Articles
Articles are organized for students, researchers and academics, industry professionals, and readers who need practical explanations of finance, contracts, housing costs, salary, taxes, investing, and everyday systems in Japan.
Students
Guides for international students, prospective graduate students, exchange students, and applicants who want to understand Japanese universities, scholarships, student life, and basic procedures before or after coming to Japan.
A practical guide for international students on why informal pre-screening exists and how to present a clear CV, research interest, and personality before formal application to a Japanese laboratory.
A practical guide for international science and engineering students on how to choose Japanese universities by comparing rankings with laboratory strength, research themes, publications, and supervisor fit.
A practical comparison of Japanese, European, and U.S. universities for science and engineering students, focusing on living conditions, safety, research strengths, costs, and student fit rather than rankings alone.
A practical guide for international students explaining why major regional university cities in Japan can offer a comfortable, functional, and affordable student life without being tied to Tokyo.
A practical guide for international students on how to evaluate a Japanese laboratory’s funding situation, scholarship options, and realistic support before contacting a professor.
A practical guide for international students considering graduate school in Japan, covering master's programs, doctoral programs, research students, supervisors, admissions, and preparation.
A practical introduction to the MEXT Scholarship for prospective graduate students who are considering master's, doctoral, or research student pathways in Japan.
A practical guide for international students on how to contact a Japanese professor before applying to a university, graduate school, or research program in Japan.
Academia
Guides for PhD students, postdocs, researchers, faculty candidates, and academics navigating Japanese laboratories, universities, fellowships, research culture, academic careers, and university-industry collaboration.
A casual guide to ramen around Japanese universities, covering simple campus ramen, more distinctive ramen shops just outside campus, common ramen styles, and practical tips for enjoying them in Japan.
A practical guide for international students, postdocs, and researchers explaining how much English is actually used in Japanese research labs and how to judge whether a specific lab can support English communication.
A practical guide for international students and professionals explaining why Japan is one of the safest choices among major study and work destinations, especially compared with the United States and many European alternatives, while also explaining Japan-specific risks objectively.
A practical guide for researchers comparing national and private universities in Japan, covering research environment, funding, hiring conditions, teaching load, location, and career strategy.
A practical guide for postdoctoral researchers considering a position in Japan, covering contract type, salary, supervisor fit, research environment, visa, insurance, housing, and career planning.
A practical guide for foreign researchers considering academic careers in Japan, covering postdoc positions, faculty roles, tenure-track systems, JREC-IN, Japanese language, funding, teaching, PI independence, and career planning.
A practical guide for academic researchers in Japan explaining university–industry collaboration, joint research, contracts, intellectual property, publication rules, student involvement, confidentiality, and university support offices.
Industry
Guides for engineers, R&D workers, manufacturing professionals, business professionals, and readers interested in Japanese companies, workplace communication, technical careers, and industry systems.
A practical guide for international master’s and doctoral students considering Japanese companies, with a focus on research-based careers, R&D positions, hiring routes, and Japanese-language expectations.
A practical guide for engineers, researchers, and technical professionals writing business emails in Japanese workplaces, covering tone, structure, common phrases, follow-ups, and mistakes to avoid.
A practical guide for researchers, PhD students, postdocs, and academics considering a transition from academia to industry in Japan.
A practical guide for foreign researchers, engineers, and technical professionals who want to understand Japanese R&D culture, decision-making, quality expectations, communication, and industry collaboration.
Finance
Plain-English explanations of salary, taxes, pensions, NISA, banking, credit cards, rental fees, housing costs, employment contracts, mobile contracts, and other practical systems that affect life and work in Japan.
A practical guide for international students, researchers, and professionals on choosing a mobile phone plan in Japan without overpaying for data, calls, device bundles, or unnecessary shop support.
A practical guide for international students, researchers, and professionals on eating well in Japan on a limited budget, using supermarkets, frozen meals, online bulk buying, and everyday restaurants wisely.
A practical finance-focused explanation of recent JST SPRING changes, why their practical impact may be limited, and what applicants should check before relying on SPRING funding.
A practical guide for foreign residents in Japan explaining NISA basics, eligibility, tax benefits, annual limits, investment frameworks, account opening, risks, and points to check before leaving Japan.
A practical guide for foreign professionals in Japan explaining gross salary, take-home pay, income tax, resident tax, social insurance, year-end adjustment, and final tax returns.
A practical guide to Japanese rental terms for foreign residents, explaining shikikin, reikin, cleaning fees, restoration costs, guarantor fees, and what to check before signing a lease.