Notes on careers, culture, and building a life in Japan, written from Fukuoka. New pieces go up here first.
Articles
2026-09-08
371,215 workplaces, and a third that understand the rules
Foreign hiring in Japan is running well ahead of the ability to keep people. 63% of the workplaces doing it have fewer than 30 staff, and 23.8% admit they do not understand the visa rules.
2026-09-08
“Fukuoka is top tier”: a Madrid makeup artist, now teaching in Fukuoka
Alicia came from Madrid, where she worked as a makeup artist on jobs that included CHANEL. Her company sent her to Fukuoka, and it worked out. She talks about two beauty standards, teaching a language that is not her own, and why Spain is full of sunglasses and Japan is full of umbrellas.
2026-09-07
165 minutes of testing, none of it spoken
Everyone argues about how often the JLPT runs. Almost nobody argues about what it measures. N1 is 165 minutes long and not one second of it is spoken.
2026-09-06
In Tokyo, easy Japanese beats English
41.3% of foreign residents in Tokyo want their information in easy Japanese. 35.9% want English. Most of the people choosing Japanese are nowhere near fluent.
2026-09-03
"I'm Japanese, from Taiwan": growing up with two first languages
Rieko is from Tainan, in the south of Taiwan.
2026-08-31
Meetup in Fukuoka
dunkman yoshi met with a diverse group of professionals in Fukuoka. Their shared ambition and adaptability to building careers in Japan stood out. Through this gathering of Fukuoka's hidden talents, dunkman yoshi reaffirmed the meaning of his work.
2026-08-30
"I thought I would just pick it up": an American engineer in Fukuoka
Travis from Washington State chose Fukuoka as his new home and workplace as an engineer. He shares his experiences with cultural differences, work environment, and the challenges of language acquisition.
2026-08-29
"If you don't fit in, you will be the foreigner forever": a Swiss life in Tagawa
Roland from Switzerland built his home in Tagawa, Fukuoka, where he now lives. He shares his experiences living in a different culture, discussing community, language, work culture, and cost of living, while emphasizing the crucial lesson for living in Japan: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
2026-08-26
Miki's 8 Years in Fukuoka, from Korea
Eight years in Fukuoka. Korean grammar is close enough to Japanese that the way in feels easy, and close enough to be a trap. Miki on Korean-style Japanese, on jeong, and on why Japan's coolness turned out to suit her.
2026-08-22
Beach yoga in Fukuoka
Through a beach yoga session in Fukuoka, you'll learn how to detach from digital overload and reset both your mind and body.
2026-08-14
Fukuoka International Meetup
Yoshi Takada organized an international night walk near Fukuoka Tower with participants from 8 different countries, highlighting the growth that comes from cross-cultural connections outside usual circles. He plans to create more such events in Fukuoka.
2026-08-07
What does 外人 or 外国人 mean to you?
A naturalized Japanese friend still gets called 外人. What separates 外人 from 外国人, and why her real answer had nothing to do with picking the right word.
2026-07-20
Where do you belong?
Belonging is not about geography. On a panel in Fukuoka, three people with very different timelines kept circling back to the same thing: whether you can bring your real self into a room and still be understood.
2026-07-11
Another IDM in the book!
A recent International Dunkman Meetup brought together people from various countries in Fukuoka, showcasing the diverse life there. The next event is on August 1st, and interested individuals are invited to DM for participation.
2026-06-29
I did it!
Yoshi Takada has successfully completed the mandatory training and passed the final examination for an official recruitment license. This marks a significant step towards its acquisition, though further regulatory steps are still required.
2026-06-27
Come join us!
You will discover the unique value of in-person meetups for career and life building in Japan, and learn how to join our Fukuoka community for unexpected connections.
2026-06-13
1st IDM!
The first IDM was a great success. If you're in Fukuoka and want to connect with international people, follow and send a DM!
2026-05-21
Trust the process!
Yoshi Takada shares his personal philosophy of knowing "I can do this" when facing new challenges. He encourages readers considering working in Japan, learning Japanese, or building a global team to trust their innate capabilities and embrace the unknown.