This section of the blog will deal exlusively with Acting/Modeling/Narration in Tokyo. I will be posting all the questions and my responses here first. I’m sure this information will be of interest to many considering a move to Japan, so please let me know if there is anything I may have missed or if you want something expanded on.

Regards,
Matt

Question: I am interested in purchasing your book on working the Japanese entertainment industry. This message is just to make sure that your website is still active, and that I can still get the consultation.

Incidently, I work mostly in stunts and motion capture combat. Is there any part of your book that would relate to that field?

Answer: Yes, the ebook is up to date and I am on hand to answer any questions you may have.

The stunt work will be an advantage and I would certainly mention the motion capture. I did some blue screen work, but most of it is regular film. You might be doing a sporting job, or military, etc. I think you will get work as an actor, rather than just filling in — all that type of work goes directly to the actor in Tokyo.

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Question: I purchased your e-book  a month ago. I particularly appreciated the comprehensive list of agencies. I was wondering if i could ask your advice.

My speciality is medieval western Martial arts. I have the people and equipment to show several different centuries of medieval combat, including the armour.

Before now, I had only took opportunities as they came. Now I intend to seek out jobs. Could you recommend an agency that might be interested in what I have to offer?

Answer: I would recommend you take in some pictures of you dressed up in the Medieval garb and perhaps make a short video of it.

As for the agencies, tell them all. Unless you have fluent Japanese and are well known, companies will be reluctant to hire you direct — they prefer the safety of using the agencies who will send someone along to make sure everything runs smoothly with the actors.

The agencies don’t all get the same jobs, so the more that know you and what you can do, the better off you’ll be.

Question: Hi, I really want to do modeling when I go to Japan (Tokyo) as a part time job after school, I’ll go to Japan in April and the school will start in July.

I was wondering if you could help me finding a part time job.

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Answer: Many students in Tokyo also do acting/modeling work. There can be some problems with scheduling, but you’ll have a visa, so no problems there.

The way it works is you register with the agencies, then they call you for jobs. Occasionally, they ask me to help them find people, but mostly they do it all themselves.
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Question: Thank you very much for your reply, I’m very glad to hear from you.
I’ve been trying to find a way to go to Japan and study there for like 2-3 years now and I’ll finally go now. When I’ve been in Japan for a while I’m going to try to help other people who want to study in Japan because I don’t want them to feel the way I felt while searching for everything on my own.

How long does the models work?

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Answer: I think a lot of people were critical of me initally for giving out the acting information, but I just don’t see why others shouldn’t be able to get involved. It was hard to find, but well worth it in the end. Wanting to help others is a great idea.

The jobs themselves vary, but can go all day. The shortest jobs I ever did were voice over and the longest TV Saigen (re-enactment) dramas. I think it works out differently for everyone. I mostly did Commercials, print, etc, others do mostly TV and others do a combination of everything.