The employment situation in Japan has changed markedly in the past decade. although there is some evidence of slow economic recovery (along with the lingering recession), guaranteed lifetime employment and advancement by seniority--the hallmark of Japanese business health--have virtually disappeared. Male graduate from top universitites have difficulty landing jobs with prestigious firms, many of which have dropped campus recruiting. Female graduates already had difficulty accessing corporate jobs, based on the assumption that they would get married within a couple of years and "retire" from the company. But as it turns out, many graduates don't want to work for a big kaisha (company)
...Where do foreign residents fit into the employment picture? Thousands of immigrants from Brazil, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia have flooded into Japan to take factory and other jobs that most Japanese don't want. By contrast, English-speaking foreigners have earned a living in Japan for many years by teaching their native language. If anything, interest in learning English at increasingly younger ages has intensified, so teaching is still an option--provided you come with solid training, the appropriate degree, and, preferably, an introduction. In Japan, kone (connections) still have influence, and an introduction from someone in a position of authority carries weight. You may not know anyone in Japan right now, but you can meet people on your fact-finding trip (see Chapter 4) and make connections in advance of your move.
(excerpt from p. 125)