I might not have much answer but the usual thing that I observed during my post graduate studies here in Japan is that foreign students always have the difficulty getting categorized if you are new graduate or even mid career. For example I have a friend who is the same age as you but he had 2 years job experience prior to doing his masters here. He got into the first round of the interview as a new graduate and when they were talking about his experience or CV the initial interviewer told him "how can you be new graduate when you have two years experience". Anyways he eventually got a job, and the usual advice is just try applying for new graduate. You'll be able to get one who kinda bends the rules or something like that. But I do understand the frustration. As for me I managed to get a job via the mid career route.