Moving From India To Japan As A Mechanical Engineer 

Moving From India To Japan: A Dream That’s Five Years in the Making 

My decision to move from India to Japan as a mechanical engineer wasn’t a sudden turn of events. In fact, it was five years in the making. Like many important milestones in my life, this journey was slow and deliberate — shaped by consistency and resilience. 

My story begins in 2020, during my second year of university. When the pandemic hit, all classes shifted online, and I suddenly found myself with so much time on my hands. With nowhere to go, that extra time became an unexpected opportunity.  

I started researching what opportunities existed for mechanical engineers abroad. During this period, I came across the YouTube channel Japan Tamil Bros. In their videos, they talk about the growing demand for foreign talent in Japan, especially in engineering. Watching these videos sparked something in me.  

And so, I decided to study Japanese. Since my college courses had moved fully online, I didn’t have the opportunity to study Japanese formally through the university. Instead, I took matters into my own hands and began self-studying for the JLPT N5 using YouTube and online resources. Despite the challenges of learning a new language on my own, I stayed consistent and eventually passed JLPT N3. 

My Journey Self-Studying Japanese: How My Fascination for Kanji Helped Me 

As someone deeply interested in languages, learning Japanese on my own isn’t a daunting idea, but rather, an exciting one. Here are some highlights of my language learning journey: 

My Kanji Wall  

I’m particularly fascinated by kanji. To me, writing kanji feels like art. One of the most effective methods I developed when I was learning Japanese was something I called my kanji wall.  

I dedicated an entire wall in my room to learning kanji. I would write around 100 kanji at a time and stick them to my wall. Every day, especially in the mornings, I would review them repeatedly. Once I fully memorized a set, I would peel them off and replace them with new ones. It might have looked unusual, but it worked! Surrounding myself with kanji made learning constant. Writing, reading, and repeatedly seeing the characters helped me internalize them far more effectively than passive study.  

Failing, Trying Again, and Staying Consistent  

My Japanese learning journey was far from smooth. I failed several JLPT exams before finally passing the N3 level. What kept me going was consistency and interest. I set a clear goal in 2020: no matter how many times I failed, I would continue working toward my dream of working in Japan. Today, I am working toward N2. Failure, for me, was never an endpoint.  

Consistency Matters More Than Speed 

My personal belief is that Japanese is primarily a written language. The more you write, the more you learn. Rewriting kanji, memorizing through repetition, and physically writing the language made a huge difference for me. Techniques like the kanji wall, daily writing, and constant exposure helped me stay connected to the language every single day.  

Landing a Job with a Japanese Company in India 

After completing my mechanical engineering degree, I secured a position at a Japanese company in India. This role became a crucial step in my journey of moving from India to Japan as an engineer. 

Working at a Japanese company gave me exposure to Japanese professionals. I regularly communicated with them in Japanese, engaging in conversations and technical discussions. This consistent interaction significantly improved my kaiwa (Japanese speaking skills). More importantly, it helped me understand how Japanese professionals think, communicate, and approach their work.  

Having this job made my desire to work in Japan stronger. That motivation pushed me to continue preparing for the next step — turning my long-term goal of working in Japan into reality. 

FAST OFFER: The Bridge Toward My Goal of Moving from India to Japan 

I wasn’t sure where to start searching for career opportunities in Japan for foreign talent like me. So I went back to what had worked for me before: research. For nearly two to three months, I spent hours every day searching the internet, learning from experts, and understanding how Japanese interviews work.  

I focused on topics like how to present myself professionally, how to answer questions in Japanese, and how to prepare mentally for interviews in a Japanese corporate environment. During this time, an unexpected opportunity appeared on my LinkedIn feed. It’s a post about a YouTube video featuring Fatemee Iman and Cherry from FAST OFFER talking about job opportunities in Japan.  

I registered using the link on FAST OFFER’s website. Then, I submitted my resume and created a one-minute self-introduction PR video in Japanese. At first, I was skeptical whether I was good enough to be considered. Still, I had to try. 

Getting a Career Advisor to Guide Me 

Soon after signing up, FAST OFFER assigned me to a career advisor. She played a huge role in my success. From revising my resume to refining how I answered interview questions, she supported me at every step. We conducted mock interviews where she corrected my mistakes, improved my responses, and helped me understand what Japanese companies truly look for in candidates.  

