The IT sector in Japan continues to expand, however, as Japan’s shrinking population makes it harder for employers to fill posts, more of them are opening their positions to foreigners. Also, many foreigners are thrilled to improve their careers in Japan, but what motivates foreigners to work in Japan?We asked 100 Foreign IT Engineers about their reasons for the decision to work in the land of the rising sun and what found attractive on a job when chinging jobs in Japan. We will also share with you the current salary trend for IT engineers.Reasons to Work in JapanJapan is often said to be one of the most highly developed and technologically advanced nations in the world. Japan offers advanced technology in its major metropolises and beautiful landscapes that you can find just an hour away by train from Tokyo. We asked 100 foreign IT engineers their reasons to choose Japan as a work destination.Future Career AdvancementJapan offers exceptional opportunities to grow both technical and non-technical skills by working with high-end technology, along with talented engineers from around the world. Japan continues to lead the world in science and engineering, but due to the shortage of domestic IT-skilled talent and an increasing need for organizations to look overseas to fill the talent gap more companies are hiring top talent from around the globe. Many companies in Japan encourage working with the latest technology and tools to improve the technical skills of their engineers. As for non-technical skills, you will be encouraged to improve your planning, process, and eye for detail skills.Interest in Japanese CultureMany foreigners emphasize Japanese politeness. People in Japan tend to go out of their way to be helpful to others, the care put in interactions with others is one of the highlights of Japanese culture, and this translates in the workplace as people making an effort to be pleasant and non-confrontational. Apart from this, the food, the people, the architecture and the “kawaii” culture seem to be quite attractive for foreigners.Japan is Safe and Has a Good Living EnvironmentJapan is known for its relative safety with low crime levels, and Japanese cities are often globally ranked as the safest cities to live in. Japan puts a strong focus on crime prevention, making it less common to commit violent crimes. Violent crime in Japan is almost non-existent as the nation and its population value peace and prosperity over minor inconveniences or trifles that may lead to conflict.What is Attractive When Changing Jobs in Japan?In today’s highly competitive hiring landscape in Japan, IT engineers have endless work opportunities to choose from. Engineers are entering an expanding job market, which leads to more open jobs than skilled workers to fill them, that leaves employers at a disadvantage. So what exactly are foreign IT engineers putting weight on when choosing a job opportunity?Able to Use Their Experience and SkillsMany foreigners consider that being able to transfer their skills and abilities gained from previous working experiences and use them in their future career is the main reason for them to choose a new job opportunity. Being able to transfer their skills to new positions will help them go beyond their job description.The Job They Want to DoIT engineers who quickly learn new skills and gain experience from various places and situations may want to take it to the next step, maybe by applying for a manager position or just a position that allows them to thrive in their desired industry.Good SalaryA competitive salary is a key piece of talent attraction. Job seekers want to be paid their worth and to be compensated for the expertise and IT skills they bring to the table. Especially, in a competitive job market as it is Japan’s IT Industry. Check out our salary guide for up-to-date 2020 salary data found below that’ll help you stay competitive.Current Salary Trend of IT Engineers- November 2020This graph shows the results of a survey in which foreign IT engineers shared their current annual salary. From the pie chart, it is clear that the majority of foreign IT engineers in Japan, 42.7%, are below 4 million yen. Following the 29.2% earning more than 4 million and less than 6 million yen. 16.7% earns more than 6 million and less than 8 million yen and in the smaller group, only 11.5% earns more than 8 million yen.ConclusionIn conclusion, the results of this survey have shown that many foreign IT engineers found many attractive points about living in Japan. And while the salary is not as high compared to other countries, Japan offers a lot of other perks that make the country attractive to foreigners who seek job opportunities abroad.If you are a foreign IT engineer and you are thinking about changing jobs in Japan, please register to G Talent. G Talent is a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers, we work with start-ups and large companies that are eager to hire skilled foreign IT talent.

We would like to introduce some of the Japanese venture companies that are attracting attention in various fields of the space business industry.The first part of this article explains the current state of the industry and its classification, so if you want to understand the industry first, please refer to the previous article, “The Space Business Industry and Current Situation“.Featured Japanese Companies in the Space BusinessWe would like to introduce Japanese companies that are attracting attention in various fields of the space business.Manufacturing FieldThis field involves the manufacture of rockets, satellites and ground stations. Recently, an increasing number of companies are investing in the production of small rockets and small satellites.AxelspaceAXELSPACE is a Tokyo-based space start-up company specializing in the development of low-cost, short-duration nano-satellites. AXELSPACE’s small satellites are capable of detecting a wide range of anomalies, as they can routinely monitor the Earth from 600 km above the ground. In addition, the company is one of the companies that are attracting attention in the space business, which also analyzes and provides information on the data obtained from satellites.  Axelspace 2 tweets39 users74 pocketsホームhttps://www.axelspace.comSpace within Your Reach  Interstellar TechnologiesUnlike Axelspace, Interstellar Technologies, which was founded in 2013, is not developing small satellites, but rather small rockets and their launching. The company is also sponsored by the IT entrepreneur “Horiemon”, which has become a hot topic. In addition to small rockets, the company is also attracting attention for its efforts to develop low-cost liquid fuels.  インターステラテクノロジズ株式会社 – Interstellar Technologies Inc. 249 tweets21 users104 pocketsインターステラテクノロジズ株式会社 – Interstellar Technologies Inc.http://www.istellartech.com宇宙空間へ低コスト・オーダーメイドのロケット打ち上げサービスを提供します。宇宙圏に到達する観測用ロケットと小型衛星等を宇宙空間に運搬する軌道投入用ロケットを独自開発しています。  Infrastructure FieldSpace infrastructure, like terrestrial infrastructure, is an area that supports the services used by people around the world. Like terrestrial infrastructure, space infrastructure will become increasingly important for convenience, services, and national security/defense in the future.InfostellarGiving instructions to satellites has been complicated and has the disadvantage of being able to do it only a few times a day.Infostellar is trying to change that by getting satellite operators to share their antennas.By connecting antennas around the world and creating one network, they are working to make it possible for everyone, from meteorologists to farmers, to be connected to a satellite anytime, anywhere. In addition, the fact that the company has been selected for the ICT innovation creation challenge program (I-Challenge!) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) makes it an increasingly popular company.  Infostellar 2 usersインフォステラは、クラウドベースの地上局アグリゲーターStellarStationの提供を…https://infostellar.net/infostellar-jpAdd a description for facebook  Use of SatellitesThe use of satellites is used to study things such as location and climate change, and their use is used to improve overall services on earth.Magellan Systems JapanMagellan Systems is a company that provides high-precision satellite positioning systems. Magellan Systems is a company that contributes technologically to a wide range of fields, such as smart agriculture, automated driving, and drones, with its self-developed satellite positioning system.（What is Satellite Positioning System /Magellan Systems）  マゼランシステムズジャパン株式会社｜cm級の高精度衛星測位技術で世界を変えます 4 users9 pocketsマゼランシステムズジャパン株式会社｜cm級の高精度衛星測位技術で世界を変えますhttps://www.magellan.jpマゼランシステムズジャパンは、衛星受信モジュール開発のパイオニア企業です。  