Video. I wanted to ask this: i want to go to tokyo in summer for 3 months as tourist without visa(i come from germany) and would it be possible to do one or two modeljobs for me? Its not about money but more for experience. Is something like this even possible or is it technically impossible because i dont have a visa?
Hello Julia,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, it won't be possible as you need an entertainment visa or a granted permission from the immigration office stipulating that you can do other activities outside of your current visa.
It's not possible to do modeling jobs with a tourist visa :(
Okay so if your a complete beginner but can speak Japanese very well and don’t have any experience modelling would you recommend going with a freelance agency first, or would you go straight In and try and get a contract agency? Also do I have to get a job there as teacher or are there jobs where I can work less hours to focus on modelling?
Thanks for your question.
It depends on your goals. However, I'd suggest to register with a freelance agency at first as you can gain experience. For instance, if you submit your portfolio to a professional agency and don't have any experience, they won't probably accept your application. That's why I'd recommend to register with freelance agencies.
Yes, you could find a side job (a few days a week) to make sure you have some income coming in.
Merci beaucoup! Thanks for the answer! I'm writing a new message because I can't reply to the previous one. I also wanted to ask if age plays a strong role for a male model in Japan? If already for 30 years?
No worries! Actually being in your late 20's - early 30's is pretty good in Japan.
I have a question exactly how the Visas work, can you do modeling while on another Visa or do you need the entertainment VIsa. I currently work in Korea modeling and in Korea it's very strict I have an entertainment Visa
You can do modeling on other visas, but you will need to go to the immigration office to ask if you can do jobs outside of your visa. You need to fill in a form, but most modeling agencies usually provide it. But of course, the best option would be to have an entertainment visa. However, a modeling company would need to sponsor your visa before coming to Japan.
very informative and detailed, thank you!
Thank you very much! I'm glad you found it informative :)
Hello Matt! Thanks for the video and information! I am interested in how to become a contract model, an actor in video advertising and voice acting for a period of three months, for example. I myself am not from Japan and live very far from it. Is it possible to achieve this through e-mail on trusted sites? I heard that there are modeling agencies that pay for the flight, accommodation and meals, but then they charge the amount spent on accommodation and meals from the money that the model earned in the end, but you can still earn not bad. I'm interested in this. I would be glad if you can give me some advice! Best wishes!
Hello! Thanks for the comment :)
Unfortunately, it isn't possible like that. The only way would be to register to an agency in your country which we call ''the mother agency''. And they would send you to work in other countries as a contract model for periods ranging from 3-6 months.
Can you apply for a visa before trying to apply for agency's? Or do you need to be hired first? I don't live in Japan but would like to for a little while
If you get hired from the agency they can help you obtain a entertainment visa which means you can stay there so long as you get work.
So basically it is all about getting / having a visa.
Same as in South Korea.
Yeah pretty much. When you get your visa, everything else is easier :)
Are you able to work for a modeling agency on a student visa? even though they allow 28 hours of work a week
I think it is possible to work as model under a student visa. You would need to go to the immigration and ask for "permission to engage in activities outside of the visa". If accepted, they will stamp the back of your resident card.
However, modeling agencies usually want you to be available the whole day when having shootings which can be difficult as student.
Was registered at about 5 agencies, and didn’t land any job during 1 year 🥲 I wasn’t able to make entry for a lot jobs, because I have my main visa supporting full time job, but anyway It was so traumatic, so I quit… I just though, am I so not attractive? Am I so bad on photos? Or they want younger girls? (I am in my thirties) Japanese people always tell me that I am pretty and have model looks, I thought I will get at least 1 or 2 jobs in, like, a year? Of course that coronavirus thing changed the game, but anyway 😅 Maybe I will try again…
Do any agencies help with living arrangements? Not neccesarily pay for you but help find a place to set you up. Also do they help any travel fees?
Most of them won't help you with living arrangements except if you sign up with a premium/pro agency.
Agencies only pay the travel fees if you have a job outside of Tokyo.
@@MattFinds Thanks for the info. One more thing. Do they help out with work Visa's at all? Thanks a bunch you got great info. I've been curious to try this out myself.
@@richardsamueljordan1569 Unfortunately, most agencies don't help with work visa if you are outside of Japan. They only do when you are already in Japan with a visa. They will help with extending and changing it only when you already got one.
Thanks a bunch. I really appreciate it :)