From a senior foreigner working in a construction company
one thing

I came to Japan in 2019 and became Specified Skilled Worker (i) in 2022.
I saw the cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji on TV and thought to myself, "I want to go to Japan!" That's what got me started working at my current company.

Japanese is difficult, but I'm trying to learn the words by watching anime.
My favorite anime are One Piece, Naruto, and Captain Tsubasa.
I'm not good at studying, but if I like anime I can keep going, so I recommend it.

We love soccer, and on our days off we all get together and practice.
My favorite team is Real Madrid and I'm a big fan of Ronaldo.
Right now I'm just training, but I'd like to play matches in the future.
If you'd like, would you like to come and play soccer with me in Japan?

I have been in Japan for over 10 years.
I also worked in rebar construction in China, but the types of rebar used in China and Japan are different. I had to relearn the names, but the work I did was almost the same, so it wasn't that difficult.

The good thing about becoming Specified Skills is that my salary is higher than that of a technical intern trainee and I can learn advanced skills.
My boss and coworkers are very supportive of my work, daily life, and Japanese language studies, so I am living a very comfortable life.

Japanese uses kanji, so I think it is easy for Chinese people to read and write it. I was able to pass the first-class technician exam thanks to the president's help in studying.
My next goal is to become Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

I came to Japan because I wanted to learn how Japanese people work.
It all started when I was 17 years old and a friend told me about Japan. We talked about going to Japan together and I was able to make my dream come true.

I talk to my family in Indonesia on the phone every day.
They support my work in Japan, and even when things get tough at work, I do my best thinking about my family.

My fondest memory at work is when, when I had just started working, my senior colleagues kindly taught me until I was able to do the job.
Whenever there was something I didn't understand, he would explain it to me in a very easy-to-understand way, saying, "Agus, when you do this, then do this," so I've now been able to master the basics of the job.

In Indonesia, many people aspire to work in Japan.
I am one of them, and I have always wanted to live and work in Japan someday.
I am happy that this dream has come true.

Work was going well and I was involved in the construction of a 38-story building in Tokyo.
We worked hard, learning everything from tying the rebar to assembling the slabs.
I'm proud to have been involved in such a large project, and I think my family is happy too.

On my days off, I go to Shibuya or Shinjuku to eat.
I've also been to Osaka and Nagoya, and the most fun I've had so far has been to Universal Studios Japan.
Roller coasters are so much fun, I would encourage everyone to try them.

The best thing about working in Japan now is having so many friends.
I work together with someone who is also from Indonesia, so we help each other out when we don't understand something about work.

My twin brothers have also come to Japan and work as welders in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
They are good friends and keep in touch often, talking about their troubles and encouraging each other, so they are a comfort to each other.

Badminton is a popular sport in Indonesia, and I play it as a hobby.
There are people in Japan who play badminton as well, and we get together after work or on weekends to practice badminton.
Thanks to this, I have been able to make more Japanese friends and I am very happy.

Indonesia and Japan have different customs and cultures.
The first thing that surprised me when I came to Japan was the toilet. In Indonesia, we wash our hands with water, but in Japan, we usually wipe with paper, so it took me a while to get used to it.
I'm currently using a Washlet.

The CEO is very kind and explains the job in an easy to understand way.
When I told them I liked dancing, they took me to a dance club. I had so much fun dancing with everyone and it's a very fond memory.

On my days off, I enjoy going cycling and visiting other prefectures to soak in hot springs.
I also love motorcycles, and my dream is to return to Indonesia and open a motorcycle shop.
I would like to work in Japan for a little while longer and save some money.

Before coming to Japan, I worked in construction in Africa for seven years. Compared to China and Africa, many people in Japan live good lives, there are many cars and trains, and it is a very easy place to live.

The way of working in Japan is different from other countries, and there are strict rules. It is difficult to remember the rules, but thanks to them you can work safely. Pensions and allowances are also good, and the working environment is also good.

Japanese people are polite, not only at work but also when I go shopping at a supermarket, the store clerks will greet me with "Good morning" and "Hello." I want to work in Japan for a long time, so I worked hard and got a first-class technician license. One day I would like to become independent and run my own company in this country.

Before coming to Japan, I searched for information about Japan and Japanese people, and found that they are "serious by nature" and "strict at work." However, when I actually started working here, I found that Japanese people also laugh and chat during breaks, and it is a lot of fun to be around them.

The work was hard at first, but I got used to it in my second and third years. Also, as I learned the work, my seniors started to acknowledge my skills, and now I enjoy my work.

However, I think dialects are difficult. Since I have only studied standard Japanese, the Sanuki dialect used in Kagawa Prefecture is spoken so quickly that I could hardly understand it. It may take some time to get used to it, but once you learn it, it's fine, so don't worry.

What surprised me when I came to Japan was how polite and punctual the Japanese are. If I was careless with my greetings or late, I would be severely reprimanded. But they taught me what to do, so I quickly learned the lesson.

Compared to Vietnam, the scenery and air in Japan are cleaner, so I go on motorcycle tours on my days off. I've even been to the famous Naruto Strait with friends, and it's a great memory. My current goal is to get a large motorcycle license and ride a Honda motorcycle.

My dream is to go back to Vietnam someday and build a house, and I want to marry my girlfriend who is waiting for me in Vietnam. To achieve that, I want to work hard at my current company and earn money.

When I first came to Japan and started working, I hardly understood any Japanese, so when I was being taught, I felt like I was being scolded no matter what was said, and I was very anxious.

In order to learn Japanese quickly, I would take notes of any words I didn't understand when speaking with Japanese people, and then look them up and study them when I got home. Once I was able to speak a little, I was able to understand what was being said at work, which made me feel more at ease at work, which was great.

Now that I have Specified Skilled Worker (ii), I have obtained a driver's license and was able to buy my own car. I also go for drives on my days off. Japan has many beautiful places, so I would like to travel more in the future.

I don't like studying, so I started learning Japanese by watching YouTube and listening to music. I also talked to a lot of Japanese people at work.

Even if I made mistakes or didn't understand the meaning, I would keep speaking, and when I was told, "That Japanese is wrong," I would ask for immediate explanation. By repeating this process, my Japanese became very good.

Now I'm very happy that I can consult with Japanese people about anything. I can express my opinions and decide what I want to do, so my work is fun and rewarding. Now I want to buy a house in Japan and drive a car. To achieve this, I want to work hard and improve my skills.

My family is the most important thing to me.
I currently have two children in Vietnam, and am working hard in Japan to raise them in a comfortable environment.

One of the best things about working in Japan is going out for drinks with my seniors and coworkers on my days off. It's so relaxing and fun.
I also love Japanese food and am especially looking forward to going to a yakiniku restaurant.

My wife also loves Japan's scenery and culture, so we hope to live in Japan together as a family someday.
In order to obtain permanent residency, you will also need to improve your work skills.

To that end, I am currently studying to become a Level 1 mounting technician.
I definitely want to become Specified Skilled Worker (ii).