Use of SpaceThe use of space, as the name implies, represents making things in an environment that does not exist on Earth. For example, storing energy in an environment that is impossible on Earth, such as solar power, which is not affected by clouds or weather.PeptiDreamThanks to the zero-gravity environment of space, precipitation and condensation of aqueous components produced during the purification of proteins can occur, producing clean proteins and facilitating the analysis of their structure.This was the focus of PeptiDream. This was the inspiration for PeptiDream. Currently, PeptiDream provides treatments such as special peptide treatments and small-molecule treatments, and is also conducting high-quality protein crystal generation experiments in the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station “Kibo”.  www.peptidream.com 1 tweet8 users16 pocketsPEPTIDREAM INC ペプチドリーム株式会社https://www.peptidream.comペプチドリーム株式会社は、 非標準のペプチド治療薬の発見と開発を目的とした東京大学発のバイオベンチャー企業です。 PeptiDream Inc is involved in the discovery and development of nonstandard peptide therapeutics.  Space ExplorationSpace exploration is divided into two types: Human Space Exploration, where humans board rockets and other vehicles for space exploration, and UAV Space Exploration, in which an aircraft without a human pilot onboard goes into space.PD AerospaceThe company is developing a reusable aircraft for space transportation, combining jet combustion and rocket combustion, which could be developed in-houseIt is a high-profile venture that aims to make space travel a success.  pdas.co.jp 1 pocket宇宙機事業｜事業内容｜ＰＤエアロスペース株式会社｜民間主導の宇宙機開発。有人…https://pdas.co.jp/business01.htmlＰＤエアロスペース株式会社は民間主導の宇宙機開発を行い、有人機、無人機の完全再使用型の宇宙機を開発しています。  Space DebrisSpace debris is “debris generated by used satellites or collisions between satellites”. Removing this space debris is another important area of the space business.AstroscaleFounded in 2013, AstroScale provides active space debris removal services to mitigate the growth and danger of debris accumulation in space. Other services include in-situ space status checks to ensure that satellites and rockets do not collide with space debris.  J-Startup 1 pocket株式会社アストロスケール | J-Startuphttps://www.j-startup.go.jp/startups/005_astrosocale_japan_inc.htmlアストロスケールは、宇宙機の安全航行の確保を目指し、スペースデブリ（宇宙ゴミ）除去サービスの開発に取り組む初の民間企業です。シンガポール本社創設（2013年）以来、 日本でのR&D拠点設立（2015年）、英国子会社の設立（2017年）等、グローバルに事業を展開しています。持続可能な宇宙利用の為、技術、ビジネスモデル、法規制といった複数の課題解決に取り組み、スペースデブリ除去・軌道上サービスの展開を目指しています。  ConclusionWe sincerely hope that our previous and current articles on hot ventures in the space business industry will further deepen your interest in the space business.Also, if you are a foreign IT engineer looking for a job in the Japanese space industry, please register with GTalent, the leading recruitment agency for foreign IT engineers in Japan. Our professional consultants will help you find a job at a Japanese technology company for free.

We asked 100 Foreign IT Engineers about what they think foreigners need to succeed in a Japanese company. Understanding the local language and culture play a huge advantage in the workplace, but many other factors are also important. Find out here.Japan is a great place to live according to many rankings. The economy is stable, the crime rate is low and there are plenty of technology-related jobs. But, do foreigners really want to live permanently in Japan? Find out here for how long IT foreign engineers would like to stay in Japan, also how many years they would like to work in their next company.This article is volume 3 of the survey result about foreign IT engineer working in Japan. If you are interested in other volumes, please check out from following articles.Asking questions to non-Japanese IT engineers Vol. 1Asking questions to non-Japanese IT engineers Vol. 2What do foreigners need to succeed in a Japanese Company?Working in a Japanese company can be quite an adventure and it might be difficult to adjust to the many unspoken social norms. We asked 100 foreign IT engineers what do they think foreigners need in order to succeed in a Japanese company.Business Level Japanese ProficiencyMany Japanese companies are looking for IT talent with a business level of Japanese ability. Even for IT engineers, due to the frequent communication with co-workers and clients, Japanese ability has become the rule in order to successfully communicate and not miss important details regarding a project, the language ability also allows to make decisions together and not being left out. Many companies also think that the higher the Japanese level is, the higher is the commitment to Japan.Understanding of Japanese Corporate CultureThe Japanese language and the Japanese business culture is intertwined, by speaking the language makes it easier to understand some of the social norms and workplace rules. The work culture in Japan may come as a shock to those coming from abroad, but it is important to get to know the social rules to build meaningful business relationships. One of the most important values of Japanese culture is harmony, by prioritizing the needs of society rather than personal interest or opinion. Instead of making decisions based on individual authority, Japanese companies tend to emphasize group consensus in order to maintain peaceful cooperation within the organisation and harmony within the team.Able to Report, Contact and Consult (Ho-Ren-So)Horenso is a basic rule for business communication that is often employed by companies throughout Japan to ensure an efficient system of information sharing. The term is an acronym built of three words and stands for Hōkoku (報告) which means “report,” Renraku (連絡) which means “communicate,” and Sōdan (相談) which means “consult”.If you are planning to work at a Japanese company, then it is a good idea to remember this rule, as it will facilitate your job in a Japanese working environment.For How Long You Want to Live in Japan?This graph shows the results of a survey in which foreign IT engineers shared their plans for the future. From the pie chart, it is clear that the majority of foreign IT engineers in Japan, 56.5%, would like to live in Japan forever. Many foreigners enjoy the safety and stability that the country provides. Following the 18.5% who would like to at least stay for more than 3 years. 8.3% more than 6 years, and the smaller groups, with 6.5% that would like to either, stay for more than 1 year or more than 10 years.Japanese Level of IT EngineersThe better your Japanese skills, the more opportunities will be open to you. So, unless you have highly technical skills as an engineer you can be an exception to language requirements. According to GTalent’s database, this is the rate of Foreign IT engineers Japanese skill.This graph shows the results of a survey in which foreign IT engineers stated their current Japanese level. From the chart, the majority of foreign IT engineers in Japan, 42.6%, are skilled in business level Japanese. The next bigger group, 35.2% with a conversational level ability in Japanese. 10.2% are fluent in Japanese, 6.5% have no Japanese ability and only 5.6% have basic knowledge of Japanese. For many employers, basic ability of Japanese is the same as almost none, since most of them are still not able to maintain a conversation.For How Long Would You Like to Work in Your Next Company?The chart is divided into 6 parts. 54.2% of foreign IT engineers stated that they would like to stay forever in their next company. The group who would like to work for more than 3 years has the second largest number with 25%. Following is the group who would like to work for more than one year with 9.4% of the foreign IT engineers. The next three smaller groups are as follows, 5.2% more than ten years, 4.2% more than six years, and 2.1% less than a year.ConclusionIn conclusion, the results of this survey have shown that many foreign IT engineers find Japan attractive. Contrary to what many Japanese companies think, foreigners living in Japan are actually looking to stay most of their lives not only in Japan but even in their next company. As for the Japanese level, we would like to invite you to improve your Japanese skill if you are already thinking about staying in Japan forever. This will help you to thrive in your career in Japan as well as to understand Japanese business culture and have better business relations with your co-workers and clients.If you are a foreign IT engineer and you are thinking about changing jobs in Japan, please register to G Talent. G Talent is a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers, we work with start-ups and large companies that are eager to hire skilled foreign IT talent.

