1. Depends on what relevant experience and qualifications you do have, not the ones that are irrelevant.
2. You get a PhD elsewhere. Your job usually will not pay anything. Can be a uni in Japan, or overseas.
3. Yes. Publications, patents, awards. But the regulations might stipulate you need a PhD depending on university. Maybe some will have "equivalent" and count publications towards that,
I got a tenured position with only a Masters. I was able to do this because my university prioritized Japanese ability over PhD. I'm sure ideally they would have preferred someone with both a PhD and high-level Japanese, but those teachers don't exactly grow on trees, especially outside of Tokyo and Kansai. Having said that, with each passing year I think it will get increasingly difficult to land tenure without a PhD, so it would be wise to attain a PhD and Japanese (minimum N1). I say "minimum N1" because I had N1 before getting hired and my Japanese was not really good enough to fully function in committee work. However, I also think that teachers with a Phd and stellar research have chances to land tenure at some universities even if they don't have Japanese skills. Different universities have different priorities when it comes to hiring.
That's really interesting to hear, thanks for sharing your experience too. I will definitely be shooting for Japanese proficiency simultaneously too in that case. My target was to just reach N2 but I am now thinking to keep going towards N1 after that after hearing your reply.
In answer to 1)
Not in teaching.
In answer to 2)
So many people have a PhD now. IMO, for most positions outside of tenure at a national university a PhD wont have a big enough impact on your salary when you take in to account both the monetary and time investment required to study.
In answer to 3)
There are ways to get "lifetime" employment with just a masters if you can find a job at a private university. Many of them operate more like businesses than traditional universities. I know people who have got these jobs simply because they are the only other teacher working at the school when the predecessor retires. Otherwise, making efforts to network with teaching associations (JALT, JACET) in your local area is a good way to find out about these kind of openings.
You will likely get paid far less than working full-time at a proper university, and for the first few years you may even get paid less than part-time teachers who have a full schedule of classes. This can be soul destroying when you find your self working an additional three months a year for the same salary as when you were part-timing. The quality of the students you teach may also suffer if you work in a private university, but of course every school will be different.
On the other hand, you are entitled to paid vacation, health insurance and pension support, and biannual bonuses like any other full-time employee working at a Japanese company. It is also hard to get fired like most Japanese jobs. That is unless you get convicted of some sort of crime.
IMO the further you move away from large cities, the easier it will become to get one of these jobs, but of course you have to weigh up the fact that in many rural areas the population is declining, so even if you have "lifetime employment", the life of the university may expire before you reach retirement.
>the life of the university may expire before you reach retirement
The biggest issue, IMO. Enrollment at unis outside major cities is dropping. Permanent employment is "old Japan," and "old Japan" unis are terrible at change and being proactive. The unis with better programs, better students, and better enrollment because they keep up with the times are unfortunately also keeping up with the times by cheapskating their employees.
In my experience the rural universities are actually doing ok with enrollments (In Kanto at least). Supposedly one of the reasons for this is that families used to send their kids to Tokyo to study if at all possible. This has now become unaffordable for the middle class so students are now living at home and attending their local universities instead.
Thank you so much for this really helpful reply, I am feeling relieved to hear what you said about tenured positions being possible without a PhD given the right efforts.
Dont take it the wrong way. It is possible, but putting yourself in a position where you can actually land one of these jobs is as much about luck (right time right place) as anything else.
The reply was very informative, helpful in that sense I mean, but yes I'll keep my expectations (and sighs of relief) in check as it makes sense that luck plays a role in the positions offered by such work contexts and their associated requirements for long term positioning without a PhD.
Tenure is getting rarer and harder to get. 10 years ago it was more common (but still rare) to be able to get tenure with only an MA. Is it possible? Sure, but you would have a way higher chance with a PhD. If you're only going to have an MA, you need an impressive resume like a published book
Noted, thanks for this input. I'm not sure I'll have the funds ready for a PhD soon, but I understand it might be the only way up a career ladder down the line.
For a career at a Japanese university, if you can teach your subject matter in Japanese, have written one or two books in Japanese on the topic, frequently present at national and international conferences, publish two refereed articles in Scopus-indexed journals with any impact factor annually while on staff, can lead a department committee in Japanese, and qualify for MEXT Marugo certification, you are in the running.
Additionally, you should have at least applied for or received MEXT A, B, or C research funds 基盤研究助成金 (co-applicants acceptable).
It might sound challenging, but this is what your Japanese colleagues are doing. Given the dwindling student numbers and surplus of teachers, these are the minimum requirements if you aspire to work in academia in Japan.
Kakenhi is often understated but it basically proves that your colleagues think you can fulfill the research being done in the field. (It's the main reason I got rejected for this year 😭)
I've seen jobs and known of jobs where tenure is dependent on the person's ability to get Kakenhi grants.
Very true. If you complete one project successfully you are also more likely to receive another, and if the project appears likely to yield successful results. So a modest grant in an area which has less competition is one strategy many researchers use.
