There are a ton of foreigners working and living in Japan. I have found that most foreigners with good paying jobs are capable of speaking Japanese while most non-Japanese speakers are left with low paying jobs with expendable positions such as English teachers. Professional fields in which qualified foreign residents have a good chance to find work include translation, IT, modeling, gastronomy and entertainment.
There are a number of jobs available for foreigners in Japan and all of them require a work visa. You can get a work VISA from a Japanese embassy or consulate outside of Japan.