Thanks to her guidance, I was shortlisted for interviews with Japanese companies. When I was informed about the next step, I was asked a question I’ll never forget: “Can you come to Japan right now?” At that time, I was still working full-time in India. The opportunity required me to travel to Japan on short notice. I needed to take one week off from work to attend the interviews. Without hesitation, I took the leap and filed for a one-week leave.   

My Week in Japan: An Adventure I’ll Never Forget 

I’ll never forget October 2025. It’s the month when everything I worked for finally feels within my reach. Landing in Japan, I could clearly see that every failure, every late night, and every moment of doubt had led me to this point in my journey.  

One of the most fascinating parts of this experience was realizing that I didn’t face a language barrier. Being able to communicate confidently in Japanese made interacting with people feel natural and comfortable. During this trip, I also had the opportunity to meet a retired mentor who influenced my understanding of mechanical engineering. Meeting him in person was deeply meaningful.  

Outside of interviews and meetings, I was able to explore Tokyo. I tried new food and bought small souvenirs. Every moment felt surreal, like I was finally living the life I had worked toward for years. 

Facing Japanese Job Interviews: Key to My Journey of Moving from India to Japan as a Mechanical Engineer 

I was shortlisted for interviews with four companies. I was excited but also nervous. There was a lot of work to do! Here are the preparations I did, how the interviews felt like, and my tips for acing a job interview in Japan. 

My Preparations for Japanese Job Interviews 

One of the things that is crucial in Japanese job interviews is explaining your final year project. At this point, I was already working full-time. And to be honest, I hadn’t thought about my university project in years. With my advisor’s guidance, I spent hours recalling every detail and learning how to explain it confidently in an interview setting.  

Standing at the Edge of Success

I completed all four interviews in a single day. By the time I finished the first three, I was completely exhausted physically and mentally. When I walked into the final interview, I felt drained and uncertain. Deep down, I even thought I might get rejected. That evening, I waited anxiously for the results. When my mentor finally called me in, she said, “I have two pieces of news — one good and one bad.” I asked her to tell me the bad news first. She looked at me and said, “You were rejected by three companies.” I was shocked. My mind went blank. Then she smiled and continued, “The company you wanted has invited you for the second round.” In that moment, everything changed.  

Many of my friends who had come for interviews had already been rejected and were returning home without offers. I realized this was my chance, and I couldn’t waste it. 

The Decisive Moment   

That night, back at my hotel, I worked until 1 AM. I revised answers, noted down technical explanations, and carefully prepared for the final interview using the tips my mentor shared. The next day, I faced the biggest interview of my life. The interviewer asked tough questions: why I wanted to work in Japan, why I was leaving a large company in India, and why I chose their organization specifically. I answered every question honestly and confidently.  

After 10 to 15 minutes, they looked at me and said, “You have passed.” I was speechless.  

The following day, I visited the company, and everything I saw matched my interests, my skills, and my vision for the future. That’s when I knew that this was it. I accepted the offer, marking the most defining moment in my journey of moving from India to Japan as a mechanical engineer. 

My Tips for Japanese Job Interviews 

1. Speak clearly, properly, and slowly. There is no need to rush. When you slow down your pace, you give yourself time to think, organize your thoughts, and remember the next word you want to say.  
2. Being honest and straightforward matters a lot. It’s okay to clearly state what you know — and just as importantly, what you don’t know yet. Japanese interviewers appreciate this kind of sincerity.  
3. Accepting and explaining your limitations. In Japanese interviews, it’s not enough to highlight only your strengths. You should also be aware of your weaknesses and be willing to talk about them openly. Interviewers expect this balance. Showing that you understand both your positive and negative points demonstrates maturity and honesty. 

My Dream of Moving from India to Japan as a Mechanical Engineer Is Now Just Months Away 

As I prepare to move to Japan, I’m excited not only about my career but also about experiencing life in a completely new country. I plan to explore Japan fully during my free time.

I dream of mountain trips, climbing, and discovering local hidden gems, while also learning more about Japanese traditions and lifestyle firsthand. I want to experience everything, beyond just what I’ve read online.