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From Business Student to Software Engineer in Japan: A Journey of Transformation

Discovering a Passion for Japanese Culture

My journey began as a Vietnamese business student with no tech background, studying economics and finance. During the summer break before my third year, I decided to learn Japanese, drawn to the culture through anime like Naruto and J-dramas. Initially, language school provided a foundation, but I soon found classroom learning too slow. I quit and immersed myself in Japanese content—watching YouTube, pausing scenes to mimic dialogue, and soaking up the language. This self-directed approach helped me master conversational Japanese.

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A Pivotal Internship in Tokyo

My growing fluency led to a marketing internship in Tokyo through AIESEC, a global organization fostering young leadership through international exchange. Spending six months in Shinjuku exceeded my expectations. My Japanese improved significantly, I experienced Japan’s work culture firsthand, and I built lasting friendships. That experience cemented my desire to return to Japan long-term, though I had no clear plan—and certainly no vision of becoming a software engineer.

An Unexpected Entry into Tech

After graduating, I sought a Japan-related job and joined a Japanese tech company in Hanoi, working in PR and communications. My Japanese skills gave me an edge, allowing me to connect with colleagues, including my manager, who spoke no Vietnamese. Casual conversations about career goals led to a surprising opportunity: assisting with IT projects. Starting with simple tasks like translating documents, I soon found myself editing an HTML file—my first coding task was changing text color. From there, I progressed to making buttons work, adding animations, and exploring WordPress and JavaScript.

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Falling in Love with Coding

Coding became addictive. I spent evenings and weekends on tutorials, taking meticulous notes and building my own projects. My first framework, Angular, was a struggle, but switching to React felt like a breakthrough. Working on real projects alongside experienced developers was invaluable. My team trusted me, a beginner, with meaningful tasks and supported my growth by funding books and courses. I also earned JLPT N2 and N1 certifications within six months, boosting my confidence and career prospects. By this point, I was fluent in Vietnamese, English, Japanese, and JavaScript.

Landing a Dream Job in Tokyo

My goal of returning to Tokyo became tangible as my coding skills grew. Positive client feedback and my manager’s support led to an interview with the Tokyo office’s chief of engineering. I passed and received an offer. As a backup, I applied to other tech companies via LinkedIn and secured multiple offers. However, Japan’s border closures delayed my move by 17 months. After persistent waiting, I finally relocated.

Life as a Software Engineer in Tokyo

Now, as a software engineer in Tokyo, I enjoy a flexible lifestyle, mostly working from home with occasional visits to our fancy office in a vibrant neighborhood. The engineer’s life—no rigid schedules, no pressure to stay late—suits me. However, I’ve noticed a downside: reliance on AI tools for work means I sometimes interact more with language models than people. I’m working on balancing this by getting out more, as human connection remains important.

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Embracing Tokyo’s Energy

Tokyo’s buzzing energy never gets old. I love wandering its streets, hopping on random trains to explore, and soaking in the city’s diversity. As a foreigner, I’m constantly discovering new corners of this vast metropolis. Everyday life has its quirks—high taxes sting, and eating out daily risks financial ruin. To stay grounded, I cook simple meals, treating kitchen time as a break from desk life. Evenings often involve low-effort recipes, anime, and intellectual discussions where I nod along, pretending to keep up.

Reflections and Looking Ahead

Transitioning from a business student to a software engineer in Japan was an unexpected journey fueled by curiosity, persistence, and lucky breaks. My story shows that with dedication and an open mind, you can pivot into a completely new field. I’m still adjusting to life here, balancing work-from-home comfort with the need for real-world connections. Tokyo continues to captivate me, and I’m excited to share more of this journey. What’s next? I’d love to hear your ideas!

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