その他

Fintechにおいて重要な4つの先端IT技術と求人需要

世界はもちろん、日本でも注目を集めるFintech(フィンテック)。今回の記事では、外国人ITエンジニアの転職エージェント GTalnetが、Fintech(フィンテック)に関連する4つの先端IT技術と各技術に対する求人需要をまとめました。Fintech(フィンテック)において重要な4つの先端IT技術今回の記事ではFintech(フィンテック)において、以下の重要な4つの先端IT技術について取り上げたいと思いいます。AI・ビッグデータブロックチェーンIoT生体認証それでは、各技術に関して現在の求人需要も踏まえて1つ1つ説明していきたいと思います。AI・ビッグデータ株価の情報、経済指数、個人の金融情報などの大量なデータを利用し、クレジットカードや融資の与信審査などにビッグデータの技術が応用されている事例が多く挙げられます。ビッグデータが処理可能なクラウドサーバーや分散処理システム等によりデータ分析のコストが大幅に低下、データの収集や変換もテキストマイニング技術や自然言語処理技術などを用いることで、大量のデータを収集・処理できるようになっています。そして、2010年前後に開発されたディープラーニング技術によりAIの性能が飛躍的に向上し、ビッグデータを使って自動的に金融指標の分析や株の売買、窓口業務の自動化など金融業界の様々な領域でAIの活用が始まっています。それに伴い、銀行等では人がやっていた業務がAIに取って代わられると言われており、各銀行で大きなリストが今後始まっていくと言われており、IT企業に変化できない銀行は淘汰されると言われています。AI・ビッグデータの求人需要実際、大手保険会社やクレジットカード会社などでデータエンジニアやデータサイエンティストなどの求人が増加してきており、ビッグデータを有効活用することで、各社ともに業務効率化や新サービスの創造を図っています。また各銀行においてもITエンジニアの採用に力を入れており、どの金融企業もフィンテック企業に変化することを視野に入れています。しかし、日本国内ではビッグデータやAI関連の人材は不足しています。日本で仕事をするときは、日本語が必要とされるケースが多いですが、一部の日系保険会社では日本語不要で採用をしたりもしており、外国人のITエンジニアが活躍できるフィールドが多くあります。ブロックチェーンフィンテックの技術として一番最初に思い浮かぶ言葉が「ブロックチェーン」と言っても過言ではないでしょう。より専門的な用語で表現すると、「分散型台帳技術」とも呼ばれています。中央集権型の管理ではなく、世界中にあるコンピューターにデータを分散させ、破壊・改ざんなどのリスクが低くなるように作られたネットワークシステムとなります。通常、銀行にお金を預けた場合、取引の記録は銀行の中央サーバーによって管理されますが、ブロックチェーン技術を使えば、金融機関などの中央管理を必要とせず、取引情報をネットワーク上に分散して保存ができるようになります。また、暗号化技術により利用者は許可された項目しか参照できず、個人情報の流出リスクも非常に少ないです。すべての記録はコンピューターのネットワーク上に保存されているため、誰でも精査・監査ができて、不特定多数の人の目にさらされることで偽造や二重払いを防止しています。ブロックチェーン技術が用いられている代表的なものは、ビットコインなどの仮想通貨となります。ブロックチェーンと言うと、仮想通貨をイメージされる方が多い状況ですが、これほどブロックチェーンが注目されるのは、仮想通貨以外の幅広い領域に応用ができ、これまでのビジネスが大きく変革されることが期待されているためです。例えば、通常の商取引、電子投票、契約書の締結など、ビジネスに必要な基本業務においてブロックチェーンが活用されることが期待されています。ブロックチェーン技術の求人需要ブロックチェーン技術が求められる求人は日本においても増加し続けています。仮想通貨事業者だけではなく、銀行などの金融業界、ブロックチェーンのソリューションを提供するスタートアップなど、非常に高い需要があります。また、日本はブロックチェーン技術を持ったエンジニアが少なく、外国人のエンジニアが多く活躍している領域でもあります。IoT現時点では金融領域でIoTが導入されている事例は少ない状況です。しかし、最近では自動車にIoT技術の搭載が進むにつれて、自動車の運転方法のデータと自動車保険がリンクされる可能性が挙げられたり、自動運転が進んだ時の自動車保険の在り方などが議論を読んでおり、金融領域におけるIoT技術が少しずつ注目を集めています。また、医療現場でIoT技術が使われることで、医療保険においても大きな影響を与える可能性があります。最近では、ウェアラブルデバイスの浸透により、Apple Watchの決済対応などもIoT技術が応用されており、今後金融領域におけるIoT技術は成長が見込まれる可能性があります。IoT技術の求人需要IoT技術の市場規模は2020年に36兆円超に達する(Gartner推計)と言われており、IoT技術の需要は今後も非常に成長性が高い分野と言えます。既存の金融会社やフィンテック企業においてIoT技術者の需要はまだ少ない状況ですが、金融会社にリンクされるIoT搭載デバイス(車、ウェアラブルデバイスなど)を製造している製造業におけるIoT技術者の需要は高い状況です。生体認証銀行や証券などオンラインでサービスを利用する場合は、必ず本人認証が一番最初に鍵を握ります。2012年7月には、生体認証を含むオンライン認証を中心とした世界的な認証の標準化を目指すFIDO(Fast IDentity Online) Allianceが、Pay Pal、Lenovo等6社により発足し、現在もその規模を拡大しています。主要企業であるボードメンバーには、Visa、MasterCard、Bank of Americaなどの世界的金融大手に加え、Microsoft、Google、 NTTドコモ等の世界的企業も加盟しています。また、日本の一部の銀行のATMにおいても、指紋や静脈による認証も開始されています。最近では、画像データのみならず、キーボードの打鍵方法等身体運動による認証も開発されており、新しい技術の応用が目覚ましい分野と言えるでしょう。生体認証技術の求人需要生体認証技術に関しては、まだまだ用途が本人認証に限られることもあり、AIやビッグデータ、ブロックチェーンの技術に比べると、需要はまだまだこれからと言えるでしょう。まとめ今回ご紹介した4つ以外にも、フィンテックの分野では様々な新しい先端IT技術が用いられていくでしょう。また、先端IT技術だけではなく、消費者のユーザビリティを上げるためにモダンなフレームワークなども最近では必要となってきています。外国人ITエンジニアの転職エージェント GTalnetでは、今後もフィンテックの動向を随時調査し、必要となる関連技術をアップデートしていきたいと思います。

