Wondering how to actually start your career in Japan or in a global company—or just trying to figure out your next move after APU?

Join us for “Next Stop: Your Future,” alliz’s first campus event at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Oita Campus, in collaboration with the APU Student Office. This event brings industry professionals from the alliz community directly to APU to give you a real, practical look at how to step into the job market. Open to all majors and welcoming both undergraduate and graduate students, the session offers grounded insights on internships, Japan’s work culture, and opportunities in global-minded companies.

Hear directly from mentors during our Panel Discussion, where speakers who have built international careers in Japan will share their career journeys, the challenges they navigated, and the essential skills needed to succeed in global work environments. Whether you aim to pursue an internship in Japan, explore opportunities at international companies, or simply clarify your future direction, this session provides insights and support tailored to students seeking careers in both Japanese and global contexts.

Following the panel, you will hear an internship story from an alliz intern, and then receive a briefing on internship positions offered by alliz and Empowered by Industry, giving you a clearer picture of available opportunities and the skills each role requires. The morning will close with an Open Networking session with APU peers, business owners, speakers, and a current alliz intern before transitioning into the individual sessions.

In the afternoon session, students who have registered through APU will participate in One-on-One Mentorship & Internship Consultations. In these personalized 30-minute sessions, you can receive tailored advice on your resume, internship applications, and career planning from industry professionals who understand both the Japanese and global job markets. This continues in rounds throughout the afternoon. Students who are ready to take the next step can also apply for an internship at alliz or Empowered by Industry.

With discussions, insights, networking opportunities, and personalized mentorship, this event gives you the tools, clarity, and confidence to shape your next career move.

Aoi Tanaka, Senior Marketer, Commercial Marketing, Shopify

Aoi Tanaka is a Senior Marketer at Shopify with experience across global technology and advertising organizations. Before joining Shopify, she held roles at Meta in Japan and Australia, leading regional initiatives focused on B2B marketing, market insights, and sales enablement across APAC markets. Earlier in her career, she worked in strategic planning at BBDO Japan and in consumer research at a marketing science institute in Australia. Her work has included market analysis, program development, competitive intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration with global teams.

Nofar Lupo, Founder, Empowered by Industry

Nofar Lupo is the founder of Empowered by Industry Fukuoka-based education company, and co-founder of The Innovators in Korea community. She designs innovation and entrepreneurship programs for universities and global teams, creating skill-based workshops that build creative thinking, collaboration, and practical problem-solving for students entering global careers. Empowered by Industry also offers internships in business development, marketing, and content creation, giving students hands-on experience with workshop design, client engagement, and cross-cultural teamwork in a fast-growing, education-focused environment.

Congqin Chen, Founder, alliz

Congqin Chen, alliz founder, has 13 years of tech, consulting, and strategy experience at top global firms in Japan. She founded alliz in 2024 to bridge the academia-industry gap, empowering students for future careers. alliz offers flexible, unpaid, project-based internships in Business, Design, Engineering, and Marketing. Interns can choose remote or hybrid work in Tokyo. Join alliz for practical, globally oriented experience, personalized career mentorship, and professional exposure to launch your career in Japan.

Tissby Wang, Marketing Communication Intern, alliz

Tissby Wang is a Marketing Communication Intern at alliz and a graduate student at Akita International University, majoring in Global Communication Practice. With a B.A. from Doshisha University’s Institute for the Liberal Arts, he specializes in global studies and cultural product localization, bridging communication theory with practical marketing work.

Application: This event is free and exclusive to APU students; while no registration is required for the morning sessions, pre-registration is mandatory for the mentoring session.

Language: The event will primarily be conducted in English. During networking time and mentoring sessions, conversations in both English and Japanese are welcome.

Photography: Photos and videos may be taken during the event and could be used for promotional purposes on alliz’s website and social media. By joining this event, you permit us to use these photos and videos. If you do not want to be photographed but still wish to attend, please contact alliz.

Schedule: The event schedule is subject to change on the day.

Contact: For any event-related inquiries, please contact alliz via email at event@alliz.jp.

Co-Host: alliz

alliz is a member-led career mentorship community dedicated to helping students and early-career professionals with career design and development in Japan. Through events, mentorship, and shared learning, we foster connections that inspire personal growth, skill development, and long-term success in the tech industry.

Co-Host: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Oita, is a uniquely diverse and multilingual campus where about half of the 6,000 students come from 110 countries around the world. Through its bilingual education in English and Japanese, APU provides an environment where students from different cultural backgrounds learn and collaborate together. Guided by its ideals of Freedom, Peace, and Humanity, and International Mutual Understanding, APU aims to cultivate global citizens who can understand differences and help build a more peaceful world. APU graduates act with respect for human dignity and possess the power to create positive change in society.