WHat are the company & 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!
During the Company Day, the working language is English and at the Career Day it is primarily Dutch.
In association with the Leidse Alumni Kai
Career day
January 27 2026
P.J Veth 1.01
primarily in dutch
get to know graduates
discover your skills
discover more career paths
What is the career day?
Interested in what your career path will look like after Japanstudies? During the Career Day you get the unique opportunity to talk to graduates that want to detail their careers and experiences with you. They talk about the choices they made, which obstacles they faced, and which chances they encountered. This is an amazing opportunity to get inspired and get new ideas on how to shape your own career.
Besides the stories of alumni, we offer workshops for students from all different study years. In these workshops you learn practical skills, like making a strong resume, how to apply for a job successfully, and which activities outside of your study can help you to strengthen your profile. Whether you’re in your first year and still orientating yourself, or already busy preparing yourself for a career in your final year, there is something to learn for everyone! Additionally, we offer you the opportunity to take pictures that are perfect for your LinkedIn profile. This is a great way to elevate your online persence!
provisional schedule
10:45 – 11:00
Walk-in
11:00 - 11:05
Opening
11:05 - 12:00
Presentation by alumnus
12:05 - 12:45
Workshop
12:45 - 13:15
Lunch & LinkedIn pictures
13:20 - 14:05
Presentation by alumnus
14:10 - 14:55
Presentation by alumnus
14:55 - 15:25
Pauze & LinkedIn pictures
15:30 - 16:00
Presentation by alumnus
16:05 - 16:50
Presentation by alumnus
16:55 - 17:00
Closing speech
17:00 - 19:00
Networking drinks
Alumnus, graduated in 2014
Mieke Aarsman
Mieke Aarsman graduated from the MA Asian Studies in 2014 and entered the recruitment field immediately after. She has extensive experience working in Japan, where she has worked as an International Sales Representative at Daijob Global Recruiting Co., Ltd., as a Manager in IT Recruitment, and recently started as Director at NEO Search Partners Inc.
Alumnus, graduated in 2025
Quinn Berentzen
Quinn Berentzen graduated from the MA Asian Studies last year and is currently working as a trainee in the financial sector at a secondment company. There, she is completing a traineeship in debt assistance and is currently undertaking training in mortgages.
Alumnus, graduated in 2020
Joosje Smit
Joosje Smit obtained her MA in Asian Studies in 2020 after completing a BA in Japanese Studies and Psychology. She has worked, among other roles, as a project leader, editor, and writer. In addition, she has experience as Social Media Coordinator at the Sieboldhuis and is currently working in Japan as an International Relations Coordinator through the JET Programme.
Alumnus, graduated in 1994
Alexander Kohnstamm
Alexander graduated in 1994 and then went on to work for different Japanese companies. In his thirties, he made the transition to civil society organizations, and since 2004 he has been working full-time on international public-private (development) cooperation. His work focuses on human rights within economic systems. Although he has made little use of Japanese in his professional work for quite some time, he continues to benefit daily from his studies and the many experiences he gained in and with Japan.
Alumnus, graduated in 2016
Thomas Zijtveld
Thomas Zijtveld is professional recruiter. He’s worked with and for several large (multinational) organisations, both corporate and governmental, to fulfil their need for recruitment. Currently he is working for the Dutch Tax Office as a recruitment consultant.
In association with the University of Leiden, JCC & the Japanese Embassy
Company day
January 28 2026
P.J Veth 1.01
primarily in english
get to know companies
Networking
discover your career path
What is the company day?
During the Company Day, you get the opportunity to get to know different companies that you might get an internship at or even work for in the future! Besides general presentations by representatives from the companies, you also get the opportunity to have so-called ‘speed dates’ in which you go deeper on the companies that appeal to you most in a smaller group setting. (See below for more information on the speed dates’)
Every year we invite a varied selection of companies, and this year we have another line-up of enthousiastic companies that signed up for the Company Day!
interesting for first-year students?
Absolutely! It is never too early to discover companies that might interest you. This day offers the amazing opportunity to gain insight in career opportunities, potential internships, and to expand your professional network. The representatives also really enjoy getting first-year students enthused about thier line of work, so don’t hesistate to talk to them and ask them quiestions!
schedule
Japan Company Day 2026
09:30 – 09:45
Walk-in
10:00 – 10:20
Opening morning session
10:20 – 11:35
Presentations by the companies
11:35 – 11:50
Small break
11:50 – 12:50
2 rounds of speeddates
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch*
14:00 – 14:10
Opening afternoon session
14:10 – 15:25
Presentations by the companies
15:25 – 15:40
Small break
15:40 – 16:40
2 rounds of speeddates
16:40 – 16:45
Closing speech
17:00 – 19:00
Networking drinks
※Lunch is included in your ticket
companies
Sectors
Speed dates?
During the speed dates, the attendees will go to different rooms in groups to talk with the representatives of the different companies. Because of these groups you can benefit from each others insights and questions, which means your questions about the company are more likely to get answered. This is the ideal opportunity for you to get to know the different companies and especially what these companies can do for you!
When purchasing a ticket, the attendee will be asked to specify their preferred companies. These preferences will be kept in mind with grouping the attendees so be quick with purchasing a ticket because full=full.
about the companies
morning session
Mizuho bank europe
Finance
Mizuho Bank Europe N.V. is the European arm of Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group, providing a broad range of corporate banking, financial, and strategic services across the European single market, specializing in connecting Japanese businesses with Europe and offering financing, trade finance, treasury, and sustainability-linked solutions to major corporations, financial institutions, and public entities. As a fully licensed Dutch bank, it offers deposits, loans, leasing, payment services, guarantees, and capital markets support, leveraging its strong ties to Asia for cross-border financing
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.
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.
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.
afternoon session
murata electronics europe
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.
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.
MUFG Bank (Europe)
Finance
MUFG Bank (Europe) N.V. is the European banking arm of Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), a major global financial institution, operating under Dutch law with its headquarters in Amsterdam and branches across Europe (like Vienna, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Madrid). It provides corporate banking, trade finance, and capital markets services, leveraging its global network to support businesses, particularly Japanese firms expanding in Europe and other international clients, offering solutions from working capital to complex financing.
Citco Nederland
Finance
Citco Nederland B.V. is the Dutch branch of the global Citco Group, a leading provider of independent fund administration and related financial services for the alternative investment industry (like hedge funds, private equity, real estate), offering services such as fund accounting, banking, corporate services, and technology solutions to support asset managers and investors. They act as a “framework builder,” providing the operational infrastructure for complex investment structures