Others

Fintech Key Advanced Technologies and Job Demand in Japan

Fintech is attracting attention not only around the world but also in Japan. In this article, G Talent, a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers, summarized four advanced IT technologies in Fintech and each job demand in Japan.Fintech Four Key Advanced Technologies in FintechIn this article, we would like to focus on the following four important advanced IT technologies in Fintech.AI/Big DataBlockchainIoTBiometricsNow, we are going to explain each technology one by one, taking into account the current demand for recruitment.AI / Big DataThere are many cases in which big data technology is applied to credit examinations of credit cards and loans, using a large amount of data such as stock price information, economic indexes, and personal financial information.The cost of data analysis is drastically reduced due to cloud servers and distributed processing systems that can process big data, and large amounts of data are collected and processed by using text mining technology and natural language processing technology for data collection and conversion.AI performance has dramatically improved due to deep learning technology developed around 2010. AI technology has begun to be used in various areas of the financial industry, such as automation of counter operations, automatically analyze financial indicators, and buy and sell stocks using big data.Along with that, it is said that the work that people were doing in banks will be replaced by AI and that there is going to be a huge lay off in each bank in the future. Also, it is said that banks that cannot be transformed into IT companies will be eliminated.Job Demand for AI / Big DataIn fact, the recruitment of data engineers and data scientists are increasing at major insurance companies and credit card companies, and by effectively utilizing big data, each company is working to improve operational efficiency and create new services.Also, each bank is focusing on hiring IT engineers, every financial company is looking to become a fintech company.However, there is a shortage of human resources related to big data and AI in Japan. When working in Japan, the language of Japanese is often required, but some Japanese insurance companies do not require it, so there are many fields where foreign IT engineers can play an active role.BlockchainIt would be no exaggeration to say that the first word that comes to mind as fintech technology is “blockchain.” In more technical terms, it is also called “distributed ledger technology”. It is not a centralized type of management, but a network system made to distribute data to computers all over the world and reduce the risk of destruction and tampering.Normally, if you deposit money in a bank, transaction records are maintained by the bank’s central server. But with blockchain technology, the transaction information can be distributed and stored on the network without the needing for central management such as financial institutions. In addition, the encryption technology allows users to refer to only the items that are permitted, and the risk of leakage of personal information is extremely low.All records are stored on a computer network, allowing anyone to scrutinize and audit and prevent counterfeiting or double payments by exposing them to the eyes of the general public.Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are typical examples of blockchain technology. Speaking of blockchain, there are many people who think of virtual currency, but the reason why blockchain is getting so much attention is that it can be applied to a wide range of areas apart from the virtual currency, and it is expected to revolutionize the business so far.For example, it is expected that the blockchain will be utilized in the basic operations necessary for business, such as ordinary commercial transactions, electronic voting, and the conclusion of contracts.Job Demand for Blockchain TechnologyJob offers to require blockchain technology continue increasing in Japan. Not only in cryptocurrency companies but also in financial industries such as banks and startups that provide blockchain solutions are in very high demand. In addition, Japan has few engineers with blockchain technology knowledge, and this is an area where many foreign engineers are active.IoTCurrently, there are few cases where IoT has been introduced in the financial field. However, recently, with the introduction of IoT technology in automobiles, there is a possibility that data on automobile driving methods and automobile insurance may be linked, but the state of car insurance when automatic driving progressed is calling for a debate. Therefore, IoT technology in the financial field is gradually gaining attention.In addition, the use of IoT technology in the medical field may have a major impact on medical insurance. Recently, with the spread of wearable devices, IoT technology has been applied to the payment support of Apple Watch, etc., and there is a possibility that IoT technology in the financial field will grow in the future.Job Demand for IoT TechnologyIt is said that the market size of IoT technology will exceed 36 trillion yen in 2020 (Gartner’s estimate), and also, it’s said that the demand for IoT technology is a field with extremely high growth potential.The demand for IoT engineers is still low in existing financial companies and fintech companies, but in the manufacturing industry that produces IoT-equipped devices (cars, wearable devices, etc.) linked to financial companies the demand for IoT engineers is in a higher situation.BiometricsWhen using online services such as banks and securities, personal authentication is always the first key. In July 2012, the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance was established by 6 companies such as Pay Pal and Lenovo aiming to standardize global authentication centered on online authentication including biometrics, and its scale still increasing at present. Board members, which are major companies, include global financial giants such as Visa, MasterCard, and Bank of America, as well as global companies such as Microsoft, Google, and NTT DoCoMo.Fingerprints and vein authentication have also started to be used at some ATMs at Japanese banks.Recently, not only image data but also authentication by physical movement such as keyboard typing method has been developed, demonstrating that it can be said the application of new technology is a remarkable field.Job Demand for Biometrics TechnologyRegarding biometric authentication technology, the application is still limited to personal authentication, so demand can be said to be still far ahead of AI, big data, and blockchain technology.ConclusionIn addition to the four technologies introduced this time, various new advanced IT technologies will be used in the fintech field. Also, not only advanced IT technology, modern frameworks have become necessary to improve usability for consumers. G Talent, a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers, will keep an eye on FinTech trends and keep updating our readers about relevant technology.

外国人雇用(企業向け/日本語)

AI時代、人事に必要なスキルとは~AIの業務活用~

この1~2年、様々な企業の人事部でAIの導入を検討されていることを見聞きします。今回の記事では、AI時代に何が人事部に必要なのか、実際の人事領域のAIツールのご紹介もしながら、理解を深めていただきたいと思います。多くの人事部が抱える課題人事部は、給与計算、採用などの人材の確保、社員の教育や研修、またはその評価の管理など数多くの業務を行わなければ部署の1つであります。採用活動だけをみても、応募者の母集団などのマーケティング業務、継続的な採用ブランディング、面接の調整、オンボーディングなど、営業的な要素から事務的な要素まで多岐に渡る業務をカバーしなければなりません。そのような背景もあり、業務の効率性が低い人事部では過度な残業が状態化しているケースが多々みられます。その一方で、AIなどのテクノロジーを活用したツールを積極的に導入し、業務効率をあげ、高いパフォーマンスを発揮している人事部もあります。本来、人事部は企業がビジネスを成立させる上で一番重要な人的リソースを増やし、生かすことがミッションであり、今後の人事部においては、革新性と効率化を意識した上で、本来のミッションを果たせる人事部が一層重要になってくるでしょう。AIは人事業務のどこに活用できるのか採用活動におけるAI活用ツール書類選考マイナビと三井総合研究所が共同に開発したプライオのようなツールは、書類選考の際に優秀な求職者のエントリーシートや履歴書をAIで認識することがで、自動で書類選考の可否の判断が可能になります。実際には、AIが最初の書類選考を行い、そこで最低限のスクリーニングを行い、それらを人事が判断するという形で使われているケースが多いようです。面接株式会社タレントアンドアセスメントが提供する対話型AI面接サービス「SHaiN」のは、受検者がスマートフォンを利用し、非対面・非接触で24時間365日どの場所でもAIと対話しながら面接できるサービスです。そして、企業側は評価レポートの結果などを参考に、対面の面接時には候補者ごとに適した質問をしたり、候補者の特徴に合わせた動機づけをしたりすることで、内定辞退防止、入社後の人材配置や育成などに生かすこともできるそうです。SHaiNは、「遠隔地受検者への受検機会の提供」、「戦略採用メソッドに基づいた評価基準の統一」、「採用担当者や面接官の面接工数の削減」といった部分が評価されており、2020年7月20日の時点で、200社以上の企業が利用しているそうです。参考:AI面接サービスSHaiN 導入企業 200社を突破/PR Times社員評価におけるAI活用ツール株式会社ヒトラボジェイピーが提供するAIを活用した人材評価ツール「マシンアセスメント」は、アセスメントにかける時間と費用が大幅に削減され、どの社員に投資すべきか? どの社員を昇進させるか?など、企業におけるタレント人材の発掘、育成、選抜のスピードが格段に上がり、均質な基準での評価判断ができるようです。ヒトラボジェイピー社は、これまで約1万人の人材の評価、発掘、育成のアセスメントを行ってきており、そのアセスメントノウハウをAIに学習させ、成果を記した文章から該当者が持つビジネスコンピテンシーを自然言語処理技術を用い30余種類に分析、可視化を可能にしたそうです。事前にAIにハイパフォーマーの行動特性を学ばせているため、現場のしがらみのない状況で、市場競争力という観点から“均質な基準”で評価し、ポテンシャル人材、タレント人材の発掘を行うことができるようです。参考:人材評価もAIが代替する時代に。評価ツール「マシンアセスメント」は進化するHR Techに新たな地位を築けるかAI時代の人事はどうであるべきか上記で紹介したAIが活躍している分野で共通しているものは、人事に今まで多くの時間が必要となっていた業務をAIが自動的に行うことによって、その作業に使っていた時間を他の業務に使えるようにしていることです。つまり、AIが仕事を全て行うものはなく、あくまで人事が自分の仕事を効率よく行うために使われています。では、AI技術の発達がはやいこの時代に人事部に要求されるスキルはどういったものなのでしょうか。判断力のあるチャレンジャーなぜ人事はチャレンジャーである必要があるのか?それは、様々なAIツールがある中で、自社にメリットが高いものを判断し、その技術に恐れず、業務効率の向上や優秀な人材の確保に積極的に使用することが重要です。ただ単に多くのツールを試せばいいことではなく、人事がAIツールに具体的な役割・目的・目標を決めることがAIx人事の一番重要な部分です。まとめ人事とAIを合わせることによって、業務効率の向上や優秀な人材の確保は容易になりますが、その代わり人事部に技術を使いこなせる力だけではなく、人間らしいスキルが以前よりもさらに求められている時代になるのではないでしょうか。自社の更なる成長のために、現在の人事業務の課題を洗い出し、整理を行なった上で、AIツールの導入を試してみてはいかがでしょうか。

