Staff photo by Clay Schuldt New Ulm native Jon Meyer moves to Japan on Sunday to take the first steps on a new career path.

NEW ULM — Local man Jon Meyer is leaving the United States on Sunday with only a backpack and suitcase for a new life in Japan.

Meyer is a New Ulm native and a 2012 graduate of Cathedral High School, but he intends to live the rest of his life as a video game programmer in Japan.

His decision to move to Japan was practical, but also a desire to see the world. Meyer said he wanted to start a career in video game programming, but there were few options available in Minnesota. There were programming programs available in California, but Meyer realized if he had to leave Minnesota he would rather go abroad.

He set his sights on Japan, a country at the forefront of video game development.

“I wanted to go three years ago, but the pandemic shut that plan down,” Meyer said.

Though the pandemic is less of a problem, Meyer still has one obstacle in his way. Japan does not offer work visas to foreign nationals who want to work as game programmers.

In order to obtain a work visa, Meyer will need to take a career detour as an English teacher.

He agreed to work as an assistant English language teacher. Meyer’s students will be around middle school and high school age. As an assistant teacher, he will work with the primary teacher to build up student language skills. The idea is to engage the students in conversation with a native English speaker.

Meyer is not required to be fluent in Japanese in order to teach English. He has taken some courses to help converse in Japanese. He said he is not fluent yet but is confident his skills will improve.

Though he leaves for Japan on Sunday, Meyer will not know which school he is assigned to until he arrives in the country. He was told the school was located in the suburbs of Tokyo.

When Meyer arrives, it will be the first time he sets foot in Japan. Though he’s never been in the country before, Meyer is hopingl this will be a permanent relocation. Once he obtains a work visa he will be free to pursue video game programming as a new career.

Saturday will be his last full day in the United States. On Sunday, Meyer will take a 13-hour direct flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo.

As this could be a permanent move, Meyer was forced to move out of his home and sell off his belongings. He has been living with his sister in Courtland ahead of the move.

He will be entering a new country with little more than the clothes off his back, but Meyer remains excited about the adventure.

“I’ll have no problem adapting,” he said.

Meyer was encouraged to share photos and stories of his adventures in Japan with those of us staying in Minnesota.