I did a bit searching and since there were no threads which had the information I was looking for, I decided to post this as a new topic.

Currently, I am working as a translator & interpreter in a Japanese Automotive Parts Manufacturer which is building a new factory in my home town.

So here's my question. I want to do a masters and PhD in Japanese Applied Linguistics in Japan, but I would like to know whether its best to do it in Japan or America. If its Japan, then what are best colleges there and I would also like to work in Japan after I graduate. Is it possible to work in Japan if I do a applied linguistics course and if so, what kind of work can I do related to Japanese.

I apologize if this kind of question has been asked before. As for my Japanese qualifications, I have been studying Japanese for 5 years and passed Lvl 2 and currently purusing Lvl 1 of the JLPT.

My understanding with anything linguistics is that the number of industry jobs is small. Most linguists either stick in the academia or they end up teaching the language closet to what they learned or the like.

I guess my leading question is what are your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate school.

Well, main motivation would be to "study" in Japan and "work" there. Earlier I had considered doing an MBA in Japan and when I sought advice regarding the same in this forum, I was strongly advised against pursuing MBA in Japan and was instead advised to do an Japan Focused MBA in USA.

After a lot of thought, I realized that I want to "study" & "work" in Japan, I realized that the only thing I can do now is Japanese and doing a masters/phd in Applied Linguistics sounded like a good idea.

Ofcourse, I reason I made this post is because I want advice/suggestions regarding this.

Check out the Monterey Institute of International Studies. If you are interested in doing translating or interpreting, MIIS is the place to go. Their graduates typically move on to interpret and translate for the U.N., Fortune 500 companies, and international conferences. This may not be that relevant, but I'll also mention that it's located in one of the most beautiful areas I've been to in my entire life. And despite it's beauty, the Monterey Bay area isn't congested with tourists! What more could one ask for?

vileru, I've been looking at the MIIS site for a little while now, and wow, what an amazing school this seems to be.
Just check out what comes up on a Japanese course search:
http://catalog.middlebury.edu/offerings/...rch=Search

And that's just Japanese alone. This school has so much to offer for various disciplines.
Since I've still wondering what to do with my future, I am adding this school to my list of possibilities to consider. Thanks so much for this recommendation.

@vileru

Thanks. More than translation & interpretation, I am more interested in pursuing a course in Linguistics as I have mentioned in the topic. Thanks for the suggestion anyway, I will keep it in Mind.