Blueprint Japan with Oğuzhan

Steven Li, Director at Robert Half Tokyo, shares how foreigners can build their careers and their wealth in Japan, from becoming a CISO to property investing, NISA, and angel tax incentives.What happens to your savings when inflation doubles overnight? And why are so many high-earning foreigners in Japan losing ground by sitting on cash?In this episode of Blueprint Japan, I talk with Steven Li, Director at Robert Half Tokyo, who leads cybersecurity recruitment and the data team. We cover how he rebuilt the recruitment experience in Japan, what separates future CISOs from everyone else, and how he went from skeptic to owning four investment properties.We get into:• Why business impact beats technical skill on the path to CISO• “Chase the person, not the job order”: building a network that compounds• The inflation thought experiment: who wins, who loses• Buying property in Osaka and Tokyo, with and without permanent residency• How rental property depreciation can reduce your taxable income (with my clarification on the real numbers)• Japan’s angel tax incentive and investing through Shizen Capital• Diversification, the all-weather portfolio, and a set-and-forget NISA strategy• Where to start if you just arrived: NISA → furusato nozei → property• Sovereign AI, and choosing between a startup and a big Japanese companyChapters00:00 Highlights01:15 Meet Steven Li02:41 How to become a CISO04:45 Fixing recruitment in Japan07:00 Building a network that compounds09:00 The inflation thought experiment11:00 Real estate as a foreigner15:30 Clarification: tax deductions on rental property17:40 Is buying in Tokyo or Osaka a mistake?19:30 Sponsor: RealEstate.jp20:10 Permanent residency and zero-down loans23:15 Owning four properties25:50 Angel tax and Shizen Capital31:35 Who earns ¥30M+ in Japan?34:50 Managing risk and diversification39:00 iDeCo vs. NISA39:40 Where to start when you’re new to Japan42:30 Steven’s ETF strategy45:40 Sovereign AI47:45 Startup or big company?49:20 Steven’s three tips for building wealth in JapanConnect with Steven on LinkedIn: Steven Li (“Cyber Steve”)Sponsored by RealEstate.jp. Thinking of buying a home in Japan? Emil Gorgees and the team help foreign buyers find the right property and financing: https://realestate.jp/This episode is for information only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax rules and figures depend on your situation, so please consult a licensed tax accountant before making investment decisions.

What happens when student life in Japan ends and working life begins?In Part 2 of my conversation with Radovan Kostadinov, we pick up his story as he transitions from six years of student life in Hokkaido into becoming a shakaijin in Tokyo.Rade talks about navigating Japan’s 新卒採用 (shinsotsu saiyō) system, finding his first full-time job through OfferBox, and eventually joining ReENE ENERGY, a renewable energy company working across solar power and energy infrastructure.Less than six months into the job, another opportunity appeared.Get a professional drone license in Japan.Rade had barely any experience flying drones, but his company offered to support the training. What followed was months of studying Japanese aviation law, drone physics, weather, safety procedures and highly technical terminology, all while continuing to work full-time.We get into:• Finding a job in Japan through OfferBox• Going from student life to shakaijin life• Starting his career at ReENE ENERGY• Discovering professional drone inspections through PV EXPO• How drones are used to inspect solar panels in Japan• Japan’s national unmanned aircraft pilot licensing system• The practical and written drone examinations• Studying specialized Japanese beyond JLPT N1• Japan’s DIPS 2.0 drone registration and flight permission system• MLIT regulations and different categories of drone flights• Balancing a full-time job with professional qualifications• Using qualifications to build skills, confidence and potentially strengthen a future PR application• Why Rade believes you should try difficult things while you have the opportunityRade’s story is a reminder that passing JLPT N1 or graduating from university does not mean the learning stops. In many ways, becoming a shakaijin is where the next stage begins.Mentioned in the episode:Radovan KostadinovLinkedIn: Radovan KostadinovReENE ENERGYRenewable energy and solar O&M in JapanCorporate website: reene-energy.co.jpOfferBoxJapanese offer-based graduate recruitment platformofferbox.jpPV EXPOJapan solar and photovoltaic industry exhibitionMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)Japan’s national authority overseeing the unmanned aircraft licensing and regulatory frameworkDIPS 2.0Drone/UAS Information Platform System used for drone registration, licensing procedures, flight permissions and flight-plan notifications in JapanIf you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back to hear how Rade travelled from North Macedonia to Japan without ever having taken a flight before, studied at Hokkaido University, learned Japanese from scratch, passed JLPT N1, and built the foundations for his life here.Blueprint Japan explores what it really takes to build a life, career and future in Japan.

