You know, people love to see proof before they believe anything. It’s one thing to say, “Oh, you can move abroad without an agent,” and it’s another to actually hear from someone who’s done it. Start to finish. No middleman, no “oga” collecting millions in the name of processing fees.
A few months ago, a member of our community sent me a message out of the blue. She said, “Hey, Doc, I’m on my way to Japan.”
I almost dropped my phone.
“Wait, hold on. Japan? How? When? You didn’t tell anybody?”
Turns out she got all the information from our videos and decided to just… do it. On her own. No drama, no noise.
So I thought, instead of me always talking and people thinking, “Ah, this Doc sef, maybe it’s all talk,” why not bring someone who’s actually done it to share her journey? That way, you can hear it straight from the source.
This is the story of Blessing, a teacher from Nigeria who moved to Japan all by herself—no agents, no crazy fees, nothing. And in this article, we’re going to break it all down step by step.
Meet Blessing: From Nigeria to Japan
When we got on the call, it was about 10 p.m. her time in Japan.
She introduced herself with a smile, “Hi everyone, my name is Blessing. I’m an English teacher here in Japan.”
Not Nigeria. Not Ghana. Not even the UK. Japan.
I had to laugh because this was the same person who, months ago, was binge-watching our videos, trying to figure out the best way to leave Naija.
And here she was, talking to me from the other side of the world.
Why She Decided to Leave
Blessing studied Education and English in university. Like many Nigerian graduates, she became a teacher back home. But if you’ve ever taught in Nigeria, you already know what the salary situation looks like.
At one point in the interview, she laughed and said, “Doc, what I earned in one whole month back in Nigeria… I now make it here in just one day.”
One day.
I didn’t even know whether to laugh or cry for my country at that point.
So yeah, the decision to leave wasn’t exactly a tough one.
How She Found the Opportunity
At first, she was looking at Canada, the UK—you know, the usual suspects. But either the money wasn’t enough, or the process was just too complicated.
Then one day, while scrolling through my Twitter page, she found a video we did with someone called Telma, who listed companies in Japan hiring English teachers.
Blessing clicked the links, watched the video, and decided to apply.
Out of five companies she applied to, two invited her for interviews, and one eventually gave her the job.
Simple.
How Long Did It Take?
She applied in August.
By March, she was already in Japan.
Six to seven months in total, including interviews, documentation, visa process—everything.
Do You Need a Teaching Degree?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions people have.
Blessing had a teaching degree, yes. But according to her—and many others who’ve gone through the process—you don’t need an education degree specifically.
As long as you have a bachelor’s degree in any field and you can speak English fluently, you can apply. People with degrees in Engineering, Law, Fisheries—you name it—have all moved to Japan this way.
The Step-by-Step Process
Here’s exactly what Blessing did:
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Submitted her CV and cover letter to the companies.
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Provided a TEFL or TESOL certificate (you can actually get one free online).
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Wrote an essay on why she wanted to teach in Japan.
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Did the interviews:
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First one was general, just to know her better.
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Second one required some basic Japanese (don’t panic—you can learn simple greetings on YouTube or apps like Busuu).
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Third one was a demo lesson where they told her exactly what to teach, even giving sample videos for guidance.
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After passing all these stages, she submitted her degree certificate, police clearance, and other documents so they could process her Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
With the COE, she booked an appointment at the Japanese embassy, submitted everything, and within a few days, she had her visa.
Total visa cost? ₦12,500.
Not dollars. Naira.
Tips for Applying
One big tip Blessing shared:
You’ll see job postings on sites like GaijinPot, but instead of applying there directly (where thousands of people are also applying), go to the school’s own website and apply directly.
Less competition. Better chances.
Salary and Cost of Living
On average, English teachers in Japan earn between 200,000 to 240,000 yen per month (roughly $1,500–$1,800).
They also get transport allowances and sometimes housing support, depending on the employer.
And no, living in Japan isn’t as expensive as people think. Food is surprisingly affordable. Housing costs depend on whether you live in big cities or smaller towns and whether your apartment is furnished or not.
The Emotional Side of Moving
Blessing shared how some of her friends didn’t even believe her until she got her visa.
“People kept saying, ‘Are you sure this isn’t a scam?’” she laughed.
But the moment she landed in Japan, even those same friends started asking her for links and advice on how to apply.
Today, she has helped at least six other people start their journey.
One Piece of Advice
When I asked her for one piece of advice for anyone planning to follow this path, she didn’t hesitate:
“It only takes one YES,” she said.
“You might get rejected by three or four companies, but don’t stop. Keep applying. Keep trying. That one YES will change everything.”
Look, moving abroad is not magic. It’s not about who you know or paying some agent millions of naira.
Blessing’s story proves that with the right information, a bit of persistence, and a dash of courage, you can make it happen yourself.
Six months ago, she was teaching in Nigeria, earning peanuts.
Today, she’s in Japan, earning in a day what used to take her a month.
If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is.
So here’s the deal:
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Get your CV ready.
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Get a free TEFL certificate.
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Apply directly to schools.
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Be patient.
And who knows? Six months from now, you might be the one sending me a message saying, “Doc, I’m on my way to Japan.”