Social insurance & Welfare

Is Medical Insurance Mandatory in Japan?

Studying in Japan for a long period of time, such as for study abroad, working holiday, and job hunting, can be a pleasure, but at the same time, you may be worried about illness and injury.In this article, we would like to explain the conditions for taking out a medical insurance in Japan, the types of medical insurance, insurance premiums, and procedures for foreigners who are planning to stay in Japan for a long period of time.Is it Absolutely Necessary to have government medical insurance?If you are covered by the government’s medical insurance, the co-payment of medical expenses to hospitals is basically 30% for people between the ages of 6 and 70. For example, when a medical cost is 10,000 yen, you can only pay 3,000 yen if you show your health insurance card to the hospital. This is the advantage of medical insurance in Japan.In other countries, it is generally up to the individual to purchase medical insurance, but in Japan, all citizens (regardless of nationality) are required to have some type of medical insurance. In other words, all foreigners who are staying in Japan for a long period of time other than a short stay (3 months) are required to take out a medical insurance policy.What kind of Medical Insurances are available in Japan?In Japan, there are two types of medical insurance in general.1.Social health insurance (Shakai-hoken) The health insurance is for company employees in Japan.2.National health insurance (Kokumin-kenko-hoken) The health insurance is for housewife, freelancer, students with more than 20 years old and so on. In case of foreigners, it’s foreign students and foreigners who came to Japan on a working holiday and so on.From now on, we would like to explain these two types of medical insurance briefly.What is Social Health Insurance for Companies Employees?Social insurance (shakai-hoken) consists of five components: health insurance, employees’ pension insurance, long-term care insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and unemployment insurance, health insurance is included in this social insurance (shakai-hoken).In Japan, full-time, contract, and part-time employees who meet the following requirements are eligible for social insurance: employees who work 20 hours a week, earn at least 88,000 yen a month and have been working for at least one year. Whenever a company hires an employee who meets certain requirements, it is obligated to have he or she joins the social insurance system.How much is the Insurance Fee for Social Insurance (shakai-hoken) ?The amount of social insurance fee varies depending on the area you live in, your income, and which health association you belong to. Therefore, the fees paid by a person working in Tokyo and Osaka are different.And the payment of social insurance premiums is usually made by the company. The company deducts the monthly social insurance fee from the employee’s monthly salary, so the employee does not have to go through the payment process.In case of employees and family members working for small and medium-sized companies who joined “Association Health Insurance” (Kyokai-kenpo), the health insurance premium rate in Tokyo from April 2020 will be 9.87% of their monthly salary as a monthly health insurance fee.However, instead of paying the entire amount individually, the company and the individual will pay half of the insurance premiums. Therefore, half of the 9.87% of your monthly salary will be deducted from your salary as health insurance premiums.In addition to the health insurance premiums, there are other social insurance fees such as employee pension insurance, which are generally deducted from your monthly salary.※The following links are for information about health insurance.What is a Health Insurance Society?Table of health insurance and employees’ pension insurance premiums since April 2020/ Association Health InsuranceWhat is National Health Insurance (kokumin-kennko-hoken) ?It is a health insurance program run by local governments and is available to those who are listed on the Basic Resident Register and are not covered by the company’s health insurance. You are obliged to purchase this insurance if you are staying in Japan for more than three months for purposes other than tourism. For example, foreign students who are studying in Japan or foreigners who are coming to Japan on a working holiday are required to join the National Health Insurance.If you want to know more about National Health Insurance, please take a look at the links that explain National Health Insurance in English, Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. National Health Insurance in English, Spanish, Chinese and other languages. ((About National Health Insurance / Multilingual))How much is the National Health Insurance Premiums?Insurance premiums vary greatly depending on the city, town, or village you live in, your income, and other factors. The following website provides a simulation of the national health insurance fees. However, please note that fees vary from city to city and town to town, so please use it as a guide only.National Health Insurance Premium Simulation (Japanese)Procedures and the Time Frame Required to Obtain Medical InsuranceProcedures for Health Insurance (social insurance) for full-time, contract, and part-time employeesHealth insurance (social insurance) is medical insurance that foreigners who come to Japan to work. He or She can enroll in when they join a company. Therefore, the first condition for enrollment is that the foreigner must have a labor visa.The application for social insurance (health insurance) is not to be completed by the foreigner him/herself, but together with the company where he/she joins the company. The company and the employee will fill out the documents prepared by the company and submit them to the health insurance association with necessary documents such as the validated residence card, passport, and my-number card.How long it takes for health insurance (social security) to become available?Using the “Association Health Insurance” (Kyoukai-kenpo) as an example, you will receive your insurance card in about 7 to 10 days from the date the company submits the documents. However, it tends to arrive later during the busy season in April and other months when people enter and leave the company. Since this is only an example, the period of time may vary depending on the health insurance association you join.National Health Insurance ProceduresIf you want to apply for National Health Insurance, you must apply for it within 14 days from the date of entry into Japan, the date of your move to another city or prefecture in japan, or the date you lost your social insurance membership (e.g., the date you resigned). Even if you resign from your current employer, you do not need to apply for National Health Insurance as long as you start working at your new employer within 14 days of the date you resigned.In Japan, it is compulsory to enroll in health insurance, so if there is a delay in the application process, you will be billed for the delayed amount at a later date, so please be careful. If you visit a hospital or other medical facility while you are not covered by the insurance, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost of the visit.We would like to introduce what you need in order to enroll in the National Health Insurance.Foreign Students (Ryuugakusei) PassportResident card (Zairyu-card)Student ID cardWorking HolidaysResident cardPassportWhen you lose eligibility for social insurance (when you leave a company)Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident CertificateOne of the following: certificate of disqualification (health insurance), release form, retirement certificate, or tax withholding certificate (with the date of retirement entered)How long it takes for National Health Insurance to become Available?Unlike health insurance (social insurance), you can apply for National Health Insurance at the city hall. The National Health Insurance card is issued on the same day as the application and can be used at hospitals and other facilities from the same dayConclusionIn Japan, it is compulsory to purchase medical insurance so that all citizens can easily go to the hospital even for minor symptoms such as “slightly feverish” or “feeling sick”. Because of this, the amount of money that an individual actually pays at the hospital is about 30% of the total cost.In addition, there is a system called the high-cost medical care benefits system, which sets an upper limit for monthly medical expenses based on income, so if you have a surgery or hospitalization that results in high medical expenses, you can receive a refund for any medical expenses that exceed the upper limit of your copayment.

