We’re getting close to the end of the year, which is when a lot of people start planning: “Can I really make Japan happen next year?”

This week, I wanted to walk through a few things that don’t always get explained clearly: how Japan’s new digital nomad visa actually works, how to handle the self-introduction at the start of a Japanese interview, what 忘年会 says about office culture, and one big change coming to Japan’s foreign worker system in 2027.

Think of this as a quick reality check: what’s possible, what’s overhyped, and what’s changing behind the scenes.

Japan’s new digital nomad visa sounds perfect on paper: work remotely from Japan for up to six months while enjoying life here. It sits under the “Designated Activities” status and lets eligible remote workers live anywhere in the country for a single stay of up to 6 months.

But there are some big catches people miss:

So how should you think about it?

It’s best viewed as a “live test” period: a way to try daily life in Japan while keeping your overseas job. It is not a backdoor to settle here or an easier replacement for a normal work visa. If your long-term goal is employment in Japan, you’ll still need a standard work status (like Engineer/Specialist, Specified Skilled Worker, etc.) later.

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Almost every Japanese interview begins with some version of:
「簡単に自己紹介をお願いします。」

This part should be about one to two minutes. A good self-introduction doesn’t try to cover your whole life story, it gives the interviewer a clear, calm first impression of who you are and how you work.

A simple approach is to introduce your name and where you’re from, then briefly describe your current or most recent role. After that, mention one or two strengths that relate directly to the job, such as communication, teamwork, or handling cross-cultural projects. You can wrap up with a short line about why you’re interested in the company or the role.

For example, you might say that you enjoy coordinating across different backgrounds, or that you want to contribute to a team with a global focus. Keeping the tone relaxed and steady is important, Japanese interviewers aren’t looking for a dramatic performance, just someone who seems reliable, thoughtful, and easy to work with.

If you want to add a little Japanese, something like this is already enough:
「〇〇と申します。前職では△△の業務を担当しており、異なる背景を持つメンバーとの調整を得意としています。」

Short, simple, and confident, that’s all you need for a strong start.

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As December approaches, many companies hold a 忘年会 (bōnenkai) literally, a “forget-the-year gathering.” It’s a year-end drinking party with coworkers where the goal is to forget the stress of the past year and reset for the next one.

A few things to know:

Do you have to drink? No. It’s totally fine to pace yourself, drink soft drinks, or stick to one or two drinks, the important part is showing up and participating.

You’ll learn a lot: which managers are actually funny, which coworkers become more relaxed, and how your team behaves when they’re not in “office mode.” It’s also a good time to say quiet “thank yous” for the year, those small comments can pay off later in your day-to-day work.

Japan is preparing a major change in how it accepts foreign workers. In April 2027, a new residency system called “Employment for Skill Development” (ESD) will start, replacing the long-criticized Technical Intern Training Program.

The idea is to move away from a “cheap trainee labor” model and toward a more skill-based, career-oriented path. Under the new system:

If you’re looking at sectors like hospitality, food service, caregiving, agriculture, or manufacturing, this shift is worth watching. It suggests Japan is slowly moving from “temporary trainees” to longer-term foreign talent it actually wants to keep.

This week’s company is Autify, a Japan-founded startup that builds a no-code, AI-powered test automation platform for software teams. Their product helps companies run automated browser and mobile app testing without needing engineers to write complex scripts, which is a big deal for global dev teams trying to move faster without breaking things.

Why it’s interesting for foreign professionals:

Roles to watch for include:

If you’re coming from a tech, QA, or product background and want to stay close to Japan while still having remote flexibility, Autify is a good example of the kind of company to research. Search for “Autify careers” or check tech job boards that focus on Japan-based remote roles.

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A straightforward weekly list of 10–20 English-friendly jobs in Japan with language tags and visa notes. Made for people who want something simple they can apply to immediately.

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