How Anime Sparked My Path To An AI Engineering Career in Japan 

One thing about me: I love going on side quests. I never imagined that one of them would completely change my life.  During a difficult time when I was feeling really low, I stumbled into the world of anime. One series that stood out to me was Kamisama Hajimemashita. It’s about a girl who becomes homeless after her father leaves, and by chance, ends up saving a man who turns out to be a shrine god. Suddenly, she’s made a deity herself! Watching it was a powerful experience. It gave me a sense of hope and reminded me to keep believing in the future. 

Another anime that impacted my outlook on life is called Space Brothers. It is a story where two brothers promise each other to become astronauts, but life takes the siblings on different trajectories. The story begins with remembering the promise and striving forward to make the future they wished for come true.

I was so moved by how anime helped me through a difficult time in my life that I felt a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to give back to the culture that had such a positive impact on me. 

Back in my hometown in India, I began joining anime clubs and helping to promote anime culture. I wanted to share that same feeling of inspiration with others, hoping it might help someone else the way it helped me. 

The More I Learn About Anime, The More I Appreciate Japanese Culture 

Thanks to my love for anime and the clubs I joined, I got to experience some truly unforgettable moments. One of the biggest was meeting Makoto Shinkai, the director of the hit anime Your Name. 

I was actively involved in a co-operative social media company called Otaku Nadu, where one of our main goals was to bring more anime to India. As part of that mission, we launched a campaign called India Wants Anime, aiming to encourage theaters to screen Weathering With You. 

The response was incredible. We gathered thousands of signatures and generated real buzz. Eventually, Makoto Shinkai himself heard about the petition.

Thanks to that momentum, Weathering With You was officially screened in theaters. 

Fast forward years after, during a press event for the screening of Suzume (Makoto Shinkai’s 2022 film), I attended as part of the press and had the incredible opportunity to see Makoto Shinkai in person. 

That moment deepened my fascination with Japan even further. It also inspired me to get more involved in organizing anime-related events. One of the highlights was helping organize the Japan Thiruvizha event in my hometown of Coimbatore, which was attended by the Consul General of Japan in Chennai. It was such an exciting and memorable experience for me! 

Side Quest Meets Main Quest: How Anime Kicked Off My AI Engineering Career In Japan 

At one of the anime conventions I attended, I met someone who had landed a job in Tokyo through the Tokyo Metropolitan Program. Curious, I asked for advice on how to find work in Japan, and they introduced me to a program called FAST OFFER. 

I signed up right away and went through the initial screening. After, I was incredibly nervous. I was wondering what they’d think of me, how I’d come across, and whether my Japanese would be good enough. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fully express myself, and my Japanese wasn’t quite at the level they were looking for at the time. 

The career advisor I spoke with was kind and encouraging. They suggested I take a few months to improve and then reconnect. 

So I did just that. I focused on improving my Japanese (more on that later!) and worked on building my confidence. When we reconnected, I felt much more prepared. This time, I passed the screening. I officially became a FAST OFFER candidate, and I expressed a clear interest in pursuing a role as an AI engineer. 

Why I Pursued To Be AI Engineer In Japan 

What I like about AI is that computers are generally predictable. They listen to you. As long as you give the right instructions, they’ll follow them. That’s really fascinating to me. There’s something powerful about the idea that if you can communicate your intent clearly to a machine, it will do exactly what you ask. It was mind-blowing for me that machines are increasingly given the ability to think for themselves!

As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, and not just in industrial settings, I felt inspired to contribute to its development. I want to be part of shaping how AI is used to solve real-world problems. 

I chose Japan because it’s one of the global leaders in AI innovation. From advancements in medicine to robotics, Japan is applying AI in meaningful and cutting-edge ways. It felt like the perfect place to grow as an AI engineer. 

Improving My Japanese Is Key To Landing A Job In Japan

I already knew a few Japanese words and phrases here and there from watching anime and talking casually with friends, but using the language for job hunting? That was a whole different level. Here’s how I improved my Japanese: 

1. Focus on What Matters Most 

Trying to master every aspect of the Japanese language at once will only overwhelm you. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting perfect grammar, mastering all the kanji, or sounding like a native speaker. But I learned that it’s more important to focus on the skills that are most relevant to your goals. 

