// updated as of May 29th, 2025:
Goals:
・genuine interaction, studying in both English & Japanese with my daughter
・an ethical female role model that doesn't lean too heavily with Japanese norms of conformity & peer pressure (respectfully)
・someone to, directly or indirectly, support our family's businesses & daily life

I will try to make a general profile where I answer most questions. To save time, for both of us.

1) Japanese immigration authorities have not created a visa for "au pair" or "tutor" in a personal capacity, for a family, you would need to find an organization and apply to work for them, such as an English teacher. This is not something I or any other family can control. I cannot sponsor a working visa; I recommend searching elsewhere.

2) If you are a citizen of a country that is permitted a tourist visa stay of 15~90 days in Japan, it is ILLEGAL to work in any capacity and be compensated monetarily. You may find families that will offer to pay you under-the-table, but I will not risk my family's residence on this. If you are of good character, you are more than welcome to stay with us for a few days, or weeks, without the expectation to work, but in exchange, spending time with my daughter as a friend, older sister figure, or teaching me recipes, etc. A cultural exchange. Yet, you will not be compensated nor will you be required to work. This is just being hospitable.

3) Japan has entered a "working holiday visa" agreement with several dozen countries, which may be 12~24 months. However, Japanese immigration authorities are adamant that the purpose of said visa is more "holiday" than "working". If you intend to arrive in Japan with such a visa, you must prove your own financial stability, I will not be your guarantor. I could write an employee-employer contract, but it will not exceed (20) hours per week or (80,000 JPY) per month. Anything above that would require compulsory social insurance premium participation. Even then, you will have national health insurance and national pension premiums. If you wish to stay with us more than 3 months, whether 6, 12, or 24, then we are more than hospitable. Or, maybe you have art projects, or remote university, or something else, but please consider this.

4) For a student visa, the closest language school is an hour away and I would honestly recommend itーfor the sole purpose of studying Japanese. Again, authorities are intent that the purpose of a visa is not violated.

5) There are also other paths, such as digital nomad visa (Specified Visa: Designated Activities, Digital Nomad), wherein you will be allowed to stay in Japan for up to 180 days, no more, while working remotely for your own company, business, etc. yet you must prove to the Japanese authorities that you make reasonable income to qualify. And I would be happy to accommodate you free of charge, again, if you spend time with my daughter, etc. and you are of good character. There are also other visas, like dependent or spouse visa, yet the only dependent I have is my daughter and I have no spouse.

On a rating of ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★, ★★★★★ being the most accomplishable with us:
☆☆☆☆☆ , Working Visa
★★☆☆☆ , Tourist Visa
★★★★☆ , Working Holiday Visa
★☆☆☆☆ , Student Visa
★☆☆☆☆ , Spouse or Dependent Visa, etc.
★★★★★ , Japanese Citizen or Permanent Resident // you're free to work & reside without limitation //

If you have no English ability whatsoever, do not apply, please.
You must have conversational and comprehensible English.
No Japanese language ability is necessary, yet you must be familiar with Japanese culture to some extent.
If you know Japanese and English, both, to an extent, that would be highly advantageous.

Good character: I hope our values are compatible. Essentially, you will be living with us and be a female role model for my daughter. I can't accept someone who lives life irresponsibly, whether through drugs, drinking, smoking, so forth. You are right to argue that your choices have no bearing in your ability to accomplish a mission, yet the mission is being a "good role model" above all. To be ethical. And, that is what I care about above all else, even if you were to qualify for visa circumstances above in the first place. Although, usually visas, work restrictions, and character, are the reason why I've declined most applications.

That said...
My name is Ricardo (31 years old), I am an American living in Japan with my daughter Sora (9 years old), a single father, USMC Sergeant (Retired), gym owner, researcher, INTJ, etc. I own gyms in Japan (北海道のデスジム) and the USA (Drifter's Gym in Saipan)ーyet, I enjoy researching, learning, or spending time with my daughter, or taking care of the home and cooking. I enjoy cleaning and cooking. Yet, I spend most of my time, at times, completing tasks required by either the Japanese or US government. I spend a great amount of energy and focus in the attempt to be disciplined and productive. There are times I'm really into exercise and times where I just sloth around ~ I would much prefer being near someone who supports/encourages me to be disciplined and productive than lazy. I think we all have that struggle.

Please reach out to me if you feel you are qualified and interested in living with us in the Japanese far north. A quiet life surrounded by forests, mountains, rivers, oceans, foxes, deer, and bears.