After literally years of gathering materials and many full days of writing work, I’ve finally published my page on technical and business Japanese for software professionals (code monkeys) looking for a job in Japan or already working in Japanese companies or with Japanese clients who want to improve their programming Japanese.
The page consists of basically three main parts: Essential Japanese programming vocabulary, Expressions for communicating technical issues in Japanese (with a Part II), and A look at a Japanese software specification. They’re based on material I’ve gathered during my years working in Japan, mostly in completely disorganized, scattered text files, so collecting and choosing the useful bits of it for this page was more work than it should have been…
Actually, I first got the idea of writing a “Japanese for Programmers” book some time ago when talking with a former colleague. The idea was that there are so many especially Indian software developers working in Japan, but there are as yet no books aimed specifically at this segment, and there should be a huge market.
Anyway, I’m an avid reader of Seth Godin’s blog, and Seth is the guy behind Squidoo as well, so I naturally stumbled upon it. I gave it a go, and it’s actually a really fun and easy way to create modern, stylish, SEO’d web pages without having to bother with the technical issues.
And then in last month’s search queries used to find my site I saw “japanese speaking programming“, and that finally got me going to do something with my Japanese for Programmers idea – I mean people are searching for it, and they’re already finding my site from it (there’s no “Japanese for Programmers” site on the net anyhow!), despite me not specifically covering that topic, so it seems everything falls into place. And thus the Japanese for Programmers Squidoo “lens” was born!
So I hope it’ll get lots of readers and comments. I still have loads more material, so if it gets popular I might do a follow up. 
Here’s the URL again:
http://www.squidoo.com/japanese-for-programmers
Hi Henrik, its interesting that I found your blog as I am a software engineering graduate myself with a bit of interest in learning Japanese myself (I'm Korean so might have an advantage or two learning Japanese).
Would you have any kind idea what kind of demand there is for developers with command of both English and Japanese? Also in general, if I were to go for some big companies, say Google, would Japanese work to my advantage significantly (probably better to ask that to their HR department I know
just wondering if you can speak from experience on that one) I'm probably much younger than you.
Hi Sean,
There is a great demand for programmers in Japan, especially ones who can speak English as well as Japanese. If you also speak Korean, I imagine that would open even more doors. For some reason there doesn't seem to be many good Japanese software engineers, and as you might know English skills are pretty abysmal due to a poor educational system and some nationalism on top of that.
So yeah, go for it. As you mention Google, Japanese skills won't get you far there. Neither will experience or other skills, since they're looking for people who have memorized the data structures and algorithm book from university, so if you're a recent graduate that might be a good place to start anyway. But if you want to use and improve your Japanese you'll have to do some time in a Japanese company. There are some decent ones too so don't worry.
Hey, nice blog, out of curiosity what is it like working as a software developer in Japan? Do you put in really long hours? Do you find free time? I’m just curious, I recently graduated with a computer science degree in the United States and I’m currently working as a software developer here. Having studied abroad in Japan I wish to go work there for a bit once I improve my Japanese and get more experience (I can also speak Russian and French). Thanks!
art, I think it depends a lot on the company you’re working with. There are really sweet positions available at foreign companies for instance, and also sweatshop-type jobs at local Japanese software companies or in-house software development, and then everything in between. In general, I think you have to work a bit longer hour here than in the West, and there’s also the commute. On the plus side, the food is good and Tokyo is a really nice city!
Hi Henrik,
I found your squidoo page, the vocab on their is solid gold. If you wrote a book on programmer Japanese I would buy it.
I’m approaching 2kyu level in Japanese and can speak quite fluently, and I’m planning to move back to Japan in a couple of years, with my 1kyu in hand if possible. By then I’ll have around five years of web app development experience in Ruby/PHP.
Whats the job situation like in Japan for web developers? I notice you’ve got a lot of different technologies listed on your CV. Do you think experience in a lower level programming language (C/C++) is a barrier to entry?
Hi Ali,
I’m glad you like the Squidoo page. I’m going to expand it soon so you might want to check back in a while.
I think if you have 1kyu and know how to program (even much better if you have experience working with it) in any language you’ll be able to find a job in Japan. The job market is starting to pick up again now after the worst part of the recession is over.
I don’t know about web developers explicitly but I see positions posted every once in a while. I don’t think you need experience in C/C++ but those jobs may pay better. Although they are most often less fun too I think.
Interesting post, and great follow up. Are there other languages that have this same opportunity? If so, which ones, if you know. I speak dutch and I am getting spanish, any guidance?
Gday Armida Warneka here. Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss at http://henrikfalck.com/blog/2009/04/japanese-for-programmers-and-software.html and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting at http://henrikfalck.com/blog/2009/04/japanese-for-programmers-and-software.html! I actually enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a nice weekend!
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