Job Hunting Knowledge

Qualifications to be a Software Tester in Japan

Developing successful software is one of the most challenging but rewarding feats to accomplish in the ever-evolving technological field. Factors such as rapid technological advancement, increasing customer demands, limited resources, and time limitations are enormous hurdles for development teams to overcome.For brand new software to be realized, the entire development staff must be knowledgeable about essential aspects such as programming, programming languages, frameworks, and APIs.The launching of successful software is also difficult without the perfect collection of individuals and programming experts dedicated to completing the same mission. A development team needs to secure the right project sponsor, product owner, project manager, subject matter experts (SMEs), software developers, technical lead, user acceptance testers, and software testers.Software testers play a pivotal role in development companies; that’s why they are in high demand in a country like Japan. High-quality products, superb services, and technological innovations and breakthroughs from companies are anticipated in the country.But what qualifications do employers in Japan require from aspiring software testers? Discover the prerequisites needed from software testers and the types of responsibilities they’ll have once they join the Japanese workforce.What is a Software Tester?Software testers are some of the essential individuals in software development, as they ensure the overall quality of the products before being introduced in the market. They will inspect the software of any errors, defects, and bugs.During the planning and preparation stages, software testers will review and contribute test plans. Aside from this, they will also handle the assessment, review, and analysis of technical requirements and design specifications.Software testers also play a hand in identifying test conditions. They are crucial in creating test designs, test cases, test procedure specifications, and test data. Plus, they also automate or help in automating the tests.Software testers also assist in development by setting up test environments or support system administration and network management staff in completing this step. They administer the tests and oversee the test environment.Testers are also responsible for documenting the tests, evaluating results, and identifying issues. Throughout the entire process, they will review everything plus write an account of defects and test outcomes.About JSTQB (Certification)Japan Software Testing Qualifications Board (JSTQB), which operates under the rules of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), is a qualification system that was created to examine and improve software engineers’ capabilities in testing. These qualification systems were first implemented in partnership with the Japan Science and Technology Federation. For software engineers and testers to work in Japan, they must obtain the JSTQB test engineer qualification certificates.The JSTQB certification test will only be available in Japanese. So, if foreign software testers want to take the exam in a foreign language, they are advised to take it under an “outside company” that conducts the same tests. Foreigners are reminded to check if these exams are administered by a certified company that is also a registered member of ISTQB and complies with ISTQB standards. The tests done by outside companies do not follow the regular JSTQB schedule.JSTQB has 3 types of tests: the Foundation Level, Advanced Level Test Manager, and Advanced Level Test Analyst. Applicants need to have the foundation level certificate and 3 years of work experience to take the two advanced level tests. Foundation level exams are held once every 6 months (mid-February to late August), and the advanced ones don’t have a definite schedule.Both foundation and advanced levels have a multiple-choice format questionnaire. But some items may prove to be tricky, as some questions will require examinees to choose multiple correct answers.Foundation level exams have a time limit of 60 minutes while advanced level exams end after 180 minutes. Examinees can finish the foundation level and leave the examination area for as early as 30 minutes, and advanced level takers can leave after 60. But JSTQB imposes strict guidelines and will not allow the examinees to re-enter the premises after submitting their exams.JSTQB is adamant in keeping the questions a secret, so applicants will have to rely on their overall knowledge, study approach, and work ethic to prepare for the certification exams. Luckily for software testing aspirants, ISTQB publishes the exam’s syllabus on their website.Foundation level takers can check the syllabus here: https://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/foundation-level-syllabus.htmlWhile advanced level applicants can check the syllabi here:https://www.istqb.org/downloads/syllabi/advanced-level-syllabus.htmlQualifications of a Software TesterJapanese application development companies want to ensure that they are hiring the best possible candidates for the job, as they want to compete with or prevail over other development companies. Aside from the JSTQB certification, companies also require software testers to meet additional standards.Companies in Japan are looking for software testers with the necessary educational background. So, software testers who have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or engineering will have the upper hand during the application process.Software testers also need to have the skills to back up their credentials. As mentioned before, testers need to monitor and document test plans and procedures, execute tests, review results, and document problems.They need to understand methodologies and software testing platforms or environments and be knowledgeable about testing tools. They need to master UNIX, Linux, and Windows and be familiar with scripting and command-line tools. Testers are required to be proficient in various programming languages, such as C# or C++, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and Ruby on Rails.Software testers can improve their chances of employment by having some seminars and training under their belt. But seeing as the entire world is under the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, it would be hard for software testers to attend huge gatherings such as seminars. Fortunately, there are several excellent resources available online.You can attend seminars online (webinars) through the Association for Software Testing (AST)’s Youtube channel. Microsoft Virtual Academy also offers training such as Software Testing Fundamentals course and Live Unit Testing in Visual Studio course online.ConclusionSoftware testers are sought after by companies developing innovative software, as their expertise brings a lot of value for their working and future projects. For an advanced country like Japan where technology companies are everywhere, opportunities for software testers are aplenty.You can apply for software testing jobs in Japan as soon as the COVID-19 crisis is over. Discover openings and useful tips on our website below. Good luck with your future endeavors, and we hope all of you stay safe!

