The special series to put a spotlight on our international staff, “Eyes, JAPAN employee interview” is back! Our third interviewee of this year is Tom Krüger from Germany.

He has been doing an internship in Eyes, JAPAN for around 5 months. We want to ask him about his experience living in Aizu and working in Eyes, JAPAN!

(Interviewer: Angie)

Loves the Life in Aizu!

What is your favorite thing about your home country or home town?

Tom: I am from Düsseldorf. We have the most Japanese People in the whole of Europe. That’s why in our town we have a lot of Japanese restaurants and supermarkets. That’s what I like most about Düsseldorf. Also “Curry Wurst” which is my favorite German Fast Food.

Why did you come to Japan and what do you like about Japan?

Tom: In my hometown, I am living in the Japan district. So a lot of my friends back in Germany are Japanese. They showed me their language, culture, food, and some of their festivals. We even have “Japan day” in my town once a year to celebrate our relationship with Japan.

Tom: I read a lot of Japanese history and learned the language because I knew I want to live in Japan as soon as possible. So to answer the question I would say, I was always dreaming of coming/living in Japan. I like all different parts of Japan, from Sake to food, from matsuri to tea ceremony and so on. Of course, I also watch anime and read manga, but that would be secondary.

What do you think about life in Aizu?

Tom: I think life in Aizu is slow and comfortable. I like it very much. The winter is very beautiful to me. Its not too cold and we have lots of snow. I hope next year it will be even more!

What is your favorite way of spending your holidays in Aizu?

Tom: That’s a difficult question. Sometimes I just want to relax after an exhausting week and just play some computer games, Badminton/Basketball, go to the gym, and let the day end at the Onsen. But on most weekend, I meet my friends and we go drink at one of the many Izakayas like Tenryu. Sometimes we do a trip to for example Ouchijuku or Inawashiro which I also enjoy very much. To sum it up I don’t really have a favorite way of spending my weekend, I just enjoy life.

What is your academic background and what kind or research are you doing or have you done before?

Tom: I am an undergraduate in Computer Science and before that I was studying Mathematics also in Düsseldorf. I specialize in VR and Game Development. I want to do my Masters in October 2023 in Aizu where my research would be Spatial Sound in VR.

Highlight: Visiting Izakaya with Yamadera-san.

How did you know about Eyes, JAPAN? And why did you decide to join Eyes, JAPAN?

Tom: My Professor is a dear friend of Yamadera-San. He introduced me to him to do my internship at Eyes, Japan. I think when my professor told me about Eyes, Japan, and Yamadera-San, I already decided to come here. I saw the TEDTalk of Yamadera-San and heard about experiences from students who worked at Eyes before me. And since I always wanted to come to Japan, I saw this as the perfect opportunity, so I decided to join.

What is your role and what kind of projects have you been working on in Eyes, JAPAN?

Tom: My role is that of an intern. The project I took part in was the Mediapipe Handtracking Project with Peter-San. I could learn a lot from him and will continue working with unity in the future.

What customs in Eyes, JAPAN that you like the most?

Tom: I love the welcome and farewell parties and the apple picking. But visiting an Izakaya with Yamadera-San was always a highlight for me.

What do you think about your colleagues and the working environment in Eyes, JAPAN?

Tom: I think my colleagues here at Eyes are really great. They are smart and take their work very seriously. I learned a lot from them and I am good friends with most of them. When I encountered problems they always helped me and were very friendly and always showed respect for each other. And for the working environment, I like it very much. I think the office has a very comfortable touch. Also, the coffee is really good and people can reach out to one another quickly because of the morning and weekly meetings. For me the best working environment I have experienced so far.

What do you think about working at the company and working at home?

Tom: I think the biggest difference between the two is the working atmosphere. Working at home can sometimes be a little bit too comfortable which can make you lazy. But it can make you feel more motivated to work in your own environment. In the office on the other hand u got to work more strictly. But to say one of these options is better differs from person to person. For me, a good balance of working from home and going to the office is best.

What kind of problems or challenges have you faced while working in Eyes, JAPAN, and how did you solve it?

Tom: I encountered a lot of problems in my project with hand tracking. I reached out to my colleagues mainly Peter who showed and explained to me what I did wrong and how to solve it. For other problems, I used Stackoverflow or chatGPT and managed to solve problems myself.

Wants to Create Video Games!

Have you experienced any culture shock while working in Japan?

Tom: So far, I haven’t experienced any culture shock while working in Japan.

Can you give some pros and/or cons of working at a Japanese company?

Tom: I don’t really have a pros or con list of working in Japan. I can just say that it was a great experience and I liked it really much so far.

How do you balance your working and private time?

Tom: I always make a schedule of my days. So, for the working weeks, I always have Gym at 20:30, Onsen at 22:20, and then 1 hour of private time for games, relaxing, or some studies.

What kind of project do you want to work on in the future?

Tom: I would like to learn more about Unity. So, any projects which involve Unity.

Any advice for people who wants to work in Japan?

Tom: Since I only worked for 5 1/2 months in Japan, I think I don’t have enough experience to give bits of advice. Maybe ask me again next year!

What motivates you to keep working or studying?

Tom: I am always motivated to learn new things. There are things to learn in everything and from everyone. Before Computer Science I studied mathematics and I still enjoy learning. I think there is no point in life where we stop learning.

Lastly, what is your dream?

Tom: My dream is to create a video game (like the Harvest Moon games or Stardew Valley) from scratch. I am already working on it for 2 Years. Even if only one person enjoys playing it, I would be happy.

Thank you!

If you are interested in Eyes, JAPAN and would like to hear other stories, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following contact form.

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Everyone welcome.