Hello

Hi there—this is MakiDON, joining the company in December 2024! In this article, I asked our December 2024 new joiners to share their first impressions right after joining. I've put their thoughts together here. I hope this content will be useful for those who are interested in KINTO Technologies, and serve as a reflection for the members who participated in the interview!

Fsk

• Self-introduction
  • I work on frontend development in the Business System Group, part of the Business Systems Development Department. So far, I've been doing frontend using Nextjs, always aiming to build user-friendly interfaces. There's still plenty for me to learn, but I'll do my best to be helpful in any way I can.
• How is your team structured?
  • There are five of us, including me. We've got one PM, two front-end engineers, and two back-end engineers.
• What was your first impression of KINTO Technologies when you joined? Were there any surprises?
  • Using generative AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT has been a huge help. I was a bit nervous before joining, but everyone was so warm and welcoming that I quickly felt at ease.
• What is the atmosphere like on site?
  • I really appreciate how easy it is to ask for help when I run into something.
• How did you feel about writing a blog post?
  • I think it's great to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings with everyone.
• Question from Frank to Fsk
  • If you could hand off just one boring daily task to a robot, what would it be?
    • Definitely, cleaning! It eats up time every day, and I'd much rather spend that time doing something else.

Takahashi

• Self-introduction
  • I work as a project manager for the Owned Media Group and the Marketing Product Development Group. I focus on helping everyone move toward a shared goal—acting as a good partner to our clients and internal teams, and as a bridge between engineers and business divisions.
  • In my previous job, I gained experience as a web designer. Later, I transferred to the Development Department, where I managed a range of platform-related areas, including membership systems, payments, points, and facility information.
• How is your team structured?
  • The Owned Media Group has one project manager and two engineers. The Marketing Product Development Group focuses on static content and includes a team leader, a project manager, a tech lead, and two engineers.
• What was your first impression of KINTO Technologies when you joined? Were there any surprises?
  • My first impression was how quiet the office was. At my previous job, the sales team was on the same floor and right nearby, so it was always noisy.
  • As for any gaps or surprises, I'd say that each group has its own development style. You kind of need to stay flexible and ready to adapt your mindset.
• What is the atmosphere like on site?
  • It's quiet. So quiet that I feel like I need to be a little mindful when tossing a can into the trash.
• How did you feel about writing a blog post?
  • During my self-intro at work, I think the only thing really came across was that I'm into Monster Hunter. So I'm glad to get the chance to write the article.
• Question from Fsk to Takahashi
  • Do you prefer World or Wilds? lol
    • I'd say Wilds, especially with all the upcoming updates to look forward to! Hoping it becomes something we can enjoy for over 10 years, just like World!
  • Generative AI is currently being used in the design field, and many engineers are being called "AI prompt engineers." What do you think about this trend?
    • As long as people are careful not to infringe on copyright or image rights, I think it's totally fine to let generative AI handle certain tasks. That said, I don't think it's suitable in contexts like contests or competitions where creativity is what's being judged.

Lyu

• Self-introduction
  • I currently belong to the Business System Group in the Business System Development Division, where I mainly work on backend system development. My day-to-day work involves designing, implementing, operating and maintaining various systems that help streamline internal operations and improve data integration. I always keep stability and scalability in mind when developing systems.
  • Previously, I worked at IBM, where I was involved in developing medical information systems for major hospitals in Japan. I've had hands-on experience across the entire process—everything from requirements gathering and design to development, rollout, and after-sales support. I've always aimed to build systems that truly meet the needs of users on the ground.
  • Drawing on that experience, I continue to work on deepening both my technical skills and understanding of the business so I can deliver systems that are even more practical and valuable.
• How is your team structured?
  • There are five of us, including me. We've got one PM, two front-end engineers, and two back-end engineers. Everyone was a pro in their own area, and I learned a lot from being part of the team.
• What was your first impression of KINTO Technologies when you joined? Were there any surprises?
  • The first thing that stood out was how warm and welcoming everyone was. There's a relaxed atmosphere where people communicate freely, without being overly concerned about hierarchy. I was also impressed by the wide range of in-house events and active club activities—there's always something going on. The benefits are really employee-friendly too, which makes it a great place to work.
  • There wasn't a big gap between what I expected and what I actually experienced. If anything, the work environment turned out to be even better than I had imagined.
• What is the atmosphere like on site?
  • It's bright and really enjoyable. Of course, we talk about work, but it's also easy to share fun ideas or little things that happen during the day. The team members are all close to each other and it's easy to get along with anyone, so you can work with peace of mind.
• How did you feel about writing a blog post?
  • I'm really glad to have the chance to share my experiences like this. I hope that something from my daily work or thoughts can help someone out there, even just a little.
• Question from Takahashi to Lyu
  • If you were to buy a car through KINTO, which car would you like to drive?
    • I'd definitely go for the Crown. I've always thought it looked cool. Plus, I actually use this model a lot when creating test data at work, so I've kind of grown attached to it. lol
    • The employee discount program also makes it possible to get a Crown at a really reasonable price, which is a big plus. On top of that, the range of customer-friendly services, like the comprehensive insurance plan, really makes the whole package feel impressive.

