Getting Started in Japan's Show Biz

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Getting on Japanese TV is not especially challenging, but don't expect fame and fortune to follow.  This ain't Hollywood, dude.  Here are a few tips to help get you started in Japanese show biz.

Go to Ginza on a Weekend
TV camera crews abound on the main drag in Ginza during weekend afternoons.  Hang around them, and they may ask you for a street interview.  Not all of them are seeking foreigners, though.  Roppongi Hills and Akihabara might be better bets for us gaijin, but I see far more camera crews in Ginza.

Study Japanese
While there are plenty of entertainment jobs for those that don't speak Japanese, it doesn't hurt to crack open a textbook and study the local language.  Even rudimentary Japanese skills greatly enhance your marketability as a performer and allow directors and staff to more easily communicate with you.

Get Headshots & Make a Profile
If you're planning on applying to talent agencies here in Japan you'll need some decent headshots and a profile.  
As for the headshots, you'll need 3 standard pictures:

• Face
• Upper half of the body (a bust shot)
• Full-length

Hire a photographer or ask someone you know that takes high-quality pictures so that you look your best.  Most importantly, make sure the pictures are accurate representations of you because this is the purpose they serve.  In other words, don't photoshop the crap out of them, put obnoxious anime characters around your face, or do your hair in some ridiculous atypical fashion.

As for the profile, it should be a 1-page summary of the vital stats important for show biz work.  Make a Japanese version if you can.  Put a small rendering of your best headshot (face or bust) along with the following information:

• Name (duh!)
• Birthday / Age
• Height
• Nationality
• Visa Status – You must have a visa to work in Japan!
• Language Skills – How's your Japanese?  Do you speak other languages?
• Special Skills – Can you sing, dance, play an instrument, etc.?  You might also specify if you can drive in Japan.
• Key Measurements – This is for costumes, etc.  Talent agencies will usually ask for this or measure you when you register.
• Experience – Have you done other entertainment work?  Any TV / entertainment experience will make your profile stand-out and lead to more jobs.

Some people include the following information as well.  Talent agencies may ask for this when registering.

• Availability – How free is your schedule?
• Blood Type – This is a Japanese thing.  It's said to roughly determine your personality and attitude.
• Closest Station – Where do you live?  Are you way out in the boonies or in central Tokyo?
• Weight – They can usually determine your build based on your full-length picture, so it's not essential.
• Accent – Are you a native English speaker?  If so, is your accent North American, British, etc.?  This is often asked when applying for voice work.

The goal here is to create a concise and professional-looking profile so that yours looks better than all those other douchebag profiles glue-sticked together with webcam snapshots and handwritten binder-paper bios.

Register with a Talent Agency
I already made a list of good ones.  Please refer to it here.  Don't waste your time with Inagawa Motoko.

Join the Community
I built a Japan-focused community website (www.mondaiji.com) dedicated to artists, performers, and all creatives, so please consider registering (it's free).  My hope is to better connect creative talent with those looking for creative talent.  For example, if some photographers register, then you can find someone to take your headshots!  If you register, you can join the “Foreign Actors Guild” group and post forum questions and share experiences.