現在、サムスン、モトローラ、LG、ファーウェイなどの大手メーカーが、最新の技術を駆使して、「フォーダブル（foldable）スマホ」とも呼ばれる、折りたたみ式のスマートフォンを生産しています。2020年第2四半期の時点で、サムスンの「Galaxy Z Flip」と「Galaxy Fold」、モトローラの「Razr」、 ファーウェイの「Mate X」、LGの「V50 ThinQ」と「G8X ThinQ Dual Screen」などがすでに注目を集め、高い評価を得ています。LenovoやLGは、他にも折り畳み式のパソコンや折り畳み式のテレビなどの新しい折りたたみ製品にも挑戦したりと、各社熱い盛り上がりを見せています。そして日本でも現在、開発者たちは、この折り畳みタイプを活かしたアプリを開発するために、様々な課題に直面しています。ITエンジニアが折り畳み式のアプリを制作する際に直面する課題とはいったい何でしょうか。また、これから折り畳み式スマートフォンはどのような役割を果たしていくのでしょうか。今回の記事では、これらの疑問や今後の動きについてわかりやすく解説をいたします。アプリ開発、ITエンジニアにとっての課題スマートフォンやデバイスの進化系である「折りたたみ式」は、ユーザーにとっては無限の可能性を秘めています。一方で、アプリ開発会社は、折りたたみに適したアプリを作るために、多くの大きな壁に直面しています。アプリの引継ぎ新しいタイプのスマートフォンの画面が登場した今、ITエンジニアは、従来の画面でも折り畳み式の画面でも同じ使い勝手で使用できるアプリを開発する必要があります。さらに、ITエンジニアは、画面タイプによって異なる解像度や密度に適応できるアプリを用意する必要があります。以前は、アプリ開発者に求められていたのは、異なる種類のオペレーティングシステムや端末でスムーズに動作するアプリだけでした。しかし今では、折り畳み式の画面でもアプリを動作させることを考慮する必要があります。折り畳み式のために、開発者たちは、アプリケーションのエラーや誤動作の可能性をテストし、アプリが折り畳み式のデバイスで動作するかどうかをチェックしなければならないというプレッシャーが加わりました。マルチウィンドウ折りたたみ可能なデバイスでは、2つ（さらには3つ）のアプリを同時に実行できるようになったため、開発者は他のアプリとの同時使用が可能なアプリを開発する必要があります。このようなマルチウィンドウの分割画面は、開発者にとっては厄介な問題を引き起こします。そして、同時に起動されるアプリはすべて同じコアシステムを使用するため、同じ処理能力、バッテリー、メモリが使われます。さらに、開発者はユーザーの利便性を優先してアプリを作成するため、カメラや音声コマンドなどの機能を使用しているアプリを同時に起動させる可能性が高くなります。アプリ開発者だけでなく、メーカーにとっても、これらの複雑さに対応できるデバイスを作らなければならないということが今後の課題となるでしょう。折りたたみ端末向けアプリ開発の考慮点アプリ開発会社は、この新しい市場で地位を確立するためにも、大ヒットするアプリを開発したいと考えています。同時に、これまでにヒットさせたアプリに関しては、新しい流行下においても利益を上げ続けたいと考えています。アプリ開発者は、折りたたみ式スマートフォン用のアプリを作成したり、維持したりする際に、いくつかの点に注意する必要があります。リサイズ性折りたたみ式は通常のスマートフォンよりも大きな画面を持つため、ITエンジニアは、フルスクリーンまたはマルチウィンドウモードで表示されたときに自動応答するような高品質な解像度のアプリケーションの作成をする必要があります。両モードでの使い勝手アプリ開発者やITエンジニアは、折り畳み式デバイス用のマルチウィンドウモードにおいて、アプリがどの画面でもしっかりと機能していることを確認する必要があります。また、従来使用していた端末からのアプリの引継ぎをテストし、すぐに折りたたみ式でも使用できるか確かめる必要があります。画面比率折りたたみ式は最新のものであるため、ブランドはあらゆる形やサイズのデバイスを製造しており、ユーザーが本当に求めているものを見つけようとしています。このため、アプリ開発会社は、あらゆるタイプの折りたたみ式端末との互換性を確保するために、さまざまな画面比率でアプリをテストすることを余儀なくされています。品質現在、折りたたみ式デバイスの開発を目指す企業が増えているため、ITエンジニアはすべてのタイプの折りたたみ式デバイスに対応するアプリの品質を保証しなければなりません。幸いなことに、エミュレータの中には、特定のデバイスのソフトウェアを別の異なるプラットフォームや新しいプラットフォームでも同じように動作させることができるものもあります。折りたたみ式スマートデバイスの今後の展望Statista と USA Today によると、2022 年までに 5,010 万台の折りたたみ式端末が出荷されると予測されており、2020 年の海外出荷台数 1,360 万台から大幅に増加しています。この予測は、当初からの販売台数の増加を示しており、専門家が折りたたみ式スマホの将来にどれだけの信頼を寄せているかを示しています。消費者も技術愛好家も、折りたたみ式デバイスが、世界の技術的展望を変えるのに十分なものになることを期待しています。折りたたみ式デバイスの利点には、以下のようなものがあります。大画面でありながらコンパクト多くの人がスマートフォンとタブレットの両方を所有しています。彼らはスマートフォンを日常的に使用し、タブレットは娯楽目的で使用しています。タブレットは最先端技術の塊であることが証明されていますが、その大きさはユーザーにとっては少々不便でした。折りたたみ式スマホでは、それらの良い部分が1つになっているため、2つのデバイスを購入する必要がなくなる可能性があります。折りたたみ式スマホを広げるだけで、タブレットサイズの画面を手元に持ってくることができるのです。また、通常の携帯電話として使用し、バッグやポケットに収納することも可能です。マルチタスク能力前述したように、折りたたみ式では、ユーザーは同時に2つまたは3つのウィンドウを開くことができます。これにより、ユーザーは3つの異なるタスクを同時に実行することができます。最初のタブでスポーツのライブ観戦をし、別のタブでスプレッドシートの作業をし、家族や友人とチャットをすることができることを想像してみてください。ユーザーは、テレビ、ラップトップ、電話のニーズが1つのデバイスに詰まっているので、エネルギーを節約する新しい方法を持つことができるようになりました。より優れたハードウェアの搭載折りたたみ式は従来のスマートフォンよりもはるかに大きく、厚みがあるため、企業はより優れた、より効率的なハードウェアを製品に搭載することができます。テックブランドは、より大きなデュアルバッテリーを搭載することで、より長いバッテリー寿命を実現したり、より良いカメラセンサーを搭載して写真やビデオの撮影を改善したりと、より多くのハードウェアを搭載することができるのです。新鮮なデザイン初代iPhoneの発売に伴い、Appleの市場の支配が始まって以来、他のどのブランドもAppleの新製品のデザインを真似してきました。折りたたみ式の製品が登場したことで、企業は製品デザインの自由度を高めることができるようになりました。また、この分野はまだ初期段階にあるため、デザイン開発の余地は今後も拡大していくと思われます。【折りたたみ式スマホ】ITエンジニアのアプリ開発まとめ折りたたみ式デバイスは今後、成長を続ける技術市場に影響を与え、大きな革新を起こしていくことになるでしょう。各ブランド会社、アプリ開発会社がこの新しい技術トレンドに対応したバージョンを開発しするために、競争しているような状況になると考えられています。折りたたみ式デバイスの動きはまだ始まったばかりであるため、ITエンジニアは今後数年間、モバイルアプリを構築する上で新たな課題に直面することになると思いますが、安心してください。今のように、ITエンジニアたちはこれらの問題を修正していくことができるでしょう。参考ソース:https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2020/02/17/like-it-or-not-the-future-is-full-of-foldables/#6d14c4c27766https://www.mindinventory.com/blog/how-to-develop-apps-for-foldable-smartphones/https://servreality.com/blog/how-to-develop-apps-for-foldable-devices/https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/foldableshttps://mobidev.biz/blog/how-to-develop-apps-for-foldable-dual-screen-smartphoneshttps://buildfire.com/mobile-app-development-trends/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/Japan-s-suppliers-eagerly-eye-market-for-foldable-smartphoneshttps://japantoday.com/category/tech/samsung-to-launch-foldable-smartphone-in-septemberhttps://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019041001142/sharp-unveils-prototype-of-foldable-smartphone-display.htmlhttps://www.tomsguide.com/us/foldable-phones-release-date,news-28705.htmlhttps://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/146826-best-foldable-smartphoneshttps://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-fold-new-patent-foldable-phone-2020-7https://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianbridgwater/2019/05/06/why-foldable-phones-present-flexibility-challenges/#7203fd661f33https://www.mindinventory.com/blog/how-to-develop-apps-for-foldable-smartphones/https://appinventiv.com/blog/app-development-for-foldable-phones/https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2019/02/21/why-you-should-be-excited-for-foldable-phones-and-why-you-shoudnt/

