Hi everyone, I’m currently living in Fukuoka, going to a Japanese Language School, graduating next year, and am very worried about my career path (but for now what University I pick).
I initially came to Japan right after high school because I didn’t really have an interest in anything at the Universities in my home country at the time. I was really in love with the Japanese language, through Anime&Manga, talking to Japanese people on the phone etc. I told myself to take a leap of faith and explore the world a little bit, then maybe I’d find something that’d pique my interest, and find what I want to do in life.
Fast forward a little more than a year now, I’ve just passed JLPT N2 and have signed up for the EJU examination in June, and JLPT N1 in July! I’ve also landed a part-time position at a US company, and am making a quite a little bit on the side. (I would’t mind disclosing)
I’m still very unclear of what I want to do in University, but have decided to go with IT. I really like Art/Music/Games/Anime/Manga/Tech so I’ve been looking at ways I could integrate some of these miscellaneous Hobbies of mine into IT! Mainly looking at Kyushu University’s International Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Course as my Primary school of choice. I know English courses have been notoriously shit on in the subreddits, but in my opinion, it’s the school’s name that matters more, especially when it comes to looking for a Job in Japan. The rest being Undergraduate programs conducted in Japanese which I’m still actively doing my research on.
I’ve been doing some research on the Fukuoka’s pay for IT jobs. And it doesn’t look too bad. I’ve read many threads on how Japan’s IT scene isn’t the best (quite behind?), and I thought to myself, why not become a bridge of IT for both the English and Japanese worlds? (Shameless plug here but I also speak Mandarin! hehe)
I’ve (kinda?) made a decision on staying in Fukuoka until I finish my studies, as it’s really an amazing place to live in, QOL here is really amazing. Maybe I can consider Tokyo when I’m looking for a Job? I know this might not be a good decision to tie myself down to Fukuoka though,
I’ve also forgot to mention that I’ve been a lurker in this Subreddit for years. I made the decision of coming to Fukuoka instead of anywhere else all thanks to this subreddit and I gotta say, I don’t regret this decision not one bit. There’s not too many people, doesn’t get too crowded in the morning and the entire City’s set in a half-urban/rural setting. Just a simple ride down the JR lines take you to the rural parts, another ride back and you find yourself back in the City!
I actually earn quite a lot for a part-time job (in my opinion), and It’s remote too! But, I know for a fact that my current Job isn’t perpetual. Regardless though, I never thought I’d have access to this amount of money at my current age. Which raises the thought of why not look for International Jobs while I enjoy life here in Fukuoka, like I am doing now!
I’d like to hear some of your thoughts and would like to take in any advice that you’d be open to give! It could be anything from Univerisities you’d like to recommend, other fields that could align with my interests, etc! I decided to make this post to help me gather my thoughts as well as better explore my options anyway.
1 comment
If you have the Japanese level to complete a degree taught in Japanese, do the degree in Japanese. You will be more competitive this way and be more prepared for a job in that field when you graduate. If you only know the terms and training in English, your life will be harder afterward even if you do speak Japanese because that won’t be the way you learned.
English-taught programs in Japan are for people who have no choice but to study in English. I say that as someone in the middle of an English-taught master’s degree in Japan. There is a reason this sub shits all over the English-taught programs. The majority of them aren’t rigorous. Do yourself a favor.
If you want to stay here, and want your degree to actually help you, my recommendation is to find a program taught in Japanese (the vast majority of programs in this country) and do it. You can do that at a well-known university. It’s not like the only programs at highly-ranked universities are in English. Just do more research. Good luck.