Key segments were drawn from the article documenting ASIA to JAPAN’s Indonesia visit: “【【出張レポート | インドネシア】地方の壁で日本企業の情報が届かない？インドネシア名門大学からのリアルな声と採用チャンス.”
Did you know that Japan has welcomed a steady flow of foreign talent in recent years? That’s right! The country has been actively recruiting foreign professionals to work in its engineering sector. This includes a growing number of Indonesian engineers, according to a report by the OECD.
ASIA to JAPAN’s visit in May 2025 sheds light on why many Indonesian engineers are drawn to opportunities in Japan. Through its FAST OFFER International program, the team visited Indonesian universities to connect with students and introduce the possibilities and benefits of working in Japan.
If you’re an Indonesian engineering student who dreams of working and living in Japan, then you’re in good company. Here are the top reasons why Indonesian engineers want to work in Japan.
6 Reasons Why Indonesian Engineers Want to Work in Japan
1. Inspired By Their Favorite Anime
With anime becoming popular overseas, it’s no surprise that Indonesian engineers are inspired to work in Japan to experience what it’s like to live like their favorite anime characters. For some, anime was also their first introduction to the Japanese language, sparking a deeper interest in the culture as a whole.
“I first became interested in Japan through anime, which sparked a deep curiosity about the country’s culture. As I delved deeper into Japanese culture, I found myself falling in love with its unique charm and traditions,” shares one Bandung Institute of Technology graduate, who received a job offer from a Japanese company specializing in hydraulic cylinders.
Another Indonesian engineer shares that the anime A Place Further than the Universe, a story about high schoolers exploring Antarctica, inspired him to work in Japan. “It awakened an attitude I brought into other aspects of my life. I enjoyed the field of my studies as it felt like I was discovering more of the unknown,” he said.
2. Japanese Companies Offer Job Stability
Among Indonesian engineering students, we found during our visit that many have a positive image of Japanese companies. They see Japanese companies as places where they can work hard, grow professionally, and enjoy stable employment.
One Indonesian engineer working for a Japanese automobile manufacturer shared that his company provided training that helped him upskill. He also praised the structured work culture. “Based on my experience with my Japanese company, their work style is more detail-oriented in their meticulous preparations,” he said.
3. Japan’s Manufacturing Industry
During our trip to Indonesia’s top universities, we learned that many engineering students were interested in working for Japan’s manufacturing sector. In particular, students with IT skills are keen on the concept of combining manufacturing and IT.
One of our successful candidates, a graduate from Bandung Institute of Technology, shared how he had his eyes on working for Japan’s manufacturing industry because he is convinced that it can help him grow professionally. “I wanted to work in an environment where I could concentrate on development work. Thus, I turned my attention to Japan, home to a booming manufacturing industry,” he said.
4. Securing A Regular Work Visa
In Indonesia, there used to be a strong impression that working in Japan is limited to short-term visas. As a result, many students were unaware that they could be hired as full-time employees and obtain regular work visas.
However, this perception is beginning to shift as more Indonesian engineers share their success stories.
An Indonesian engineer working for a Japan-based global management consulting firm shares his experience securing a work visa. “Working with the company lawyer, my company gave me a list of requirements to compile and worked on my Certificate of Eligibility. Thankfully, I had most of my requirements on hand. This was a conscious act on my part—before I was even sure of getting a job offer, I already had a lot of the required documents, so I just had to send soft copies to my company. All in all, because I was well-prepared, and because my company was efficient and had a trusted reputation with the government, the whole process took just a month.”
5. Japanese Class Opportunities
Learning Japanese is one of the first necessary skills for Indonesians interested in working in Japan. Thankfully, Japanese language education is becoming widely available across Indonesia. FAST OFFER International has also collaborated with several universities to enable students to get credits for free Japanese classes for Indonesians.
6. 100% Free One-Stop Agency Helping Bridge the Information Gap on Job Opportunities in Japan
So many Indonesians are seeking to work abroad and the Indonesian government aims to send a million Indonesians abroad annually. However, Indonesians may face challenges when seeking information on job opportunities abroad due to geographical and structural challenges. Thankfully, FAST OFFER International can help bridge this information gap for the many qualified budding Indonesian engineers aspiring to launch their career in Japan.
Top Indonesian Universities Visited By ASIA To JAPAN
ASIA to JAPAN visited the top universities in Indonesia to connect with engineering students interested in building careers in Japan. Some of the universities they visited include:
University of Indonesia (UI)
Founded in 1849, it is one of Indonesia’s most prestigious universities, with a rich and storied history.
The university has two campuses located in the heart of Indonesia: in Jakarta and Depok. The Jakarta campus houses the medical and dental faculties, along with various graduate programs. Meanwhile, most of the other faculties are located on the spacious, green Depok campus.
With 17 faculties and research institutes, the university is home to approximately 47,000 of Indonesia’s brightest students.
Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
Bandung Institute of Technology was originally established as Bandung Technical High School. It was founded in 1959 as Indonesia’s first technical university. Today, it has over 20,000 students across three campuses.
Headquartered in Bandung, Indonesia’s third-largest city, the university offers 12 faculties and 130 specialized programs. Thanks to its high level of expertise, it plays a key role in producing engineering talent for Indonesia.
Success Stories of Indonesian Engineers Who Secured Their Future in Japan
Mechanical Engineering Job Opportunities Beyond My Home Country
This engineering talent set out to look for the best opportunities outside his home country. Sharing their enthusiasm and inspired by Japanese culture, especially anime and traditional arts like origami, he embraced the opportunity. Landing an exciting mechanical engineering job opportunity in Japan, he now hopes to connect his interests with a meaningful career.
From Aerospace Engineering to a Job in Japan: Making Every Chance Count
A story of a young engineer’s journey from Indonesia to Japan. His success gets him closer to his dream of enjoying the best of both worlds: a fast-paced engineering career and the serene countryside life in Japan.
Seizing Overseas Job Opportunities in Japan as an Indonesian
Driven by a lifelong dream of working abroad, especially in Japan, an Indonesian engineer follows his dreams. Despite initial setbacks, he persevered with the help of a mentor who provided valuable guidance and resources. Through diligent preparation and support, they ultimately secured a job in Japan. His story emphasizes the importance of setting clear motivations and embracing challenges to achieve one’s dreams. This story showcases the transformative role of FAST OFFER in making international career aspirations a reality.
From Indonesia to Japan: Learning Japanese to Enter Japan’s Job Market for Foreigners
Embarking from Indonesia to Japan, he pursued his passion for technology and engineering. Inspired by the innovative products from Japan, he began learning Japanese in high school to overcome language barriers. Maintaining motivation through curiosity, goal setting, and getting support from teachers, he navigated cultural differences and embraced Japanese hospitality and communication styles. Despite challenges, he adapted quickly and recognized the growing job market for foreign engineers in Japan. Their journey highlights the importance of dedication, cultural understanding, and perseverance in achieving dreams.
Universitas Indonesia Student Studied Japanese to Unlock Dream Job Opportunities
An Indonesian graduate from Universitas Indonesia has turned his passion for Japan into a thriving career in the country’s technology industry. His fascination with anime led him to visit Japan in 2019, where he fell in love with the culture and decided to pursue a career there. After returning to Indonesia, he enrolled in Japanese language classes at his university, ultimately achieving N3 ability. Studying Japanese opened up possibilities for job opportunities! Despite many challenges during his job search, including technical difficulties and several interview rejections, his persistence secured him a position at a prominent Japanese company specializing in printing machines. His determination, combined with his skills in metallurgy and materials engineering, played a key role in his success.