COVID-19のパンデミックの中で、ますますモノのインターネットと呼ばれるIoT（Internet of Things）が注目を浴びています。IoTの発展により、あらゆるデバイスがインターネットと繋がることで、自宅にいながらでも問題なく仕事をすることができるようになりました。IoTではハイテクスマートフォンからウェアラブルデバイスまで、あらゆるタイプの装置を接続します。デバイスが情報を収集して分析し、収集した情報を使うことでデバイスができることが広がり、これまでになかった利便性を提供することができるようになっています。そして、自動車や家電製品など世界有数のデバイス技術を誇る日本は、IoTシステムを活用した最先端のデバイス開発が行われており、IoT開発エンジニアを目指す人にとって魅力的な国と一つと言えるでしょう。今回の記事では、モノのインターネット（IoT）の歴史と全体的な影響力、COVID-19の危機下での意義、IoT開発者・エンジニアの具体的な役割について解説します。IoTの歴史と普及モノのインターネット（IoT）という概念は70年代からありますが、この用語を最初に作ったのはプロクター・アンド・ギャンブル社のケビン・アシュトン氏（Kevin Ashton）です。アシュトン氏は、サプライチェーン最適化のために、RFID（無線周波数識別）と呼ばれる新技術についてのプレゼンテーションを行っていました。アシュトン氏は、RFIDを「モノのインターネット」と呼び、1990年代にはインターネットが大流行していたことから、皆の注目を集めていました。それ以来、IoTは、グーグルのような技術的大国の辞書の一部となっています。この言葉はフォーブスやワイアードなどのメディアにも取り上げられ、IoTの人気の高さを物語っています。IoTはどこにでもあり、私たちが知らないうちに、その自動化されたシステムに毎日にアクセスしています。例えば、ホームセキュリティシステムは、不正侵入などの家の周りの不審な動きをユーザーに伝えるためにIoTを使用します。さらに目をベースとした識別を介して、所有者の進入を許可します。自動車では、主に駐車センサーやアダプティブクルーズコントロールにIoTが活用されており、運転をより快適で安全なものにしています。ヘルスケア業界でさえ、患者の状態を評価して監視することに加えて、健康上の問題を検知することにIoTを利用しています。さらに、モノのインターネットは、人々の安全と安心だけに留まらず、工場の製造プロセスをより最適化することも可能にします。IoTによって経営者は、工場がどれだけのエネルギーを使用しているか、どの製品をリサイクルできるか、現在の在庫数はどれくらいか、一日の生産性はどれくらいかを知ることができます。これらすべてを利用することで、オーナーはコストを効果的に削減し、工場のどの部分を改善する必要があるかを特定することができます。もっと大きな規模では、都市はコミュニティ全体に高速インターネットを提供することでIoTを活用しています。IoTは、都市計画部門を発展させ、公衆衛生や交通などの問題に焦点を当てることで、都市が将来に向けてより持続可能なものになることを可能にしています。サーモスタット（毎月の使用量を追跡する）、目覚まし時計（スマートフォンやコンピュータを介してアラームを設定する）、さらには自動販売機（リアルタイムのデータを使用して最も需要のある製品を特定し、より良い利益のために価格を調整する）のような一般的なものにもIoTは使われています。モノのインターネットがコロナウイルスとの戦いにどのように役立つかご存知の通り、COVID-19の危機は世界全体の日常を変えてしまいました。世界中の人々が「新しい日常」に適応することを余儀なくされており、コロナウイルスの状況というルールの下で日常業務を安全に続けようとする上で、モノのインターネットは重要な役割を果たしています。IoTは、感染の疑いがある人や感染した人を追跡するために活用されており、公共の安全を確保する上で極めて重要な役割を果たしています。他の地域では、政府が動きを監視できるように、市民に対応するQRコード付きのリストバンドが配られています。COVID-19の患者数が世界的に多いため、多くの病院は今、コロナウイルスに関連する問い合わせに答えるためにIoTを活用しています。そのため、わざわざ医療センターに行って尋ねる必要がありません。インターネットで、地元の病院のウェブサイトを調べるだけで、自動化されたチャットボットがコロナウイルス関連の質問に答えてくれます。また、モノのインターネットのおかげで、家から出なくても、コミュニケーションをとり、会いに行くことができます。遠く離れた家族、友人、同僚、さらにはかかりつけの医師や医師とのビデオ会議を音声コマンドを使って開始することができるようになりました。IoT開発者・エンジニアの役割と責任世界の現状があるからこそ、今、IoTの開発者やエンジニアがこれまで以上に必要とされています。今後の技術の進化は、わたしたちの未来の安全を確保するものになる可能性が非常に高いです。日本は、昔から技術産業国であるため、こうしたIoTの専門家が求められてきました。では、彼らは具体的に何をしているのでしょうか。まず、常にロボットを使った実験を行っています。モノのインターネットのコンセプトは、2つのデバイスを相互に通信させることであるため、IoTの開発者やエンジニアは、人間の手を借りなくても簡単に指示やタスクを処理できるような機械を作り、開発するために最善を尽くしています。また、日本のIoTエンジニアや開発者は、常に最新の情報を入手し、最新のソフトウェアに精通しておく必要があります。企業は常に最高のものだけでなく、最先端の技術を生み出す競争をしているので、一般の人には馴染みのない素材を使って製品を作っています。また、既存の技術の中には、その上に構築してさらに発展させることができるものもあるため、古いソフトウェアに対する知識も必要となります。さらに、この国のIoTエンジニアや開発者は、データ分析に長けている必要があります。バッチ並列処理、複雑なイベントの処理、機械学習の実装、データの可視化などの幅広いバックグラウンドが求められます。日本のIoTエンジニアや開発者は、スマートフォンやタブレット、パソコンを介してIoTを利用するユーザーが増えているため、モバイルやウェブのユーザーアプリケーションに精通しています。iOSとAndroidはスマートフォン業界のトップ2のOSであるため、iOSとAndroidに精通しています。また、WebユーザーアプリケーションのためのJava、.NET、HTML、CSS、JavaScript、PHPを深く理解しています。まとめIOTの技術は、わたしたちの生活をより便利にしてくれるものであるため、モノのインターネットの人気の高まりは、今後も高まっていくと考えられます。現在、COVID-19の危機の下では、IoTシステムを搭載したデバイスが危機に対処するための重要なツールであることが証明されています。IoTエンジニアや開発者の専門知識は、安全対策におけるより多くのイノベーションにつながり、うまくいけばCOVID-19パンデミックを間もなく克服することが可能になるかもしれません。IoTエンジニアや開発者になることに興味がありますか？あなたの夢の仕事が日本で待っているかもしれません。Sources:https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/internet_of_things.html#:~:text=Examples%20of%20objects%20that%20can,systems%2C%20vending%20machines%20and%20more.https://www.wired.co.uk/article/internet-of-things-what-is-explained-iothttps://www.businessinsider.com/internet-of-things-devices-exampleshttps://iot-analytics.com/internet-of-things-definition/#:~:text=But%20the%20actual%20idea%20of,during%20his%20work%20at%20Procter%26Gamble.https://www.iotforall.com/the-growing-role-of-iot-in-covid-19-response/https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/263/4/042026/pdfhttps://builtin.com/internet-things/iot-in-vehicleshttps://builtin.com/internet-things/iot-exampleshttps://www.persistent.com/industries/industrial/offerings/smart-electronic-appliances-ecosystem/https://iotdunia.com/smart-thermostat/https://www.instructables.com/id/IoT-Smart-Alarm-Clock-Open-Source-Project/https://www.telit.com/industries-solutions/retail/vending-and-kiosk/https://www.autodesk.com/industry/manufacturing/resources/mechanical-engineer/iot-internet-of-things-essentials-for-engineershttps://ncube.com/industries/iot

Video streaming has become part of everyone’s daily activities ever since the start of Youtube. The development of mobile devices has made video content more accessible to people, whether on a long bus ride home or while waiting in a coffee shop. By 2021, an average person is expected to spend 100 minutes a day watching online videos.Nowadays, several streaming platforms are available in every country. With the recent pandemic, online streaming consumption worldwide increased while Netflix became the top streaming platform.In Japan, most people still prefer to watch movies and shows on TV. However, the younger generation has become heavy users of online streaming platforms for its convenience. Part of its appeal is the convenient access to these streaming sites and other forms of entertainment in one device. But this type of service wouldn’t be possible without the work of IT engineers.IT Engineers in Video Streaming App DevelopmentThe influx of viewers on these video streaming platforms causes servers to shut down. It’s an IT engineer’s task to fix this and other similar issues to keep viewers entertained while staying at home during the pandemic. Their job also includes the maintenance and development of more features that would best fit any device used for this service.Building a Video Streaming PlatformsIT engineers have to be versatile in this field of work. Not only do they handle several data, but they also are working on different specializations of IT work. If you are looking forward to working in Japan’s video streaming market, you have to know the necessary tools and information to develop online video streaming platforms.Machine Learning AlgorithmsAlgorithms are necessary for any streaming services. It helps recommend to users a selection of movies they might want to watch based on their viewing history or analyze a user’s rating to improve the platform. Therefore, IT engineers must be equipped with knowledge in machine learning algorithms to provide the