Understand (from people who are involved) that A-net recently did the interviews and sim evals and that people are now into the medical screening (a two day event involving tread mills, etc.)
I understand that the interviews were not for the faint of heart-- with the Chief Pilot (ex-Boeing 747) and others doing the interview. One of the criteria was-- how well do you know Japanese social customs and how well would you blend into life in Japan? One of the interviewees came from as far as Sakhalin (to Toronto). His complex travel plans caused him a delay in Miami and he went straight from the airport to the FlightSafety facility. He was 20 minutes late and the interviewers were not at all impressed. I am told that he knew pretty much right away that he had blown it.
They provided a quick lesson in the SOP's and the Q400, and then they wanted to see how well you could fly the sim following them. For someone coming off a -100,-200 or -300, I imagine it would have been a daunting experience.
Next step will be about 4 months of ground school and the Japanese ATPL.