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Frequently Asked Questions
I'll be going to Tokyo on a tourist visa. Should I contact any agencies before I get a visa I can work on?
Absolutely not. Can anyone just move to a country like the US or Australia and start working on a tourist visa? Of course not and Japan is exactly the same.
If you contact the agencies on a tourist visa, they won't give you the time of day. You must have a visa before you can do any work.
I'm a Voice-over guy from the East Coast, can you tell me about my chances for voice-overs in Tokyo?
The ebook contains 19 dedicated Voice over agencies, all looking for new talent. The you also need to consider the regular acting agencies - they also get casting calls for voice over jobs. That means plenty of opportunity for work. The one aspect of the ebook I have received the most criticism for, is exposing the Narration agencies. The people doing the work have been tight lipped, quietly making a heap of yen, but now they face some competition. Most of the old school people doing it also have no real experience, so a person with a solid reel from the US will blow them out of the water. The work runs the full gamet from Video games to train announcements and the pay is very good. The jobs usually run for a couple of hours and are on time.
Your information on the Acting/modeling work is great. Do you have any info about other forms of work?
Sure. Please follow the links below for information about finding a
high paying English Teaching Job and
working as a Wedding Minister.
I heard you were recently interviewed in the Metropolis. Do you have a copy of the interview?
Sure. Chris Betros was kind enough to do the interview for me. Please see below for the complete version.
You say the information has been gathered over a 5 year period, yet you have been running the site for 4, why is this?
I have been working as an Actor/model in Tokyo for around 5 years, but started running the site 1 year after I became involved, hence the difference in the numbers.
Do you have a links section?
The links section is at: marinerblue.com/acting/links.html If you would like to see your link added, please send me an email.
Can you tell me a bit about the Visa Process?
There are 2 separate, distinct applications you must make for a visa. The first is for what is called a Certificate of Eligibility. Make no mistake, this is not a visa, but you need it to apply for one. The Company will give you the Profit and Loss statements, other business documents, etc, which you then take in to Immigration. This is not a visa and if you only manage to get this much done before your Tourist Visa expires, you will have to leave Japan.
The second phase is the actual application process, whereby you fill out another form and submit it along with the Certificate of Eligibilty. If you lodge your application before your Tourist Visa expires, then you may not have to leave. It is completely at the discretion of the Immigration official. If anyone has any queries whatsoever about the status of their visa, please don't hesitate to contact me. If you overstay, even by 1 day, you will be treated like a criminal and they will commence Deportation procedures.
What kind of agencies are listed in your ebook?
The 55 agencies are broken down as follows:
TV Commercials/TV shows/Voice/Others - 18
TV shows/promotions/various - 3
Children's Agencies - 2
Talent agencies - 1
Singers/Entertainers - 2
Dedicated Voice Over - 19
Modeling - 8
Adult Video - 2
Total - 55
Don't forget, there is a lot of overlap and the agencies for Singers/Entertainers will also get TV jobs, which is why you have to join as many as you can! I'd say almost all the agencies will also sign up children, but there are two obvious exceptions.
I am in the US Navy, can you help me?
I have helped out quite a few of the guys down there at Yokosuka and have also been in the Navy (Australian) myself, so I know your position exactly.
I recently spent some time in LA and really liked it. I picked up a copy of the Back Stage West, more as a matter of interest than anything else, but took note to what I saw in there. The scene in Tokyo is so different to LA in many ways, but the most notable is this: you don't need any experience at all to get started.
All the agencies will take pictures for you, so as long as you don't look Japanese, there will be jobs for you. They use those pictures to send to casting agents, who in turn will call you for the jobs.
Most people start out doing extras jobs, but then you get sent on auditions and land lead roles. It is all too easy if you ask me!
The way to get started is this: simply register with as many of the freelance agencies as you can, and then accept the jobs that meet your schedule/ desired level of payment. As you do more jobs, you will start to collect some shots for your book and maybe also get some new pictures taken. The agencies will get to klnow you well and will send you on any job they can, because when you work, they get paid.
What I offer is advice and support along with the list of 55 agencies, their contact numbers and directions on how to find them. This will save you a lot of time and help you to realise the dream of doing acting jobs.
I enjoy talking with people about acting in Tokyo because I know so much about it, so any chance I get to share the knowledge and help someone else get a start is great for me.
After I pay to join, how long will it take for me to get access to the ebook?
As soon as your payment is confirmed, you will be taken to a page with your user name/password information on it. You will be reading the information in the ebook within 3 minutes of joining.
I don't know. You make it sound too easy. What is it really like to do an acting job?
