As My Interest in Japanese Pop Culture Grow, So Did My Japanese Vocabulary
In Malaysia, like most countries in the world, anime has long set foot in the entertainment industry. In the past, I used to watch TV shows like Doraemon, Pokémon, Digimon, etc., without realizing they were part of what’s known as ‘anime’. Coming to the end of primary school, I stopped watching those shows as they didn’t appeal to me as much anymore. However, when I was 16, I discovered an anime called ‘One Piece’ through a friend’s comic book better known as ‘manga’. Since that moment, I could say that was my first spark of interest in Japanese Pop Culture and the Japanese language in general. At that moment, I didn’t know yet that it will all lead to studying and working in Japan as a Malaysian expat.
Up to that moment in time, I could hold somewhat of a short daily conversation in three other languages apart from my mother tongue Malay language, namely English, Arabic, and Bahasa Indonesia. Dipping into the Japanese Pop Culture, I began to develop a passion which also included learning the Japanese language through watching some anime that were popular during that time and listening to some Japanese songs in the genre that I like. I continued to explore this new hobby even until I enrolled at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).
In My Self-Reflection, I Wanted to Break Out of My Introversion
Apart from the compulsory university lectures on campus and the occasional football session, I rarely left to go outside. I realized I’d become a reclusive introvert. Somewhere between my childhood and teen years, I’d changed. I felt I was spending too much time indoors without socializing with people outside my house. I was overly content playing video games and watching anime at home.
When I was younger, I enjoyed playing outside with my bike and kicking a ball with friends. I wondered what happened? Part of it was because my family had to move home too often due to my father’s work. Consequently, with each move, I was torn from old friends and had to make new acquaintances—something I found difficult. I knew that if I kept going on this reclusive path, it would be detrimental to my future.
I needed to break free from my reclusive habits and get myself out there. So, I challenged myself by enrolling in a Japanese language elective course for a semester at my university. It would help me do two things: turn hours spent watching anime into productive skills and make meaningful connections.
Through the connections I made during the Japanese language course, I got introduced to a pioneer program called the ‘Japanese Language and Cultural Program’. This program was organized between my university and a partner university in Hiroshima, Japan. It was a 9-day event where we learned the Japanese language in a classroom and explored the city. There, I got to experience touching snow for the first time! By the end of this event, my interest in Japan grew and led me to set a new goal. I became determined to further my study for a Master’s degree at a university in Japan.
New Life Goal: Study in Japan
Aiming to fulfill my new goal, I actively looked for scholarship opportunities.
How I looked for ways to study in Japan:
- I searched online to find a good scholarship to support my studies abroad.
- I joined fairs.
- I visited multiple university websites to look at courses that could match my interests.
- I listened to a lot of university introduction presentations.
After meticulous research, I ranked my options and worked to achieve them. However, things did not go smoothly as I failed my scholarship application at its final screening stage after several months of clearing the other screening processes. This was quite a blow for me.
Nevertheless, after much consideration, I decided to reapply the following year. Equipped with the experience gained from my failed attempt, I managed to land the scholarship. Following that, I applied to a university that offers a master’s degree and conducts its course in English. I purposefully looked for a course in English, because I was still unsure of my limited Japanese ability.
My Experience Studying in Japan as a Malaysian
I spent the first year abroad in Japan as a research student. By being a research student, I didn’t have an assigned curriculum or points to be counted for the semester. It allowed me to spend the year acclimatizing myself to life on a campus in a rural area of Hiroshima. I got to know how they conducted their experiments in the laboratory and got used to the daily demands of life in a foreign country.
Looking back at it now, I am grateful to have spent three years there as a student. I got to experience the essential traditional student life in Japan, away from the modernized city. This was amplified by the COVID pandemic that closed the international border. There were only ten international students on campus. This forced me to mingle and practice speaking “true” Japanese rather than textbook Japanese. I really felt myself being challenged mentally and physically. I was constantly in situations that pushed me towards getting new skills while preparing for thesis writing to complete my master’s degree.