best user experience.Cloud hostingIT engineers working on a video streaming service handle several types of data and video content. Keeping the servers running is an integral part of the work. Instead of using a single server, companies prefer cloud hosting platforms to balance the load. If one server fails, another server kicks in and keeps your video streaming service running.Moreover, cloud hosting platforms allow quick access to video content, and it’s easy to increase their space. They are also a cheaper option compared to purchasing hard drives. Therefore, IT engineers must be familiar with several cloud hosting platforms to provide clients the best options for their video streaming service.Computing ArchitectureDeveloping a video streaming platform requires a complex architecture. A cloud architect is responsible for designing the features necessary in an online video streaming platform, such as the search engine, recommendation system, caching architecture, and A\B testing, with cloud computing.Network ConnectionDepending on the project’s scale, video streaming services must be integrated into a content delivery network (CDN) to handle significant traffic. CDNs serve a large portion of the internet today, including graphics, scripts, downloadable media files, software, live streaming media, and on-demand streaming media. An IT engineer must know the content delivery techniques needed to be applied in the service.SecurityCustomers have to input sensitive information like credit details in a subscription-based video streaming platform. IT engineers must have vast knowledge in cybersecurity to prevent these important data from being accessed by anyone.Also, the security of the video streaming service includes the monitoring of server failure. IT engineers will have to develop safety precautions in accessing accounts on different devices. They also deal with domain restrictions and watermarking for extra live stream security.Other SkillsIT engineers must be equipped with the necessary programming languages, primarily PHP, Ruby, and JavaScript. They should have experience in web or mobile application development, basic TCP/IP knowledge, and be capable of handling network and server designing. Experience in live streaming protocols such as RTSP, RTMP, WebRTC, HLS will give you an edge in the industry.Development ProcessIT teams work together for more than 300 hours, depending on how big the video streaming service is. They have to work on several functions and designs to provide customers the best user experience. Here’s a breakdown of the tasks of each stage in the development process. User RegistrationIt takes about 32 hours to work on the registration feature in a video streaming platform. The task includes testing of the email confirmation and addition of login options. User ProfileThis part of the process takes a shorter time. In 16 hours, engineers brainstorm and apply the account’s functions and personalization, such as editing names, uploading photos, and showing a user’s preferred genre, actors, and movies. Subscription and Payment GatewayIn this part of the development process, the team and the client will choose the best monetization model, whether as pay-per-view, advertising, or subscription, and preferred payment method for the video service. The application of the subscription and payment gateway features takes 80 hours to accomplish. Notifications, Content Search, and Reviews and RatingsPush notifications remind users of the new movie or series available and advise them of subscription notices and options. Moreover, the search bar needs to provide several options, such as genre, ratings, and more, to provide the best video content selection. The application of these features will take 88 hours of the team’s time. DesignThis part of the process is the most demanding of all. IT engineers must produce the best layout to provide a seamless user interface to all types of devices. The whole process could take 100 hours or more since it involves several confirmations from the team and the client.ConclusionThe market size of Japan’s paid streaming services reached 277 billion yen in 2019. With the recent pandemic, video consumption is set to increase as people spend more hours on their mobile devices and computers. The doubling of the market size from 2015 to 2019 shows that Japanese consumers are embracing this new form of entertainment.As more subscribe to video streaming platforms, the need for better content and features in these services arise. Therefore, it is expected that the need for IT engineers will increase in the industry, opening several opportunities for foreign IT engineers to fill.Sources:https://theappsolutions.com/blog/how-to/app-like-netflix/https://www.hostinger.ph/tutorials/what-is-cloud-hostinghttps://www.computersciencedegreehub.com/faq/what-is-computer-architecture/https://interestingengineering.com/how-exactly-does-netflix-recommend-movies-to-youhttps://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-platforms/video-marketing/video-marketing-statistics-to-know/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2020/04/11/digital/streaming-isolation-apps/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097284/japan-svod-market-share-by-service/https://en-gage.net/itochu-cable_saiyo/work_837767/

