Notes on careers, culture, and building a life in Japan, written from Fukuoka. New pieces go up here first.
Articles
2026-10-02
A stage in Fukuoka, and the numbers behind it
On October 25 learners give speeches in Japanese in Fukuoka. Here is why that stage, and where you choose to live, matters more than the statistics.
2026-10-01
Japanese is not a UN language, and that is worth knowing
At the UN, Japan provides its own interpretation. Nobody at that level is performing fluency, they are making the meaning arrive.
2026-09-28
The chips the leaders talked about are made in Kyushu
JASM in Kumamoto plans more than 3,400 advanced manufacturing jobs, and Kyushu says it does not have enough engineers.
2026-09-28
In Fukuoka, the international students teach
The city foundation runs language classes taught by international students, in six languages. What you brought with you is wanted here.
2026-09-27
Three summits this week, and one table in Fukuoka
Governments met in New York and Washington this week. Six countries sat at one table in Fukuoka. Only one of those you can join.
2026-09-27
Fukuoka answers in 25 languages, for free
Fukuoka City runs a free consultation centre for foreign residents in 25 languages, covering visas, work, hospitals and school.
2026-09-26
The 100 yatai of Fukuoka, and what they do for your Japanese
Fukuoka is the only city in Japan with around 100 night food stalls, and they are the easiest place to use the Japanese you have.
"If you want to live in Japan, go live in Japan": a French graphic designer's first weeks in Fukuoka
Mélissa is from France. Starting in October, she will work in Fukuoka as a graphic designer.
2026-09-22
49.8 billion yen: what the Hawks three-peat means for jobs in Fukuoka
The Hawks won their third straight Pacific League title. Here is why the money it moves matters for people who want to work in Fukuoka.
2026-09-22
Fukuoka: third in the world for short commutes
Fukuoka has one of the shortest commutes of any major city, and the number of foreign professionals working here is rising fast.
2026-09-20
Leaving Japan? You have two years to claim your pension back
The lump-sum withdrawal payment covers up to 60 months, 20.42% is withheld, and taking it ends any totalization with your home country.
2026-09-19
You have 14 days to tell immigration you changed jobs
Japan revoked 1,446 residence statuses in 2025, and 69.1% were for not carrying out the visa's activity for three months.
2026-09-18
From April 2027, unpaid taxes can cost you permanent residency
A draft guideline sets out which cases count as not paying on purpose, and which do not.
2026-09-17
You do not need fluent Japanese to work in Japan
In a survey of 11,568 foreign employees, the most common level of spoken Japanese was joining short everyday conversations, at 24.6%.
2026-09-16
The three fields nobody is talking about
Logistics warehouses, linen supply and resource recycling joined Japan's specified skilled worker list in January. The skills tests do not exist yet and hiring starts around 2027, which is exactly why the gap matters.
2026-09-15
You studied Japanese. Where do you use it?
Among foreign residents studying Japanese, having nowhere to use it moved into the top three problems. Nearly half want to join something locally but do not know what is going on.
2026-09-14
From 2027, the Japanese lessons are the employer's bill
Coverage of ikusei shuro has focused on what it asks of the worker. Almost none of it has covered what it asks of the company, which is a training obligation with the cost attached.
2026-09-13
Before you pay a Japanese language school, check one thing
From March 2029, Japanese language schools need Ministry of Education certification to keep accepting student-visa students. 96 have been certified so far.
2026-09-12
91% are satisfied. 47% have faced discrimination.
The Immigration Services Agency's survey of 8,874 foreign residents found both numbers in the same group. The second most common place discrimination happens is at work.
"Many people view Japan as a location to reinvent themselves, myself included.": what an Oregon founder saw about Japan only after leaving it
Nick is from Oregon. He now lives in Fukuoka, where he runs Japan Remotely, a company that helps people work out how to move to Japan.