Episode #5
He Never Took a Flight Before Japan | From North Macedonia to Japan | JLPT N1 | Drone License | Student Life | Renewable Energy | Radovan Kostadinov PT. 1
What does it take to build a life in Japan from zero? In this episode of BLUEPRINT JAPAN, Oğuzhan K. sits down with Rade, a researcher turned renewable energy professional who moved from North Macedonia to Japan in 2018 — despite never having taken a flight before. Rade shares his journey from discovering Japan through YouTube and anime as a child, to studying environmental microbiology at Hokkaido University, surviving culture shock, mastering Japanese, and building a career in Japan. In this episode, we talk about: Moving to Japan alone as an international student Studying at a Japanese university during COVID Going from zero to N1 Japanese Passing the Japanese driver’s license exam as a foreigner Finding a job in Japan through 新卒採用 (Shūkatsu) Transitioning from student life to working life in Tokyo Building a career in Japan’s renewable energy industry Rade’s story is a reminder that Japan is not just a destination — it is a place where persistence, curiosity, and resilience can completely change your life. Part 1 focuses on his journey from North Macedonia to becoming a professional in Japan. Part 2 covers his drone license, renewable energy career, and his experiences navigating Japan as a foreign professional. ️ BLUEPRINT JAPAN — Real stories from people building meaningful lives in Japan.