There has been a lot of business news about space lately.IHI has developed an engine for a small artificial satellite at a third of its original price; Amazon is planning to launch 3,000 satellites; SpaceX is planning to launch more than 10,000 satellites, and so on. Major companies and venture capitalists from the United States, China, and other countries around the world have entered the space business and are investing heavily in it, making it more exciting than ever.In this article, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the current state of the global space industry and its various fields for those who are new to the industry. The article is also available in Japanese: 宇宙ビジネス業界の現状をわかりやすく解説！.The Space Business FieldWhen you think of the space business, rockets are probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, the space business actually includes a wide range of fields other than rockets.What is space business?The business of launching and operating satellites and utilizing data for commercial purposes in space. The space business is a general term for businesses related to space, including companies that provide services such as satellite broadcasting, communications, and satellite data utilization for commercial purposes, as well as the space industry related to infrastructure, such as the manufacture of rockets and satellite equipment and facilities for the military, which is supported by government demand.Reference：Kotobank / What is the Space Business?In addition to rockets, the space business encompasses many other areas, including using satellite data to improve services on the ground. Also, the space business has been especially booming in recent years.Next, I’d like to explain why this industry is now so active.Why is the Space Business so popular right now?On May 30 (local time), the spacecraft “Crew Dragon” of the U.S. SpaceX was successfully launched and docked to the space station on May 31.You can watch the whole process from launch to docking on YouTube and other sites, but watching the touch screen installed in the Crew Dragon’s cabin and the two astronauts changing from their spacesuits to polo shirts and chinos along the way, it seemed like the threshold for space travel had been lowered.Reference: WEDGEInfinity / Why is the Space Business so popular right now?Compared to a few years ago, space has become more accessible, with private companies being able to successfully launch manned rockets into space.With the announcement by the U.S. company Amazon plans to launch 3,000 satellites for communications services and SpaceX plans to launch more than 10,000 satellites for communications as well, companies from other countries are expected to join the rush of launches by these two major companies.In addition to the growing demand for small satellites for sensing from space, the cost of launching small rockets, which have a shorter lifespan than conventional rockets, has decreased and the frequency of launches has increased, which is one of the major factors boosting the space business.However, various problems have arisen in this business.For example, how to collect Space Debris?(Garbage generated by used satellites and collisions between satellites)Businesses related to space debris are also receiving a great deal of attention, with a number of leading ventures recently emerging to solve this problem.In the next section, I would like to categorize the space business and explain each category in detail.Classification of the Space BusinessIn this explanation, we have divided the space business industry into three categories.Three categories of Space BusinessManufacturing & InfrastructureSpace UtilizationSpace ResearchI’d like to explain each of these with an industry map.Manufacturing & InfrastructureManufacturing FieldThis field manufactures rockets, satellites and ground stations. The field of manufacturing of small rockets and small satellites has been attracting a lot of investment recently.Infrastructure FieldSpace infrastructure, like terrestrial infrastructure, is the invisible backbone of services used by people around the world. Like terrestrial infrastructure, space infrastructure is an area that will become increasingly important in the future for convenience, services, and national security and defense. Space UtilizationThe utilization of space can be divided into two categories: the use of satellites and the use of space.Use of SatellitesThe use of satellites refers to the use of satellites to study location information and climate change. In other words, satellites at this time are used to improve services on earth.Use of SpaceAs the name implies, the use of space represents making things in an environment that does not exist on Earth. For example, it means storing energy in an environment that cannot exist on Earth, such as solar power, which is not affected by clouds or weather. Space ResearchThe goal of this field is to help humans enter space.There are two main types of space exploration: manned space exploration, in which humans board rockets and other vehicles to explore space, and unmanned space exploration, in which only a spacecraft goes into space without a human presence.Unlike manufacturing/infrastructure and space utilization, this is an area of space business where the goal is not to improve services on Earth, but to expand the scope of activities into space. ConclusionIn this article, we have introduced the concept of the space business and its constituent fields. In the next article, we would like to give you detailed information about each field and introduce you to some representative companies in each area.If you are a foreign engineer looking for a job in the Japanese space industry, please register with G Talent , the leading recruitment agency for foreign IT engineers. Our professional consultants will help you find a job in the Japanese Space Business for free.