Well, I am a positive person and I know that anyone really can do the work. I believe that if you are persistent and have enough desire, then you can achieve anything. People told Jim Carey and Brad Pitt that they would never make it, but they obviously didn't listen...
I often hear people complain about sitting in the bus for 6 hours before doing a 20 minute scene, but that is what an extras job is like. Some of the audition jobs I did were over very quickly and perfectly on schedule, others weren't. Being in a bus, talking to interesting people is what it is all about. If you are a person who always feels they have to be doing something, then maybe this is not for you. After the 4th hour, the conversations get more and more interesting and funnier and funnier. Things which I find quite entertaining.
Where are you from and how did you get into this business?
I am originally from Canberra, Australia. I was first exposed to the Acting biz over here whilst doing some part time English teaching. Several of the other people I worked with were big on the circuit and it all started from there.
A friend of mine gave me some numbers to a few agencies. Why should I pay you for the same information?
All you have is just that - a few numbers. You have no contacts and this is a relationships business. Think about it for a second. I have detailed information about the location of the agency, the people to speak to, what to say, how not to make mistakes and how to maximise your success. You are welcome to waste your time by trying to do it all over again yourself, but it won't be the most professional approach you could take. You also have my support and help with any issues you may have here.
I met a drunk guy in a bar in Tohoku who told me that there are no acting jobs in Tokyo. He has been here for 4 months.
Sadly, you get a lot of people who talk to hear the sound of their own voice. If the person you speak to a.)is not living in Tokyo, b.)has not been here very long or c.)is drunk, I would take everything they say with a grain of salt.
What jobs have you done and how much were you paid?
A list of some of the jobs I have done can be seen under the job list link at the main page. There is also a link to some photos and videos at that page.
I am interested in coming over to Tokyo and following your advice. Can you help me find a cheap air ticket?
I am pleased to be able to answer yes to this question. I have a good friend who is a pilot at one of the major airlines and as a result have a good deal of information about the aviation industry. The acting guide now also contains information about discount flights and where to find them.
I want to work in Japan as a male host. How do I get into this?
The whole male hosting fantasy is just that - a fantasy. Japanese men like to meet foreign women over drinks in a bar, hence the hostess bar. Japanese women, on the other hand, have to run the entire household in addition to babysitting their husbands, so they multi-task by learning English at the same time.
If you really want to be a male host, buy some flashy suits, a nice watch, learn some magic tricks and entertain the women in a class at an English language school. They will be lining up to have a lesson from you and will also be willing to give you things, take you out to dinner and have sex with you if you so desire. You will also earn more money doing that than in a male host club, which I might add, you need fluent Japanese to work at. By my definition that is what a host does. You could even get drunk or take stimulants before your lessons!
The acting/modeling work is a different story. Anyone can do it and the money is very good for what you have to do. It is also a cool thing to tell women in Japan as they are obsessed with celebrities and you will get to work with most of them.
Do I have to be in Tokyo to do the jobs?
Yes, you have to be in Tokyo to do the work. They will not fly you over for the weekend just to do a commerical. The contract people are sometimes flown over, but their agencies deduct about double what it actually costs from their pay. You need to make the decision to move to Japan before getting into this. I heard of one story where they flew a guy in from New York for a CM and he couldn't do what they wanted. I am just about certain the same mistake will never be made again.
It took me 6 months to earn US$47. If I purchase a user name/password to the ebook through Paypal, how do I know I will actually get something for my money?
I have been asked this question a few times recently, which has led to it being answered in the FAQ. I have been running the site for over 4 years now and have around 150 satisfied members. As you can see, I am not doing this to make millions, but rather to help people wade through all the mis-truths and bullshit blurted by people who no very little. I always used to meet people in person, but I became too busy, then I decided to have a break away from Japan and that ended that. The site keeps getting better and it will continue to do so. I still receive great information updates regularly and I still keep in contact with the agencies. I have met a lot of people in my life with absolutely no integrity and am determined to live my life in a manner exactly opposite. Fair enough, you don't know me, but if I was doing the wrong thing, with all the promoting I do, I can assure you I wouldn't be in business.
Do you offer the ebook in a hardcopy version?
No, I don't. Because of the changing nature of the Internet and the information within the ebook, I am constantly finding new ways to update and improve it. I suggest printing out each map as required, or printing one out and marking the others on it. Many of the agencies are in similar locations.
Do you directly offer people jobs?
No, I don't. I am registered with all the agencies, but I am not an employee. I simply created a guide with all the relevant information on each agency. This saves them time and more importantly, it saves you time. Once you have registered with them, they will contact you about doing jobs as they come in for people with your look. The advantage of utilising the information in my guide is that you can register with all the agencies at once, and let the magic of leveraging begin.
