The Importance of a 'Third Place' Connecting Japanese and International Engineers Through Skills | NPO Red Look

【Proven by 3 Years & 150+ Events】Creating a "Third Place" Where Skills and Careers Bridge Japanese and International Talent

While providing international career support through NPO Red Look, we have listened to countless voices from the community:

• "I want to take on global challenges, but I don’t know where to start."
• "I came to Japan, but I have no place to truly open my heart outside of the workplace."
• "I need an environment for reskilling where I can learn professional skills in both English and Japanese."

These heartfelt concerns, shared through our events and free consultations, are what we are addressing today. Our solution is finally taking shape.

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What We Learned Across 3 Countries and Over 150 Events

Until now, NPO Red Look has primarily operated as a tech community for engineers.

With one year in Canada and about two years in Japan, we have expanded across three countries, hosting over 150 events. Our total number of participants has exceeded 1,500, and our community members, including those on Meetup, have surpassed the 1,500 mark.

Through this extensive experience and proven track record, we are now fully committed to one mission: creating a Third Place where Japanese and international people can gather using "Global Career" as their common language.

Japanese aiming for global careers × International talent aiming for careers in Japan

We aim to build an environment where both sides can casually share the information and opportunities they are seeking.

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Why This Place is Essential Now

Through our activities in the tech community, we have encountered the "real voices" of both Japanese and international professionals.

1. A "Dress Rehearsal" for Japanese Engineers

There is a severe lack of opportunities to communicate based on professional skills (such as engineering) rather than just "learning English." Instead of moving abroad and feeling despair over a language barrier, engineers need a place to experience "global standards" while still in Japan.

Furthermore, recent surveys indicate that approximately 70% of Gen Z youth are giving up on going abroad due to economic reasons (Survey on Gen Z Global Awareness). We want to provide a platform where they can prepare for the world without the need for expensive international colleges.

2. A "Safety Net" for International Engineers

For international professionals working in Japan, finding opportunities to use Japanese through the lens of their skills is crucial for social integration. With the potential requirement of Japanese language proficiency for permanent residency applications (Details here), having a community where one can learn "on-the-job Japanese" rather than just textbook phrases is becoming indispensable.

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Why We Focus on a "Third Place" Instead of "Recruitment"

We are often asked, "Why don't you start a recruitment business?" At NPO Red Look, we deliberately choose not to.

In the recruitment business, participants inevitably become "products." If we were to focus only on high-performing individuals, we would deviate from our vision: "A world where anyone can take on a challenge."

By keeping our events free (or at cost), we ensure that the value lies in the exchange of information and mutual growth that happens beyond vested interests. We believe this is the true power that opens career doors.

We want to protect those moments where people share authentic insights about their home countries, leading to new challenges and lifelong connections.

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It Starts with Our Online Group

Ten days ago, Red Look launched a new platform where both sides can support each other’s global journeys. Moving forward, we will expand this connection beyond engineering to various professions, including nursing and architecture. Even now, "veterans" with extensive overseas experience are beginning to join.

• Japanese professionals wanting to work abroad
• International professionals wanting to challenge themselves in Japan
• Anyone who wants to be a bridge between the two

Specialized skills are not required to start. If you are even slightly interested, please come and take a look at our community.

Let’s build a "place to belong" for the new era together!

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💡 Further Reading

• To Japanese going abroad and International talent in Japan | Red Look Online Community

• For International Residents in Japan | Why Japanese Language Learning is Now More Important Than Ever

NPO Red Look will continue to strive for a society where everyone can connect with the "world" in their own unique way.