Teaching in Japan startup fees? Is ¥500,000 normal?

Frankly, I don't know if that is the standard agreement or not.

I do know that the fumigation and lock charges are not normally the responsibility of a renter but the fees, deposit and first month rent are.

You see, it used to be that teachers were provided with a small but reasonable salary and accommodation for the duration of their contract. Some years later a monthly rental fee was subtracted automatically from pay. Now, it appears that teachers are being asked to pay normal fees and even additional fees upfront.

It is really a big business in Japan and a giant scam. The taxpayers lose, the teachers lose and the students lose.

The government allocates somewhere around 400,000 yen a month for the ALT position. The employment agency takes 150,000 yen a month and passes perhaps 50,000 yen on to the school administrator as a thank you for choosing their agency (an illegal kickback).

Then the agency sublets apartments to those teachers at inflated prices and charges additional fees that the teacher (new to Japan) feels obligated to pay. They must also vacate their apartment if they decide to leave their employment position for any reason (including unfair practices by their employers) and forfeit everything. The teacher is left with the remaining amount which although is sufficient to live in Japan is not nearly enough to prosper. The prospering is done by the school administrators and the job agencies.

I own my own English language conversation school and am glad to be out of that dishonest loop that provides money to thieves and little education to students.

Unfortunately it's quite normal. The key money and the 1 month's rent are the norm, though the agency fee sounds a bit fishy since it's usually the board of education who pays the company to find you. I know a bit about being an ALT in Japan (since I am one :-p ) so if you could tell me the company's name I could give you a bit more insight as to whether the company has good reputation or not..

As you will not get paid in the first 1 month or so, you need to have enough money to live in the first 4 or 6 weeks.

And 500,000 yen for key money, deposit, agency fee, and 1st month rent, along with ¥30,000 for fumigation and locks and the first 6 month living is a reasonable amount.

What are they telling you to do with that money? The 310,000 yen is necessary when you rent an apartment in Japan even if you are a Japanese. So it's not bad to give it to them if they asked.

But other 190,000, you don't have to give it as it's supposed to be for your own living.