外国人ITエンジニアの人材紹介サービスGTalentは、2020年8月24日〜9月11日にかけてGTalentに登録する外国人ITエンジニアに対して日本就業に対する意識・実態を測るアンケート調査を実施いたしました。日本企業が外国人ITエンジニアを採用・定着・活躍する上で、実際に日本企業で働く外国人ITエンジニアが何を考え、何に悩んでいるのか、アンケートを通してリアルな声をお届けすることで、日本企業と外国人ITエンジニアのより良いマッチングや成長に貢献したいと考え、今回のアンケート調査を実施いたしました。これからアンケートの概要や簡単なサマリーをご案内致します。より詳細なデータをお求めの企業様は資料ダウンロードフォームから今回のアンケート調査結果をダウンロード可能です。アンケート調査の概要調査名称外国人ITエンジニアの日本就業に対する意識・実態の調査調査方法インターネットによる調査（日本語＆英語両方で質問を表記）調査期間2020年8月24日〜9月11日調査対象者外国人ITエンジニアの転職支援サービスGTalentの登録者へ実施。108名の外国人ITエンジニアがアンケートへ回答。【サンプル構成】全体：108サンプル①日本国内在住者：102サンプル（①の内、現在日本で就業中：96サンプル）②海外在住者：6サンプル※サンプルの約90%は日本国内在住かつ現在日本就業中の外国人ITエンジニア実施主体ビズメイツ株式会社タレントソリューション事業部 コンサルティンググループ※外国人ITエンジニアの転職支援サービス『GTalent』を運営調査結果こちらの資料ダウンロードフォームより調査結果資料のダウンロードが可能です。アンケート調査のサマリー1.日本語ができても英語で仕事を探すITエンジニアが多い今回のアンケートにおいて6割以上が求人を探す時は英語を優先すると回答。また、日本語ビジネスレベル以上の人材においても４割以上が英語を優先と回答。2.仕事選びでは経験・スキルの発揮を重視、出身地域別に仕事選びの特徴が発生仕事選びにおいては経験・スキルの発揮、仕事の内容、給料を重視。また、東南アジアや南アジア出身者は新規事業・技術のキーワードに魅力を感じやすく、東アジア出身者は逆に低い等、仕事探しで魅力となるキーワードに地域別の特徴が発生。3.日本企業のキャリアパスの不明確さに不満現在日本で働いている回答者のうち、5割以上が現在の会社に対して“キャリアパスが不明確”であることが不満と感じている。4.ほとんどの外国人ITエンジニアが就職・転職した会社でずっと働きたいと考えている現在日本で働いている回答者のうち、5割以上が就職・転職した会社でできる限りずっと働きたいと考えており、9割近くが3年以上は働きたいと考えている。5.外国人の受け入れ体制が働く上で重要現在の会社に対して、外国人の受け入れ体制や上司・同僚のサポートなど外国人が支援してもらえる環境を満足にあげる回答が目立つ。6.日本企業で働くためには日本企業文化への適応が重要と感じている外国人が日本企業で活躍するために重要なものとして、日本語スキル、日本企業文化の理解、周囲との協調性など日本企業への適応力に関する回答が上位を独占。7.“外国人・異文化への理解”を最も日本企業がやるべきこととして感じている日本企業がやるべきこととして、50%以上が“外国人・異文化への理解”と回答。その次に、“ワークライフバランスの整備”や“外国人へのビジネス日本語教育”も高い回答率で続く。アンケート調査結果のダウンロード外国人ITエンジニアの日本就業に対する意識・実態アンケート調査の資料ダウンロードは以下より可能です。外国人ITエンジニアの日本就業に対する意識・実態アンケート調査結果（2020年10月）ダウンロードフォーム調査結果の詳細や外国人ITエンジニアの採用に関して、何かございましたらいつでもGTalentへお問い合わせください。

The IT sector in Japan continues to expand, however, it is still predicted that in the year 2030, there will be a shortage of IT engineers with 420,000 to 790,000. Recently, the number of companies which recruit foreign IT engineers is increasing. In a competitive situation, they strive to hire talented engineers. But, how is it like to work as an IT engineer in Japan?We asked 100 Foreign IT Engineers about their experience, their main concerns, what makes them feel supported by their employers, and what kind of companies they want to work for.Main ConcernsYour first job as an IT engineer in Japan starts off exciting. Maybe working in Japan was your dream, but after a few weeks, the downsides of the job start getting to you. GTalent conducted a survey and realized that foreigners found negative aspects of working in Japan that made them consider changing jobs. The most reoccurring ones are shown in the chart below:Career Path is UnclearThis was the most common concern among IT engineers who are currently working in Japan. This makes them feel unsure about where they are going in life and it’s difficult to set meaningful work goals, also, it is easy to become demotivated and disinterested in the job. By changing jobs to a company that supports your career, you will be able to find motivation and be eager to add value to the company.Training and Education System is not SubstantialThe importance of adequate employee training can severely impact team morale. Strong development and career progression opportunities are considered among the most compelling and yet, seems to be a common concern for IT engineers in Japan who want to work with the latest technology.The lack of training of IT engineers might lead to poor job performance and increased levels of work-related stress.Can’t Get Rewards According to their Abilities and EvaluationA feature of the Japanese pay system is that many companies employ on a “seniority-based system,” whereby salaries are increased in nearly direct proportion to age and the years of service. While this evaluation system has been changing over the years in many Japanese companies, some IT engineers in Japan still face this problem, where their age sometimes plays an important role in salary increases.What Makes Them Be Satisfied with Their Workplace?Many companies in Japan want to leverage their foreign employees’ strengths and use their unique perspectives as an advantage. It’s good to keep in mind the positive aspects that motivate foreign employees.Use of Japanese Language in the WorkplaceMany foreigners with Japanese skills prefer to work in a full Japanese environment to improve their language skills. This seems to be an important factor to those who wish to fully immerse in Japanese culture.A Full Implemented System for Accepting ForeignersMany foreigners prefer to work in an inclusive company, in which Japanese and foreign staff can work in a comfortable environment. This also means that companies need better systems and programs to help foreign workers learn the Japanese language and integrate different cultures into the company smoothly.Support from their SurroundingsCreating relations that go beyond the working environment is fundamental for many IT engineers in Japan. Of course, communication can be hard, especially at the beginning, since you might not be able to speak Japanese, that’s why many foreigners appreciate the support from their colleagues and bosses.What is the Most Important Factor for Different Cultures?We separated our candidates into 4 main areas: Western World, South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia.Western WorldWestern Candidates stated that 3 factors were equally important. Comparing with other cultures western candidates emphasized the importance of Work-life Balance.South AsiaFor South Asian cultures, many candidates considered important the relationship with their colleagues and bosses. It seems that mutual support in the working environment is highly appreciated. oSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asians made emphasis on wanting to work while using their Japanese language skills. The opportunity to get to blend with the locals and get to know more about Japanese culture through the language is an important reason for choosing a company.East AsiaEast Asian IT engineers are also looking for a Japanese working environment where they can make use of their Japanese language skills. While they also aim to work on a company that has implemented a system for hiring foreigners, they as well want to work with the best talent. Working with skilled engineers who are experts at their job improves business productivity, which leads to improving workplace relations, as they will be able to get on with the job and work harmoniously with their colleagues.What Do Japanese Companies Should Do in Order for Foreigners to Play an Active Role?IT engineers from different cultures agreed that Japanese companies should be more open to the international community and take the initiative to promote diversity in the workplace. In addition, they should adjust the work-styles to more flexible ones and improve the Work-life balance.As we mentioned above, many foreigners are looking forward to getting along with the locals and get to know more about Japanese culture, so a Japanese language education is a benefit that foreign workers would appreciate having.As for foreign IT engineers, technology is an important aspect to consider when changing jobs, so a company that uses the latest technology and takes new business and technology challenges seems to be more appealing and would attract skilled IT engineers.ConclusionOverall, the results of this survey have shown that many foreign IT engineers are looking for more inclusive workplaces. A company that promotes diversity and understands the difference between cultures with an open approach can contribute to creating a better workplace where the employees can thrive and improve productivity.If you are a foreign IT engineer and you are thinking about changing jobs in Japan, please register to G Talent. G Talent is a recruitment agency specialized in foreign IT engineers, we work with start-ups and large companies that are eager to hire skilled foreign IT talent.