その他

画像認識・解析技術における世界と日本の注目企業

現在、世界で画像認識・解析を用いられた技術の進化が目覚ましいものとなっております。中国では5000人以上の逃走犯の逮捕や自動運転まで様々な分野で画像認き・解析技術が効果を発揮しています。この記事では、画像認識・解析技術で話題となっている企業に興味を持っているエンジニア向けに、日本と海外の注目企業をご紹介していきたいと思います。画像認識・解析はどのような技術?画像認識技術について聞いたことない方はおそらくいらっしゃらないと思います。念のため、最初に画像認識・解析とは何かを説明したいと思います。画像認識とは、画像のなかに一体何が写っているのか、コンピューターや機械などが識別する技術。画像から色や形といった特徴を読み取り、その特徴をさまざまな学習機に入れて新たな画像を認識できるようにしたパターン認識技術のひとつ。参照:Ledge.ai / AI特化型Webメディア例を用いて説明しますと、AIが「ふわふわである、小さい、尻尾や耳、目、形」などの特徴を画像から解析し、画像のものが「猫」であることを認識できる技術のことです。画像認識・解析の仕組み画像認識・解析の基本的な仕組みは「認識・解析」と「検出」の2種類に分類することができます。「認識・解析」は、画像にある様々な情報を特徴ごとに分類する段階です。例えば、1つの画像に人間の特徴があれば、それらを集めて人間何人いるかを見極める段階です。また、「検出」は、これまでに集まった情報(人間、自動車、など)を画像のどきにあるかを見極める段階です。(画像:IMagazine / 画像認識・解析)画像認識・解析の仕組みを簡単でより詳しく説明されていますのでご興味がある方は是非お読みになってください。(IMagazine / 画像認識・解析)海外で注目を浴びている企業これからは、世界で注目を浴びている画像認識・解析技術サービスを提供している4社をご紹介します。中国SenseTime(センスタイム)世界トップクラスの評価額を誇るベンチャー企業といわれる同社は、画像認識技術を幅広い分野で応用することを目指しており、顔認証以外の分野でも自動運転や医療画像解析の事業も行っています。そのほか、政府系企業との連携を積極的も行なっており、出資者であるアリババも熱心なスマートシティ事業などにも手を広げつつあります。SenseTime(センスタイム)FACE++顔認識に人工知能をはじめて搭載した企業であるといわれており、世界的に注目度が高いAIスタートアップのひとつです。北京の警察における導入実績に加え、複数の大手銀行やアリババ系の決済サービスのアリペイ(支付宝)、配車サービス大手の滴滴出行(Didi)などにもFace++の認証システムが導入されています。FACE++アメリカGumGum(ガムガム)GumGumは、見られることが保証されているプレミアムエディトリアルコンテンツに沿ったブランドエンゲージメントの創出に特化した新しいタイプの広告プラットフォームです。イン・イメージ広告を生み出したことで知られています。ディズニー、ロレアル、トヨタ、サムスンなど、AdAgeの米国広告費上位100社の半数以上と取引をしているほど注目を集めている企業です。GumGum / JapanスイスScanditScanditは、企業や消費者が日常の物との関わり方を変え、スマートフォン、タブレット、ウェアラブル、ドローン、ロボットを使ってバーコードをスキャンし、文字や物を認識することで得られるリアルタイムデータを物理的な世界で拡張することを可能にしています。世界の革新的な企業の多くが、Scanditの次世代モバイルデータキャプチャプラットフォームのメリットをすでに享受しています。クライアントには、Ahold、Levi Strauss & Co. 、Coop、Macy’s、Louis Vuitton、DHL、Cardinal Health、NASA、Verizon Wirelessなどの世界的な有名企業が含まれますScandit日本企業の画像認識技術日本でも画像認識・解析への注目が高まる中、既に海外への展開に成功している企業や、この技術を用いて身近なサービスを提供している企業をご紹介したいと思います。製造業YE DIGITALYE DIGITALは、AI技術を利用し、製造現場での不良品などをリアルタイムで検品できるAI画像判定サービス「MMEye」を開発。日本の製造業だけではなく、海外でも話題となっている日本企業の1つであります。YE DIGITAL / AI画像判定サービスDENSO(デンソー)DENSO(デンソー)は、先進技術、システム、コンポーネントを提供する世界有数の自動車部品サプライヤーです。顧客には、トヨタ、ダイハツ、AUDI、BMW、ボルボ、ベンツ、などの世界の主要自動車メーカーが含まれています。世界的には、38の国と地域に200以上の子会社と関連会社を持っていうる大企業です。デンソーは、画像認識・解析に力を入れており、「画像センシング」と「自動運転アルゴリズム」を強みに世界トップレベルの自動運転技術を持っていると言われています。Denso / 自動運転医療業界HoloeyesHoloeyesは、VRやMRを活用したサービスを医療分野や医学教育に導入を行っている企業です。データを3D化させ、デジタルライブラリとして保存し、いつでも閲覧することを可能としている画像認識・解析技術を用いたサービスを提供しています。Holoeyes / 医療VRアパレル業界ユニクロとジーユー「StyleHint(スタイルヒント)」は、ユニクロとジーユーが共同開発を行った画像認識・解析技術を活用した着こなし検索アプリです。このアプリでは、スマートフォンのカメラロール、Instagramなどの写真・画像から、それに類似した服の着こなし画像やその画像に似たユニクロやジーユーの商品を検索できます。StyleHint / ユニクロ・ジーユー日本の画像認識技術のカオスマップ最後に、AISmileyが発表した日本の画像認識技術のカオスマップをご案内します(2020年6月時点)。これまで取り上げたサービス以外にも様々な企業がサービスを提供しています。参照:AISmiley / 日本の画像認識のカオスマップ(2020年)まとめ近年、日本においても画像認識・解析技術を用いたサービスが多く生み出されており、このような技術を使って社会的にインパクトあるプロダクをを開発したいITエンジニアにとって、日本の画像認識・解析業界は大きく成長できる場であると言えるかもしれません。日本の画像認識・解析技術をもつ会社で働きたいという外国人のITエンジニアの方は、外国人ITエンジニアの転職エージェントG Talent(ジータレント)にご登録ください。プロのコンサルタントが無料で日本のテクノロジー企業への転職をご支援いたします。

ビザ

コロナによる日本の入国・出国に関する渡航情報

現在、新型コロナウィルス(COVID19)の影響によって、日本への渡航や日本から海外への渡航が厳しくなっております。この記事では、外国人向けに「日本から海外へ出国する場合」と「海外から日本へ入国する場合」に分けて、渡航情報に関する参考ウェブサイト情報や現在の状況などをまとめました。日本に入国する時の渡航条件新型コロナウィルスの感染拡大の影響によって、観光客や出国していた在留外国人の入国を3月中旬から制限せざるを得ない実態になりました。2020年7月24日時点では、上陸拒否の対象とされている国々に滞在したことある人は、特別な理由がない限り入国ができない状況になっております。日本の上陸拒否対象の国々やより細かい情報は外務省のウェブサイト(下のリンク)で発表しております。日本への入国を考えている方は是非確認してみて下さい。 上陸拒否対象地域を給油や乗り継ぎ目的で経由(経由地での入国の有無は問わない)した後に本邦に到着する場合も、原則、上陸拒否の対象となります。また、査証制限措置(既に発給された査証の効力停止及び査証免除措置の停止)が取られていない国・地域の査証免除対象者または停止されていない有効な査証を持つ者が、上陸拒否対象国・地域以外から、拒否対象国・地域を経由して日本へ到着する場合にも、同様に原則上陸拒否となります。参照:外務省 / 新型コロナウイルス感染症に関する水際対策の強化に係る措置について日々情報は更新されていくため、その都度外務省のウェブサイトを確認するようにしましょう。在留外国人と留学生の再入国を許可日本への入国制限は120ヶ国以上に達し、新型コロナウィルスが世界中で起こしたパンデミックの改善が見込まれないことから、この入国制限期間は想定されていたものよりはるかに長い期間となっています。母国にいる家族の介護など母国への緊急的な一時帰国や日本に留学していて休みの期間を使って日本を離れた場合などでも、日本へ入国することが保証されていませんでした。しかし、この事情を考慮した政府は、2020年7月29日に在留資格を持っている方の再入国を検討すると発表しました。外務省は29日、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大を防ぐための水際対策をめぐり、日本の在留資格を持つ駐在員や留学生らの再入国を、8月5日から条件付きで認めると発表した。これまで、入国拒否の対象国・地域に出国した在留外国人は原則、再入国できなかった。参照:在留外国人の再入国 / 時事ドットコムニュース上記のニュース記事に記載されているように、2020年8月5日から、政府は留学生、永住者、定住者、就労ビザ、などの在留資格を所持している外国人の再入国を正式に認めることを発表しました。※観光を目的とした外国人への入国はまだ認められていません。また、在留資格も幅広い種類があるため、しっかりと内容を確認するようにお願いします。再び日本に入国するのに何が必要?その手順は?上記で述べた通り、日本の政府は日本人のみだけではなく、8月5日に在留資格を持つ外国人の再入国の許可を発表しました。上陸拒否対象の国から来られる方が、以前よりもはるかに増えるため、国内でに感染者がさらに増えないために検疫対策を強化しはじめました。これからは、再入国をするにあたっての必要な書類について説明をさせていただきたいと思います。再入国のために必要な書類 COVID-19に関する検査証明書所定の証明書フォーマットに、現地の医療機関が記入し、医師の署名又は押印が必要になります。(外務省 / 再入国の際に必要な手続・書類等) 再入国関連必要書類提出確認書外務省のウェブサイトで再入国に必要な書類がダウンロード可能です。(外務省 / 再入国関連書類書類提出確認証交付申請書) 旅券(パスポート)有効な再入国許可(みなし再入国許可を含む)が貼付されている必要があります。 在留カード有効期限が過ぎていないものである必要がある。再入国前と後の手順現在滞在している国や地域を出発する72時間以内にPCR検査を受診し、検査結果が「陰性」であることを証明しなければなりません。在外公館から「再入国関連書類提出確認書」をもらう必要があります。日本に到着したら、出発の国や地域とは関係なく、PCR検査を再び受診しなければなりません。2週間自主隔離をしなければなりません。隔離の場所は検査所長が指定します、病院での入院や自宅で待機をしていただく場合もございます。コロナの時期に海外へ行けるの?親、親戚、子供、などの面倒を見るために日本を出なければならない外国人の会社員や留学生は少なくないと思いますが、日本のように、感染者数が多い国(入国拒否対象国)に滞在した人たちの入国を禁止または制限している国はたくさんあります。これからは、日本の出国を予定していた、または出国を考慮している外国人や留学生向けに、日本から海外への渡航に関する情報をご案内します。日本から海外へ出国する時の渡航情報渡航制限を徐々に緩和し、日本からの渡航者を受け入れている国も増えてきています。国によって到着後の対策や必要な書類などが異なるため、今回は各国の渡航状況が確認できるサイトを紹介したいと思います。外務省のウェブサイト日本で最も信頼度の高い情報源であると言えるでしょう。外務省のウェブサイトには日本からの渡航者の入国制限について、各国ごとに細かくまとめられています。(入国後の行動制限措置など)  外務省 海外安全ホームページ 47 users143 pockets外務省 海外安全ホームページhttps://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/covid19/pdfhistory_world.html海外に渡航・滞在される方々が自分自身で安全を確保していただくための参考情報を公開しております。  Trip.comオンライン旅行会社であるTrip.comが各国の渡航状況につてい随時更新しているウェブサイトです。日本からの渡航者について各国の情報が詳しく説明されているウェブサイトです。 jp.trip.com 1 userhttps://jp.trip.com/travel-restrictions-covid-19/https://jp.trip.com/travel-restrictions-covid-19/提携ホテルは120万軒以上、200ヶ国以上を網羅。3000万件を超えるユーザーレビューで、お客様にぴったりの宿選びも簡単。航空券は5,000以上の目的地からお選びいただけます。24時間・年中無休の日本語カスタマーサポートで、お客様の旅をいつでもお手伝いいたします。 ※上記2つのサイトに載ってない国に関しては、入国が認められているのではなく、情報がないだけというものもありますので、詳しくは大使館や領事館にお問い合わせください。まとめ現在(2020年8月6日時点)、ほとんどの国で感染の第二波が訪れています。そのため、渡航に関する情報は常に更新されていきます。今回ご案内した情報やウェブサイトを参考に、最終的には必ず母国の大使館などに確認するようにしましょう。

