My Experience

After deciding to change careers, I faced a new challenge: returning to education in my forties. This article follows my journey through the Hello Work screening, preparing for the Polytechnic Center entrance exam, studying mathematics and Japanese again, and the relief of finally receiving my acceptance letter.

After months of uncertainty, legal research, and difficult conversations, I faced the biggest question of all: should I stay and fight for my position, or accept the opportunity to start over?

Discover how unemployed job seekers in Japan can access free vocational training through Polytech Centres and other government-supported programs to gain new skills and start a new career.

As uncertainty grew, I realised I knew very little about Japanese labour law. This article covers the research phase, worker protections, and the first steps toward preparing for an uncertain future.

A personal account of how a long-term career in Japan began to feel uncertain after an ownership change. This first entry explores the quiet warning signs of restructuring, the emotional impact of instability, and the importance of understanding worker protections, labour law, and career options before a crisis begins.