How I Got A Job Offer In Japan As An Indonesian Engineer 

Anime and Hatsune Miku: My Window to Japan 

Anime introduced me to Japan. Ever since elementary school, I loved watching anime. From classics like Sailor Moon and Naruto to slice-of-life anime such as Yuru Camp and high-octane mecha series like Gundam. I was fascinated by how anime explained physics and science, and how scientific phenomena were woven into the grand storyline.  

One anime that I remain a fan of is Steins;Gate, about a group of friends who build a time machine and travel across timelines. It introduced the concepts of black holes, the butterfly effect, and quantum physics to me.   

Although I’ve loved anime since childhood, my younger self could never have imagined that one day I would get a job in Japan as an Indonesian engineer. 

Mixing Pop Culture and Technology 

At the same time, I am also a huge fan of Hatsune Miku. What amazed me most was not just the music, but that a Vocaloid — a singing voice synthesizer — could hold live concerts. How do you get a computer program to perform a live concert? A hologram! I was amazed! Someone had programmed every movement, every note, every visual sequence. That level of effort and innovation deeply inspired me. 

Through anime and pop culture, I realized that my interest in science and technology was rooted in something deeper: helping people. Science designed to help people—such as bionic arms or technologies that make daily life easier—became my turning point. That’s when I decided to pursue a career in Mechatronics.   

Learning Japanese as an Avid Anime Watcher 

As an avid anime watcher, I was enthusiastic about learning Japanese. During high school, I had a chance to join an after-school club. There, I learned the basics of hiragana, katakana, and a few kanji. The more I learnt about the culture and values in Japan, such as punctuality, ikigai, and even the concept of 四季 (four seasons), the more I was attracted to the idea of going to Japan. My heart was set on working after my undergraduate studies, so the only way to Japan was to get a job offer in Japan as an Indonesian engineer! 

 While I was very motivated to learn Japanese, my academic studies eventually took precedence over learning Japanese. I could not keep the momentum I had built over one year of studying Japanese, and lost touch with the language during my university years. I felt disappointed, but the desire to learn Japanese still burned strongly within me.   

One day, while I was scrolling through Instagram, I suddenly came across a post talking about a free Japanese language course. I was skeptical, but curious. Could this be my way back to Japan? I decided to take the plunge and join the class.  

Reconnecting with Japanese Language 

The Japanese Language Course was so exciting! Being highly motivated, I was active in the class. I was constantly interacting with the sensei, answering all the questions, and practising regularly. Sensei was kind and supportive, encouraging us to speak Japanese even when we made mistakes.  

Instead of scolding us, she corrected us gently. This created a safe environment where learning felt enjoyable rather than stressful. I am deeply grateful for her guidance. 

My Tips for Making the Most of Your Online Class  

1. Don’t be too serious. It is normal to be nervous and serious during interviews. But that does not mean learning Japanese has to be taken too seriously. Relax and approach learning with an open mind. 
2. Be playful. Have fun with learning Japanese and incorporate your interests, like J-pop music or pop culture in your study too. 
3. Don’t be scared to ask. As the Japanese idiom goes, 聞かぬは一生の恥 (kikanu wa isshō no haji)  — if you don’t ask, you will always be embarrassed. Ask freely. 

Meeting My FAST OFFER Career Advisor: Clarity of path to Japan 

Because I was active in the class and was clear about my goal of getting a job offer in Japan as an Indonesian engineer, at the end of the course, my sensei pushed me to talk to the Career Advisors in the FAST OFFER International program. My advisor listened and guided me step by step. I prepared my final year project as a presentation, learnt the right way to research about the companies, created a PR video for myself, and prepped for interview questions.  

Finally, I was introduced to a company during the online session. Since this company required in-person interviews, I quickly prepared for my travel to Japan.   

Fateful journey to Japan: The Start of My Journey of Getting a Job Offer as an Indonesian Engineer 

On my flight from Indonesia to Singapore — and then to Japan — I met a Japanese woman waiting for the same flight. While we waited to be boarded, we spoke about my journey. She offered me encouragement and advice for the interviews. I was touched by her kindness. 

My special tips to ace your interview 

1. Listen to your Career Advisor. FAST OFFER, and the job description gives you an idea about the values of the company and their expectations of the employees. Refer to them for preparing your answers. 
2. Match your goal with the company’s goal. Be intentional in speaking about future career goals and match them with the company’s vision.  
3. Formal language. You don’t have to be overly polite, but use simple, formal language. Avoid using anime lingo during interviews.  
4. Smile. While interviews are a stressful process, enjoy the process, and don’t forget to smile. 

Finally Reaching Japan 

Landing in Japan was magical. To my surprise, Hatsune Miku had a collaboration with SEGA, and her posters were everywhere at the airport. It felt like my idol had come to welcome me. Being an admirer of the 四季 (four seasons), I was amazed to see the autumn scenery on the way to the hotel.   

While the interview process itself was stressful, I was pleasantly surprised by the first interview. Unlike what I expected, the first interview turned out to be fun. We talked about my hobbies, culture, my favourite anime, and even my first impression of Japan. The interviewers were surprised by my knowledge of different Japanese dialects.  

The second interview, however, was purely technical. As I mingled with other candidates throughout the trip, I couldn’t help but compare myself with the other candidates. I became nervous and felt very pessimistic about my skills. Waiting for the results felt unbearable — but when the announcement came, I couldn’t believe it. I received the job offer. 

Looking forward to the next steps 

The next day, I travelled to Shiga to visit the company. This was my first time travelling by bullet train. Shiga, being far away from larger cities, is noticeably quiet and peaceful. The area around the company office was very tranquil, and you could see the nearby mountains. I am not fond of the city’s hustle and bustle. So, this quiet is perfect, with the highlight being the bright stars you can see at night.   

I can just picture myself motorcycling around Shiga.   

Japan is overall a safe country. I believe that the feeling of safety and security will help me be clearer in my mind, make better decisions, and reach my full potential.  

When I start working in Japan, I am thrilled to work in a team, attend training programs, and learn new skills from my teammates and seniors. There is a lot to learn about the work culture in Japan, but I am ready to take on the challenge!