Employee Spotlights
L.Y.
Joined as a new graduate in 2024
How was the process of moving and settling into Japan?
- It will be a lie if I say there was no hassle moving and settling into Japan as leaving where one`s feel most comfortable at to somewhere completely new will always be challenging. This would`ve been much difficult if I didn’t have the support from ID Group where they helped find place to live, made connection with Mizuho bank to open bank account and more. I did have struggle making friends and/or conveying messages to colleagues due to lack of my ability to speak Japanese, but because most people I met here in ID Group, are very understandable of that and have never made me feel ashamed of it. Because of that, I was able to settle in my new life in Japan quite quickly.
Have there been any differences between your expectations of living in Japan and your actual experience?
-People who heard how Japanese company is like on the internet had made me worried but fortunately, This never happened to me in my department.I only overwork when I feel the need and still get to finish work and leave even when senior members are still working.
What is your average workday like?
- I can choose my workday schedule and because I want to avoid the busy commuting time on train, I start working at 7:00AM and finish at 3:30PM.Usually do a quick Scrum with every team members every morning to report what they did yesterday and what they will be doing today.Once work is done, I usually have 5 hours to spend before I go to sleep.
How do you normally spend your days off?
- During my days off, Its either I go out and explore a cafe/izakaya with my friends or play in a band as I started to learn to play bass as the band anime like `K-ON` or `Bocchi the Rock!` inspired me to form a band in Japan.
Daiki Jake Shinoda
Joined as a new graduate in 2024How was the process of moving and settling in Japan?
The process was a little overwhelming and exciting at the same time. There are some documents that I needed to take care of at the start, but knowing that I was about to start my new journey in Japan made it all worth it. There were some aspects of Japan and the culture that I had to get accustomed to as I was settling in, but overall, Japan has been a very good fit for me and I've enjoyed my time here since.
Have there been any differences between your expectations of living in Japan and your actual experience?
There has, but in positive ways. One thing I was a little worried about was the Japanese work culture. I thought work conditions would be rough and overtime was an automatic. I also had other concerns about my identity since I'm a Japanese American, but ID has a very work-friendly environment and I was able to fit in fairly quickly and comfortably. My co-workers are very understanding and supportive despite my limited Japanese skills and they are willing to take some time off their hands to make sure that I am comfortable and to help me when I need it. The work culture here exceeded my expectations and I am fortunate to be a part of it.
What is your average workday like?
I typically enter the office at around 8:45 to get situated before the day starts. For majority of the day, I am working on coding projects for the company and will have a meeting checking my status and updates on the overall project as well. For lunch, I usually get together with a few of my coworkers and we grab food at a nearby restaurant for about an hour. Then, come right back to my desk and work on code until the clock hits 5:30.
How do you normally spend your days off?On my days off, I've been trying to stay active, so I either go to the gym, play flag football, or hit the driving range. I also meet up with friends from college or co-workers from my class and go get a few drinks as well. Other than that, I try to explore different cities within Tokyo to be able to fully enjoy my Japanese living experience!
ALEXANDER KHLOPENKOV
Joined as a new graduate in 2019How was the process of moving and settling into Japan?
Overall, the process of moving and setting into Japan was not too difficult for me since I already new the language quite well when I moved. I was able to get a sim card, register my residency, open a bank account, and get any other related paperwork completed within a week after my arrival.
Have there been any differences between your expectations of living in Japan and your actual experience?
The biggest difference from my expectations is that the work culture at ID differs significantly from the stereotypical Japanese work culture that people in the West assume to be true (extremely long work hours and strict hierarchical rules). In reality, Japan as a whole is changing rapidly in response to falling birthrates to allow for much greater flexibility in work hours, and ID especially has a much more open atmosphere that encourages younger employees to share their thoughts about how they think the company should do business.·
What is your average workday like?
