Japan Dev Podcast

Japan Dev
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Highlighting stories from top software devs working in Japan. From japan-dev.com, the best source for modern tech jobs in Japan.

  1. 05/30/2025

    #12 - Life as a QA Engineer in Japan (Without Speaking Japanese)

    Episode #12 of the Japan Dev Podcast features Naman Garg’s story! Naman moved from a small town in India to Tokyo to work as a QA engineer 🇮🇳➡🇯🇵 In this episode, Naman talks about how he got a job at Rakuten without knowing Japanese, what it was like moving to Japan, and how the work culture helped him grow. He also shares what it's like working remotely at PayPay, the challenges he faced as a vegetarian in Japan, and how he's now helping Indian students explore startup opportunities through his project, Youth Yatra. If you're curious about working in Japan as a software or QA engineer, this episode has lots of useful tips and honest insights! More from Naman: LinkedIn - / naman-garg-119662106 Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:20 - Moving from India to Japan 02:00 - Inspired by Japanese technology 05:50 - Deciding to relocate 07:50 - Job and relocation struggles 11:30 - Renting issues for foreigners 13:25 - Language challenges 17:00 - Indian food at Rakuten 18:40 - Hybrid work post-COVID 22:05 - QA + coding job 23:50 - Flexible work culture 28:55 - AI helping startups 32:25 - Japan’s startup ecosystem 47:50 - Building social life in Japan 54:15 - Learning Japanese early 💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them! 🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev! 👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan: 🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com 📸 Instagram: / japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev 💼 LinkedIn: / japan-dev

    55 min

  2. 05/09/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #11 - Máté Kovács

    Episode #11 of the Japan Dev Podcast features the story of Máté Kovács! He moved from the U.S. to Japan to build a life and career as a software engineer 🇯🇵💻Máté talks about why he left San Francisco, how Japan’s tech scene surprised him (in a good way!), and the real differences between working in Silicon Valley vs. Japan. He shares how he found jobs at top startups in Tokyo, what it’s like working with modern stacks in Japan, and how to thrive as a foreign developer without fluent Japanese.Curious about Japan’s tech ecosystem? Wondering what it’s actually like working there as a foreign dev? This episode is packed with honest insights and actionable tips! 🎙️More from Máté:LinkedIn:   / mate-j-kovacs  Personal Website: https://mkovaxx.net/Timestamps:00:00 – Intro ( Mate's journey )00:55 – Life in San Francisco and the Tech Grind06:15 – First Trip to Japan and Falling in Love with the Culture10:30 – Deciding to Leave the U.S. for Japan14:45 – Finding a Job in Japan Without Speaking Japanese20:10 – How Japan’s Tech Scene Compares to Silicon Valley25:50 – Busting the “Outdated Tech in Japan” Myth31:20 – Work-Life Balance and Culture in Japanese Companies36:40 – Building a Career Long-Term in Japan42:00 – Tips for Developers Looking to Move to Japan47:15 – Language, Community, and Making Friends Abroad52:40 – Final Thoughts: Is Japan Worth It for Engineers?💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them!🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev!👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan:🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com📸 Instagram: / japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev💼 LinkedIn: / japan-dev

    1h 26m

  3. 05/02/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #10 - Raj Chaudhary

    Episode #10 of the Japan Dev Podcast features Raj’s incredible journey from a remote village in Nepal to working as a software engineer in Japan 🇯🇵✨Raj shares how he switched from medicine to tech, found his first engineering job in Nepal, and eventually moved to Japan without knowing Japanese at first! He talks about living and working in Okinawa, building a career abroad, and tips for breaking into Japan’s tech industry.Thinking about working in Japan as an engineer? Wondering how to start your career abroad? This episode is packed with real-world advice and insights! 🎙️More from Raj:LinkedIn:   / raj-kumar-chaudhary-52b647149  Facebook:   / rajkumar.chaudhary.1088  Instagram:   / rajkumar.chaudhary026  Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Raj's Journey from Nepal to Japan01:00 – Growing Up and Education in Nepal06:10 – Why Raj Switched from Medicine to Computer Science10:00 – First Job Struggles as a Software Engineer in Nepal14:20 – Deciding to Move Abroad for Better Opportunities18:00 – Moving to Japan: How He Got the Job and Visa24:15 – Real Challenges: Language Barrier and Culture Shock29:00 – Life in Okinawa vs. Tokyo for Software Engineers36:00 – Career Growth: Plans to Move to Tokyo40:00 – What Raj’s Company Does and His Current Work47:30 – Opportunities for Engineers Starting Out in Japan52:30 – Cost of Living, Work-Life Balance, and Lifestyle in Okinawa58:10 – Final Advice: Moving Abroad, Learning Japanese, and Career Growth💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them!🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev!👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan:🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com📸 Instagram: / japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev💼 LinkedIn: / japan-dev

