Following the success of two consecutive cross-border recruitment events, the Kumamoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Deputy General Affairs Director Akihito Kawata, partnered with the Department of Japanese at Tamkang University for the third time to host the 2026 Kumamoto Career Fair on the morning of May 20 at the Hsu Shou-Chlien International Conference Center.
Benefiting from the economic spillover effects of TSMC’s investment in Kumamoto, the number of participating companies expanded from four last year to seven this year. Recruitment opportunities also broadened beyond traditional service-sector positions to include careers in IT development and environmental engineering. While most attendees were students from the Department of Japanese, students from English, Chinese, Banking and Finance, Economics, Information Management, and Educational Technology programs also participated. Several parents attended as well to learn about emerging employment trends.
Shinji Hamamoto, Representative Director of Fumidas and business advisor for the event, noted in his briefing that flights between Taiwan and Kumamoto take only about two hours, with as many as 20 direct flights available each week, making travel almost as convenient as domestic commuting. Since TSMC’s first Kumamoto fab began operations in 2024 and construction of the second facility has progressed rapidly, the region has experienced unprecedented economic growth and a growing “Taiwan boom.” According to local statistics, the number of Taiwanese residents in Kumamoto has quadrupled over the past three years, rising from 511 to nearly 2,000. The figure is expected to exceed 5,000 once the second TSMC facility becomes operational. To support this growing Taiwanese community, local organizations have developed comprehensive assistance systems covering housing, transportation, vocational training, and daily living resources, creating a welcoming environment for Taiwanese young professionals seeking careers in Japan.
Among the seven participating employers, several are familiar to previous attendees, including Aoyagi Co., Ltd. (food services), Kumamoto Daido Seika Co., Ltd. (agricultural distribution), Azuma City Co., Ltd. (real estate investment), Saishunkan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (premium cosmetics and pharmaceuticals), and Kozaki Construction Co., Ltd. (construction). Notably, two business-to-business technology firms participated for the first time: Kumamoto Keisan Center Co., Ltd., specializing in IT systems development, and Kumamoto Risui Kogyo Co., Ltd., an environmental engineering company. Their participation signals growing opportunities for students in engineering, information technology, business, and data-related fields. Students with skills in programming, data analytics, AI applications, or engineering, and a basic ability to communicate in Japanese, may now find pathways to apply their expertise in Japan and develop into globally competitive professionals.
Over the past two years, several graduates of Tamkang’s Department of Japanese have secured employment opportunities in Kumamoto through these recruitment events. Among the returning recruiters this year was alumna Wen-Hsin Chang, who joined Tsuruya Department Store after graduating last year. She shared that four Tamkang graduates are currently employed at Tsuruya, the largest department store in Kumamoto. The Department of Japanese has also learned that one graduate was successfully hired by Shinsanjyutaku Co., Ltd., while participating companies noted during the event that another Tamkang alumnus secured a full-time position at Saishunkan Pharmaceutical.
Among the student participants, senior Japanese major Hui-Hsuan Tseng and sophomore Japanese major Hsiao-Jing Yen expressed particular interest in Saishunkan Pharmaceutical. They cited the company’s extensive support programs for international employees as a major attraction. Affordable employee housing, rental subsidies, staff dining services, and free shuttle transportation all contributed to making overseas employment feel more accessible and secure. Beyond attractive benefits, the event also broadened students’ perspectives on career possibilities. Yen remarked, “This experience challenged my previous assumptions. Seeing companies from so many different sectors recruiting Japanese-language students made me realize that our career options are far more diverse than I had imagined.”
Students who were unable to attend the event can still submit their résumés directly to the Kumamoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s CROSS OVER recruitment platform through its dedicated QR code or online contact channels to explore employment opportunities in Japan.
