after a lot more searching i've found out that it IS completely possible to get a work VISA when you only have an AA. as in, japanese lawyers and stuff say an AA fits all the legal requirements, and i also found a thread with more than one person saying they got a work visa with one. i should have one, as in my dad should have a certificate and everything that i got somewhere, but i can't remember if i ever got the actual certificate, so i emailed to ask him if i have one and if so can he scan it...

the next problem is simply finding a job that will hire me with only an AA, because so far most of them require a BA from the beginning. i've made a list of all the ones just requiring "a university degree" (no specifications on what kind) or don't list any requirements, and will apply to them maybe even today after school.

i have to write up my CV (=research what a japanese CV looks like) and buy interview clothes somewhere. i'll also request an official copy of my grades from my swedish school and might need to request a paper from my high school explaining i did go to school for four years in english (or maybe my highschool diploma + AA, both from america, will satisfy that).

apparently slouching is a huuuge "no" and will make you fail job interviews in the first minute so i have to do some like, posture training so i can sit with my back straight (i've never been able to do this, or was never taught to sit properly, whatever). also plan on getting some kind of "business haircut" and dying my hair black, though i dunno if that really helps anything because japanese people seem relatively lenient on hair actually, especially when it comes to foreigners. found a podcast with "stuff to absolutely not do during a japanese interview" so i'll have to listen to it later.