What does it take to build a life in Japan from zero?In this episode of BLUEPRINT JAPAN, Oğuzhan K. sits down with Rade, a researcher turned renewable energy professional who moved from North Macedonia to Japan in 2018 — despite never having taken a flight before.Rade shares his journey from discovering Japan through YouTube and anime as a child, to studying environmental microbiology at Hokkaido University, surviving culture shock, mastering Japanese, and building a career in Japan.In this episode, we talk about:🇯🇵 Moving to Japan alone as an international student🎓 Studying at a Japanese university during COVID📚 Going from zero to N1 Japanese🚗 Passing the Japanese driver’s license exam as a foreigner💼 Finding a job in Japan through 新卒採用 (Shūkatsu)🏠 Transitioning from student life to working life in Tokyo🌱 Building a career in Japan’s renewable energy industryRade’s story is a reminder that Japan is not just a destination — it is a place where persistence, curiosity, and resilience can completely change your life.Part 1 focuses on his journey from North Macedonia to becoming a professional in Japan.Part 2 covers his drone license, renewable energy career, and his experiences navigating Japan as a foreign professional.🎙️ BLUEPRINT JAPAN — Real stories from people building meaningful lives in Japan.

In this episode of Blueprint Japan, Levi Pells shares his journey from burnout in Tokyo to building a more intentional life in rural Japan. What started as a search for better surf conditions became a complete rethinking of success, community, work, and well-being.Levi and Oguzhan explore the realities of life beyond Tokyo, discussing how strong local communities, regenerative living, and a deeper connection to nature can create a richer and more fulfilling lifestyle. They dive into Japan's rural revitalization efforts, the opportunities available through government subsidies, and why respect, cultural understanding, and community involvement are key to thriving in Japan.The conversation also touches on loneliness in big cities, the value of slow living, the future of work, regenerative farming, entrepreneurship, and why many people who appear successful on paper still struggle to find fulfillment.Whether you're living in Japan, considering a move to the countryside, building a business, or simply searching for a more meaningful way to live, this episode offers practical insights and a refreshing perspective on what truly matters.Topics discussed:• Levi's move from Tokyo to rural Japan• Surfing, burnout, and designing a better life• Community building and belonging in Japan• Regenerative farming and sustainable living• Rural revitalization and government subsidies• The challenges of loneliness in Tokyo• Entrepreneurship, coaching, and retreats• Slow living, mindfulness, and quality of life• Financial freedom and redefining successConnect with Levi:🌐 Sumeba: https://sumeba.org📧 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levipells/If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Blueprint Japan and share it with someone interested in building a life, business, or community in Japan.

*disclaimer: this is just based on personal experience and is by no means an encouragement to do the process without a lawyer. Please consult thoroughly with any scrivener or lawyer.A year ago, Blueprint Japan host Oğuzhan got a LinkedIn DM from a young Dutch content creator. They started collaborating. He made a promise: work hard, and I'll bring you to Japan.In January, he filed for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It came back approved in just over five weeks, with no lawyer, no immigration agent, and no shortcuts.In this episode, Oğuzhan walks through all 9 documents submitted for a 技術・人文知識・国際業務 visa (Gijinkoku / Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services) — the most common Japan work visa category for professional roles — and explains exactly what each document was doing in the file.Documents covered:1. COE application form (在留資格認定証明書交付申請書)2. Degree certificate & education history3. 職務経歴書 — professional background statement4. Explanation letter to immigration (理由書)5. Work experience statement (職務経験について)6. Certificate of affiliation (在籍証明書)7. Outsourcing / service agreement (業務委託契約書)8. Company registry certificate (履歴事項全部証明書)9. Mailing instruction letterWhether you're a company in Japan looking to hire from overseas, or a professional hoping to make the move — this episode gives you a clear, practical picture of how the COE process actually works, what immigration is looking for, and how to build a file that moves fast.Topics: Japan work visa | certificate of eligibility Japan | COE application | Gijinkoku visa | 技術・人文知識・国際業務 | hiring foreigners in Japan | Japan immigration | work permit Japan | Japan visa documents | living and working in JapanThis episode is sponsored by RealEstate.jp — Japan property guidance for international clients. Also, for tasty honey, check out beebrazil.jp