5-year Japan engineer who added UI/UX in Vancouver and joined a startup
After five years full-stack to team lead at a Japan e-book distributor, Kojiken used a 6-month Vancouver UI/UX co-op and landed a startup engineering role.
エンジニア（UI/UX活用） · Vancouver
Profile
Kojiken (Kojima) is an engineer in Vancouver who combines prior full-stack/team-lead experience with UI/UX training. Age band not stated.
Current role
Engineer at a Canadian startup (one of two engineers on the team); role leverages UI/UX plus engineering. Employer name not stated.
Japan experience
Prior experience. Education faculty graduate; after university spent one year in Seattle (business coursework ~9 months plus internship as a Japanese teacher). Inspired by Amazon/Microsoft engineers there, completed ~3 months at a programming school in Japan, then joined an e-book distribution company via a mentor introduction. About five years at that single employer: ~4 years as full-stack engineer, then development team lead. Scope spanned multiple product areas in a smaller team between bookstores and publishers.
Path to Canada / North America
Long-held goal to work abroad as an engineer; delayed by COVID and marriage until near working-holiday age limit. Chose Canada after Frog’s 2023 “Canadian Dream” event clarified a working-holiday → co-op → work permit → PR roadmap. Arrived late August 2023. Selected a ~6-month UI/UX co-op program rather than a longer web-dev diploma to add design skills he lacked as an engineer. Job search began around late February near program end; built clone-site proposals as a “show, don’t tell” tactic. Two companies reached final interview (one stalled without a contract; one rejection discussed).
Outcome
Received an offer from a Canadian startup after the UI/UX program. Exact application volume and months-to-offer are not stated in the interview body (article title cites 12 applications).
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
Title claims 12 applications; body confirms final-round progress at two firms and a startup offer—count of 12 not restated in intro/factHits.