Well, I feel like I should kinda introduce myself a bit here. Hopefully, in the process, I will also answer Ryoma's question about the JLPT.
My name is Jonathan Hartley. I am 25-years-old and currently living and working in Yokohama. I originally studied computer science in college ("Go Bucks!") but after about two years, realized in wasn't my calling in life. At that time, my university offered a special, summer intensive course in Japanese and since I was always curious about Japanese, I figured I'd give it a go. And the rest is history, I suppose. Loved it, ended up finishing up computer science with a minor, so it wouldn't go to a complete waste and then spent the next two years of college working my butt off, so that I could complete my Japanese major and still finish in four years total.
After studying Japanese for two years in school, I spend about a year in America, just working full-time at a computer store (not Best Buy or anything shitty like that). It was a nice, local store. Anyway, during that time, I also spent a lot of time looking for work in Japan. As is the case with a lot of foreigners here, I started out by working at an English conversation school. During that time, I spent a lot of time studying for the JLPT 2 test. Luckily, it paid off and I passed it on the first try.
I currently work at Hitachi as a translator. I actually got this job after passing the JLPT 2 test, not the one. However, after working here for a while, having to translate all day, every day, it made the JLPT 1 a breeze. Well, I shouldn't say that. But I got close to an 80% and I didn't study at all for the test, but I did find that just being surrounded all day and every day by Japanese helps. So, now, I'm actually in the process of thinking about searching for a new job. Recently, Capcom in Japan has been looking for a web designer, and since I still enjoy that sort of thing, I might move on to that. Haven't decided yet. All in all, still enjoy translation, though and will probably continue to always do it as a hobby. Oh, I almost forgot: Been in Japan for getting close to 3 years. So, all in all, been studying Japanese for about 5 years.
Anyway, to answer the original question, I suppose my circumstances for passing the test are somewhat unique, but that's the way it is for all foreigners in Japan, I think. We all have a story to tell, but the bottom line is, if you surround yourself with it as much as possible, and practice a lot and try to enjoy your practice and not burn yourself out, you can pass the test. It's impossible to cram for those tests, so don't try. You can best pass them by making a concerted daily effort. For me, the biggest hill was the kanji. I overcame that by using the website speedanki.com and printing out sheets of kanji and just writing them over, and over, and over, and over again on the trains to and from work everyday. I really can't think of a better way to do it then just grind away. But once you get them down, it's awesome, I won't lie. It's something to be proud of.
As a final note, I watched the YouTube interview last night and it's pretty straight forward. When I get around to it, I will translate it, but please be patient. I have a feeling that everything contained in the video, you guys might already know, but nevertheless, I will take care of it.
And! as another final note, I think the バイト in that one photo is short for アルバイト, which is a loan word from German meaning part-time job or a part-time worker. I have a feeling that the Woolsey translation for that was "underling" or something like that, but I don't know off the top of my head. I'll have to look into it more later.
So, I gotta get back to work, but I'll do what I can, when I can. Also, Ryoma, by all means, please help. I trust you can handle any translation you wanna take on. Thanks.
