The special series to put a spotlight on our international staff, “Eyes, JAPAN employee interview” has reached vol.5! Our 5th interviewee is Cherubin Mugisha from Burundi.

He has been working in Eyes, JAPAN for about 18 months, and he has been working on web development on several projects.

We wanted to ask Cherubin about his life in Aizu and also his experience working in Eyes, JAPAN.

(Interviewer: Angie)

Can Speak 4 Languages!

Which country did you come from, and what do you like about your home country/town?

Cherubin: I came from Burundi, and I like the people, the vibe, and the fruits there

What do you think about life in Aizu and how do you usually spend weekend or holidays in Aizu?

Cherubin: Life in Aizu is simple but enriching, and usually I spend my time in my lab or by doing outdoor activities.

What is your hobby and how do you usually spend your free time?

Cherubin: My hobbies are listening to audio-books, listening to music, and playing sports. But unfortunately, I don’t have free time.

What kind of research are you doing or have you done before?<>/strong

Cherubin: I am doing research on artificial intelligence applied to the medical area (NLP, image and signal processing).

Do you have any skills that you are proud of?

Cherubin: I don’t know if it’s a skill, but I can speak 4 languages fluently.

Eyes, JAPAN: Goes Beyond the Traditional Japanese Style

How did you know about Eyes, JAPAN and why did you decide to join Eyes, JAPAN?

Cherubin: I heard about EJ from a friend of mine, and I was interested in its multicultural environment. I also like that Eyes, JAPAN is giving opportunities to everyone who’s willing to learn and demonstrate his abilities.

What customs in Eyes, JAPAN that you like the most?

Cherubin: I like that the working culture of Eyes, JAPAN goes beyond the traditional Japanese style.

What do you think about your colleagues and the working environment in Eyes, JAPAN?

Cherubin: I know most of my colleagues from the university, and they are all nice. I think our working environment is very cosy and it is nice to work with some very open-minded people.

What kind of problems or challenges have you faced while working in Eyes, JAPAN and how did you solve it?

Cherubin: One problem that I faced is the lack of proper orientation/training when you are new to the company. For my case, I had to approach some employees, on the affinity basis, to ask questions, but this process takes time, especially when you need some help that overlaps with their availability

What do you think about working at home and working at the office?

Cherubin: Personally, I think working from both the office and home helps people to be able to freely continue their work anytime, at their free time. Since most of the work requires to keep learning and searching.

What environment do you usually work on?

Cherubin: I usually work on Ubuntu and windows, and I use Python notebooks and vs code. Python is my favorite script language.

What kind of projects do you want to work on in the future?

Cherubin: I would like to work on a project that could be oriented to data processing and optimization of decision making.

Advice: Make Sure You’re Surrounded by the Right People!

Have you experienced any culture shock while working in Japan?

Cherubin: I haven’t worked for any other companies in Japan other than Eyes, JAPAN. My experience at Eyes, JAPAN was really surprising, because it was not what I should be expecting from Japan. But since I was used to working in a multicultural environment, it was not hard to adapt.

What are some pros or cons of working at a Japanese company?

Cherubin: In my opinion each company has its own culture, and this is even stressed when we talk about Japanese companies. However, sometimes it’s hard to know if you should keep your identity or blend in with the environment

How do you balance your working and private time and what keeps you motivated to work and study?

Cherubin: I dedicate a specific day and time for my work and leave the rest for my studies. But I try to keep my eyes on priorities. And my motivation is going to sleep every night knowing that I’m less ignorant (stupid) than I was in the morning.

Any advice for people who wants to work in Japan?

Cherubin: Try your best and make sure you’re surrounded by the right people to get help when you need it!

Thank you!

If you are interested in Eyes, JAPAN and would like to hear other stories, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following contact form.
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Everyone welcome.