If you are as successful as you claim why are you doing this instead of working in film and/or television?
A good question. I am one of those people who, if they decide to do something, goes out and gets as much information as possible before doing it. I was the same with the acting work. I had more information about it than anyone else and was constantly asked about acting work. I was happy to give the information out, but in most cases, people did nothing with it. People don't respect things given to them for free, so I decided to put it all together into professional ebook and market it on the internet. I am a member of 2 other online ebook sites and I liked the way they helped the members, and wanted to do the same thing myself for other foreigners here in Tokyo. I have a lot of knowledge and contacts here that I am happy to share with the readers of my ebook. You don't just get a bunch of phone numbers - you get all my knowledge about Tokyo also. I am lucky enough to have become good friends with some of the people I have met though this site and have worked on acting jobs with many of them.
Do I need a Visa?
You will need a proper visa to register and do the work. Student, cultural, working holiday, working, spousal, any visa at all is fine. The easiest way to get a visa is to be sponsored by an English School or get married. Everyone is different, so please feel free to contact me regarding your unique situation.
What kind of agencies are listed in the ebook?
Some of the agencies do the same things, that is voice over work, TV commercials, etc. Others get a lot of jobs with the Japanese TV stations and also movies. Some cover voice over jobs exclusively, while others deal with more modeling type jobs such as fashion shows and editorial shoots. Basically all types of work are covered and if you visit them all, you will have a great chance to try all the different types of jobs available.
How much do I get paid?
It depends on the job. The guarantee for an extras job is around 10-20,000 Yen. If you have to audition for a job, it should be around 50,000 yen. These prices are for TV commercials. TV shows are generally around 20,000 yen. Each job is different, but the minimum you should get for any job at all is 15,000 yen. Each job has the potential to lift you to a higher level, so I would think in terms of where it might lead rather than how much you will get. Jobs with restrictions pay in the vicinity of around 120,000 a day and up. It also depends how long the restriction is for. Then you also have re-runs! The agency involved will let you know about the guarantee for each particular job. To see a list of some of the jobs I have done and how much I was paid, please visit here.
Do I need any previous experience?
Not at all. I think it helps if you have some sort of personality. But if you look like a foreigner, i.e someone who isn't Japanese, that is all you need to get started.
If I get offered more than one job on the same day, which one should I take?
You should do the first job that you are offered. Some people accept the job from the agency that offers the highest guarantee, but while it is within the rules, it isn't within the spirit of the game.
What is the best way to get around Tokyo?
Without doubt, the easiest way to get around is the train. I use a scooter because I may have suicidal tendencies, but in 90% of cases it is quicker to catch the train.
What should I wear to the auditions?
The manager from the agency calling you will let you know about the type of job it is and what you should wear to the audition. They give you pretty decent descriptions most of the time. Once again, if in doubt ask them.
How do I get paid?
You can pick your pay up or have it transferred into your bank account. Since I have a scooter, I like to go in personally and say hello. They also usually take a new photo of you at this time.
When do I get paid?
It ranges from the same day to 2 months. You get to know which agencies pay the quickest and which ones you have to remind.
What happens if I don't get paid?
Go into the office and remind them of the job you did and the date. This is another reason why you should keep a diary - to record when and where you worked, so that if you find yourself in this situation you have all the information in front you.
Do I need to be able to speak Japanese?
Not at all. On a group job there is the Japanese manager plus at least 3 other foreigners who can speak fluently. The production company also usually has a translator who works with the director. In the case where there aren't any other foreign actors, then at least 1 Japanese person there will be able to speak English. A few of them will try anyway.
The Agency staff can all speak English well and if you do ever have any lines in a show, they will be dubbed over in Japanese using a Japanese actor.
You can introduce yourself at auditions in English, so there will no probelms for you at all. Just use the greetings and make it look like you are trying and they will be happy.
All the Japanese people I have met are shocked when they hear foreigners speaking in Japanese. They assume we can't speak it at all.
What is Japanese food like?
It depends on what you like, but it is generally good. There is the raw fish and fermented squid intestines, but if that is not for you, then there are many other things to eat. There is also an abundance of imported high glycaemic crap, in the form of McDonalds, KFC, etc. On a shoot you mostly get a lunch box and a can of green tea, but occasionally they will provide a fresh, hot meal such as beef curry.
What is the best time of year to work?
A good question. You get all 4 seasons in Tokyo each year and programs/TV commercials for each season. There are a lot of seasonal foods which advertise, so there is always something on. In December/January things generally slow down a bit, but if you don't go home for Christmas and everyone else has, it can be quite busy. The Japanese celebrate the New Year, so the first week of January would be the quietest. Other than that it is go, go, go.
