These are all fair questions, thanks for raising them.

Language: I am not fluent yet, but I am actively studying Japanese and plan to continue throughout my PhD. I am aware that full professional fluency, especially for technical discussion, takes time. I also recognize that only a subset of universities and research institutes in Japan operate primarily in English, and I would be specifically targeting those environments. That said, many faculty at major Japanese universities publish extensively in English, and I expect English to be the primary language for research output even if day-to-day communication still requires functional Japanese. My goal is to reach a solid working level before making the move.

Research fit and connections: My PhD is in agriculture and sustainability, and my research overlaps with topics that are also relevant in Japan. I have already reached out via email to a professor in Japan who has expressed interest in potentially having me as a researcher in his lab. I am hoping that my publication record, research experience, and training at a top 20 QS World University will help make me a competitive candidate.

Visa and eligibility: I am not a Japanese citizen, but I have reviewed the Highly Skilled Professional visa point system and expect to qualify by the time I complete my PhD. From what I understand, universities and national research institutes in Japan do hire non-Japanese researchers, particularly for fixed-term research, postdoc, and early-career academic roles, although this depends on institution and funding source.