Hi there! I’m Kotaro Muramoto, CEO of JOBs Japan. I’ve helped over 100 foreign engineers from more than 15 countries move into exciting tech roles in Japan—and here’s one story that may inspire you.

Candidate Profile

• Experience: Over 7 years as an engineer

• Languages & Tech Stack: PHP, Java, C#, plus frontend skills in HTML5, CSS, JavaScript (including ES6), and UX improvements

• Type of Work: Full cycle development (from requirements gathering → planning → development → deployment → operations & continuous improvement); maintained EC sites and worked with structured data like user & order reports

• Japanese Level: N2

The Opportunity

A Tokyo-based systems consulting / web services company with ~300 staff, annual revenue about ¥4 billion, asked us to help find someone who can hit the ground running. They are strong in upstream work, system design, and hands-on engineering—particularly in companies servicing financial, retail, manufacturing sectors, as well as developing e-commerce platforms.

Why the Fit Was Strong

• The candidate had solid backend experience (PHP as main, but also Java & C#) and frontend/web skills.

• Even though full backend was their core, they expressed interest in using React and expanding their frontend / UX skill set.

• Deep motivation: since childhood, they’ve admired Japan and want to be a bridge between their home country (Switzerland) and Japan as a global engineer.

During the interviews, they clearly articulated their past work and vision for the future. The company saw that this was someone whose goals aligned with their growth path—and they offered the job.

The Result

• Role secured: Mid-career engineer position, able to contribute immediately thanks to experience + Japanese N2

• Annual salary: ~¥4,200,000

• Company: Tokyo, ~300 employees, part of a listed group; strong in system consulting & development; handling full-stack or backend-heavy projects in wide-ranging industries

What You Can Learn from This

1. Skills + Language = Opportunity
   Having solid technical skills and at least N2 Japanese significantly boosts your ability to be hired in development roles. Even if you’re stronger in backend, showing you want to grow (frontend/UX etc.) helps.

2. Communicate Your Story
   Clearly share your experience phases (planning → development → operations etc.), what you’ve built or maintained, and your aspirations. Companies value that clarity.

3. Find the Right Environment
   A company that values international perspectives and has room for growth is key. Cultural fit (your values, goals) can be just as important as tech skills.

4. Be Prepared to Hit the Ground Running
   They expected someone who could jump into work—not someone who needed large ramp-up time. Your experience should reflect that you can do so.

Are you ready to make the move?

If you’re a foreign engineer with a few years of experience, some Japanese (even N3+), and a strong tech stack, there are roles in Japan waiting for you. Reach out if you want help polishing your resume, practicing interviews, or getting matched to companies looking for people just like you.