MakiDon

• Self-introduction
  • My name is MakiDon, and I joined the company in December. I belong to the Marketing Product Development Group in the Mobility Product Development Division. I mainly handle data analysis and machine learning tasks. My main role is to identify issues through data analysis, propose strategic solutions and exit plans, and support system design using machine learning.
  • Before this, I worked as a project manager at a startup focused on architecture and IT.
• How is your team structured?
  • I'm in the the Data Analysis and ML Utilization Team. We're a group of eight: one PjM (Project Manager)/PdM (Product Manager), one Scrum Master, and six engineers.
• What was your first impression of KINTO Technologies when you joined? Were there any surprises?
  • Since KTC is part of a large corporation, my first impression was that it'd be a pretty traditional and stable company. But once I joined, I saw generative AI being used in Slack and AI actively integrated into various systems. It quickly became clear that the company is a tech company and has a fast-moving, startup-like energy—much more than I expected.
• What is the atmosphere like on site?
  • It's a very open and supportive environment. Not only within the team but across departments, people are quick to offer help. You can ask for advice anytime, which makes it easy to work with peace of mind.
• How did you feel about writing a blog post?
  • I Actually, I got to write a Tech blog before this main post. I'd never written a blog before, but thanks to the support and advice from my team, I was able to write it without any worries. It turned out to be a really valuable experience. I'll continue to do my best to share my new knowledge and experience both inside and outside the company!
• Question from Lyu to MakiDon
  • What are you most proud of in your work so far?
    • By bringing in-house the output we'd previously generated using machine learning tools, we managed to cut costs and boost click-through rates!

Frank Neezen

• Self-introduction
  • I’m Frank Neezen, a member of the Business Development Department,
  • Officially titled Business Development Manager. My primary role, however, is as the Technical Architect, where I help guide the design and implementation of our core global full-service products.
  • My background lies in consulting, where I’ve focused on advising clients on leveraging Salesforce to meet their technical and operational needs.
• How is your team structured?
  • My direct team consists of 4 team members with a diverse skillset. We collaborate closely with our engineering team to develop software solutions for the global full-service lease business.
• What was your first impression of KINTO Technologies when you joined? Were there any surprises?
  • My transition from Salesforce in Amsterdam to KTC in Tokyo was remarkably smooth! I had some initial concerns about adapting to the cultural differences, but the exceptional onboarding process and the warm, supportive team at the Jimbocho office made all the difference. From day one, their welcoming attitude helped me settle in effortlessly. My main hurdle, however, was organizing all my personal affairs, for example sorting out banking or registering within the neighborhood without being able to speak Japanese. I had lots of help though from KTC with these activities.
• What is the atmosphere like on site?
  • Our team is based together in the Jimbocho office, next to many of the engineers. The vibe is open and professional, but also relaxed. The atmosphere is open, professional but relaxed. There is a good team feeling, we all want to succeed with our work.
• How did you feel about writing a blog post?
  • I have written articles in the past for other topics though mainly related to Salesforce. Always happy to write up and share my personal story of joining KTC!
• Question from MakiDon to Frank
  • Was there anything that surprised you when you came to Japan?
    • I'm amazed by how safe Japan is, walking around anywhere in Tokyo, the biggest city in the world feels completely secure! Also what truly surprising is that if you lose something, like a wallet or phone, it almost always finds its way back to you. I have had a few times when I did not even realize I lost something but then someone would randomly come up to me with my lost item. Such a refreshing experience!

Finally

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts on our company after joining it!

There are more and more new members at KINTO Technologies every day! We'll be posting more new-joiner stories from across divisions, so stay tuned!

And yes — we're still hiring! KINTO Technologies is looking for new teammates to join us across a variety of divisions and roles. For more details, check it out here!