KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Do you need to learn Japanese to live in Japan? The short answer is NO.

• Who is Michael Machida who lives in Japan from America?

• How can I get a job in Japan speaking English only?

• Are there any English speaking jobs in Japan?

• Can I still call TheJEGroup! at: +81.70.9041.6946 to get a job in Japan?

• Does TheJEGroup! also help job hunters live in other countries too?

DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK JAPANESE TO LIVE IN JAPAN?

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo, Japan

We put this question to a long term [25 or 26 year] resident of Japan who is from America - Michael Machida who works in Japan as a Career Search Consultant.

Michael is someone who seems to be everywhere at once, doing a dozen things you swear would take three normal people to pull off. He told me that you do not need to speak English in Japan to live here. Sort of...

That’s kind of how it feels watching Michael Machida do his thing in Japan.

I’ve known him for… what, almost ten years now? And even after all this time, I still catch myself wondering if he secretly has a twin or some sort of time-stretching ability he’s not telling the rest of us about.

"Living in Japan does not require speaking the local language. Working in Japan does."

Michael runs TheJEGroup!, and honestly, calling it a “Career Search Consultancy” feels a little too stiff, too small. It’s more like a lifeline for people trying to figure out how the hell to build a life and career in Japan.

And he’s not doing this from some distant, corporate place. He’s right there in the trenches with people — coaching them, pushing them, occasionally giving the tough love they really don’t want but absolutely need.

But not to worry, TheJEGroup! actually does your job hunt for you, so you don't have to! Great, right?

He’ll laugh if you call him an expert, but let’s be real: assisting more than 4,500 job hunters… that’s not a hobby. That’s a track record.

How Michael Ended Up Doing All This...

Japan wasn’t exactly part of some grand plan for him — at least not in the beginning. He talks about it like one of those wildcard decisions you make in your twenties that somehow becomes the entire blueprint of your adult life.

He came here, fell in love with the energy, the culture, the way Tokyo is both calm and chaotic at the same time… and also, admittedly, the food. The man loves ramen so much it’s practically a personality trait.

Somewhere along the way, he realized there were a ton of people who wanted to come here, too — people who were fascinated by Japan but had no clue how to actually live and work here.

I remember him telling me, years ago over a late-night Starbucks meeting (one of those ones where you’re both tired but also weirdly energized), “People don’t need a company. They need a guide. Someone who’s already made the mistakes so they don’t have to.”

And honestly? That’s exactly what he became.

What He Actually Does All Day (Spoiler: A Lot)

People think he just assists job hunters write resumes, but they have no idea how deep it actually goes.

TheJEGroup! actually does not use job posts on job sites at all. They have an In-House Database and Global Network of Companies & Businesses as well as Educational and Healthcare connections - they have had since 1989.

Michael teaches people how to navigate Japan — not just the job market, but the mindset of working here.

There’s this whole rhythm to Japanese companies that can feel like a secret language if you didn’t grow up with it. He translates that culture in a way that feels welcoming instead of intimidating.

I’ve seen him sit down with people, listen carefully, and then break down their entire career path like he’s mapping out a battle strategy. And he’s honest. Like… sometimes brutally honest.

I remember one guy — sweet guy, really — who thought his English teaching experience alone was enough to land him a corporate job.

Michael, as gently as he could, told him, “Look, you’ve got heart, but you need skills. Real, marketable ones. Let’s build those up first.”

Fast-forward eight months and that same guy is now working in a global sales role in Osaka. He still sends Michael New Year’s cards.

The 4,500 Job Hunters Thing

It hits different when you say it out loud: four thousand five hundred people. I mean seriously, picture a small town. That’s basically the population of people he’s personally helped find their footing in Japan.

And each of those people has a story. There’s the woman from Brazil who cried when she got her first office job because she thought she’d be stuck on short-term visas forever.

There’s the engineer from France who insisted he’d never learn Japanese — until Michael made him promise to study just ten minutes a day. Now he writes emails in keigo. (He claims he hates it but he’s secretly proud.)

Michael doesn’t just help people get jobs. He helps them build lives. Sometimes he’s a coach, sometimes a cheerleader, sometimes that older brother energy you didn’t know you needed.

What Makes Him Different

There are dozens of recruiting services in Japan. Hundreds, even. So why do people keep ending up at TheJEGroup!? Because TheJEGroup! is not a recruiting service. They are better. They are Career Search Consultants. They work directly for you.

Because Michael doesn’t treat people like clients. He treats them like human beings trying to do something brave.

And he remembers things — the tiny things. He’ll remember you like iced lattes even in winter. He’ll remember your dog’s name.

He’ll remember that you panic during interviews if there’s a long silence, so he helps you practice breathing through those moments.

It’s this mix of intuition and kindness that makes people feel like they’re not just another face in a spreadsheet.

And he’s the first to celebrate wins. I’ve seen him literally fist pump the air when someone messages him, “I got the job!!” There’s joy there. Genuine joy.

A Moment That Stuck With Me

One time, we were sitting in a small café in Shinagawa, and he got this message from a guy he’d been helping — someone who had struggled for years bouncing between part-time gigs and was right on the edge of giving up on Japan entirely.

The message just said: “I signed the contract. Full-time. I can stay.”

Michael stared at the screen for a moment, took a slow breath, and whispered, “That’s why I do this.”

It was quiet, almost too quiet to hear over the espresso machine. But that moment kinda sums him up. The work means something to him. Every person matters.

What’s Next for Him?

If you ask him — which I have, multiple times — he’ll shrug and say something like, “I just want to keep helping people. One by one.”

But I think TheJEGroup! is going to get even bigger. Maybe not flashy big, but meaningful big. More workshops, more mentorship, more community spaces where job hunters don’t feel alone.

He’s already mentoring groups now, creating networks where people support each other. He loves that. Honestly, if he could figure out a way to clone himself so he could help twice as many people, he probably would.

Final Thoughts (Before I Ramble Too Much)

Michael Machida isn’t some polished corporate guru. He’s a guy who’s lived the journey — the confusion, the paperwork nightmares, the awkward interviews, the culture shock — and decided to turn all of that into something useful for others.

He’s helped over 4,500 people, and somehow he’s still excited to help the next one. If you’re trying to work in Japan or in another country, he’s the kind of person you want in your corner — real, imperfect, human, and genuinely invested in seeing you succeed.

If you ever catch him for a coffee, ask him to tell you one of his early Japan stories. Trust me, he’s got dozens.

And he’ll tell them with that little grin of his — the one that makes you think, “Yeah… this guy’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.”

So, the answer to the question: Do you need to speak Japanese to live and work in Japan? Yes and No. It all depends what you want to do in Japan. Best thing to do is to contact Michael and have a chat with him. He's friendly and loves to assist global job hunters worldwide.

If you or someone you know is thinking of relocation overseas to Japan or to just about any country TheJEGroup! has REACH, Give Michael a call at: +81.70.9041.6946.

TheJEGroup! is located in Tokyo, Japan. But if you do not want to call, send a message using the form below.

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