i'd like to pitch in and say that upward mobility in the social ladder is possible as a foreigner in japan. i personally know a couple americans that are doing well there. you will almost definitely have to marry for a visa though. getting sucked into the english teacher visa is basically pigeon holing yourself into indentured servitude. fun to do for a couple years if you're young but you won't learn any skills so doing it past your 30s (which many americans do) is just depressing.
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