Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about moving between India and Japan, and about this community.
- What is India Japan Kaizen?
- India Japan Kaizen is a community that connects India and Japan through people rather than transactions. We run club activities and events in Japan, pair newcomers with mentors and volunteers who have already made the move, publish guides on living and working in both countries, and report on the India-Japan relationship. Everything is published in English, Japanese and Hindi.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- Joining the community is free. Mentors and volunteers give their time without charge. Some events and classes have their own ticket price or fee, which is always listed on that event or class page — a few are free walk-ins with no reservation needed.
- I'm moving to Japan from India — where do I start?
- Start with the practical basics: get an IC card (Suica or PASMO) for trains, buses and convenience stores, get connected with a SIM at the airport, and carry some cash because Japan is still less card-friendly than India. Our Japan guide covers these in more detail, and our people page lists volunteers and mentors who have already made the same move and answer questions.
- Can I find vegetarian or Indian food in Japan?
- Yes, and more easily than most people expect — Indian restaurants are widespread across Japanese cities. The one thing to watch is dashi, a fish-based stock used in many dishes that look vegetarian. Halal options are growing in the big cities, and convenience stores are a genuine lifeline when you are tired or in a hurry. Our food guide goes through this in detail.
- Do I need to speak Japanese to work in Japan?
- It depends heavily on the industry. Engineering and IT roles at international companies often run in English, while most other workplaces expect Japanese. Even where English is enough for the job itself, basic Japanese and a trusted bilingual colleague open doors that English alone often cannot — particularly in business settings, where trust is built slowly and in person. Our business guide covers how working culture differs.
- What kind of events do you run, and where?
- Events are held across Japan, mostly in and around Tokyo, and range from festival celebrations and dance nights to community dinners, picnics and business networking evenings. Some are free walk-ins; others are ticketed. Every upcoming and past event, with dates, venues and fees, is on the events page.
- Can you help me find a job in Japan?
- We are a community, not a recruitment agency, so we don't place people in jobs. What we can do is often more useful early on: connect you with people already working in your field in Japan who will answer honest questions about what the work and the visa process are actually like. Our Career Bridge Series on the blog also covers which industries are actively hiring Indians in Japan.
- How do I volunteer, mentor, or list my event?
- Get in touch through the contact page. Whether you want to volunteer, mentor someone making the move, list an event or class, or simply say hello, that's the place to start. Mentoring can be as small as answering a few questions from someone who arrives after you.
- Do you offer classes?
- Yes. The community lists recurring classes in Japan — currently Indian dance, covering semi-classical, Bollywood and western styles, with batches for complete beginners through to experienced dancers. Schedules, teachers, venues and fees are on the classes page.
- What does “Kaizen” mean, and why the name?
- Kaizen (改善) is Japanese for change for the better, pursued a little at a time. The world met the word through Toyota's assembly line, but its real home is everyday life — it works on a friendship, a language, or the fear of a new country just as well as it works on a production line. That is how this community is built: a thousand small steps, taken by many people, rather than one grand gesture.