My One-Year Journey to Becoming a Self-Taught Web Developer in Japan

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Starting from Scratch

I started my journey with no formal education or boot camp training because they were simply too expensive for me. Instead, I opted for a more affordable and flexible approach by relying on books. Although there are countless online courses available, I needed something tangible to keep track of my learning. I went to the bookstore and picked up two thick books: HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites and JavaScript and jQuery: Interactive Front-End Web Development, both by Jon Duckett. The visual style and color of these books grabbed my attention, making them engaging and easier to understand.

Learning HTML and CSS

For the first two months, I focused solely on HTML and CSS. This was a good starting point, as it allowed me to get the basics down without being overwhelmed. While I wasn’t creating anything spectacular at first, the book provided me with a strong foundation. After two months, I felt confident enough to move on to JavaScript, which was a significant jump from what I had been doing.

Diving into JavaScript

JavaScript was my first introduction to any kind of programming or coding, and it was not easy. It took me about three months to go through the concepts, revisiting them multiple times until they finally clicked. At times, I felt like giving up. But persistence paid off, and with the help of online resources like YouTube tutorials and Stack Overflow, I started to understand the more challenging concepts, like arrays.

Pro tip: Don’t just stick with one learning method. Use different resources—books, videos, forums, etc.—to gain a broader understanding.

Balancing Work and Study

While I was learning, I continued working part-time. My job required about an hour of commuting each way, and I used that time to study by jotting down code in a notebook or listening to relevant content. On average, I managed to squeeze in around three hours of study per day, Monday through Friday, and up to five hours on weekends.

Exploring Full Stack Development

By the six-month mark, I was comfortable with front-end development but wanted to expand my skills to include server-side and database management. Since I was in Tokyo, where PHP and MySQL are prevalent, I initially considered learning them. However, I opted for Node.js and MongoDB instead, as I wanted to follow the trends in Silicon Valley, thinking that these technologies might eventually become more common in Japan.

I took free online courses and started creating my own APIs using Node.js and the Express framework. This experience taught me how to handle REST APIs, allowing me to perform operations like GET, POST, DELETE, and UPDATE.

Building My Own Project

Around the ninth month, I began working on my own project—a responsive social media web app for clubs and bars. This project was a labor of love and took about three to four months to complete. I chose to use vanilla JavaScript instead of libraries like jQuery and eventually learned React to make the app more dynamic. The project was far from perfect, but it showcased my ability to create a full-stack application from scratch.

The Job Hunt

With my project completed, I was ready to start job hunting. I saved up enough money to last me three months and quit my job to focus entirely on finding a developer position. I applied to several companies, and after a few interviews, I landed a trial position at a company I was interested in. The trial period lasted three months, during which I had to complete a task that tested my skills.

Getting My First Job

I successfully completed the trial and was offered a full-time position at a 200-employee company. The interviews were conducted in Japanese, which was a significant advantage. Speaking Japanese, while not always a requirement, is a massive plus when looking for a job in Japan.

Final Thoughts

Reflecting on my journey, I realized that becoming a web developer in Japan as a self-taught individual was not easy. It required a lot of self-discipline, long hours of study, and learning a new language. However, with perseverance and the right resources, it is possible. Whether you speak Japanese or not, there are opportunities for foreign developers in Japan, especially in larger cities like Tokyo.

If you found this story helpful or have any questions, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help others navigate this path!