Others

How to Open a Bank Account in Japan and Recommended Banks

When a foreigner finds a job in the land of the rising sun and begins to live there, there are some difficult situations that they might face, such as finding a place to live or applying for a visa. Among them opening a bank account too.Therefore, in this article, we would like to introduce you how to open a bank account in Japan, the necessary documentation, recommended banks, etc.There are cases where part-timers receive salaries by hand, but when working as a full-time employee (Seishain), it is common to transfer the salary to a bank account. In addition to receiving the salary, the payment of public services such as rent, the electricity bill, and the water bill is generally withdrawn from a bank account too. Also, depending on the bank where you have opened an account, some ATMs are able to send money abroad.We hope this article will help those living in Japan to open a bank account that suits them better.Conditions for Foreigners to Open Bank Accounts in JapanWhen foreigners open a bank account in Japan, need a residence card “Zairyu-card” and residence certificate “Zyuminhyo“. If you are a foreigner whose visa expiration is less than 90 days such as tourist visa and your stay period is less than 90 days, you can’t obtain a residence card or a residence certificate. Therefore, if you have a residence period of less than 3 months and a residence card is not issued, you will not able to open a bank account in Japan.Besides, people with a period of stay is fewer than 6 months are considered to be non-residents, so they can create non-resident yen deposit accounts “Hi-kyojusha-yen-yokin-kouza“, but cannot create normal saving accounts “Futsuu-yokin-kouza“ that can be remitted to foreign countries.* Some banks, such as Japan Post Bank, may create a normal saving account even if the stay period is 3 months to less than 6 months.Difference between “Hi-kyojusha-yen-yokin-kouza” and “Futsuu-yokin-kouza“Different from normal saving accounts “Futsuu-yokin-kouza“, overseas remittances are restricted for non-resident Yen deposit accounts “Hi-kyojusha-yen-yokin-kouza“. Also, when you pay rent or pay the amount you used with a credit card, these payments are normally withdrawn from a normal saving account. Non-resident Yen deposit account can’t do that. Non-resident Yen deposit accounts have only the minimum functionality of depositing money and withdrawing money from ATMs.What you need to open a Bank AccountA foreigner can legally open a bank account if he/she matches the requirements mentioned above.From now on, we would like to introduce to you what is generally needed when applying to open a bank account in Japan.Nevertheless, some banks ask for additional requirements, so be sure to confirm them before opening an account by yourself.Documents Proving the AddressAs a foreigner, you need to prove your permission to stay in Japan, so please bring your valid residence card and passport. Also, it is recommended to bring your health insurance card, special permanent resident certificate, driver’s license (if you have one), student ID, and employee ID just in case.Address ConfirmationIt is necessary to show your residence certificate “Zyuminhyo” or a utility bill (gas, electricity, water, NHK, landline, etc.) to demonstrate that you live at the address indicated in the documents presented.※Generally, mobile phones, and smartphones invoices cannot be used as certificates.Personal Seal (Inkan)Inkan is one of the oldest cultures in Japan. In overseas, it’s common to write a signature by hand at important contracts, but in Japan, the use of seals is the most traditional way to do it than writing a signature.Recently, some banks, such as Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and Resona Bank, have removed the seal from their requirements to open a bank account, but many banks still require a seal to open an account.Since there are many cases where you need an Inkan not only when opening a bank account but also when signing an important contract like a housing contract, we recommend you should make your Inkan with Katakana or Alphabet.Phone number that can be contactedThe bank will need a phone number to keep in touch with you. You can tell them your cell phone number.Recommended Banks for ForeignersWe would like to introduce some recommended banks for foreigners who want to open a bank account in Japan. Apart from these, there are still many banks in Japan, but this time we will focus on some of the major banks in Japan.Major banks in Japan tend to have ATMs across the country, which is very convenient for the consumer.Name of BankReason for RecommendationBank’s WebsiteJapan Post BankIt is a bank with about 24,000 bank tellers and 32,000 ATMs nationwide.If you stayed in Japan for more than 3 months, you can open a savings account.Using Japan Post Bank’s ATM, no fee will be charged even on Saturdays and Sundays.Japan Post BankMUFG BankBeing one of the major banks in Japan, it is a bank with high credibility and stability.No inkan required when opening an account.As of 2017, there are about 77,000 ATMs nationwide. (the number include alliance financial institutions, Seven Bank, and Lawson Bank ATM)MUFG BankMizuho BankRemittances to foreign countries, domestic denominated foreign currency remittances, and non-resident yen remittances are possible.It is one of the major banks in Japan and has approximately 800 branches and 50,000 ATMs nationwide. (the number of units includes affiliates financial institutions, Seven Bank, Lawson Bank ATM)There are 120 bases in about 40 countries and regions.Mizuho BankResona BankNo inkan required when opening an account.It takes 1-2 weeks to open an account if the solicitation was sent by post and about 30 minutes at the bank tellers.There are about 5,000 ATMs in Japan.ATM fees for Resona Holdings banks (Resona Bank, Saitama Resona Bank, Kansai Mirai Bank, Minato Bank) are free.Resona BankIn most cases, the homepage of each bank contains the documents necessary for opening an account, so if there is a bank of interest, please check the information on the homepage.ConclusionAs mentioned above, in Japan, most payments such as salaries, rents, utility bills, etc. are made to or withdrawn from a bank account. Possession of a bank account is important for living in Japan, so check the website of the bank that you are interested in beforehand and prepare the necessary requirements in advance.

