Most likely any job description that includes "trader" (katakana or romaji) embarrasses the bearer of such title. Japanese culture celebrates understatement and those who run around with business cards or outright introduce themselves as "trader" are without exception ridiculed with a smirk. Most Japanese will possibly be polite enough and curiously inquire what you trade but in their minds such person either trades egg shells or BS. Japanese for "self employed" is the much more proper way to describe your job or if you are working for a bank the proper way is to just state you are a "company employee". Modesty is key in Japan. Everyone gets a shiver and goose bumps when you run around calling yourself a "トレーだー"
Thank you for the advice. Just a quick question, how bad is the heat and humidity really in Japan during July to September? I can deal with Louisiana and Texas heat. I know the humidity takes things up a notch. It is the "land of the rising sun" after all. Just curious on your thoughts on Tokyo or Osaka during those months. Thanks again.
Take what he said with a lump of salt. Being a trader does not put you at the bottom of the social ladder. In fact there are many who are envious, such as a 28 year old Japanese guy I know who works for a big American consulting firm from 8 am to midnight or later on most days. He's dying to become a trader, and is planning on doing so. Many others I know too. Those who are looking for some kind of social status won't become an independent anything. First of all many won't understand 'trader'. And most of those who do will assume you are a trader at a broker or bank. The easy way is that if someone asks you what you do, just say kinyuukankei金融関係 which means finance related. They'll assume you are a banker, broker or loan shark! If they press you for details, say you are a kojintoushika 個人投資家, which means private investor. They'll guess you got bucks. But if it does come down to explaining that you are a trader, don't worry, it's not the 1960's, and nobody has ever spit on me!! The difference is small enough to where you'll feel right at home here!!
That has exactly been the point. Japan cares a great deal about social status; what in society is acceptable socially and what is not. You and I may disagree on that but it is what it is. Company employees still enjoy a very solid social status, so do teachers and doctors. Teachers and employees in the "corporate rat wheel" in Western society do not enjoy such social status. Most Japanese still consider a "trader" who works independently as being at the far bottom rung of the social ladder. That applies for most who work "independently" akin to members of the "gig economy". Unless someone can prove they run a successful business independently (via a home in a decent neighborhood, car, and other symbols ...) those members of the "gig economy" most likely enjoy a lower status than even corporate janitors. You definitely do not impress a single girl in Roppongi or elsewhere by telling her you are a "trader" unless you take her to a lavish club/bar/restaurant. In fact most girls would outright laugh their ass off about you if you told them you are a trader and then take them to the next door Sukiya. At the very least they will be quiet but think of you as a show-off with nothing to show off. Listen, you can say to the gals or buddies whatever you want, you do not impress anyone in Japan with words anymore, especially when they come from foreigners, even more so from gaijins, and most so from Americans or Australians or British. Some fucked it up for us in the past and reputations are lost, let me say this much. Japanese really care about the walk someone takes after the talk. You can impress nobody with even bank-trader, private investor or what have you terms, unless your wallet opens at the vacation spot/bar/club/restaurant/anything to prove your words. My best advice again remains to understate. Any sort of show-off is frowned upon by most every Japanese. And the term トレーダー definitely sounds super weird, so does stating 金融関係, or 個人投資家.
The OP is interested in the appropriate wording to use when stating his occupation, and not in impressing people. And just spending big bucks on people will not gain you respect in Japan. All it will do is win you friends, until the money runs out. If you ask a Japanese what his occupation is, and if he is a professional, he/she will reply, lawyer, dentist, nurse, etc. If not, 99 out of 100 will not be specific and reply 貿易関係 、テレビ関係、銀行関係 etc. That is the normal response, be the person just an office worker or a manager, and not weird at all. I think you will find 私は金融関係の仕事をしています and the like to be widely used. True, an independent trader is not up there with those who are invited to the Imperial Palace. But take it from someone who has been a trader since the days of the first Quick machine, being a trader here is not so low that you have to look up to see the bottom.
agree, one does not have to look up to see the bottom. I never claimed or suggested that. But its in the same corner as English teacher unless one trades professionally in a company and has something to show for. I am not saying this because I try to advise on how to impress others. I am simply stating my opinion that trading has a pretty negative stigma attached to it unless one can demonstrate that one is doing it professionally and/or profitably. And to get back to the topic, I would recommend to introduce myself as "私は金融業界で働いています" or "私は金融関連の仕事をしています". テレビ関係、銀行関係 sounds extremely odd. Rather one would say "マスコミ関連" or "金融関連".
I used to live in the same building as a number of GS traders. I asked them why they didn't go independent. They were comfortable trading according to the ways of GS, but they would be scared to death to go it on their own. I don't call that professional. I would say that 金融業界で働いていますpositions you in a bank or brokerage. But the OP is independent. I'll stick with 何々関係which I must have heard Japanese use a zillion times. But more than anything, I'm surprised that this thread got 1465 views!
I just hope I am not sweating bullets from just a quick walk to the train station or the 7-11 down the street. Only one way to find out and that is to actually arrive in Japan. I will arrive within the next few weeks.
I wish you a great time. Weather in Japan should be fine. Shoot me a pm if you are going to Tokyo and look for specific food recommendations (pls include budget in order to pick the right places)