Mature age student for Japan Anime school?

[Comic.Kikikora]

I am in my 30s ... Hoping to pay off my debts then save some money to go Japan to study for a year ...(hope can depart in my late 30s)

Just wondering which school will take mature age students? My Japanese is not good ... But want to attend a good school to learn ...

It is for fulfilling my childhood dream so it is a must do ... Just sooner or later, longer or shorter ...

Anyone can provide some advises to me?

Actually I prefer smaller cities or even towns as I don't want to commute long and want to experience lical culture more

Like how much it will cost per year? How to apply?

[NickRowler]

Your best bet would be looking into universities tho if your Japanese is not fluent, you might be limited in your options.

[Comic.Kikikora]

I don't want to go university, i only want to go technical school (2 yr max)

[darthmongoose]

Do you have any existing art qualifications that would make an art school want to take you?

What level have you studied Japanese to? 4-kyu? 3-kyu? "not good" doesn't really give me a clear picture of what we're working with here.

[Kelheor]

I recommend googling, really, a lot. And sitting to learn your Japanese, because studying things in different country in the language you don't know is really hard. You will probably have to pass at least N5 to get anywhere.

[FritzC]

Yes I agree with what everyone's said already.

Regarding your last points "how much does it cost? How do I apply?" I think you should start researching art schools (?) in Japan on Google for a start. I myself am studying in a university outside of my home country, and I found it by researching my options.

Try researching if any art schools in Japan have programs in English or for foreign students/exchange students, if your Japanese is not good (I also don't know what you mean by not good, could be A1, could be B2, that's a big difference, and also something you'll have to find out.)

Reaching out to art schools you find interesting over email or (if your Japanese allows it) phoning their international office/student counselling or the likes is a huge help in finding out the specifics about applying and what your options really are.

[magnavarra]

you can pretty much apply to your local aniamtion school. anime is just a style while all the principles are the same. I've studied anime themed classes here in Russia lol. i mean you can't draw anime if you can't draw anything else and animation is drawing 12 frames per second minimum so... yeah...

[thedude3445]

They generally don't teach Japanese in Japanese universities since everyone attending presumably is already fluent.

If you are a native English speaker (or have a TEFL certificate), you can apply for a teaching position with one of the many language teacher/Eikaiwa jobs such as JET Programme, Interac, ECC, and more. Here's a partial list of the options. You will be working, however, not studying, but it is realistically the only way you are going to Japan if you don't know Japanese already.

[Grhe]

I've studied manga, animation in Tokyo. I honestly don't recommend it.

To get into the school you'll need to have N2 (JLPT) in Japanese, and already know how to do manga/animation as they won't teach you anything. Lastly how to deal with very tight deadlines.

I graduated and it only left me with debts that I can't pay off and no job as Japan rarely hire westerners in that field.

I don't mean to sound like a bummer but it's the truth.

I recommend going to language school in Japan, it's a lot of fun!
Here's a link;

Find the perfect language school in Japan

[Kelheor]

To get into the school you'll need to have N2

they totally don't go easy on you

[FritzC]

I also feel like it needs to be mentioned that pretty much any uni or school can't deal with students who aren't fluent in the language they're taught, at least as far as listening and reading comprehension goes. When I studied as a foreign exchange Germanistics student in Germany, I was absolutely expected to be at least C1 level in German to be taught with the other native students. Everyone who isn't fluent will have to exchange to faculties where they teach in English.

[Grhe]

I think they will bend the rules if you can pass the entrance test which is a Japanese comprehension test, essay and an interview.

[Kelheor]

Yeah, I studied in China myself, though the requirements were less strict after you are accepted (and of course you already have to be on a good enough level to be accepted, otherwise how they will teach you). But they had no English facilities there, so every place is different.

[Grhe]

There are universities in Japan that teaches in English, and you won't need to know any Japanese.

Temple University, Japan Campus

TOP Page | SOKA UNIVERSITY | Discover your potential

[Grhe]

Wow so cool! How was the experience there?

The one I went to had zero English.

[Kelheor]

Well, it was not an art major, so nothing interesting I can tell about it, unfortunately
Zero English too, though

[darthmongoose]

Yeah, I studied my exchange year at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies back in '05. I was a "language student" partway through a Japanese degree, but we also had a bunch of rich americans doing the "cultural studies" course, learning really basic (up to about N5) Japanese while studying about Japanese culture for a few months. They all came over with no Japanese.

[Grhe]

hahaha What major?

[Grhe]

Nice! how was it at the Nagoya university? I came to japan as a language student as well with zero Japanese knowledge.

[Comic.Kikikora]

What do you mean by they don't teach you anything?!?!

I don't need to work in animation in Japan after graduation .... But want to experience 1-2 years in the manga/ anime world .... As my dream to be professional cartoonist seems unachievable ... So want to have some happy memory with manga lol as we only live once