Hello, Yaponiya

06/05/2026

We’ve finished the selection process for Batch 8!

This time, we selected 8 participants — and they’ll begin their Japanese language course already in May.

As always, the competition for spots was very high! We received a lot of strong applications, and honestly, there were many great candidates we simply couldn’t fit into one batch.

📩 Results are already in your inbox. If you don’t see them there, make sure to check your spam folder too!

And to everyone who applied: thank you! We read every application carefully and appreciate the time and effort behind each one!

💡The next chance to join the program is planned for late 2026. We’ll share details closer to the launch.

28/04/2026

🇯🇵 Two more engineers from Batch 6 have arrived in Izumo!

Meet Nikita, Full-Stack Developer (Go + Vue), working on a gaming platform around online games and digital entertainment.

And Viktor, Backend Developer (Java), who joined a Japanese tech company focused on large-scale flash-sale e-commerce and curated online shopping.

And yes, yesterday the guys had a very Japanese onboarding moment: a local police officer came by to say hello 👮‍♂️

It’s part of the standard settling-in process here. He explained how safety works in the area — who to call, what to do during natural disasters, and where to bring lost items. He also made sure they knew him personally, so they’d feel comfortable asking for help if anything happens.

Welcome to Izumo 🎉

03/04/2026

So, what does it actually cost to live in a small town in Japan?💰

Maria and Alexander, who moved to Izumo last May through our program, shared a rough breakdown of their monthly expenses — you can see it in the video (their blog is in Russian, and so is the video — but we’ve added English subtitles in the comments).

Like anywhere, it really depends on your lifestyle and the city you’re in. Some months are quite low-key, others are more expensive (especially when you’re buying things for your home or clothes). Day-to-day costs like utilities, groceries, and transport also change from month to month.

26/03/2026

Nikita from Batch 6 shared his feedback on the program, and we’re excited to share it with you too 👇

"Why Japan?

It all started with anime. I got hooked on one series that ended out of nowhere — no continuation, nothing. But it had a light novel as the original source… and no translations.

So the only option was to learn Japanese.

That was five years ago. Today I’m around N3, and somewhere along the way, Japan stopped being just an interest and became a real goal.

I discovered hello, yaponiya! through online communities. When I saw Batch 6 was open, I applied — and got accepted a month later."

Now Nikita is preparing for his move to Izumo, and in just a couple of weeks we’ll be welcoming him here 🇯🇵

👉 Read the full story in the cards below 👇

23/03/2026

⏰ Batch 8 closes tomorrow

Submit your application before March 24, 17:00 (GMT+3)

Apply now 👉👉👉 https://airtable.com/appmvFn0bjqbn7OX8/shrdJhzks3fXmno3y

What happens after you apply?
We take time to review every application manually. If your profile matches, we’ll invite you for a short intro call — a chance to get to know each other and go through the program in more detail. After that, we form the final group.

📣 Final results will be shared by late April / early May, with the Japanese course starting in May.

All updates will be sent by email — don’t forget to check your inbox 👀

18/03/2026

What does a normal workday in Japan look like

When people imagine working in Japan, they often think in stereotypes. But once you look at real people’s routines, the picture becomes much more nuanced.

So we asked 4 developers from our community in Japan to share what a regular workday looks like for them.

📍Dmitry, Tokyo
Works at Toyota’s software and mobility company, building next-generation technology, platforms, and tools for future mobility.

I work in a hybrid format: 3 days a week in the office and 2 remotely. Officially, my working hours are from 8–9 a.m. to 5–6 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

In reality, things are much more flexible. Some people come in at 11 and leave at 8, others work remotely more often. It probably depends on the team lead or manager, but overall it is easy to agree on a different schedule or a different number of office days per week.

We also have a time tracker, but most people just fill it in afterwards for several days at once, so nobody seems too stressed about it. I personally prefer to log my hours properly as I go 🙂

I work in a toolchain team. Our job is to provide development tools for other teams and, potentially, external users as well.

Most of my work is sprint-based, and I do not have that many meetings — usually around 1–2 hours a day. My routine is fairly structured: first I check work chats and emails, then help users with support requests, do code reviews, and only after that move on to my own tasks.

I work in an international company, so people come from different countries and English is the working language. That makes the environment quite comfortable. At the same time, 4 out of 6 people on my team are from Russia, so in daily communication I actually speak Russian more often than English.

The atmosphere feels comfortable and trust-based. I can take ownership of decisions and show initiative, but at the same time there is no pressure to constantly prove myself. I can simply do my work well, and that is completely fine too.

Overtime is not really part of the culture here, so I have enough time for hobbies and life outside work. And if someone finishes earlier and leaves earlier, that is not treated as a problem either.

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The rest of the stories — including remote work in Fukuoka and two very different developer routines in Izumo — are here:

Click here 👉 https://telegra.ph/What-does-a-normal-workday-in-Japan-look-like-03-18

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📌 Working in Japan can look very different from person to person — just like anywhere else, it depends on your company, your projects, your city, and the kind of life you build around work.

💬 What is the work culture like in your company right now?

24/02/2026

🇯🇵 Ready for Japan? Batch 8 Is Now Live!
The deadline to join is March 24.

If your goal for 2026 includes working as a developer in Japan, now’s the time to apply!

We’ve already helped 40+ engineers relocate with their families, with most settling in Shimane Prefecture. Some joined with N5, some with higher levels — Japanese isn’t a barrier if you’re committed to learning it seriously.

● Here’s how the process works:
We review your application, schedule an intro call, talk through your goals and experience, assess your English language level, and decide together whether this path makes sense.

