My first real job in Japan was as technical translator for the prefectural technology incubator. (I am not comfortable telling you who, exactly, although given that I live in the equivalent of a small town in Kansas it isn't exactly hard to guess.) It was arranged through the JET Program -- I applied as a Coordinator of International Relations, they saw my engineering degree, the rest is history. Note that I'm told there was exactly one technical translator placed that year, so I wouldn't suggest that as a high-percentage route to your dream job in technical translation.

My next job was the job I recently quit. I got that by overdelivering on a project for a client of the incubator. When my contract was up I called him and essentially called in the favor. He arranged for my recently ex-bosses to hire me (they were clients of his), and came with me for the job interview, which at that point was a formality.