What is it like working on a job?
Usually a lot of fun. I did a job recently for a TV show that re-enacts amazing stories. There was a girl from England, a Kiwi, a girl from Sweden, one from Australia, a Canadian, an American, a guy from Iran, a guy from Poland and myself. We had a great time just chatting - but I'll warn you, the conversations become a little nonsensical after a while. It was interesting to speak to so many different people. Sometimes something is lost in the understanding of English between people, but this only adds to the fun. I also did a job with 4 Japanese actors and 1 other foreigner. It was good to talk in Japanese, but after a while, they started talking the same shit that you hear on any job.
What is the Metropolis?
The Metropolis is a free, weekly magazine that is sent to a lot of bars, restaurants and other shops frequented by foreigners. It used to be called Tokyo Classified, but they changed the brand a few years back. Some of you may have learned about Marinerblue.com from that particular publication.
Is it better to have an English resume or a Japanese one?
When you register with the agencies there is a small amount of room on the form for listing your previous experience. I have never been asked for my resume or seen one at an agency. I think it could be a good idea to include it in your book. In Japanese would be very impressive, but just in English would also be ok. All Japanese people can read English, it is speaking that creates problems.
What does a background performer (extra) make on average per month?
It depends on the job. The lowest you will get paid is about 15,000 yen. It should be for a short job with not much waiting. I met a girl from England at a job a few weeks back who was paid 250,000 yen for pretending to be a backpacker and pointing to a map. She said the job took all of about 35 minutes. If you get restrictions, then the pay goes up. If it is a print job also, then you get more. I would say that the minimum you should get for a job you auditioned for is around 40-50,000 yen. If you get all small jobs, then I guess you could still make 150,000 yen a month. The big jobs though are the ones to get. It is one of those things that the only way to find out is to actually do it.
Can an actor work as their own agent, sending resumes and pictures and be successful, or is it better to have an agent?
Unfortunately, every facet of Japanese society is regulated by Hakken Gaishas (middle man companies). I really don't think you would do well, because it is going against the system. Japanese are very particular about following the system no matter how stupid we or they think it is. You are better off just registering with the agencies and accepting jobs from the ones that pay well, and pay promptly. The agencies are covered for insurance, etc, so from a Client's perspective it makes a lot of sense to use an agent.
Is there a lot of work for real actors in movies or TV as opposed to English teaching programming and things like that?
I recently had an audition for a teaching program, but that is the first one I have had. Mostly it is all TV shows and TV commercials. That might be one of the differences between here and Nagoya. I would say that 90% of TV jobs involve proper acting.
What do I say if I have to call my regular job and say I am sick so I can do an acting job instead?
On the first Tuesday in November almost half the working population in Australia call in sick to get drunk and watch a horse race. Obviously, this won't work here, but diarreah will. You can have it one day, be fine the next only to have it return the following day. It is not serious enough to require a trip to the Doctor either, which makes it a real winner. I usually say I ate some spicy/raw type food the day before, but any variation will do.
I know that Japanese society can often be very cruel to women. Do women get paid less than men here (in the entertainment business), or is it simply dependant on the job itself?
Recently, I did a music video with 4 Japanese actors and one other foreign woman. She and I were both paid 50,000 each and the Japanese were paid 30,000. We were from the same agency, while the Japanese guys were all from different agencies. Generally, Japanese people are paid far less and foreigners, both males and females are paid the same. You won't have any problems with this.
For my voice recording, what kind of things should it have on it and should I sepeak with a North American accent?
The recording should contain a variety of things. You should do an announcer's voice saying something like "Toyota," read out a newspaper article, etc and do some character voices. I did a voice job recently and we, (me and a Canadian guy) had to be really intense and try to get a woman's attention. In the ad, she is non-plussed by all the foreigners trying to talk to her. I was speaking very quickly and basically yelling, "sign the god damn paper. If you don't sign, we'll lose the contract and there is 10 million dollars on the line." We did a few takes and each time the director was saying motto, motto, (more, more) so don't hold back. Try to sound old, young, whatever, just mix it up. A North American accent is the way to go, but maybe say one or two things with your usual accent and in Japanese. For that business scene, I had to speak with a North American accent. Just recording it using a tape recorder will be fine also.
Do I need professional photos to send to the agencies that don't take them?
The photos they take at the agencies are reasonable without being exceptional. As long as it looks like you and it is fairly recent, it will be fine. You need a photo of your full body as well, so don't forget that. If you can take them on a decent camera, that would probably be advantageous. There are only 3 agencies that need you to send in pictures to, so photos are not really that important. The best photos you can get are of you in costume, doing the job. Each one of these is a worthy addition to your book.
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