● And what do you get if selected:
• You’ll go through a 6-month online Japanese course, receive CV and interview preparation, and get direct access to job opportunities across Japan.
• You’ll also take part in a 2-week tech & culture trip to Japan (Izumo), with your accommodation fully covered. During this immersion, you’ll explore Japan’s regional tech scene, meet CTOs, CEOs, and engineers, and join a hackathon where you pitch real-world projects to potential employers.
• And once you receive an offer, we support you through the relocation process, from visa paperwork to settling into daily life.

📍Please note: employment isn’t guaranteed. Final decisions always depend on your interviews and company fit. Our role is to prepare you, support you, and connect you with real opportunities.

Who can apply:
Developers with a university degree in IT, mathematics, or physics, English level B2 or higher, and relevant work experience. If you don’t hold a degree, you can still apply with an ITPEC certificate or 10+ years of official IT work experience.

Joining our program is free!
Apply now 👉👉👉 https://airtable.com/appmvFn0bjqbn7OX8/shrdJhzks3fXmno3y

We process applications manually, so expect a confirmation email within 1–2 business days.

Got a friend who loves Japan and writes code? This might be for them! Pass it on 🔥

17/02/2026

This video about Izumo was created by Shoji Goto — a filmmaker and one of the SAMI People 🎥

Here’s the English version of what’s being said in the video:

"What really matters can’t be seen with your eyes.
When you give your time to something, it slowly becomes precious.

Don’t forget that.
The things you truly care about are the things you’ve connected with — heart to heart.

The stars feel beautiful because somewhere out there, hidden from sight, there’s a single flower.

Thank you.

Whether it’s the stars, or my old home…
the beauty doesn’t come from what you can see.
It comes from what you can’t.

You have to look with your heart.

And when you let your heart connect, you might end up crying a little.

Because the most important things are invisible.

At night, you look up at the stars.
Everyone has their own stars.
And you… you know the laughter of the stars that are yours.

For me, this is the most beautiful view in the world —
and the one I treasure the most:
my hometown, Izumo."

あなたにとって、ほんとうに大切なものは何ですか。家族、仕事、自然、伝統、地域の絆、仲間、ワークライフバランス・・・出雲には、神々の時代から大切にされてきた文化や暮らし、風景があります。あなたにとって、...

17/02/2026

When Makino-san, our founder, first started talking about connecting global IT talent with regional Japan, the vision felt bold and long-term 🌏

He imagined engineers coming to Izumo and becoming part of everyday local life — not only working here, but sharing space, culture, conversations, and responsibility with the community around them.

Today, if you walk into SAMI House — a renovated traditional Japanese home turned into an international coliving space — you might hear three languages in the kitchen. Someone is debating architecture patterns over tea. A local calligraphy teacher is explaining the meaning behind the kanji on the house signboard.

Near Izumo Station, a coworking space became a meeting point for companies exploring the region. Hackathons turned into real hiring decisions and helped regional Japanese companies see international teams in a new way. Researchers from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies joined the journey, turning the idea of multicultural coexistence into something practical and lived.

▶️ This is how the idea of SAMI People took shape — through people choosing to trust one another.

• There’s the engineer from our very first hello, yaponiya! pilot batch who now shares his experience and helps others understand whether regional life in Izumo feels right for them.
• There are developers who brought real local challenges into hackathons and stayed as long-term collaborators.
• Local residents who guided newcomers through everyday cultural details no relocation checklist can teach.
• Japanese partners who chose to launch projects here because they believed in where the community was heading.

Although Izumo is the starting point,
the community extends far beyond it.

It stretches between Tokyo and regional towns, across Japan and overseas, connecting companies, universities, engineers, and families — people who care about building bridges between Japan and the world.

SAMI People continues to grow quietly — through contribution, trust, and the decision to build something meaningful together.

For those considering hello, yaponiya!, this is the wider context. Relocation is one chapter. Becoming part of a living, evolving community is something deeper and longer-term. ​​If this speaks to you, you may already feel that pull!

🗓 On February 24, we launch Batch 8 of the program. Don’t miss the announcement — and make sure to apply!

04/02/2026

Not every tech career move is about writing code in a product team.

We usually talk about developers joining Japanese companies — but Japan’s tech ecosystem also needs people who teach, mentor, and grow local talent, especially in the regions.

Today we’re sharing an IT teaching role in Shimane that combines education, real tech skills, and close work with the local community.

💼 IT Instructor (Full-time)
MAYA Gakuen / Shimane IT Design College
📍 Okuizumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
The only design & IT college in the region

● Responsibilities
• Teach IT-related subjects, including programming in C
• Plan, review, and update curricula
• Act as a homeroom teacher: student support, class meetings, communication with parents and international students
• Support students with learning progress and job placement
• Handle academic documentation
• Take part in school events and admissions activities
• Collaborate with companies to support graduates’ future employment

● Requirements
• Education: vocational school or higher
• IT experience: 3+ years, including development management experience
• Experience teaching programming languages (e.g. C)
• Bonus: experience in game development (including student projects)
• Language: Japanese N2 or higher (English is a plus)
• Standard Japanese driver’s license required

● Conditions
• Permanent full-time position
• Probation period: 6 months (same conditions)
• Salary: ¥250,000–¥380,000 / month
*includes fixed overtime (up to 22 hours)
• Bonuses: twice a year (around 2 months’ salary total)
• Transportation allowance: up to ¥30,000 / month
• Working hours: 08:45–17:00 (60 min break)
• Overtime: around 10 hours/month
• Days off: weekends + national holidays
• Paid leave: 10 days after 6 months
• Full social insurance
• Housing support available

▶️ Have questions or want to apply?
Send us a DM on Facebook.