Landing the Dream Job in Japan with FAST OFFER International’s Help
Personally, I could have just returned to Malaysia after graduation to find a job back home. But given my circumstances, I felt that would have been a regression. I would have wasted all the progress made gradually learning Japanese, losing the chance to enjoy the hobbies I nurtured in Japan. With this in mind, I decided to pursue job hunting in Japan. After studying in Japan as a Malaysian, it only made the best sense to also find work there. I knew job-hunting activities would be time-consuming, but it was a worthwhile endeavor for my future. It deserves my serious attention so I can maximize my opportunities.
In Japan, the earlier you kick start job-hunting, the better your chances of finding a preferable job. I started my job-hunting journey seriously two years before graduation. I put together a few things you need to know about looking for work in Japan as a Malaysian.
Starting Job Hunting in Japan Early is Essential for Malaysians Because of 3 Main Reasons:
Japan’s Unique Yearly Job-Hunting Flow
Job-hunting in Japan is nothing like back in Malaysia or as I heard, in other countries, too. Most companies in Japan follow a schedule of when to hold company briefings or internships, to screen entry sheets (like resumé, CV, etc.), to conduct multiple interviews, etc. You need to understand this calendar so you can time your plans accordingly.
To understand the schedule and flow of recruitment, and get information on companies, I registered with recruitment agencies that offered seminars and briefing sessions.
Working with the Right agency Will help You Join the Right Talent Pool.
As I sifted through agencies; it made me realize that I would be in the same talent pool as Japanese new graduates. It would be challenging with my Japanese language level still not at a business level.
Luckily, among the agencies was ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International program which stood out for me. They offered companies briefing seminars in English. But more importantly, the companies they represented were specifically looking for international talents. This saved the big hassle of trying to navigate the Japanese recruitment websites and perusing through all-Japanese company information. FAST OFFER International saved me a lot of headaches from job-hunting while still needing to finish my master’s degree.
You Need to Heavily Research the Japanese Companies You’re Interested In
Japanese companies look for employees who plan on staying for long. So, when you apply for a company, know what you’re getting into. It’s important to do a lot of research about them and understand how you can fit their business landscape. Apart from reading up on them, there’s a way to learn about them experientially.
Depending on the Japanese company, they can have either “Short” or “Long” internships. Short internships can be a single day, and long ones can be several weeks. Through these internships, you can fully experience their company’s culture and compare it to others. This will be a big help in deciding if you want to work there or look elsewhere. Get as much important information relating to the business of the company you are applying for.
Japan Life Essential: Improving My Japanese Through Music and Sport
Whether you’re studying or working in Japan as a Malaysian, your quality of life in Japan is really affected by how well you can speak Japanese. Because I went to Japan without a high level of fluency, it was like being thrown into the deep end of a pool. I had to learn to swim quickly; I learned the language to survive.
Some ways I learned Japanese through my existing interests:
- I read the lyrics of Japanese songs that I listened to.
- I tuned in to Japanese-speaking podcasts or live streams.
- I watched sports games with Japanese commentary.
- I joined the university’s football club.
Real-life Japanese scenarios tested all the listening practices I’ve done. Learning to speak Japanese is the most concrete marker of learning the language. By joining clubs, I had a platform to give outputs rather than just getting inputs in practicing the Japanese language. It also served as an opportunity to build courage when speaking, which is an important aspect when attending job interviews.
Nowadays, my Japanese has improved significantly compared to when I first set foot in Japan. Nevertheless, I am still learning the language now that I’ve started working. By being able to communicate in Japanese, I was able to take my interest in football to another level by joining a futsal club and playing in Division 4 of the Chiba Challenge League. From my experience, the best way to learn Japanese, more than learning in the classroom, is through the hobbies and interests that you love—through engaging the language in your actual life.
