u/punk-bowser

​Hey folks,

​I’m moving to Kyoto soon to work as an electronics engineer, and I'm really hoping to plug into the local tech and maker scene.

​I have a decade of experience in embedded systems, and in my downtime, I'm always working on side projects—everything from PCB design and firmware programming to building custom hardware for next funky thing.

​Since I'll be new to the city, I'm trying to map out the local community:

​Are there any English-friendly (or bilingual) maker spaces or hackerspaces in Kyoto?

​Does anyone know of any regular hardware or embedded tech meetups in the kyoto or osaka region?

​Where is the best place to meet other hardware nerds and DIY enthusiasts?

​Any pointers to local groups, forums, or even just your favorite electronics supply shops would be amazing. Looking forward to exploring the city

Hi folks,

​I finally secured my work visa and will be moving to Kyoto to start my next adventure as an embedded/electronics engineer! I have 10 years of experience in the industry and couldn't be more excited to start working in Japan.

​However, I have one lingering concern: I have a fairly large tattoo on my right forearm. It’s a very cool custom design featuring a microchip and a cloud—essentially a tribute to my profession that instantly tells people I'm into electronics.

​While I love the ink, I’m also well aware of the traditional stigma surrounding tattoos in Japan. I'd love to get some honest perspectives from people living and working there:

​Is this going to be a major concern in a professional engineering environment?

​Will it negatively impact my reputation, networking, or how I fit into the work culture?

​Do I need to realistically plan on wearing long sleeves to hide it at all times?

​Any insights, personal experiences, or advice on how to navigate this would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve been doing embedded systems consultation, and recently I worked on a project involving PCB design, firmware development, and mechanical enclosure design. I delivered the work, but the client is now saying it is not working and is refusing to release the remaining payment.

The project has already cost me a lot of time and income, and I’m now considering open-sourcing the project since I’ve effectively lost the expected revenue from it. Before I do that, I wanted to ask the community:

• How do you usually handle clients who dispute delivered embedded work after the fact?
• What is the best way to protect yourself in consultation contracts for hardware/firmware projects?
• Is open-sourcing a failed client project a reasonable way to recover value, or can it create legal/business issues?
• How do you document deliverables so a client can’t later claim “it doesn’t work” without clear technical feedback?

Would appreciate advice from people who have faced similar situations in embedded, hardware, or freelance consulting.