What are the career days?
Tanuki offers you the chance to get more out of your studies and prepare for your future. With events such as the Company Day and Career Day, we help you connect with companies and alumni, attend practical workshops and build valuable professional networks.
Whether you are at the beginning of your studies or already thinking about your career, we offer support every step of your Japan studies journey. Together, we make sure you are well prepared for the world after your studies!
The Company Day will primarily be held in English, whereas the Career Day will primarily be held in Dutch
In collaboration with University Leiden, JCC & the Japanese embassy
The Japan Company day
January 28th 2026
P.J Veth 1.01
TBA
LEER BEDRIJVEN KENNEN
Netwerken
Ontdek jouw richting
What is the company day?
During the Company Day, you get the chance to get to know 9 different companies where you might be able to do an internship or even work in the future! Besides general presentations by representatives of the companies, you will have the opportunity, in smaller groups during so-called ‘speed dates’, to go deeper into the companies that appeal to you the most (see below for more information about the speed dates).
Every year, we invite a diverse range of companies, and this year too, all available places have been filled by enthusiastic companies that have registered for the Company Day!
interesting for first-year students?
Is this also interesting for first-year students as well? Absolutely! It is never too early to find out about companies that might suit you. This day offers a great opportunity to gain insight into career opportunities, potential internships and expand your professional network. Moreover, the speakers really enjoy enthusing first-years about their field as well, so don’t hesitate to ask questions and start a conversation!
Voorlopige Planning
Japan Company Day 2026
09:30 – 09:45
Walk-in
10:00 – 10:20
Opening
10:20 – 11:35
Company presentations
11:35 – 11:50
Short break
11:50 – 12:50
Speeddates, 2 rounds
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch*
14:00 – 14:05
Opening afternoon session
14:05 – 15:20
Company presentations
15:25 – 15:40
Short break
15:40 – 16:40
Speeddates, 2 rounds
16:40 – 16:45
Final thanks
17:00 – 19:00
Networking with drinks
※Lunch is inbegrepen bij ticket
Bedrijven
Speeddates
Sectoren
Speeddates?
During the speed dates, participants will visit different premises in groups to engage in further discussions with the representatives of the different companies. Because of the group aspect, you can thus benefit from each other’s insights and questions, which can ensure that your questions about the company are better answered. In addition, this is the ideal opportunity for yourself to learn more about the different companies and especially what those companies can do for you! When buying a ticket, participants are asked to indicate their preferences. The preferences indicated will be taken into account as much as possible when making the arrangements. So be quick to buy your ticket because sold out=sold out!
Over de bedrijven
Ochtendsessie
Amity International school
Education
Amity International School is an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that provides education for students aged 3 to 19. The school is known for its rigorous international curriculum, which focuses on developing skills like communication, curiosity, critical thinking, and resilience in its students. Classes are primarily in English.
Centre people appointments
Recruitment
Centre People Appointments BV is a London based agency covering international trade, multi-lingual and office support vacancies, together with a dedicated division for Japanese speakers across all sectors. Centre People Appointments is the UK subsidiary of QUICK Co., Ltd., which has been engaged in HR services in Japan for over 40 years.
Hitachi construction machinery
Machinery
Hitachi Construction Machinery is a Japanese manufacturer of heavy equipment, including excavators, wheel loaders, and dump trucks, used in the mining, construction, and forestry industries. As a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., HCM operates globally with production plants across various continents and is one of the world’s largest construction machinery suppliers.
murata
Electronics
Murata Electronics Europe B.V. is a Japanese company and a global leader in the design and manufacture of passive electronic components, wireless connectivity modules, and power conversion technologies. Key products are amongst others ceramic capacitors (of which it is one of the world’s largest makers), resistors, inductors, sensors, and various filters and resonators. It has their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan.
Nippon Recruitment
Recruitment
Nippon Recruitment is a recruitment agency that specializes in connecting Japanese companies with top talent in Europe and other parts of the world. The company focuses on roles requiring Japanese language proficiency and cultural understanding, with native Japanese recruiters who have deep knowledge of Japanese business practices.
yokogawa
Industrial Automation
Yokogawa is a Japanese multinational company specializing in industrial automation and control, test and measurement solutions, and other technology and engineering services. It provides products like controllers, analyzers, and sensors, along with control systems such as DCS, to a wide range of industries including oil and gas, power, chemical, and pharmaceuticals.
Middagsessie
Get to know the alumni
Discover your talents
Explore career options
What is the career day?
Are you interested in having a peek at what your future career might entail? At the Career Day you get the opportunity to talk to BA Japan Studies alumni who are happy to share their experiences with you. The will tell you about choices they have made, challenges they have faced, and which chances met them during their career. This is a wonderful opportunity to get inspired and gain new ideas about how to shape your own career
Aside from the alumni’s stories , there are two workshops aimed at everyone. In these workshops, you learn practical skills, such as creating a resume (CV), how to successfully get trough job interviews, and which activities outside of your study might help you at solidifying your profile. Whether you are a first-year student who is just orientating themselves, or a student who is seriously looking at entering the job market, there is something to learn for everyone! Finally, we also provide the opportunity to get a professional photo taken for your LinkedIn profile or any other social media for a professional online appearance!