    1h 1m

  4. 05/02/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #9 - Laurie Griffiths

    Japan Dev Podcast #9 is with Laurie Griffiths! ⛩️Laurie is a software engineer from the UK currently living in Fukuoka, and we asked him all about his 12+ year journey in Japan.Laurie shares all about freelancing and building community in Japan — and why he thinks Fukuoka is the perfect place to live as a software engineer. His unique path is filled with insights for anyone who wants to move to Japan and work as a software engineer.Takeaways:✅ Fukuoka’s Tech Scene is Growing – Startups, government support, and a tight-knit community.✅ Challenges of Freelancing in Japan – Visas, competition, and business structures matter.✅ Japanese Language Skills Open Doors.✅ Community engagement makes a difference.✅ Work Flexibility is Key – Freelancing vs. traditional jobs in Japan.✅ Japan’s Job Market is Changing – New opportunities for engineers & startups.👉 More from LaurieHomepage: https://lauriegriffiths.github.io/Fukuoka Engineer Cafe: https://engineercafe.jp/Engineer Cafe Discord:   / discord  Timestamps -00:00 - In this video00:46 - Meet Laurie ( His background & Journey )02:02 - Tech career paths & culture05:52 - Learning Japanese with community11:38 - Visa challenges for freelancers13:30 - Freelance & tech community17:15 - Startups focus on culture22:34 - Thriving startup ecosystem27:48 - Bootstrap success via networking33:06 - Business structure challenges38:05 - Freelancing vs. employment risks43:16 - Career transitions into tech48:37 - Growing English-speaking community55:11 - Struggles to attract talent1:03:56 - Fukuoka’s lifestyle for engineers💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them!🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev!👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan:🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com📸 Instagram: / japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev💼 LinkedIn: / japan-dev

    1h 8m

  5. 05/02/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #8 - Terrance Reynolds

    Presenting Japan Dev Podcast #8 ⛩️In this episode, we sit down with Terrance Reynolds — a designer, self-taught software engineer and content creator who moved to Japan from Cleveland, Ohio!Terrance shares his unconventional journey from freelancing as a teenager to building a tech career in Tokyo. He opens up about the realities of Japan’s job market, breaking into software development without a CS degree, and how storytelling helped him land a job at one of Japan’s top tech companies — Indeed — without even applying.Takeaways:✅ Communication Is a Superpower – Especially in engineering.✅ You Don’t Need a CS Degree – But you do need a good story.✅ Work-Life Balance in Japan – No karoshi here, just focused hustle.✅ Lean Into Your Background – Marketing, teaching, freelancing… it all counts.✅ Be a Generalist, But Own Your Narrative – Combine design, dev, and storytelling.👉 More from Terrance Personal website: https://terrance.jp/ YouTube:    / @terrancereynolds  Instagram:   / terrance95_  Timestamps-00:00 - In this video00:52 - Meet Terrance ( Background and story )02:06 - Interest in Japan from childhood 06:04 - Switching from teaching to tech 07:56 - Career flexibility in Japan 11:43 - Job applications & outreach 13:28 - Hiring values personality over tests 17:10 - Standing out in tech interviews 22:18 - Branding & storytelling for jobs 28:48 - Storytelling attracts opportunities 33:28 - Work culture varies in Japan 36:37 - Burnout & fulfillment in tech 49:03 - Communication for tech success 58:50 - Salary transparency in Japan 1:08:19 - Avoid disclosing salary 1:21:10 - US vs. Japan tech salaries 💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them!🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev!👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan:🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com📸 Instagram:   / japan.dev  🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev💼 LinkedIn:   / japan-dev

    1h 33m

  6. 05/02/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #7 - Jeff Bergier

    Presenting Japan Dev Podcast #7 ⛩️ In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Bergier, a UX designer turned software engineer who moved from San Francisco to Tokyo! Jeff shares his journey from working in Silicon Valley to building a career in Japan. He compares the work culture, cost of living, and tech opportunities between the two cities. Jeff also talks about why he finds life in Tokyo fulfilling and how Japan’s structured yet balanced work environment shaped his career. Takeaways: ✅ Work-Life Balance – Less stress, more structure than SF. ✅ Lower Cost of Living – Higher savings despite lower salaries. ✅ Career Stability – Secure jobs without SF’s volatility. ✅ Clean & Efficient City – Safe, convenient, and well-organized. ✅ Job Satisfaction – Engineers take pride in their work. 👉 More from Jeff LinkedIn: / jeffreybergier Github: https://github.com/jeffreybergier Timestamps: 00:00 - In this video 01:08 - Meet Jeff ( His background and story ) 06:56 - Retail job sparked his design passion. 09:12 - Designers’ impact in big tech. 16:05 - Tech job market struggles. 19:53 - Learning to code, career switch. 25:24 - Japan vs. US culture. 27:21 - Work culture differences. 30:57 - New York or Japan? 36:27 - Japan’s startup scene. 42:04 - Relocating with support. 47:31 - Workload management issues. 49:21 - Balancing tech debt. 53:14 - Company vs. job role. 58:44 - Tokyo vs. SF life. 1:06:05 - Japan’s service quality. 💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them! 🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev! 👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan: 🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com 📸 Instagram: / japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev 💼 LinkedIn: / japan-dev

