My job is an airline pilot. An airline pilot is a pilot who works for an airline. I drive the relatively large passenger planes that you all use when you travel. There are also other pilots in Japan who fly planes for the Self-Defense Forces, helicopters for police and fire departments, and work in disaster areas to save lives. You also have pilots who fly planes or helicopters for scenic flights.

For example, on a domestic flight between Tokyo and Fukuoka, I am in charge of three flights a day. I arrive at the office at around 6:00 a.m., change into my uniform, and at 7:00 a.m., meet with the captain who will be flying with me that day to discuss what kind of flight we will be taking. We use computers, iPads, and other information terminals to check the weather, fuel, and other information. After that, it is time to board the plane. We share the day's weather conditions and estimated flight time with the flight crew. After that, they actually go around the plane to see for themselves if anything is broken. The co-pilot then sets the switches in the cockpit to the correct positions. The co-pilot then checks to make sure that everything is in order before taking off. The engine is started for takeoff, and the time of arrival is announced during the flight.
Upon arrival, the brakes are applied and the doors are opened for passengers to disembark. Once everyone has disembarked, there is not much time to rest as we prepare for the next flight. Around 11:00 a.m., boarding begins for the return flight, which takes off again 20 minutes later, and then returns to Fukuoka Airport once more. Once all the passengers have disembarked there, the day's work is over.

One is being able to work in the sky. The view from the cockpit is really special, such as the beautiful sunset in autumn with its ever-changing colors or the sunrise over Mount Fuji on January 1. It is an interesting experience to be able to see famous places not only in Japan but also in the world from different angles than usual. I also think that being able to fly to various places in Japan and around the world by myself is something that only a pilot can do.
Another interesting aspect of being a pilot is the dynamic work of operating a large aircraft, and flying a 75-meter airplane is truly a difficult job. You have to calculate various factors such as weather and fuel, and you are also responsible for the safety of many passengers. But it is precisely because it is hard work that I feel a great sense of accomplishment when we arrive at our destination for the day and safely drop off our customers.

When I was a child, I rode in an airplane and thought it was cool. I liked all kinds of vehicles, but I thought that being a pilot was the coolest job out of all of them, so I set my sights on becoming a pilot. There is no specialized study to become a pilot. So I think the shortest way to become a pilot is to study hard at school. However, it would also be a good idea to make English your strong subject. Piloting is a job that takes you all over the world, so you use a lot of English. So I think it is better to be good at it.

The first way is to join a company as a pilot candidate. Another way is to enter a school specializing in pilot licensing. Then there are also some universities that teach piloting. There are currently five schools in Japan, and there is a possibility that there will be more in the future. These are the three typical ways. After I graduated from university, I joined the company as a pilot candidate. After that, I became a pilot through the company's training program.
It used to be difficult to become a pilot if you had bad eyesight, but now you can become a pilot even if you wear glasses. Also, the number of female pilots is increasing. If you think you would like to become a pilot in the future, I hope you will give it a try.