Applied via CFN website. Heard back a week later to set up a phone screening with an employee. Phone screening was simple, got moved on to next round. Was contacted by VP of Global Markets (they have many) and we chatted. Was led to believe I would receive dinner invite by company at the career forum in that phone call, that never happened. Heard back a week and a half later, saying to pick an in person interview time slot.
Interviewed in person with head of a desk. She was very kind and energetic. To my shock, she said she wants to do the interview in Japanese first because knowing Japanese helps if you work for them. I did fine because I prepared. Did more in English, all went well I thought. Got another interview set up with a senior director next round.
The next day I met the other interviewer. He spoke little Japanese and was from America originally. His interview was really different, asked me to talk about something and I mentioned abenomics (bad idea). Interview turned into a 30 minute conversation where he just tested me on the concept, and I obviously didn't know that many details being in America, and just casually reading in on the wallstreet journal here and there. Said I would here back soon, never did (same thing happened previous year).
Later found out they were only hiring one full time candidate, they probably interviewed hundreds. I essentially was a huge long shot, not knowing Japanese fluently to begin with. Felt really misled by the first VP saying I would be getting a dinner invite and having 4 total interviews, this all meant nothing. Similar experience last year going for an internship. They emphasize how you don't have to have a background in Finance/Economics so I was a bit confused why my interview was so technical. If it was a way to gauge how I think, I'm not sure that was a fair way because I have limited working knowledge to make conclusions.