Navigating Life in Japan as a Muslim Malaysian: A Personal Insight
Japan is increasingly becoming more foreign-friendly. Workforces are diversifying as economic goals drive towards globalization. As Muslims, we pray five times a day and eat halal food. Although the Muslim population in Japan is small, it’s the fastest-growing religion in Japan, especially among the younger generation. In parallel, some tourist spots, shopping malls, and restaurants provide halal food or prayer space. This is especially true in the capital of Japan, Tokyo. As Japanese companies actively recruit international talents and move towards globalization, more companies are more willing to accommodate the needs of their Muslim employees.
Key Strategies for Malaysians Who Want to Work or Study in Japan
I hope that more Malaysians see the amazing opportunities they can have in Japan. Studying and working in Japan as a Malaysian can really open doors for you. In line with that, I’d love to share some insights for fellow Malaysians and their journey finding success in Japan:
Stay honest with yourselves.
It’s important to understand the nuances of Japanese culture in the context of Japanese job interviews, to know what they’re looking for exactly. However, lying about your non-negotiables or bloating your credentials will only land you a job you might not like. Job interviews are a two-way street. As much as Japanese companies are screening you, you should also be screening them. Know that you yourselves are also an asset to the companies. If after presenting your best true self to them they seem hesitant or difficult to accommodate you, it is never worth putting yourself into something that you know you would not like from the start.
The key difference in Japanese job markets is trainability instead of work experience.
In some job markets, there is the temptation to bloat your profile. But if you’re applying as a new grad for a job in Japan, there’s no need to. Of course, perform your best at the university, work on your final year project, and get an internship—but one of the most important aspects they’re looking for employees in Japan is trainability.
They don’t expect you to know everything when you start and will allot time to train you. More than your hard skills, it might be more important to exemplify these soft skills. Japanese companies are more inclined to hire talents who express wanting to work with them in the long term. This is because when looking from the company’s perspective, they will be willing to invest much more money to train you. If they are aware that you don’t have the intention to stay long, they might prioritize other candidates who are willing.
Ask about the accommodation for your religious practices.
If you’re a Muslim like me, you would love to have a suitable place to pray during work hours. This could mean permission to book a meeting room for about 10 minutes to pray in privacy. You wouldn’t want to perform your prayer in undesirable conditions like at a dirty place, in the harsh outdoors, or at your work desk where everyone walking by can watch you. Some companies are better equipped than others. They even have in-house prayer rooms. It’s better to ask this early on. I suggest asking about this during the Q&A of company briefings or during the final round of interviews. Also, keep in mind that we are asking, not demanding. You are not entitled to these facilities. Be careful not to jeopardize your chances to appeal to them. Otherwise, try looking for other companies.
Sign up with FAST OFFER International.
Apart from their free foreigner-friendly services, it’s a shortcut to navigating Japan’s somewhat daunting job market.
Tips for Malaysian Expats in Japan
From my experience of studying and working in Japan as a Malaysian, I do have some tips for fellow expats that might be a little help.
- You don’t have to assimilate 100%. Learning Japanese might be pressuring you more than it should. In truth, the Japanese don’t expect you to speak perfect Japanese, and most will help you in your times of need.
- Find your community. Freshly plucked from your hometown, you’re bound to experience culture shock. What will help you through this tough transitionary period is finding your community. For me, it was going to the mosque for congregation prayers, attending events, joining the futsal team, and playing football with the local community.
- Communicate your boundaries. You don’t have to keep on doing overtime. As you try to blend in and be more Japanese, you might find yourself following in someone else’s unhealthy footsteps. It’s important to communicate your boundaries and your own values. Find a middle ground and talk it out with your superiors.
- Absorb Japanese cultural gems for yourself. There are a lot of great things about Japanese culture. My favorites are that they’re always on time and segregate their trash. These are just a few things I try to imbibe and hope to carry with me forever.
I hope my success story inspired you and equipped you with the knowledge that you need to get your journey started! If you’re a Malaysian who wants to study and work in Japan, there’s a lot of work to help you achieve your goal! But it will also help you grow as a person. My journey to Japan helped me break out of unhealthy patterns and has led me to thrive in a beautiful but unfamiliar territory. If you want to grow professionally and personally, Japan is a great place to start.