For job hunting in engineering roles, conversational Japanese and technical vocabulary are far more valuable than perfect grammar. In my case, a career advisor pointed out that my grammar and speech patterns were already okay. What I really needed to work on was being able to confidently explain my expertise using technical Japanese. 

So my advice: Know why you’re learning Japanese and align your study efforts accordingly. Japanese companies are more interested in how well you can communicate in real-world, day-to-day situations, especially when discussing technical topics. 

2. Stay Motivated Through the Plateau 

One of the hardest parts of learning Japanese for me was staying motivated when it felt like I wasn’t making progress. Language learning follows a curve, and there are times when it feels like you’re stuck, not improving at all. I kept reminding myself that slow progress is still progress.  

3. Immerse Yourself 

One of the biggest shifts in my learning came when I stopped relying so much on subtitles. Once I had some familiarity with the language, I started turning subtitles off while watching anime or Japanese videos. It really helped build my listening skills and my confidence. 

With these steps and formal classes, I was able to attain a JLPT N3 level. You can do it, too! 

My Experience With Japanese Job Interviews As An AI Engineer 

I was really nervous about the interviews, but I appreciated how the interviewers made an effort to break the ice. They even asked if I was feeling nervous and told me it was okay to just be myself. That small gesture made a big difference. They were kind and supportive, and because of that, I was able to express myself more freely in Japanese. 

The interview focused more on who I am as a person rather than just my technical skills. They were genuinely interested in how I work in a team, my work ethic, how I solve problems in group settings, and how I handle responsibility. They also asked about the projects I had worked on during university, which gave me a chance to talk about my background and experience. 

Of course, there were also some technical questions related to AI engineering. I won’t bore you with all the details, but here’s one key piece of advice: Learn technical vocabulary in Japanese. It’s incredibly helpful when you’re explaining your skills and experience. You don’t need to use sophisticated phrases, just communicate clearly and accurately. Simple, correct language goes a long way. 

And above all, be confident and don’t forget to smile. 

Accepting the job offer 

I’m incredibly grateful to have received a job offer from a company that I like. It truly feels like all my efforts have finally paid off. What makes it even more special is that the company I’ll be working for had already left a positive impression on me years ago. Now, I’m proud to officially become part of the team and begin my career as an AI engineer in Japan. 

The company is based in Yokkaichi. It’s close to several spots that are meaningful for anime fans, and I’m planning to go on an anime pilgrimage once I settle in. 

I also love spending time in nature, so I’m excited to explore the nearby Suzuka Mountains on my days off. Another place I’m looking forward to visiting is Ise Jingu, one of the oldest and most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan. 

One of the things I really appreciate about the job offer is that it includes company-provided housing, so I don’t have to worry about finding accommodation right away. On top of that, there’s a thriving Indian community in the area, and I’m looking forward to connecting with them and building a support network. 

All in all, I’m really excited about what the future holds! 

Currently in Ireland 

Right now, I’m still in Ireland, completing my Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Galway. This program is helping me deepen my technical knowledge and better prepare for my role in Japan. 

Even while studying abroad, I continue to share my love for anime and Japanese culture. Recently, I was part of the organizing committee for an annual anime and manga convention in Ireland called Akumakon. This year, we had the Japanese ambassador to Ireland visit us. The ambassador had a lovely talk with the Akumakon committee.

Thanks to the progress I’ve made in Japanese, I had the chance to speak with the Ambassador, his wife, and other Japanese nationals, as well as international students, in Japanese smoothly. We chatted about manga, anime, and much more! It was a small but meaningful moment that reminded me how far I’ve come. 

Message To Anyone Who Wants To Be An AI Engineer In Japan 

The field of AI is exciting and rapidly growing, and Japan is an ideal place to build your career. 

My advice is to take every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t worry about being a perfect fit. All of us are entry-level graduates, anyway! Don’t shut yourself off from chances just because you feel you might not be qualified enough. Instead, keep knocking on doors and exploring new possibilities. 

In other words, go on as many side quests as you can, because you never know which one might change your life. 

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