Hi everyone! I’m Alex. I’d say I’m “technically” from Switzerland, though my life path has been a bit all over the place.

I was born in Moscow but moved to the U.S. when I was two years old. I spent my early years in Atlanta, Georgia, until my family moved to Switzerland when I was ten. I got my Swiss citizenship and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Lausanne. I went on to complete my Master of Laws in the UK at the University of Nottingham. After finishing school, I spent three years working for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

Eventually, though, I felt ready for something new. Up to that point, I had already lived in several countries and spoke several languages. I had experienced the U.S. and both Western and Eastern Europe, so I wanted a new environment. I was interested in living somewhere culturally very different, but that still has a high quality of life. Japan became a strong candidate thanks to friends I had met during my job and studies, which led me to travelling solo to Japan a couple of times. I thoroughly enjoyed my trips and decided to see what it would be like to live here.

So, I moved to Japan, signed up for a two-year language school, and set out to master Japanese. It was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—probably more challenging than my Master’s or my job in Switzerland! During that time, I taught English on the side to support myself while studying Japanese intensely. In the end, I got my N1 certificate and felt ready to start job hunting here. I began as a Project Coordinator at a Japanese university, then spent five years as a PR and Brand Communications Specialist at an IT company. I’m now 3-4 months into my current role (at time of publication) as a Global Communications Manager at Tokio Marine Holdings.

Looking back, I think my interest in intercultural communication and international relations started in college. While studying for my undergrad in Switzerland, I joined the Model United Nations (MUN) club and traveled across Europe and the U.S. for conferences. Building connections across languages and backgrounds is the common thread that holds my varied career together.

This passion for communication eventually led me to Tokio Marine Holdings. Originally, I thought I could only make a positive difference in the world by working for an NGO or in international diplomacy. However, within these organizations, I was just a small cog in a big machine, and I didn’t feel empowered to effect meaningful change. As I gained experience, I realized that companies with a strong sense of social responsibility could make a more direct impact on people’s lives. That realization drew me to Tokio Marine Holdings. My job here centers around global communications—my passion and specialty—so I get the best of both worlds.

If you’re considering working in Japan, my advice is to be prepared to truly commit. I’ve met many job seekers from Western countries who don’t realize how much effort it takes to build a career here. Some people think speaking English and some Japanese will be enough, but I’ve found that it takes much more to have a fulfilling career.

Knowing your strengths and being able to communicate them professionally is essential. It’s not just about listing skills; it’s about being able to explain how those skills fit into a business setting. For instance, if you’re good at using social media, that’s great—but you need to know how to apply those skills in a professional context that supports the company’s goals.

Stay focused and avoid falling into complacency. Be ready to prove your value with the skills you bring to the table. Understanding yourself through a professional lens will be key to showing your potential to hiring managers.

This position requires not just a native level of English, but a desire develop world-class communication proficiency. You will be called upon to check translations of important documents made by native English speakers, as well as edit articles and reports about trends in the insurance industry and Tokio Marine’s global initiatives.

Language skills are just the beginning. Speaking English and business-level Japanese are important, but you also have to be able to navigate intercultural issues, read between the lines, and display cool-headed professionalism in a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment.

At Tokio Marine Holdings, my job is about unifying our global messaging. As the “Holdings” in the name implies, we oversee communications for all the Group companies under the Tokio Marine umbrella. We are currently active in 45 countries, and while each Group company essentially operates independently, we need to align our messaging and brand identity on key topics like diversity, sustainability, and our core business strategies. Aligning the Group companies and spreading the message about the Group identity to potential clients is vital for our business. Companies within the Group need to feel like they are part of a larger organization.

Another aspect of my job is ensuring that messages from top management and departments based in our Tokyo headquarters—who primarily operate in Japanese—are clearly communicated to our Group companies and other stakeholders abroad. Whether we are doing thought leadership, social media, original content, media relations, sponsored content, or live events, we are the information nexus for the Group, overseeing global to global, domestic to global, but also global to domestic communications.

I’ve only worked here for a few months at this point but, one thing I can say is that everyone is extremely kind and generous. People here are hard workers and put in extraordinary effort to put together projects big and small for the benefit of other Group employees, our clients, and society as a whole. The work environment here is fast-paced, which means flexibility is key. Tokio Marine Holdings is in a unique position. It’s genuinely very hard to find companies headquartered in Japan that conduct a majority of their business internationally. While we value work-life balance and provide generous benefits, some days do involve meetings at odd hours due to time zones (not all the time!). Thankfully, everyone on the team is incredibly supportive, open to new ideas, and always eager to help each other out.

GOOD FIT FOR TOKIO MARINE HOLDINGS

We want to see a candidate who is aware of the global scale of our company and can meet a high standard of professionalism. Knowledge of the insurance industry, risk management, disaster reduction, global standards in terms of sustainability and DE&I, etc. is a plus. However, we have robust personnel training programs, and expect candidates to learn a lot on the job. That’s why the best fit would be someone with a proactive mindset, eager to learn, and able to think creatively to come up with cool content that resonates with people in the industry and beyond.

NOT SO GOOD FIT FOR TOKIO MARINE HOLDINGS

While Tokio Marine Holdings values work-life balance, this isn’t a simple 9-to-5 desk job where you do the same thing every day. We’re on a mission that requires dedication and passion from everyone involved. As I mentioned, we have Group companies in 45 countries, so flexibility and adaptability are essential. For those who are ready to put in the effort, though, the experience can be extremely rewarding. If you show talent and willingness to learn, you’ll be given the tools and knowledge to contribute directly to the global mission of one of the world’s largest insurance groups.