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Fintech and the Representative Services & Companies in Japan

At present, the field of financial IT technology called Fintech is drawing attention around the world. In Japan as well, the government is supporting the use of IT in the financial field, and also the term Fintech is used every day in major financial industries and startups.In this article, for foreigners who are interested in Japan’s Fintech field, we will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the current status of Fintech in Japan and the featured companies in the field.What is Fintech?First of all, we would like to explain what Fintech is.Financial technology (abbreviated fintech or FinTech) is the technology and innovation that aims to compete with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. It is an emerging industry that uses technology to improve activities in finance.[2] The use of smartphones for mobile banking, investing, borrowing services[3], and cryptocurrency are examples of technologies aiming to make financial services more accessible to the general public. Financial technology companies consist of both startups and established financial institutions and technology companies trying to replace or enhance the usage of financial services provided by existing financial companies.Reference: The Free Encyclopedia “Wikipedia”In more simple words, it is about transforming existing financial services and creating new services using advanced IT technologies such as AI, big data, IoT, and blockchain. Some familiar examples are, remittance and payment using smartphones, virtual currency using blockchain technology, etc.Why Fintech gets attention from IT Engineers in Japan?Currently, the Fintech area is receiving a lot of attention from IT engineers in Japan, and the number of IT engineers who are changing jobs to the Fintech field is increasing. The reasons for this are “magnitude of social impact” and “acquisition and application of advanced IT technology”.The Magnitude of Social Impact“Money” is indispensable to establish the economy and people’s lives, by transforming financial services, there is a potential to significantly change the economy and people’s lives. Therefore, many entrepreneurs and IT engineers who want to make a big impact on society are challenging in the Fintech field, and the government is supporting it.As we will explain later, the business in the Fintech area is outstanding, also in financing Japanese startups. Major banks and insurance companies have also started CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) and various fintech-related businesses. The number of these cases are increasing by investing in startups, making capital and business alliances.Acquisition and Application of Advanced IT TechnologyIn the Fintech field, there are opportunities to use advanced IT technologies, and we can say that it is an attractive career development environment for IT engineers who want to hone their technical skills. Related technologies that are important in FinTech include big data, AI, blockchain, and IoT.If you are interested in those technologies, please refer to the following article for related technologies in Fintech and their recruitment demand.Fintech Key Advanced Technologies and Job Demand in Japan11 Fields of Fintech and their Representative ServicesCurrently, the “Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry” and Japanese consulting firms are frequently researching the trends of Fintech around the world and Japan. As the segment used at that time, fintech is divided into 11 fields.Smart PaymentInvestment/Asset management/Robot-advisorVirtual currencyHousehold Management and Advice (PMF: Personal Financial Management)Social LendingCrowdfundingInsuranceLoans/LoansAccounting/FinanceRemittance & Split BillsFinancial InformationFrom now, we would like to explain each field and its representative services.Smart PaymentSmart payments are electronic payment methods that does not require cash or financial institution procedures. Using smart payment eliminates the need for cash management, procedures time at financial institutions, and also reduce the fee. Smart payments can broaden the range of payment methods for consumers.There are roughly two types of smart payments currently used in Japan, card payments and QR code payments are often used.Credit card payments and debit card payments are the most common examples of payment using a card. Payment is performed by entering card information online or displaying a card at a store. Recently, not only credit cards but also prepaid cards have been attracting attention. For example, LINE pay cards.Prepaid cards can be issued without a screening, they can be used for payment only as much as you charged them at a convenience store. It is a card that can be used by young people who couldn’t have a credit card until now.Regarding QR code payment, many major IT companies such as PayPay, Merpay, Rakuten Pay have entered the market, the settlement is completed by reading the QR code via a smartphone. QR code payments have already become mainstream in China and other countries. PayPay used China’s Alipay technology and features as a reference.Representative Services of Smart PaymentPayPay (In Japanese), Merpay (In Japanse), Paidy (In Japanese), etc.Investment/Asset Management/Robot-advisorThis is a service that selects and manages financial merchandise using analysis by AI in asset management such as stocks. Since AI learns data daily, it is said that asset management and investment by AI will be more accurate than human prediction in the future.A Robot-advisor means that an AI robot manages personal assets. In Japan, there are two types of Robot-advisors: the discretionary investment type, that manages and sells based on investment algorithms and, advice type that diagnoses and advises asset management.Representative Services for Investment/Asset Management and Robo-advisorWealthNavi (In Japanese), THEO (In Japanese), etc.Virtual CurrencyBy utilizing blockchain technology, virtual currency is a currency that can store transaction records such as deposits and withdrawals even if there is no centralized management agency such as banks. Unlike fiat currencies such as yen and dollars, it is a new currency that doesn’t have the form of bills or coins.Previously, it was reported in the news that the number of people holding a virtual currency for investment purposes increased, and the value of virtual currency rose and fell sharply. Also, there was a case in which the virtual currency leaked due to hacking because the security management of the virtual currency vendor was weak.Thereby, the public image of virtual currencies has become temporarily deteriorated, but as of July 2020, the virtual currency market has been stable, and it is expected that the market will expand steadily in the future.Representative Services of Virtual Currency (Virtual Currency Business Operator)bitFlyer, Coincheck, etc.Household Management and Advice (PMF: Personal Financial Management)One of the most familiar fields of Fintech is PMF. The main function of this is to manage daily spendings and incomes. In a nutshell, it plays the role of a household account book application. Unlike the household account book softwares and apps that have been used up to now, it is possible to manage accounts of various financial institutions with one service. Furthermore, bank account information, but you can also get information about payments by credit card and other payment methods.Representative Services of PMFMoney ForwardIt is one of the Japanese companies that provide PMF services. This app allows you to check the electronic money used at convenience stores, credit cards used for shopping, bank accounts with salaries transferred. Japan’s top household account book application with more than 8 million people.Dr. Wallet (In Japanese)It is the second most popular household account book application after money forward with more than 1 million users.Social LendingSocial lending, also known as “lending-type crowdfunding,” is a service that connects borrowers (mainly companies) and investors who want to invest money through financial products. Companies that provide social lending services perform, borrower screening, investor recruitment, loans, repayments, and also performs distribution management.The difference with mutual funds is that investors find the lenders, and the price is not affected by the market price.Representative services for social lendingSBI Social Lending, CROWD CREDIT, etc.CrowdfundingCrowdfunding is a service that allows you to raise a small amount of money from an unspecified number of people via Internet. In the case of financing, generally, there are loans from banks and investment by venture capital. But unlike traditional funding, crowdfunding is getting attention as a new funding mechanism for been “Easy”, “High diffusivity” and “Implementing test marketing”.Anyone who has an idea or wants to solve a social problem or launch a new product can become a “drafter”, and anyone who wants to support it or want to help try to a new product is a “supporter”. in this way, in crowdfunding, It is to raise money by recruiting people on the Internet to fund the project that the creator wants to do.Representative Services for CrowdfundingCamp-Fire, Makuake, Ready For, etc.InsuranceUntil now, it was supposed to take out insurance through an insurance salesman or an agent, but in recent years, online insurance services have grown now till you can take out insurance with just one smartphone. With LINE insurance you can take out insurance in as little as 60 seconds using a smartphone.There is also a system that uses IT for car insurance, to acquire and analyze driver data such as mileage and driving characteristics, determining insurance premiums based on that data.Representative Services for InsuranceLINE Hoken, Sony Assurance / Good Drive (In Japanese), etc.Financing/LoansFintech is being utilized for the financing of banks and loan companies. This technology has been used in mortgage comparison, mortgage refinancing services, the examination of borrowers using big data, the limit of lending, determination of loan interest rate, etc.Representative Services Financing and LoanJ.Score (In Japanese), WhatzMoney (In Japanese), etc.Accounting/FinanceVarious cloud services are being offered in the fields of corporate accounting and financial management. In the past accounting process, there were many human errors and wasted time, but with the advent of cloud services, the accounting process time is shortened, human errors are reduced. Now, it is possible to visualize the accounting status of the company.Accounting/Finance Representative Servicesfreee, Yayoi-kaikei, etc.Remittance & Split BillsServices that allow people to share payments, receive money, and pay for drinking parties (Nomikai) through smartphone apps are becoming popular. When carrying out split bills, it was very troublesome to calculate by 1 yen and collect cash, but due to this technology, it turns possible to easily split bills without cash.Representative Services for Remittance and Split BillsKyash (In Japanese), YoroPay (In Japanese), etc.Financial InformationFinancial and economic data needs to be collected efficiently when an investor manages an asset or when a corporate business planning department makes a strategy. In response to such needs, using IT technology to analyze huge amounts of financial and economic data, a service that can obtain high-quality information in a short time has been created.Representative services for financial informationZUU, SPEEDA, etc.Fintech Chaos Map of JapanLastly, we would like to introduce the Japanese Fintech service landscape map announced by MA STAND.In addition to the services mentioned above, various companies provide services.Reference:【Fintech Industry Landscape Map 2019】Top 50 FinTech Companies in Japan / MA STANDConclusionMany fintech services have been created in Japan, and considering the magnitude of social impact and the acquisition of advanced technology for IT engineers, the fintech field is a very rewarding environment for them.If you are a foreign IT engineer who wants to work in the Japanese fintech industry, please register with GTalnet, a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will help you to find a job in the field of fintech for free.

