Meet our alumni in Japan

Jan de Graaf
Working as a Game Programming Consultant at AggroBird in Kyoto
Currently working on a new title – TANUKI: Pon’s Summer

While attending the Tokyo Game Show, I got in touch with Jorrit through the Dutch Game Garden. He said he would like to visit alumni during his business trip to Asia, so I arranged a meeting with him in Kyoto, where I live. I had the privilege of meeting him in person to discuss what I have been doing since graduating. He was very interested in my experiences of living abroad and the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Japan. What stood out most was the fact that, despite him not having been at BUas during my studies, we were still able to share anecdotes.

My favourite memory of my time as a student in Breda is definitely GameLab. It was a weekly group activity in which students worked together to simulate game development in a professional setting. The university provided access to the latest development equipment and some of the student projects actually made it to market. Even better, since the campus was open late, I would stay behind with friends after everyone else had left and play games together while eating kapsalon from the nearby chip shop!

I ended up in Japan after attending a lecture by Bert Heesakkers, in which he shared his experiences of working abroad. This inspired me to seek a work placement outside Europe and eventually led me to Japan. After five years at an Indie studio in Kyoto, I decided to set up my own business and am currently working on my own game. The first few months were tough as I barely spoke Japanese, but fortunately most of my colleagues spoke English. Moving to Japan without any prior experience was a huge culture shock, but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else now and will probably stay here for the rest of my life!

Aside from the mathematics that I use almost daily in my work as a programmer, the most valuable thing I gained from my studies is the network of fellow students with whom I still keep in touch. We still occasionally play games together and discuss collaborating on future projects. I also keep in touch with some of my lecturers and hope to help other students find work placements in Japan.
 

Thijs van de Wouw
Owner of Van De Wouw in Tokyo, providing strategic leadership to build influential brands

I was invited by Jorrit for a networking event in Tokyo, and it was great to meet him and many other BUas alumni. What struck me most was another graduate standing off to the side, looking a bit lonely, Jorrit noticed and waved to make sure the guy felt included. Those small gestures say a lot about a person. Jorrit was super curious about how I ended up in Tokyo and my adventures around the world. Funny enough, he was surprised that before Tokyo I had lived in NYC, San Francisco, Denmark, and Australia, and still – after all those places – I told him Breda is probably one of the best memories in my life so far.

What I loved most about Breda was our tight-knit group of about 12 friends. The study programme attracted open-minded, creative people, which sparked amazing chemistry. We formed a strong bond, lived close by, and spent time in each other’s tiny apartments, going out and working on creative projects like filmmaking we poured our hearts into. In the end, it’s the people and those close connections that make the experience great.

Before Tokyo, I lived in New York, working at a creative agency. In 2018, I visited Japan, I fell in love with Tokyo, and promised myself I’d live there one day. I’m not very spiritual, but I started learning Japanese for fun, and suddenly Japanese things kept surfacing in my life. One day Wieden+Kennedy called for a role in New York, and said: you would actually be great for Japan, would you consider leading strategy there? I couldn’t say no. It was a dream come true. Opportunities like that are rare, and you instantly know you have to take them. Moving to Tokyo was the best, most rewarding, and hardest thing I’ve ever done. It really changed who I am and how I see the world.

My time in Breda really pulled me out of my shell. The BUas trip to the USA, plus the ability to do placements and minors abroad, really shaped who I am today. It was a unique study programme where we could explore all kinds of creativity: filmmaking, directing, radio, magazines, which helped me figure out what I love and want to do. Initially I wanted to be a director in film, but when the App Store launched, I became intrigued by building brands and digital media. BUas offered a six-month study period abroad in Denmark focused on digital strategy. There, I met my future boss, who hired me for my first job. All in all, at BUas I was able to discover a lot about myself. The rest is history.

Inasa Yick
Leading the international expansion of Yukari Japan Tour

Talking with Jorrit Snijder in Tokyo was genuinely uplifting. It’s rare to speak with someone who listens so intently and connects your story to the bigger picture so effortlessly. What struck me most was his sincerity towards alumni abroad. Discussing Japan, cultural tourism and regional projects reminded me of how much of Breda’s global mindset I still possess. I walked away feeling proud and energised about my work, and grateful that he had reached out to me during his visit.

My favourite memories of Breda aren’t tied to a single moment, but to a feeling: the sense of belonging you get when you’re surrounded by people from all over the world who are all dreaming big. I remember group projects that turned into late-night laughter sessions, impromptu study breaks in the city centre, and classmates who became lifelong friends. Breda felt like a safe space where I could experiment, fail, learn and grow. It shaped not only the start of my career, but also who I was becoming. My time in Breda still feels incredibly special to me.

My journey to Japan began with curiosity and evolved into a passion for cultural storytelling and hospitality. Over time, I found myself working closely with sake breweries and regional communities, designing tours that connect respectful travellers with local artisans. The first months were humbling: a new language, a new work culture, and navigating traditions with respect. However, I was welcomed warmly by the people I met along the way. Seeing guests connect deeply with Japan’s craftsmanship made all the hard work worthwhile. This role constantly reminds me why I chose this path.

Looking back, Breda prepared me far more than I realised at the time. The project-based approach to fieldwork, juggling deadlines, collaborating across cultures, and presenting ideas clearly is exactly what I have done throughout my career in hospitality. Creating guest experiences, managing stakeholders, and maintaining adaptability all stem from those classroom and group work moments. Breda has shaped me to stay curious, grounded and human-centred, no matter the industry. These are values that I carry with me through every tour I curate and every community I work with.