Important: this event is primarily held in Dutch!
planning
10:45 - 11:00
Inloop
11:00 - 11:05
Opening
11:05 - 11:50
Alumnus Edward Rikkert de Koe
11:55 - 12:25
Workshop van Career Services
12:30 - 13:15
Alumnus Steven Scheerooren
13:15 - 13:45
Lunch & LinkedIn foto's
13:50 - 14:35
Alumnus Hans van der Lugt
14:40 - 15:10
Pauze & LinkedIn foto's
15:15 - 16:00
Alumnus Merieke Stevens
16:05 - 16:50
Alumnus Peter Lamberts
16:55 - 17:00
Nawoord
17:00 - 19:00
Netwerkborrel
Ondernemer
Alumnus, afgestudeerd in 1989
Edward Rikkert de Koe
Mijn naam is Edward Rikkert de Koe. Ik begon in 1986 met mijn studie naar Japan. Heb tijdens mijn studie 2 jaar in Japan gezeten op 2 studiebeurzen. Na mijn afstuderen ben ik voor meteen voor mezelf begonnen met Jimpex. Inmiddels heb ik meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de sportmarketing, met name in het voetbal tussen Japan en Europa.
Toerisme
Alumnus, afgestudeerd in 2011
Steven Scheerooren
Ik ben in 2011 afgestudeerd van de opleiding “Talen & Culturen van Japan”. Mijn focus (of althans interesse) hier in Leiden lag op pre-moderne geschiedenis en religie, met daarnaast een minor “Toerisme en Cultureel Erfgoed” aan de Asia Pacific University in Beppu. Na een jaartje in het buitenland wist ik in Amsterdam een baan te krijgen bij een grote wetenschappelijke uitgeverij, maar omdat ik het klaslokaal miste begon ik met het geven van taalcursussen – Japans, uiteraard. Dat leidde er uiteindelijk toe dat ik me inschreef bij de KvK, en later als ‘bestemmingsspecialist’ groepsreizen ging begeleiden. Inmiddels is er een tweede bedrijfje aan ontsproten, en ben ik bezig met het ontwikkelen en organiseren van zelfstandige reizen.
Journalisme
Alumnus, afgestudeerd in 1993
Hans van der Lugt
Hans van der Lugt is afgestudeerd in 1993 en was vervolgens van 1995 tot 2006 correspondent in Tokyo voor NRC Handelsblad en NOS Radio 1. In 2006 keerde hij terug naar Nederland en ging aan de slag op de redactie van NRC. Sinds 2016 werkt hij, nog steeds als journalist, bij Energeia.
Onderzoek / onderwijs
Alumnus, afgestudeerd in 2004
Merieke Stevens
Merieke is werkzaam bij de Erasmus Universiteit als Professor of Supply Ecosystems. Haar onderzoek naar de Japanse auto-industrie heeft veel impact gehad op het formuleren van haar leerstoel en richt zich op hoe aanbod-ecosystemen kunnen worden aangepast om de economische, maatschappelijke en ecologische resultaten te verbeteren. Merieke heeft een aantal jaren in Japan gewoond, waar ze ter plekke uitgebreid onderzoek deed in de auto-industrie. Ze behoudt haar focus op de automobielsector, maar past haar ervaring toe op andere omgevingen, zoals medische teams, wereldhavens en de energie-infrastructuur. Merieke heeft Japans gestudeerd van 2000-2004, en daarnaast Antropologie en Politicologie (UvA). Van 2004-2006 heeft ze bij de Economie faculteit van de Universiteit van Tokyo gezeten met een Monbukagakusho beurs.
Bedrijfsleven
Alumnus, afgestudeerd in 1991
Peter Lamberts
Peter Lamberts studeerde Japanese Studies aan de RUL van 1984-1991 onder Prof. Boot, met als afstudeerrichting de Management Variant. Hij is sinds 1988 werkzaam bij de Japanse multinational Shin-Etsu Polymer die producten en componenten levert aan o.a. de automobiel-, elektronica- en halfgeleiderindustrie. Op de locatie in Venlo, waar ook een fabriek operationeel was van 1988 tot 2009, was hij met name binnen de verkooporganisatie betrokken bij het ontwikkelen van de afdelingen customer service, logistiek, ICT en later administratie. Parallel was hij, eerst als Plant Manager, later als algemeen directeur van 2003 tot eind 2024 verantwoordelijk voor de start en ontwikkeling van de productielocatie in Györ, Hongarije. Hier heeft hij de eerste 7 jaar als expat gewoond, vanaf 2011 pendelt hij tussen de 2 vestigingen. Met zijn studieachtergrond en brede interesse is hij binnen de firma buiten de operationele en leidinggevende functies altijd bezig geweest met het bouwen van bruggen tussen de verschillende bedrijfsculturen.
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Interest form
Sign up for the career days if you are interested to receive updates via email (updates are in Dutch)