When the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus or COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, multiple countries immediately felt its impact. China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy were among the initial nations with the highest number of cases.Another country that was heavily affected by the worldwide health crisis early on was Japan. A month after COVID-19 was officially recognized as a pandemic, it already tallied close to 800 new infected cases.But amazingly, Japan managed to suppress the virus from spreading disastrously. Japan’s coronavirus peak happened on August 03, 2020, when they reached just two new cases shy of 2,000.That figure may seem worrisome when you consider that Japan is a first-world country, but it is relatively minuscule compared to their superpower counterparts. During the same period, the United States of America was fast approaching the 50,000 new active cases territory. India, another top nation, easily surpassed the 50k mark by that point.To further illustrate just how effective the Japanese government has been in managing the coronavirus ordeal, as of October 2020, the United Kingdom, which has a population of approximately 58 million people less than Japan, has 690,000 more total COVID-19 infections.The secret behind the country’s success in controlling the coronavirus is its excellent healthcare industry. Japan’s healthcare workforce, much like the rest of the world, consists of a collection of health and medical professionals, all working to improve the nation’s overall well-being and health service continuously.While these healthcare professionals undoubtedly deserve all of the praise and recognition they receive for their consistent brilliance, there are also other unsung heroes supporting the healthcare field who are worthy of acknowledgment. One of the most overlooked are IT engineers.In this article, we’ll cover the roles of IT engineers in Japan’s healthcare industry amid COVID-19.Japan’s Healthcare IndustryTo fully understand IT engineers’ and professionals’ roles in Japan’s healthcare system, we must first overview the industry itself.In terms of healthcare, Japan is considered to be among the world’s very best. For starters, healthcare is inexpensive, virtually free, and it covers everyone living within the country’s borders. This includes Japanese citizens and naturalized expats. Even foreigners can avail of free healthcare, granted that they stay for more than a year.Because their world-renowned healthcare system is affordable, the country has always maintained a high life expectancy. Japan is currently ranked 2nd in the entire world with an 85.03 years old average lifespan, only being surpassed by Hong Kong’s 85.29.Their high-quality healthcare industry also boasts over 8,300 medical facilities scattered across the island country to accommodate the 126 million population. Additionally, the government has prepared 13 hospital beds for every 1000 citizens, which is well above the global average.Although Japan is currently enjoying an excellent and organized medical system, its government administration and healthcare industry face a unique challenge, with ramifications soon to be felt.As of now, 28% of Japan are aged 65 and older. That figure is expected to skyrocket to 35% or over a third of the entire population by 2040. This means that the number of senior citizens who need medical attention will easily outnumber the healthcare workers supposed to take care of them.Japan is now trying to make up for the nation’s rapidly aging population and a potential insufficient number of healthcare workers by investing in state-of-the-art medical technology. But the types of machinery and equipment are not only expected to help in Japan’s aging dilemma; they are also meant to prevent, manage, and combat situations such as pandemics in the caliber of COVID-19.Roles of IT Engineers in HealthcareIT engineers’ mastery of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, software, programming, etc. has made them some of the most versatile and reliable medical technology experts. Their knowledge and experience in the field have helped Japan’s healthcare industry to be leaps and bounds ahead of other first-world nations.Amid COVID-19, IT engineers have showcased how medicine can be made more convenient and accessible through AI. Artificial intelligence has helped medical professionals and experts conduct virtual checkups, treat patients, do extensive research, and control the infection’s spread.IT engineers also have their hands full in areas such as data storage. Data storage is a major strand in the fight against the pandemic. Keeping, supplying, and retrieving critical information that includes medical and travel histories, symptom monitoring, and close contact tracing can ultimately help flatten the curve.The Japanese government and its health experts also rely on IT engineers for data collection and analysis. These types of information can help the government enact the proper laws necessary for facing the current health crisis and be of much help for possible future ones. Health experts also use the data to better comprehend the virus, which will guide the process of coming up with solutions.Outside of COVID-19 management, IT engineers will also be of service to other essential healthcare technologies like medical devices and materials, clinical laboratory testing, healthcare ICT, assistive technologies, and infrastructure.Qualifications of an AI Engineer in Japan’s Healthcare IndustryEven before the coronavirus crisis, artificial intelligence had been a driving force for Japan’s healthcare industry. In 2019, Tokyo Women’s Medical University–Waseda University Joint Institute for Advanced Biomedical Sciences had successfully performed a brain surgery that treated a patient’s essential tremor with a cutting-edge robot.Smart Cyber Operating Theater or SCOT, which was part AI, part robotics, led the groundbreaking surgery. The machine instructed the surgeons on which parts of the brain should be prioritized, what types of incisions should be executed, and even conducted surgical prognosis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the surgery was on-going.With AI gaining more traction in the healthcare field and advances being more prevalent, it is no wonder why more and more IT professionals have now taken their talents to be AI engineers in Japan’s healthcare industry. And many economic experts believe that this is the ideal career move for IT engineers, as the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are in need of 120,000 AI specialists by 2030.AI engineers working in Japan will generally spearhead AI research and development in the healthcare industry. So, most medical employers will be seeking the best and most knowledgeable in C #, C ++, and Python. Moreover, they’ll also be looking for candidates who are proficient in the internet of things (IoT) and big data.Because of their artificial intelligence expertise, IT engineers have become some of the most sought-after professionals in Japan’s campaign against COVID-19.SummaryJapan’s healthcare industry is among the best in the world. Their world class healthcare amidst the COVID-19 crisis can be attributed to medical institutions fast-forwarding technological applications to their operations and diagnostics, with the help of IT engineers.IT engineers play a significant role in Japan’s medical initiatives and the overall success in the coronavirus age. The impact and value of their knowledge and expertise in medical technology could likely be one reason why this pandemic will be no more shortly.Sources:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53981828https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/japan-population/#:~:text=Japan%202020%20population%20is%20estimated,of%20the%20total%20world%20populationhttps://ccchclinic.com/importance-benefits-primary-health-care/https://opentoexport.com/article/healthcare-and-medical-sector-in-japan/https://www.eu-gateway.eu/news/healthcare-medical-technologies-japan-trends-and-opportunities-0https://www.eubusinessinjapan.eu/library/publication/report-developments-in-the-japanese-healthcare-industryhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190625005862/en/The-11.9-Trillion-Global-Healthcare-Market-Key-Opportunities-Strategies-2014-2022—ResearchAndMarkets.comhttps://jintensivecare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40560-020-00452-5https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/how-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-medicine