Ket came to Japan in April 2022 and is currently working as technical intern trainee (i) at Pioneer Corporation (Pioneer) Kawagoe Plant in Saitama, Japan, where she is learning to assemble electronic devices. We interviewed her about how she came to Japan as a technical intern trainee, her practical training and life in Japan, and her dreams for the future.

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Preparing to Come to Japan

Q. What made you decide to come to Japan?

I began to think about my career path before I graduated from technical college.  My father’s income was limited, and my younger sister had decided to go to college, which I wanted to pay the tuition for. I wanted to be able to work at a renowned factory with a high salary, which is why I chose technical intern training in Japan. When I spoke to a teacher at my technical college, he recommended a Japanese language school affiliated with a sending organization. I enrolled in that school, studied Japanese for a year and a half, and then found my training company.

Q. What did you think of studying Japanese and the pre-entry orientation at the sending organization?

Studying Japanese was very difficult. I learned from Thai and Japanese teachers using a textbook called “Minna no Nihongo”. Learning from a textbook was sometimes very tiring. The teacher would often have us play games in between studies and everyone in the class would be relaxed. After about one and a half years of studying Japanese, I passed N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

In the pre-entry orientation, I learned about Japanese lifestyle and rules as well as the Japanese language.  I had never been very interested in Japan before, but after learning about it, I became interested in Japan.

Q. What kind of procedures and preparations were involved in getting referred and hired for the training?

Women did not have many choices for their training placements, but I was referred to two places. One of them was an electronics assembly training at Pioneer, which is where I am now. Pioneer is very well known in Thailand, so many people applied to work there.　The teacher only selected 30 trainees out of 100 candidates according to their Japanese language skills and abilities. I was lucky enough to be selected, and after an interview, I was assigned there for training. I was very happy.　The sending organization took care of all the procedures.　All I had to do to prepare for my departure to Japan was to study Japanese as hard as I could.

Q. What were some worries/concerns you had about coming to Japan? What did you look forward to?

This is the first time I ever came to Japan. I was excited for my training at Pioneer. But my mother was concerned about me being away from home for the first time and living in Japan as a foreigner. She seemed a little relieved when she found out that I would be working for Pioneer. I was concerned about my Japanese language skills the most. Even though I studied hard at school, I knew that the Japanese I will use would be different from what I learned and thought it would take some time to get used to it.

Arriving in Japan, Training and Life in Japan

Q. What was your impression of Japan when you arrived here? Was it different from what you expected?

Yes, it was different from my expectation. At first, I thought that Japanese people had a serious look on their faces and had a strict personality. But in fact, when you talk to them, they are very kind, and when you get to know them personally, they are even more friendly and kind.

Q. What did you learn in your post-arrival orientation?

I spent a month learning the Japanese language, the rules of living and training in Japan, and the details of my training at the factory. There were 13 Thai people in the orientation, including myself, and some others from other countries.

Q. Could you tell us about your current training?

I am training to assemble electronic devices for car navigation systems and car audio equipment for cars. I had previously done assembly work for the circuit boards and contents of car audio equipment at Pioneer Corporation in Thailand.

Q. What does your typical workday schedule look like?

Ket’s Typical Workday

Q. What do you enjoy about your training? What are the challenges?

I always find it very interesting and fun to do things I have never done before. But at the same time, it is difficult. I like to try out new things, because I can challenge myself and see if I can do it.  When I don’t understand something in my training, I ask the Japanese group leader for advice.　At first, assembling work took me a long time, but now I am able to do it quickly while also following the rules.

Q. Do you have any difficulties with communication in your company?

At my company, there are Thai, Filipino, and Vietnamese people as well as Japanese people, and we speak in Japanese together. I often learn Japanese from my Filipino seniors.　I can speak basic Japanese now, but when I have to explain complex topics, I write them down on a piece of paper or use gestures so they understand. I still try to study Japanese in my free time using social media and TikTok.

Q. What were some differences between your current workplace and Thailand that surprised you?

I was surprised by how strict the rules are.　For example, we are required to check for static electricity before entering the assembly line, remove dust from our shoes, and wear proper work clothes and hats.

We also must report any objects found during the work to the group leader. I think these rules are much stricter than in Thailand.

Sinthet Ketmani / Photo: Provided by Sinthet

Q.  What do you do on your days off?

On weekends, I get up around 9:00 a.m. and do laundry, clean, shop for groceries, and watch movies.  I would like to travel around Japan if I had the money.

Q. How do you like living in Japan?  Do you have any problems?

I had trouble getting used to separating garbage.  I was told that I could not live in Japan without it, so I did my best to learn it. I was also afraid to take the trains when I first came to Japan because they are complicated and hard to navigate. However, one of the things I enjoy about living in Japan is that I can now eat Japanese food.  At first, I could not adjust to Japanese food, and for a month I ate Thai food that I brought with me. Now I can enjoy Japanese food, except for raw fish. 

Q. Have you made friends in Japan?

I know everyone in my company. I can say that I am friends with my Vietnamese and Filipino coworkers. One friend I studied with in Thailand is now in Osaka, and I went to see her once. She had lost weight after coming to Japan and it worried me. I, on the other hand, gained weight after coming to Japan. (laughs)

Sinthet Ketmani / Photo: Provided by Sinthe

Future Goals

Q. How did you do on your first-year trade skills test?

I just took the basic level exam. I worked on the practice test every day after work to prepare for the exam. It was difficult because I had to take the test in Japanese, but the technical test was fairly easy.  I am looking forward to my results.

Q. What are your future plans, goals, and dreams?

I had planned to stay in Japan for 3 years, but I like Pioneer so much that I am hoping to change my status of residence from technical intern training to specified skilled worker and continue working at this company for 5 or 10 years if possible. I would like to stay in Japan as long as possible and challenge myself to new things.

Q. Do you have any advice for people who would like to work in Japan as a technical intern trainee or will come to Japan in the future?

Study Japanese as hard as you can. If you cannot speak Japanese, it will be very difficult to live here. But if you understand Japanese, there is nothing to be afraid of, and you can understand everything about living in Japan and about technical intern training rules. Your life in Japan will be more enjoyable.　Good luck.

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About the Foreign Technical Intern Training System (To all technical intern trainees and those who will become technical intern trainees)｜Immigration Services Agency