When Mao Hotta was a junior at Keio University, she panicked. Everyone around her was deep into shukatsu—talking nonstop about recruitment exams, interviews, and company rankings. But Mao had just realized that her dream of becoming a journalist wasn't what she actually wanted. "I lost my dream, my purpose for shukatsu. I was kind of panicked." So she did something unconventional: she applied everywhere. ---You applied to almost every industry. Why? Mao: I thought to myself—

The narrative around young people in Japan often skews pessimistic—articles say young people are depressed, hopeless. Mao Hotta sees it differently. "I think it's the opposite, actually. Young people are really motivated to work, and women are more empowered ever than before. Now is a huge chance for us to shine." We spoke with Mao about her experience in Japanese finance and why she's optimistic about the future. ---What was the gender balance like at Goldman Sachs Japan? Ma

Mao Hotta's career path reads like a masterclass in strategic exploration. Born and raised in Tokyo, she studied journalism at Keio University, worked as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs, and is now pursuing a dual MBA at Kyoto University and Master of Management in Hospitality at Cornell. Her ultimate goal? Opening her own hotel in rural Japan. We sat down with Mao to learn how she's been building her dream one unconventional step at a time. ---Tell us about yo

Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Nathan Paterson has built an adventurous and innovation-forward career in Japan. After working as a designer in London, he came to Tokyo as an English teacher with basic textbook Japanese — then worked his way through a variety of traditional and progressive companies and founded his own companies. He spent nearly 10 years at Disney across Tokyo and Los Angeles, where he led research and design of digital platforms including the precu

Are you a student or young professional curious about launching a software career in Japan? Our interview with Christian Williams , an MIT graduate who has spent nearly two years in Japan and now works at fintech startup Jamm , explores how he found his role, what work looks like day to day, visa pathways (from J-Find to HSP), and practical advice for building a fulfilling career in Japan. Jamm Inc.   —— Can you share a bit about yourself and your background? Christian : My n

2025’s biggest buzzword in the job-hunting scene is “AI.” In Japan, surveys show that over 60% of students use AI in their job search, and AI is rapidly becoming foundational to recruiting *1 . This trend is mirrored on the employer side: about 30% of major companies have adopted or plan to adopt AI in hiring *2 , meaning selection is no longer driven solely by the instincts and experience of frontline recruiters. Multiple algorithms now operate beneath the surface—ATS parsin

Job hunting in Japan is no longer a seasonal ritual that begins in spring and peaks in early summer. While the government has maintained the official timeline of March 1 for information release , June 1 for selection , and October 1 for formal offers , it has also clarified that outcomes from certain Type 3 internships  can serve as a basis for companies to transition into the selection process before June  1 * 2 . In other words, the official rules remain, but the practical

The United States stands at a critical juncture in its relationship with global talent. While it continues to attract and educate the world's brightest minds, the pathways for these individuals to transition from student to professional are becoming increasingly fractured and uncertain. This report presents a quantitative analysis of how three distinct U.S. visa policy scenarios could impact the retention of international students, forecasting the potential redirection of thi

A new wave of opportunity is breaking on Japan's shores, and for savvy global talent, the tide is high. The long-held narrative of a "cash-loving" Japan is being rapidly rewritten, not by gradual evolution, but by a seismic, government-backed shift towards a digital economy. This transformation has hit a critical tipping point. In 2024, Japan’s cashless payment ratio surged to 42.8%, decisively smashing the government's 2025 target of 40% a full year ahead of schedule *10 . T

What happens when a quietly hyper-connected economy opens its doors, underprices its cost of living, and still invents the batteries that power your phone? For top-tier graduates, it looks like the biggest career mispricing on the planet. A visa that behaves like an option contract Forget the old chicken-and-egg dilemma of needing a sponsor before you can hunt for a job. The J-Find visa  lets recent grads of two-table-top-100 universities land in Japan with a two-year runway,

Foreign companies operating in Japan often headline internship fairs with starting packages that dwarf the national average. Yet this is only half the story: pay dispersion, workload and job-security norms vary sharply by sector. Understanding those contrasts helps you choose a path that matches not just your wallet, but also your time and risk appetite. Quick snapshot — Pay premium vs. National average Sector (new-grad / junior level) Typical annual total comp % above nation

Japan's professional landscape is rapidly transforming, shifting from traditional corporate models towards a dynamic startup ecosystem. This change is fueled by evolving youth aspirations and robust government initiatives like the Startup Development Five-Year Plan. Significant opportunities are emerging for young talents in high-growth sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software as a Service (SaaS). To succeed in this new environment, young professionals need a

１. A Sudden Chill on U.S. Campuses On 22 May 2025  the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security yanked Harvard University’s SEVP licence,  stripping it of the power to issue new I-20s and threatening the status of more than 6800 international students *1 .  Harvard sued within hours, and the next morning a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order  that keeps visas valid while the case moves to a June hearing *2 .   In a related case, a federal judge in California a

Japan’s recent graduates (and the current  “26sotsu and 27sotsu” students already chasing early offers) are stepping into a labour market unlike any in recent memory. Inflation has finally nudged wages up, demographic shortages continue to tighten recruiting pipelines, and generative-AI skills are changing how workers operate in their day-to-day. Whether students feel confident  shapes everything from how many firms they apply to, to whether they hold out for a “first-choice”

There is a huge pullback on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) lately among US companies since President Donald Trump’s election. In fact, 90% of the top 400 companies in the S&P 500 index have cut some references to DEI, while many of those have ditched the term completely *1 . Despite the backlash, DEI remains to be a crucial topic to achieve a more equitable society across the world.  In Japan, “DEI” has shifted from a fringe HR slogan to a board‑level KPI in just a few y

In recent years, cities have evolved beyond being mere residential areas or centers of economic activity. They are now undergoing unprecedented innovations through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as ICT, IoT, AI, and big data analytics. These technologies offer new solutions to social issues such as traffic congestion, energy efficiency, environmental impact, and public safety, significantly contributing to the realization of sustainable urban development. T

1. Introduction Japan has garnered global attention in the realm of subculture, particularly in the fields of anime, games, and manga. These forms of content have been widely embraced in markets across the Americas, Europe, China, Africa, and beyond, making them symbolic representations of Japanese culture from an international perspective. Notably, iconic works such as Dragon Ball , Naruto , and One Piece  have established significant brand value and cultural influence, ofte

1. Japan's Position in the Global Space Industry 1.1 The Global Space Industry Market and Japan’s Standing In recent years, the global space industry has been experiencing rapid growth, with the market size reaching $469 billion (approximately ¥64 trillion) as of 2021. *1 Both public and private sector players are increasingly entering the industry, and this expansion trend is expected to continue. Projections indicate that by the 2030s, the annual market size could reach $1

1. Introduction Understanding the unique systems and culture of Japanese companies is crucial for career advancement and promotion. This is particularly true for exceptional talent graduating from overseas universities, as the promotion and evaluation criteria in Japanese companies can differ significantly from their home countries. While Japan has traditionally valued lifelong employment and seniority-based promotions, signs of change are emerging due to intensified global c

1. Introduction In Japanese workplace culture, employee benefits are not just a part of compensation; they play a crucial role in supporting the lives of employees and their families and maintaining a balance between work and personal life. For international students aiming to join Japanese companies, these attractive benefits often serve as a significant deciding factor. This article explains the types of benefits provided by Japanese companies, their features, and how they