    1h 17m

  7. 03/11/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #6 - Anton Van Eechaute

    Presenting Japan Dev Podcast #6! In this episode, Eric talks with Anton, a Belgian software engineer who's spent eight years in Japan. Anton shares his journey into Japan’s tech industry, the challenges of adapting to work culture, the importance of learning Japanese, and a whole lot more!✅ Job hunting and career growth in Japan✅ Transitioning tech stacks (Ruby to Golang)✅ Passing the JLPT N1 + language learning insights✅ Consultancy vs in-house development✅ Japanese vs Gaishikei work environments✅ Work-life balance in Japan’s tech industry✅ Adapting to the corporate culture at IndeedMore from Anton:🔗 Portfolio: https://antonve.be/🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/antonve_be💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonve/🗣️ Tadoku: https://tadoku.app/Timestamps:00:00 - In this video00:50 - Meet Anton ( His journey )06:43 - Startup experience and its impact on career growth13:02 - Job expectations in Japanese vs. international companies15:05 - Job hunting in Japan: networking & language skills24:15 - Shifting tech stacks: Ruby to Go in Japan’s tech scene31:34 - JLPT N1: Challenges and the reality of fluency40:51 - Consultancy vs. in-house development in Japan46:08 - Transitioning from startups to large companies51:32 - Challenges and opportunities of working in Japan’s tech industry56:51 - Navigating job opportunities and career growth in Japan1:03:48 - Final reflections on career choices and life in Japan💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them!🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev!👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan:🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japan.dev🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/japan-de

    1h 10m

  8. 03/11/2025

    Japan Dev Podcast #5 - Kamil Kwiecień

    Welcome to Japan Dev Podcast #5! In this episode, Eric talks with Kamil, a software engineer from Poland who's lived in Japan for over a decade. Kamil shares how his love for Japanese culture — starting with anime — led him to study at the Polish-Japanese Academy, and ultimately move to Japan and build his career in Tokyo. In this episode, you will learn: ✅ How Kamil transitioned from freelancing to a full-time job in Japan ✅ The challenges of adapting to life and work in Japan, including language and culture ✅ His experience starting and growing Remote Index (a remote job board) and Apply/Ads (a programmatic ads platform) ✅ How the startup scene in Tokyo is changing ✅ Visa strategies for long-term residency in Japan ✅ His thoughts on raising children with a global mindset ✅ Practical advice for expats who want to build their careers in Japan If you're interested in working in Japan, freelancing, or starting a business here, this episode is for you. More from Kamil 👇 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwiecienkamil/ X: https://x.com/kamil_shman Kamil's businesses 👇 Apply/Ads: https://applyads.com/ Remote Index: https://remoteindex.co/ Timestamps 00:00 - In this video 00:53 - Meet Kamil ( His journey and insights ) 08:57 - Career journey post-graduation, intense work 15:42 - Living and working in London as an engineer 19:51 - Financial/work challenges while studying in Japan 21:51 - Secured engineering visa, partnered on projects 25:38 - Supportive companies are key in Japan 27:32 - Networking helps with housing in Japan 31:21 - Challenges of living in Japan, starting a business 33:20 - Sole proprietorship is simpler and cheaper 37:11 - Transitioning to engineering manager 43:05 - Moving to a remote job board 45:11 - From SEO to programmatic job ads 49:07 - Productizing job board services 51:05 - AI automation and small teams 54:54 - Easier business visas and PR 1:02:34 - Japan attracts digital nomads 💬 Have questions about tech jobs in Japan? Drop them in the comments — we’ll read them. And we’ll do our best to answer them! 🌟 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a new video from Japan Dev! 👉 Find your dream tech job in Japan: 🔗 Website: https://japan-dev.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japan.dev 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jpn_dev 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/japan-dev

    1h 8m
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Highlighting stories from top software devs working in Japan. From japan-dev.com, the best source for modern tech jobs in Japan.

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  • Creator
    Japan Dev
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Japan Dev
  • Show Website
    Japan Dev Podcast