Pros
I worked as an R.A. for the Tomodachi Softbank program (centered at U.C. Berkeley)
Pros:
-Students themselves were AMAZING. I loved my students, and except for a few mishaps here and there, they were very well-behaved and we connected really well.
-Great perks. During the three-week contract, everything is paid for. Meals, lodging, etc. And you stay in the dorms, and your room is fully furnished and you get a whole room all to yourself.
-Japanese employees that you work with are awesome. They're super nice and helpful. Great community spirit there.
Cons
-Poor management. Decisions weren't made in a timely manner, and although it was purported that there were open lines of communication among the staff, there really weren't. Many times, changes were made way ahead of time that the R.A.s didn't hear about until the last minute. Often the day-to-day schedule was changed without informing us about changes.
-It depends on who you work with, but when I worked there, my American coworkers kind of sucked. I was bullied, ostracized, and disrespected by a majority of the American staff. And when I tried to bring these issues up with my supervisor, he brushed it off as if it was nothing.
-Paychecks weren't distributed until three months after the program ended due to poor organization and bureaucracy issues. I'm not trying to turn anyone against working for Tomodachi, but if you do, be prepared for issues to arise even after your contract ends.