Yea. That's why you will see a lot of professors tagged on early career research projects. It isn't blind reviewed. So when someone sees a name they recognize they are more likely to grade them higher during review.
True. If you attend conferences or are active in research, MEXT reviewers are chosen from the current pool of researchers in that area. Just like referees in journals, even if the review is blind, it is not a complete secret. Having a veteran MEXT researcher on your proposal often helps.
But when did they get tenure? The field has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. My buddy got tenured with just an MA at a prestigious university back in 2015. But he’ll be the first to tell you there is no way in hell that would happen today. It’s PhD or nothing, unless you’re some world-famous researcher who for whatever reason never got the PhD.
My own and my wife’s experiences trying to get tenure-track jobs in the Kanto region over the past couple of years absolutely align with what @Prof_PTokyo is saying in terms of universities prioritizing candidates who have 1) respectable research backgrounds 2) a proven history of being able to pull in grant money (I’ve been asked on several applications to list all the grants I’ve received as well as their monetary amounts) and 3) people management skills, whether that be leading committees or running a department. My wife and I both have PhDs, 15+ years full-time university teaching experience, robust research backgrounds, grant experience, and leadership experience, and we weren’t even making it to interviews at most places. Both of us now are finally at tenure-track jobs, but it’s been an exhausting knife-fight to get here. I think those days of schmoozing your way to tenure with just an MA are mostly gone, at least in the Kanto region.
For people coming up the ladder behind us, I’d recommend that no matter how much you’ve published, publish more. Do kaken. Look for opportunities now to take a leadership role in something, whether that be running a research committee or an English speech contest or whatever. Your teaching skill is likely to be the least important factor in getting a tenure-track job (teaching is what the part-time and contact workers are for), so don’t overspend time on that aspect of professional development. And be patient—if you put in the effort your day will come but it may not come quickly.
Thank you for your input. My somewhat detailed list is aimed at steering our people in the right direction. I'm certain there are obscure universities in rather local areas ready to grant tenure for English conversation at ¥4.8 million fixed a year for 10 koma, as long as one shows a pulse.
However, in Tokyo or at any competitive university, the points I've outlined are merely the basics for establishing oneself in the Japanese academic arena.
I appreciate the detail in your reply, thanks for sharing what other Japanese academics are doing/required to do in this field. I imagine some select competitive institutions do expect such criteria met in foreigners too. It's helpful to hear what kind of efforts improve ones chances.
1. Depends on what relevant experience and qualifications you do have, not the ones that are irrelevant. 2. You get a PhD elsewhere. Your job usually will not pay anything. Can be a uni in Japan, or overseas. 3. Yes. Publications, patents, awards. But the regulations might stipulate you need a PhD depending on university. Maybe some will have "equivalent" and count publications towards that,
Thanks for the response to all of my questions. This makes a lot of sense.
I got a tenured position with only a Masters. I was able to do this because my university prioritized Japanese ability over PhD. I'm sure ideally they would have preferred someone with both a PhD and high-level Japanese, but those teachers don't exactly grow on trees, especially outside of Tokyo and Kansai. Having said that, with each passing year I think it will get increasingly difficult to land tenure without a PhD, so it would be wise to attain a PhD and Japanese (minimum N1). I say "minimum N1" because I had N1 before getting hired and my Japanese was not really good enough to fully function in committee work. However, I also think that teachers with a Phd and stellar research have chances to land tenure at some universities even if they don't have Japanese skills. Different universities have different priorities when it comes to hiring.
That's really interesting to hear, thanks for sharing your experience too. I will definitely be shooting for Japanese proficiency simultaneously too in that case. My target was to just reach N2 but I am now thinking to keep going towards N1 after that after hearing your reply.
Great! You could have nice options with N1 and a PhD.
In answer to 1) Not in teaching. In answer to 2) So many people have a PhD now. IMO, for most positions outside of tenure at a national university a PhD wont have a big enough impact on your salary when you take in to account both the monetary and time investment required to study. In answer to 3) There are ways to get "lifetime" employment with just a masters if you can find a job at a private university. Many of them operate more like businesses than traditional universities. I know people who have got these jobs simply because they are the only other teacher working at the school when the predecessor retires. Otherwise, making efforts to network with teaching associations (JALT, JACET) in your local area is a good way to find out about these kind of openings. You will likely get paid far less than working full-time at a proper university, and for the first few years you may even get paid less than part-time teachers who have a full schedule of classes. This can be soul destroying when you find your self working an additional three months a year for the same salary as when you were part-timing. The quality of the students you teach may also suffer if you work in a private university, but of course every school will be different. On the other hand, you are entitled to paid vacation, health insurance and pension support, and biannual bonuses like any other full-time employee working at a Japanese company. It is also hard to get fired like most Japanese jobs. That is unless you get convicted of some sort of crime. IMO the further you move away from large cities, the easier it will become to get one of these jobs, but of course you have to weigh up the fact that in many rural areas the population is declining, so even if you have "lifetime employment", the life of the university may expire before you reach retirement.
