Ask HN: How do you go about finding development jobs abroad?

Hi HN. I've been reading these boards for a while and have noticed that many user's live and work in their non-native country. I'm 27, live in the UK, have 5 years development experience and would like to live and work in another country for a year or two whilst I'm still young (preferably Japan). What resources are out there for people like me wanting to work abroad? Is it best to work for a large company, in my case in the UK, and hope a position opens up in an office overseas? How big is the language barrier to gain an overseas job (i'm studying Japanese but it will be a few years before I'm anywhere near competant). Thanks