IT Women's Gathering Report: Mitou Alumni Discuss IT Careers Starting from 'I Want to Build This'
On July 13, 2025, we held an 'IT Women's Gathering' featuring alumni who have completed the 'Mitou Advanced Program / Mitou IT Human Resources Development Program' conducted by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA). We have summarized the event on note to share the atmosphere with everyone. We hope this serves as a reference for those considering applying to or challenging themselves with the Mitou programs.
Under the theme 'Mitou Alumni Discuss IT Career Paths: How Useful is Mitou, Honestly?',
Mitou alumni and women interested in IT and creation gathered to share a relaxed and candid time together.
'What is Mitou?', 'I want to apply but I'm not confident', 'How did others get started?'
It became a down-to-earth and flat space for meeting that answered such questions.
Taking the first step from 'What is Mitou?'
At the beginning, Shizufang Zhou (2021 Mitou Advanced / 2019 Mitou IT) took the stage to provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the Mitou structure and its features.
That 'the desire to try' is more important than 'perfected technical skills'
That after selection, there is close support from a Project Manager (PM)
That intellectual property of the deliverables belongs to the applicant
That connections with peers and alumni remain a support system long after the challenge
These points were discussed from a realistic perspective based on actual experience, spreading the feeling among first-time participants that 'Mitou might actually be more accessible than I thought.'
Self-Introduction Talk: Stories of Alumni Who Encountered Mitou
Next was a self-introduction style talk by seven Mitou alumni.
Each of them shared, in a down-to-earth way, their feelings before encountering Mitou, their anxieties at the time of application, the struggles they faced while advancing their projects, and how Mitou influenced their subsequent careers.
Consultation session split into two groups: Real questions, answered with real voices
In the second half, we held small-group consultation sessions split into two groups. Alumni and current Mitou project members carefully answered each participant's questions, such as 'How much preparation is needed for the application?', 'Can I balance this with research or a job?', and 'Is it better to form a team, or is it okay to apply alone?'
At the venue, the tension gradually eased, and natural conversations blossomed over board games and snacks.
Many participants shared comments like, 'Because I was able to talk here, I feel like I can take the step to apply,' and 'I realized I wasn't the only one struggling.'
If you have even the slightest interest in tech, just give it a try!
This 'IT Women's Meetup' was not hosted by IPA, but was an independent event planned and held by volunteers from the Mitou alumni community.
'I wish there had been a place like this sooner.'
It was a space created by alumni who felt that way, for those who 'want to take on a challenge.'
Even if you aren't good at coding.
Even if your idea is still vague.
If you have the feeling that you 'want to build something,'
please, by all means, try applying to Mitou!
Finally: To you, who are thinking about applying to Mitou
We would be very happy if this event and the information shared in this note served as a catalyst to move your 'I want to build this' feeling forward, even just a little.
We, the Mitou alumni, will continue to fully support you as you try to move forward while struggling just as we once did.
We will think together with you, walk alongside you, and support your first steps.
*If you are interested in future support events or information, please register for our mailing list and stay tuned for further updates!