Richard Keil is German, but any place in the world can be his workplace as long as he has his laptop and Wi-Fi. If there is also a room for online meetings, that would be perfect.

Keil, 26-year-old software engineer who works for an IT company based in Germany, has traveled and worked remotely in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. “I would say the nice part [of this working style] is the flexibility. The option to see and experience a different country,” he said. “I am free to choose my workplace.”

People like Keil are called digital nomads. These are people who do remote work as they travel the world. The term first appeared in the late 1990s, but the COVID-19 pandemic prompted more people to adopt this way of living and working, according to the Japan Digital Nomad Association in Mitane, Akita Prefecture.

The government is currently trying to attract more digital nomads as a part of efforts to boost regional economies and create business opportunities.

During a stay in Japan between August and September of this year, Keil engaged in remote work out of “S-TOKYO,” a co-working office in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, that reopened in April and caters to digital nomads.

The office is open 24 hours a day, as most of its customers work for firms located outside Japan, and English-friendly staff are available. During his time here, Keil explored sightseeing spots at night in Tokyo, while staying in a share house in the city. He also traveled to rural areas on weekends, he said.

S-TOKYO also offers events to help digital nomads to get to know each other and Japanese locals and provides opportunities for digital nomads and key players such as company executives from various regions across Japan to exchange ideas.

“I feel comfortable staying in Japan, because it offers good digital infrastructure,” Keil said.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024