| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, M.Kumarasamy College of Engineering , Anna University |
| COMPANY |
| A Japanese company providing consulting, contracted development, packaged software, and maintenance services for information systems centered on production and logistics |
| SUMMARY |
| Fueled by a passion for anime, he pursued Japanese studies, starting self-taught before enrolling in a Japanese language school. Despite challenges, they found their stride in self-study, mastering grammar and kanji. A pivotal moment came when they learned about FAST OFFER International via LinkedIn, leading to an all-expenses-paid interview in Japan. Their preparation, including mastering honorifics and dialects, paid off when they received a job offer as a Planning Engineer, fulfilling their dream of living and working in Japan. |
A Passion for Anime Sparks a Language Learning Journey: From Self-study Japanese to Japanese Language Schools
When I got into watching anime in high school, I started self-studying the Japanese language out of my single-minded desire to watch anime without subtitles.
When I became a university student, I went to a Japanese language school. I considered studying in Japan as an exchange student when I became a university student. However, I had to give up that idea because there was not much information, and the cost was beyond what I could handle at that time. Later, I quit the Japanese language school I was attending because I became busy with university classes and decided to study on my own from N4 onwards.
But my desire to go to Japan someday did not disappear, and I tried my best to self-study Japanese. For example, after studying grammar, I would make up my own example sentences and read them aloud many times in front of a mirror, practicing writing kanji every day, and so on. It took me a long time but, I think I improved thanks to a method that suited my needs.
The Role of FAST OFFER International in Landing a Job in Japan
I first learned about FAST OFFER International after receiving a message via LinkedIn during college. When I was a freshman in college, one of my seniors received a job offer through “Study Go Work Japan” and started working in Japan. I knew a platform existed, but I did not know much about it. Later, I learned that the name had changed from “Study Go Work Japan” to FAST OFFER International. This was what my seniors had been talking about when I was a freshman! I knew I could trust in their expertise with helping Indian talents find a job in Japan.
My career advisor informed me that I could attend the interview in Japan for free. I was shocked and happy to suddenly be able to go to Japan, an opportunity that I had been wanting for about 4 years. My parents, who had seen how hard I had been studying Japanese since Pre-final year, were also very happy and sent me to the interview, wishing me good luck.
Preparing for a Japanese Job Interview: Lessons Learned
The main reason for my visit to Japan this time was to attend an interview session, which meant I spent most of my time preparing for it. Despite the limited time, I still managed to experience the Japanese atmosphere. Having researched Japan since high school, I wasn’t too surprised by what I encountered, but I found Japan to be a very welcoming country.
I put a lot of effort into preparing for the interview. I’m not very good with honorifics, partly because I learned japanese from anime. My mentor often reminded me to avoid using anime-lingo. The night before the interview, I practiced in front of a mirror multiple times to ensure I could use honorifics correctly.
I remember the atmosphere on the day of the interview vividly. I was not sure what I would be able to eat when I arrived in Japan. My head was spinning with a bit of nervousness. Furthermore, since the company was based in the Kansai region, I was worried about my “Kansai-ben” (Kansai dialect). Once the interview began, my nervousness faded away. As I relaxed, I found myself enjoying the conversation with the interviewer in a pleasant atmosphere. I was able to understand the Kansai dialect, which I had been worried about. The interviewer was surprised to see that my intonation too had become Kansai dialect during the interview. The company was interested in me and asked me various questions, and I replied calmly talking about myself.
Sweet Success: From Self-Studying Japanese to Securing a Future in Japan
I will never forget the feeling I had when I successfully received the job offer. Thankfully, I took a big leap of faith and it paid off big. After that, I met with my career advisor, and we celebrated together. It was an enjoyable week. I got to share my happiness with everyone because I came to Japan for the interview. I will never forget the feeling I had when I received the job offer, nor the week of the interview session. My family, joyful, praised my achievement.
Achieving a Dream Job in Japan: The Next Steps
I was offered a position as a Planning Engineer but my specific job role will be decided after the training. My joining date is in 2026, so there is still some time left. But, I am already so excited about my new life in Japan! With still some time to go, I’ll be improving the weak points of my Japanese through exams, and practicing Keigo. The next time I come to Japan, it will be to work and live there. While working hard, I hope to travel around the country I love and reconnect with my seniors and Japanese friends. I’ve received many gifts from the wonderful people of Japan, and I can’t wait to return.
Overcoming Challenges in Studying Japanese
Since receiving the job offer, I’ve been actively teaching my juniors and friends about FAST OFFER International. I’ve also been giving them tips on how to prepare for it. I believe a great first step is to create and register on LinkedIn, just as I did when FAST OFFER contacted me. If you’re interested in working in Japan and have seniors working there, it might be beneficial to talk to them.
When it comes to learning Japanese, you can’t just depend on memorization. Understanding its concepts can also help you improve your Japanese. Learning a language is a long journey, but with focus, consistent daily study, and repeated practice, you will make progress.
Keep practicing and stay dedicated!
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Japanese Self-Study Tips
Many of our talents who secured a job in Japan began their journey learning Japanese through self-study. Inspired by their passion for anime, or tech, they began earnestly using the resources they had available to start their language learning journey. There’s so much free material on the internet waiting for you to devour. Here are some tips that have worked for some of our talents!
- Follow your passion: If you love anime, watch more anime and try reading manga in the original Japanese. If you love technology, watch NHK’s “Pythagoras Switch” and a YouTube channel called “Lambda Tech.” If you love J-rock, review, memorize, and sing Japanese lyrics. Pursuing your passion in Japanese will make the whole journey fun!
- Try changing your phone settings to Japanese. This will have you practicing more than twice a day and will no doubt speed up your Japanese reading skills.
- Practice speaking Japanese through HelloTalk. The only way to learn to speak Japanese is to do it!
- Use the language Shadowing technique. No, this is not a ninja skill! Linguist and polyglot Alexander Arguelles invented a language learning style that can help you speak like a native by parroting.
Self-studying Japanese can jumpstart your dream of working in Japan, but it’s much easier to be part of a Japanese language classroom. Experts can help build a strong, correct foundation, and you’ll also find friends with similar dreams to practice with. FAST OFFER International offers a range of free Japanese classes online, offline, and in conjunction with universities worldwide. Be sure to check if you qualify for any of the classes.