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Unique Japanese Business Etiquette for Foreigners!

Japan is known throughout the world as a country with a unique culture and style such as sitting on the floor (Seiza) or eating holding tableware and bringing it closer to their mouth. This unique style is not only reflected in their personal lives, but also the Japanese business world.In this article, we would like to introduce some of the Unique Japanese Business Etiquette that cannot be learned in language schools and other schools for foreigners who are planning to work in Japan or are currently working in Japanese companies.Unique Japanese Business MannersExchange of Business CardsIn the U.S. and other countries, business cards are just contact information cards, but in Japan, it is used as a substitute for greetings. There are some things you should pay attention to when you exchange business cards because there is an old belief in Japan that a business card is the same as a person’s face.When to Exchange Business Cards?In Japan, when you meet someone for the first time, you must exchange business cards when you start working with them. This will be the first impression you get when doing business in Japan, so why not practice the following steps to help you get started?Procedure for exchanging business cardsWe’d like to give you a brief introduction to the process of exchanging business cards in Japan. Take a business cards from the business card case.The first person you need to exchange business cards with in any situation is the boss or superior you are visiting. Before exchanging business cards, you should take out enough cards for each person you are giving them to and place them underneath the card case. You should place your hand on your chest when exchanging cards. The inferior one in the business (Meshita) had to start the exchanging of the business card.When you exchange business cards in Japan, the basic rule is that the inferior person who is visiting should give their card first. The word “inferior” here does not refer to the skills, age or the position of the person, but to the person who offers a business idea. For example, if a salesperson is proposing a product to a company that has been approved for a visit, the salesperson must show his or her business card first. Be careful not to get this procedure wrong, as it is rude to the other party. Give the name of the Company and your Name.When exchanging business cards, instead of offering your business card silently, make eye contact with the person you are giving it to and say, “My name is XX and I work for XX company.Some foreign names are difficult for Japanese people to understand, so try to say your name slowly and clearly using the katakana pronunciation. Receive the business card with both hands.When accepting a business card, say “Thank you” (Choudai-Itashimasu) and accept it with both hands. When you receive the card, be careful not to block the part of the card where the other person’s name and company name are written with your fingers. If you do not know how to read the person’s name, ask the person when you receive the card. During business negotiations, put the business card you received on the left front.Place the other party’s superior’s business card on your card case and arrange them in order of seating position close to your left hand (if you are right-handed).Place the card case in the opposite direction of your dominant hand to prevent it from being dropped accidentally when you are taking notes (if your left-handed, place it close to your right hand).A society where your seat depends on the company hierarchyIn the Japanese business world, you must pay attention to your superiors when you are in a business meeting or a meal. Not just wording, you also need to pay attention to where you sit. Although the above business card exchange manner is well known abroad, the seating arrangement we are about to explain is not so well known in other countries, but it is a business etiquette that has existed in the Japanese business scene for a long time.The order of seating is ① > ② > ③, in order of high hierarchy.As shown in ① above, the seat farthest from the entrance is called “kamiza”. The seat closest to the entrance is called the “shimoza”; in the above diagram, “shimoza” is ③.The Origin of Kamiza & ShimozaIn the Japanese business world, it is common practice to recommend the “kamiza” to customers and superiors.The origin of these words was in ancient times (Muromachi Period 1336-1573) when Samurais still existed. To reduce the risk of the assassination of a nobleman or person of high status, they were to sit away from the entrance. Also, because of the large number of people coming and going out from big rooms, they started asking people of the higher status to sit farthest away from the entrance so that people of higher status would be more comfortable.Even now, this crisis management mindset is still present, not only in meetings but also in taxis and elevators, where we ask our bosses and superiors to sit in a position where they can be safe or stand in a position where they can avoid injuries in a case of breakdown.On-time = 5 minutes agoIn Japan, arriving on time is almost the same as being late for an appointment. Punctuality is taught from elementary school and is part of the Japanese culture. Therefore, it is important to arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the start of a business meeting. Before you leave for your destination, find out how to get there, and if you need to take a train, find out the departure time and transfer point in advance.“First names” or “Last names”?In foreign countries, people often introduce themselves by saying “I am XX” or “My name is XX”, starting with their first name. However, in Japan, when you are in a close relationship with someone, you often call them by their first name, so in Japanese business situations, you should basically call them by their last name with a “san” at the end, not their first name. If the person you are talking to is a customer, you should call them by their last name adding a “sama” at the end.ConclusionThese days, this type of business etiquette is becoming less common in Japan, but it can still be found in various business situations in Japan.However, if foreign employees can use Japanese business etiquette, they can show their colleagues and superiors that they have a positive attitude towards working at a Japanese company and can make a big difference to other employees who are not as well versed in this area.There is no loss in learning the above-mentioned business etiquette, so why not learn it for your career growth?