From Pune to Tokyo: How Karate and Anime Led to a Dream Career in Japan

How Karate and Anime Sparked a Passion for Japan 

My first introduction to Japan was when I joined a Karate class when I was six. I wasn’t interested at first, but it got more fun with more years. I continued classes for about 8 years, ending with a maroon belt, competitions joined, and counting to 10 in Japanese. I came across this anime suggestion on YouTube which made me interested in anime. The Japanese culture that I saw in anime made me more curious about the country and the language. 

How FAST OFFER International Made a Japanese Career Possible 

When the idea of working in Japan first crossed my mind, I brushed it off. I didn’t think I was good enough. I thought it was an impossible idea. It only became my goal, when my Japanese class introduced FAST OFFER International. Through FAST OFFER International, I met successful applicants who were seniors at my university. At first, it all sounded too good to be true, but the more I learned about them and the Indian expats they’ve helped, the dream felt closer to reality than I ever thought. After hearing from my seniors about their experience it motivated me more to pursue my dream. I saw how possible it was for me. On top of that, I was studying Japanese and my degree in Computer Science at Savitribai Phule Pune University would help my profile a lot. 

How COVID-19 Affected My Journey to Japan 

COVID-19 happened, and our household was gravely affected. Because of the pandemic, all the classes were online, too, and it made the classes difficult for me to attend. When I dropped out of my Japanese classes, I thought that was the end of my dream.  

Reigniting My Dream: FAST OFFER International’s Support 

FAST OFFER International approached me again in 2022 for a Japanese class. That got my heart beating: it felt like hope. It had been two years since I last spoke Japanese. I bit the opportunity, and it all came back in that 3-month class. I got to learn more about Japanese culture, and manners, and practice my Japanese even more. I even made new friends. One of my friends who was also being helped by the FAST OFFER International, constantly encouraged me. I am thankful for FASTOFFER International’s email, or I would be regretting not pursuing my dream. 

My Experience Job Hunting for Engineering Roles in Japan 

I felt ok when I failed at my first job interview. It was expected. I was a little rusty. After the third and fourth failures though, I felt my confidence shrivel up. I could communicate in Japanese well, but I was questioning my skills as an engineer. I reached the second round of interviews, but my project wasn’t interesting enough for the interviewer. 

As an engineer, I know I still have a long way to go. I wasn’t a tech prodigy going into my degree. I went into my degree with a curiosity about how things worked, and luckily, that grew into a passionate interest in AI and Machine Learning. I worked hard to master those skills and expressed them in my final year project.   

Sadly, due to a combination of my neophyte skills and life events, my final year project didn’t meet the mark. I also didn’t think it would play into my job hunt that much. My final year project combined my skills in AI and Machine Learning for a real-time transcription application that filtered out vulgarities. I saw it as a way to protect minors from early exposure to some of the internet’s mature content. However, the product itself wasn’t good enough.  

I didn’t think my Final Year Project would be so vital to my job hunt, but when it occurred to me how much it was holding me back, I fixed it. Now, the application runs accurately. When FAST OFFER International offered to fly me to Japan to take part in an in-person career fair, I made sure my Final Year Project presentation showed off my revamped product.   

Experiencing Japan: My Journey with FAST OFFER International 

I sacrificed my sleep for three weeks, studying hard. With the help of my FAST OFFER International mentors, we trained for the interviews through one-on-one sessions. I was sleeping about just four hours a day, balancing everything else on my plate alongside my preparation for the trip. I researched the three companies who wanted to interview me with ferocity, and I polished my Final Year Project until I was happy with it. I felt so much pressure to succeed because I wanted this so much. I let that pressure power me to keep working hard.   

I was walking on clouds when I arrived in Japan. I was so happy and excited even if I was a little sleepy. I had this unexplainable feeling that I was in my second home.   

Imagine my relief when two of the three companies I applied for gave me a job offer. Right after my last interview, my FAST OFFER International mentor unofficially told me they felt I succeeded. We both tried to tamp down the excitement at first. When I finally got the official results an hour later, I was so ecstatic. Words cannot describe how happy I was.   

The whole experience has made me feel more confident in myself. To see me successfully conquer hurdles, navigate Japanese transportation, get my Japanese up to speed, and fix my final year project to something I could be proud of—has proved to me that I am more than that anxious voice in my head at times that stops me from going after my dreams. I’m so thankful that FAST OFFER International, and friends, reached out to me and helped me go after my dream. Today, I feel more grounded in the fact that I can succeed and excel with my hard work. More than mere words, this experience has given me the confidence boost that I will surpass future challenges.  

If I can pass on some wisdom from experience, here are my tips on how to find a job in Japan:  

1. Don’t Give Up: Life happens. Events can happen around you that can completely change your life. Sometimes, a dream that seemed so close, can suddenly be farther away. These are just detours. If you open your heart again and go after your dream, there’s still hope.  
2. Your Final Year Project Matters: I neglected my Final Year Project a little, thinking it wasn’t as important as my other skills. As it turns out, specifically for Japanese interviews focused on hiring new and recent graduates, final-year projects can spell your acceptance into a company. Without work experience to judge you on, companies pay serious attention to the work you put into a project you spearheaded.   
3. Your Japanese Does Not Have to Be Fancy: This especially applies if you have a computer-related degree, you don’t need to be the fanciest Japanese speaker. As long as you can understand, answer, and explain in Japanese, your interviewers won’t mind if you use simple Japanese words. It’s important to get your Japanese to a functional level, but you don’t have to be perfect. They’ll be accommodating to small mistakes too, as long as you don’t let it detract from what you’re trying to say.  
4. You Can Be Yourself: I was told that being an otaku was not enough of a reason when talking about why I wanted to go to Japan. But I could not lie to them and only stick to sophisticated reasons. Instead, I mentioned that I liked anime as part of my answer but didn’t fully elaborate or go into a tangent about all my favorite shows. I think it’s important to be yourself, not just so that the company has the right information to judge you on, but also because it helped me feel comfortable during the interview. Trying to hide a part of myself would have shown.  
5. Be Confident: If you let your nerves get the best of you, you’ll be distracted from paying proper attention to the interview. Do your preparation and trust in it.   
6. Sign up with FAST OFFER International: If you want to work in Japan one day, I can’t recommend them enough. FAST OFFER International helped me in so many ways: 

• They showed me how working in Japan was a dream within my reach. 

• They Made the extra effort to get in touch after I had to drop out. 

• They helped me with free Japanese classes 

• They flew me to Japan for free for in-person interviews  

• They organized my whole trip and continued to help me prepare for my life in Japan. 

• They set me up with a community of other Indians with similar dreams 

• They gave me personalized mentorship to sharpen my skills.  

Preparing for My New Life and Career in Japan 

As I wait for my scheduled move months from now, I’m processing my work visa to Japan. I have a list of things I need to gather for my trip including some Indian spices and food items I won’t find in Japan. I’m also slowly getting in touch with all my friends already in Japan, asking for some advice and working out plans to see them in the future. I’m also turning over my household responsibilities smoothly to my mom. 

I’m also working on my tech skills even more. I want to be a reliable worker once I get there. I want to live up to Japan’s exacting standards.   

I’m excited about the life waiting for me in Japan—using the skills I used from school, seeing anime settings in real life, exploring Japan’s culture, festivals, and tourist spots, meeting old and new friends, and walking around safe Japanese streets fearlessly. When I get there, I’ll be focused in the moment, working on meeting present demands, and assimilating deeper into the culture. I wonder who I will evolve into in Japan’s exciting new environment. No matter what happens, I’m confidently embracing the future ahead.