Well in a foreign country it is always harder.
Even though Austria (where I come from) and Germany are close together, share the same language etc. It took me over 2 years to get recognized in Germany and even when I played the big clubs in Munich and Berlin I was still the “stranger from Austria, we need to hire cause he is popular”…
So one has to be prepared that it is a pumpy road ahead.
I have visited Japan from time to time and there are a few things that I felt is important there:
1. Language: You do not have to be fluent, but at least be nice, know their greeting customs and at least know how to say hello and introduce yourself…
2. In Japan you have to act big, use big words and try to be important, but you are running on the edge there. If you overdo the whole thing, they will consider you a “crazy gaijin” and you are done for… best prolly is to look at some other acts there and how they act their importance.
3. Even though 2. is true, still you have to come over as humble
Now I cannot answer the getting paid issue. Personally I think nobody should work without getting paid and while DJing is a work you enjoy (hopefully) you still should get paid. Also not asking for money would mean you undercut other DJs and potentially do not make friends in the scene…
As for what you DJ, you should follow your heart. There is always a niche following for most styles of music, but it is exponentially harder to get gigs etc. in a scene that is very little and prolly saturated with DJs, opposed to mainstream.
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