My case (financial/work situation)

[banders]

42 a year. The number per month will vary.

Used to do 46, then 44. From April we'll switch to 42 (which seems incredibly common in other schools -I have been asking around).

Did you announce this to the parents or just change the timetable quietly? If you told them, what reason did you give?

Of course we told them

We said we needed the time for staff training and to schedule makeup weeks if something happened to classes. No one really seemed to care.

We do 46 and I'd like to cut it down based on me getting older more than anything else. We've never put it in writing in our contract, etc., that that's how many we teach, so I'm not sure we need to announce it.

[Snowmonkey]

Just to add a further idea for you, have you considered guiding tourists? You're in the right area for it. Perhaps you could offer tours exploring the "hidden gems" of Kyoto and surrounding areas. This could be a great way to suppliment your income.

[KCLenny]

Just to add a further idea for you, have you considered guiding tourists? You're in the right area for it. Perhaps you could offer tours exploring the "hidden gems" of Kyoto and surrounding areas. This could be a great way to suppliment your income.

I’m not inherently against that idea. I just don’t know how that would work with visa regulations, and if I reduce my hours at my current company then I don’t know if my boss would want to continue supporting it.
Plus, if I announce that I’m taking that business English job, the current school will almost definitely close.
I’m the main teacher, we have no one else who would take over. It’s a sinking ship at this point.
So I need a visa sponsorship (though ok for another 2 years), and most of those jobs want full time commitment.

[Tsumitate Wrestler]

Just to add a further idea for you, have you considered guiding tourists? You're in the right area for it. Perhaps you could offer tours exploring the "hidden gems" of Kyoto and surrounding areas. This could be a great way to suppliment your income.

I’m not inherently against that idea. I just don’t know how that would work with visa regulations, and if I reduce my hours at my current company then I don’t know if my boss would want to continue supporting it.
Plus, if I announce that I’m taking that business English job, the current school will almost definitely close.
I’m the main teacher, we have no one else who would take over. It’s a sinking ship at this point.
So I need a visa sponsorship (though ok for another 2 years), and most of those jobs want full time commitment.

Neither you and your wife have PR?

This is a major consideration. What stopped you from applying with your current employer in the past?

[Bubblegun]

Just to add a further idea for you, have you considered guiding tourists? You're in the right area for it. Perhaps you could offer tours exploring the "hidden gems" of Kyoto and surrounding areas. This could be a great way to suppliment your income.

I think you might need to get a license for that? No?

[KCLenny]

Just to add a further idea for you, have you considered guiding tourists? You're in the right area for it. Perhaps you could offer tours exploring the "hidden gems" of Kyoto and surrounding areas. This could be a great way to suppliment your income.

I’m not inherently against that idea. I just don’t know how that would work with visa regulations, and if I reduce my hours at my current company then I don’t know if my boss would want to continue supporting it.
Plus, if I announce that I’m taking that business English job, the current school will almost definitely close.
I’m the main teacher, we have no one else who would take over. It’s a sinking ship at this point.
So I need a visa sponsorship (though ok for another 2 years), and most of those jobs want full time commitment.

Neither you and your wife have PR?

This is a major consideration. What stopped you from applying with your current employer in the past?

I’ve only been here for 5 years so can’t.
Want to apply for citizenship this year.

[Tsumitate Wrestler]

I’m not inherently against that idea. I just don’t know how that would work with visa regulations, and if I reduce my hours at my current company then I don’t know if my boss would want to continue supporting it.
Plus, if I announce that I’m taking that business English job, the current school will almost definitely close.
I’m the main teacher, we have no one else who would take over. It’s a sinking ship at this point.
So I need a visa sponsorship (though ok for another 2 years), and most of those jobs want full time commitment.

Neither you and your wife have PR?

This is a major consideration. What stopped you from applying with your current employer in the past?

I’ve only been here for 5 years so can’t.
Want to apply for citizenship this year.

Gotcha, are you familiar with the generally accepted floor of 3 million yen in annual earnings for citizenship applications?

If that is the case, then base salary is going to be a serious consideration for you. At least until you have dropped your anchor.

So, which job would look better in the eyes of the Ministry of Justice? That is a question worth asking.

[KCLenny]

Gotcha, are you familiar with the generally accepted floor of 3 million yen in annual earnings for citizenship applications?

If that is the case, then base salary is going to be a serious consideration for you. At least until you have dropped your anchor.

So, which job would look better in the eyes of the Ministry of Justice? That is a question worth asking.

Oh, no I wasn’t aware of that. Thanks.
I’m currently over that floor, but don’t know if it’s better to start the application for citizenship before or after changing jobs. Probably after, as that seems more pressing.
The safety salary of the business English would make me short by just a bit but that’s only if that’s all I get every single month.
I’ve got another conversation on Monday so will ask what the average salary is and/or how likely my hours will be more than the base.

[zeroshiki]

Same as PR, naturalization tests for stability so applying immediately after switching jobs is not a good idea since you need to demonstrate stability. I'm not gonna tell you to stay in a bad situation but do know that a 5 year history of working for the same company looks better to the MOJ than a month in a new one.

[Beaglehound]

Same as PR, naturalization tests for stability so applying immediately after switching jobs is not a good idea since you need to demonstrate stability. I'm not gonna tell you to stay in a bad situation but do know that a 5 year history of working for the same company looks better to the MOJ than a month in a new one.

You are right, but somewhat offset by any new position potentially being with a larger company offering shakai hoken. I would be more focused on improving my work situation in the OP's shoes, and maybe holding off on the naturalization application for a while.