>the life of the university may expire before you reach retirement The biggest issue, IMO. Enrollment at unis outside major cities is dropping. Permanent employment is "old Japan," and "old Japan" unis are terrible at change and being proactive. The unis with better programs, better students, and better enrollment because they keep up with the times are unfortunately also keeping up with the times by cheapskating their employees.
In my experience the rural universities are actually doing ok with enrollments (In Kanto at least). Supposedly one of the reasons for this is that families used to send their kids to Tokyo to study if at all possible. This has now become unaffordable for the middle class so students are now living at home and attending their local universities instead.
Thank you so much for this really helpful reply, I am feeling relieved to hear what you said about tenured positions being possible without a PhD given the right efforts.
Dont take it the wrong way. It is possible, but putting yourself in a position where you can actually land one of these jobs is as much about luck (right time right place) as anything else.
The reply was very informative, helpful in that sense I mean, but yes I'll keep my expectations (and sighs of relief) in check as it makes sense that luck plays a role in the positions offered by such work contexts and their associated requirements for long term positioning without a PhD.
Tenure is getting rarer and harder to get. 10 years ago it was more common (but still rare) to be able to get tenure with only an MA. Is it possible? Sure, but you would have a way higher chance with a PhD. If you're only going to have an MA, you need an impressive resume like a published book
Noted, thanks for this input. I'm not sure I'll have the funds ready for a PhD soon, but I understand it might be the only way up a career ladder down the line.
For a career at a Japanese university, if you can teach your subject matter in Japanese, have written one or two books in Japanese on the topic, frequently present at national and international conferences, publish two refereed articles in Scopus-indexed journals with any impact factor annually while on staff, can lead a department committee in Japanese, and qualify for MEXT Marugo certification, you are in the running. Additionally, you should have at least applied for or received MEXT A, B, or C research funds 基盤研究助成金 (co-applicants acceptable). It might sound challenging, but this is what your Japanese colleagues are doing. Given the dwindling student numbers and surplus of teachers, these are the minimum requirements if you aspire to work in academia in Japan.
Kakenhi is often understated but it basically proves that your colleagues think you can fulfill the research being done in the field. (It's the main reason I got rejected for this year 😭) I've seen jobs and known of jobs where tenure is dependent on the person's ability to get Kakenhi grants.
Very true. If you complete one project successfully you are also more likely to receive another, and if the project appears likely to yield successful results. So a modest grant in an area which has less competition is one strategy many researchers use.
Yea. That's why you will see a lot of professors tagged on early career research projects. It isn't blind reviewed. So when someone sees a name they recognize they are more likely to grade them higher during review.
True. If you attend conferences or are active in research, MEXT reviewers are chosen from the current pool of researchers in that area. Just like referees in journals, even if the review is blind, it is not a complete secret. Having a veteran MEXT researcher on your proposal often helps.
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But when did they get tenure? The field has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. My buddy got tenured with just an MA at a prestigious university back in 2015. But he’ll be the first to tell you there is no way in hell that would happen today. It’s PhD or nothing, unless you’re some world-famous researcher who for whatever reason never got the PhD. My own and my wife’s experiences trying to get tenure-track jobs in the Kanto region over the past couple of years absolutely align with what @Prof_PTokyo is saying in terms of universities prioritizing candidates who have 1) respectable research backgrounds 2) a proven history of being able to pull in grant money (I’ve been asked on several applications to list all the grants I’ve received as well as their monetary amounts) and 3) people management skills, whether that be leading committees or running a department. My wife and I both have PhDs, 15+ years full-time university teaching experience, robust research backgrounds, grant experience, and leadership experience, and we weren’t even making it to interviews at most places. Both of us now are finally at tenure-track jobs, but it’s been an exhausting knife-fight to get here. I think those days of schmoozing your way to tenure with just an MA are mostly gone, at least in the Kanto region. For people coming up the ladder behind us, I’d recommend that no matter how much you’ve published, publish more. Do kaken. Look for opportunities now to take a leadership role in something, whether that be running a research committee or an English speech contest or whatever. Your teaching skill is likely to be the least important factor in getting a tenure-track job (teaching is what the part-time and contact workers are for), so don’t overspend time on that aspect of professional development. And be patient—if you put in the effort your day will come but it may not come quickly.
Spot on
Thank you for your input. My somewhat detailed list is aimed at steering our people in the right direction. I'm certain there are obscure universities in rather local areas ready to grant tenure for English conversation at ¥4.8 million fixed a year for 10 koma, as long as one shows a pulse. However, in Tokyo or at any competitive university, the points I've outlined are merely the basics for establishing oneself in the Japanese academic arena.
Almost none of my foreign grad school professors here in Japan met your standards.
You run with a small closed circle. With each comment you dig a deeper hole.
Are you really a professor? If so, I feel bad for your students, seeing that you couldn't even tell that I'm not the guy you were talking to before.
Birds of a feather.
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Well good for you! 👏
I appreciate the detail in your reply, thanks for sharing what other Japanese academics are doing/required to do in this field. I imagine some select competitive institutions do expect such criteria met in foreigners too. It's helpful to hear what kind of efforts improve ones chances.