My average workday starts with me arriving to our office in central Tokyo at 9 am, and taking a few minutes to check my email at my desk. From there it varies significantly depending on what I'm working on at that particular time, but I would say I spend half of my work hours on various meetings, both internally and with customers, and the other half working on my own—mostly writing emails and preparing documents ranging from quotes for future customers to technical documentation. Since my job is in pre-sales, rather than spend all day at the office, I often visit customers in the Tokyo area to promote our products and discuss how they might meet their needs. My workday typically ends at 5:30 pm, but occasionally I work an extra hour or so if I have something urgent to do.
How do you normally spend your days off?
I think one of the most attractive aspects of Japan is its natural beauty, which is why on my days off I like to take day trips to the various mountains near Tokyo. It also allows me to reset after a busy week.It's really easy to get around in Japan on public transit, which means you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo without a car.
Yao Zhao
Joined as a new graduate in 2018How was the process of moving and settling into Japan?
I was pretty smooth for me since the company offers dormitory. It is actually hard for foreigner to find a rent house in Japan according to their policies.Also, one more hard thing for foreigner is to get a Japan credit card.(which is necessary since some website only accept credit card with domestic billing address)Our company has a cooperation credit card which makes things a lot easier.
Have there been any differences between your expectations of living in Japan and your actual experience?
As for me, I don't really feel the gap between my expectations and actual experience.
It might because I am from China where sharing the similar culture background with Japan.·What is your average workday like? After corona, we switched to wfm mainly. For now I go to company twice a week for general meeting, where we share our development process. Also, we are using flexible worktime system. I usually wake up around 9am, start working from 10am to 7pm.
How do you normally spend your days off?
There are tons of events in Tokyo. I usually go the art exhibitions and quiz solving events(which you can actually travel around the city) on my weekends.
Hamza Ahmed
Joined as a new graduate in 2017How was the process of moving and settling into Japan?
It was relatively smooth as the company offers dormitory, and assists with making a bank account and your very own stamp. The only difficulty was with talking on the phone with water and electric people, they talk really fast! It also took me a few weeks to get used to the crowded trains of Tokyo, but after a month or two, I would say that I was able to settle with little issue.
Have there been any differences between your expectations of living in Japan and your actual experience?
I have visited Japan before living there, so I would say my expectation was in line with reality. That being said, I am always surprised by the amount of activity that's happening in Tokyo, and would say I was barely bored during my time there.
What is your average workday like?
Currently, I work at the Boston office for ID. My workday is generally from 9am to 5:30pm, and we have 2 days work from home, and 3 days at the office. We have morning meetings where we share the tasks we need to perform and proceed to work on it throughout the day. Since we are located in Boston, we would have late nights or early morning meetings with our team in Japan as well, so learning how to manage your time becomes essential. At ID America, I do research and write reports about tech trends in the US.
How do you normally spend your days off?
It really varies, either hanging out with friends, playing games, or reading books. If I had people visiting, I would show them around Boston at the usual places (Harvard, MIT, MFA). These days I am trying to learn French!
How did you end up working in Boston?
After working for about a year and a half in Tokyo, the company needed someone to work at their Boston location. At the time, it was difficult for Japanese nationals to obtain a visa, so I, being an American passport holder, was chosen for the position. I was also curious about working in the United States, so I decided to take the opportunity and move here.
What is work like at ID America?
It varies, but it’s very exciting. During my time here, I’ve been involved in the recruiting process, attended multiple tech events, developed prototypes, and networked with other industry professionals. I still use Japanese regularly, as the office language is Japanese, and many emails and reports are written in Japanese. There are also a large number of Japanese companies here, so I frequently speak Japanese even in Boston. Additionally, I can return to Japan once a year, which allows me to maintain the connections I built while working there.
What is the difference between working in Japan and the US?
I worked in Japan for a year and a half as a network engineer, where my role involved tasks like analyzing network maps and reconfiguring systems. My work in Japan was highly specialized, whereas my role in the US is much broader, requiring me to focus on a variety of areas. This shift has pushed me to think more about the bigger picture and consider what would benefit departments on a larger scale rather than just individual teams. The difference in company mindsets between Japan and the US was also a valuable learning experience, helping me develop a more objective perspective on how businesses operate.