Duy (left) from Vietnam and Antu (right) from Bangladesh are working as auto mechanics in the foreign land of Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. We asked them their reasons for deciding to leave their home country to work in Japan, and what they find rewarding about their work at Suzuki Motor Wakayama Corp. We bring you the real voices of these two people working in Wakayama. %3Ciframe%20width%3D%22560%22%20height%3D%22315%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FHF75ikBAKRg%3Fsi%3DqY2ZFYjY5tBfQeUx%22%20title%3D%22YouTube%20video%20player%22%20frameborder%3D%220%22%20allow%3D%22accelerometer%3B%20autoplay%3B%20clipboard-write%3B%20encrypted-media%3B%20gyroscope%3B%20picture-in-picture%3B%20web-share%22%20referrerpolicy%3D%22strict-origin-when-cross-origin%22%20allowfullscreen%3D%22%22%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3EI feel a sense of accomplishment every day that I can work at my dream job doing automobile repair & maintenance── Please share with us your reasons for working in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Duy: After graduating from university in Vietnam, I was looking for a job, but wages in Vietnam were very low at the time… My father suggested that I either study abroad in Japan, or do technical training there. I had the impression that Japan had a thriving automotive industry, and I wanted to learn about automotive technology, so I first came to Japan as an international student. After arriving, I attended a Japanese language school, and then got a job at Suzuki Motor Wakayama Corp.Antu: I’ve always loved Japanese anime, and through it I became interested in Japanese culture and life. I also love cars, and there were a lot of Suzuki cars in Bangladesh. Wanting to work a job related to cars in Japan, I started studying Japanese. Since Bangladesh doesn’t offer a specific skills test for automobile maintenance, I couldn’t get a visa. I first came to Japan on the Specified Skilled Worker No.1 (Agriculture) visa, then took and passed the Specified Skilled Worker Automobile Repair & Maintenance examination in Japan. After that, I got a job at Suzuki Motor Wakayama Corp.── What kind of work do you do at Suzuki Motor Wakayama Corp.?Duy: I am in charge of general maintenance in the service department, and my duties are mainly regular inspections such as 6-month and 12-month inspections. I also talk with customers who’ve come for repairs and investigate where the irregularities are. The maintenance I do ranges widely, including disassembling, checking for strange noises, and repairing the air-conditioning.Antu: I am in charge of automobile inspection and maintenance under the service department. I inspect cars according to the specified check list, and conduct repairs if necessary. ── What do you find rewarding about maintenance work ?Duy: It’s not a repetitive job, as I handle a variety of tasks. There are different problems to tackle every day, such as handling customer complaints and investigating the cause of strange noises, so I never get bored. Even when I get a difficult request where I don’t know what is causing the problem, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I find the cause after investigating. Sometimes the customer has decorated their car in many ways, and that ends up being the cause (laughs).Antu: I’ve always loved cars, so I really enjoy working on a maintenance site and coming into contact with so many cars. I’m really glad I’m able to work in automobile maintenance in Japan. ── What was your impression when you first started working? Duy : I found automotive-related terminology difficult. I'd previously worked as a supermarket cashier, so I had no problem with everyday conversation, but maintenance terminology was a completely different matter... I was this company's first foreign employee at the time, so I was nervous. I often struggled to know how to say things in Japanese when dealing with customers, so I listened to my seniors' conversations and customer service interactions every day and worked hard to memorize them.Antu : I also had a hard time remembering the names of parts. There are so many terms that only exist in Japanese, and part names written in katakana, that it's hard to remember. So, whenever I come across a word I don't understand, I immediately write it down and stick it on my toolbox so I can check it easily. I was nervous at first, but my seniors were so helpful, explaining things to me in simple terms. They've been teaching me more difficult terms little by little, so I now have a wide range of understanding.── The staff around you are very supportive. Duy: They are. They very kindly teach me. For example, when I use a strange expression in Japanese, they’d carefully explain to me what would be more natural to say instead.Antu: That’s right, everyone is very kind. I try to ask immediately if I don't understand something, and my seniors are always happy to help me even while they're working. In Bangladesh, I often heard that Japanese people are kind and willing to teach, and I was really touched to find that this was true.── It seems like the workplace relationships are going well.Duy: Very well. Everyone is very kind, both juniors and seniors, and it's easy to communicate, so I feel like it's a good workplace. I think the most important thing when it comes to work is the relationship with the staff around you. For example, even if the salary is high, you wouldn't be able to work for long if your relationships with others in the workplace are bad.Antu: I also feel that the atmosphere in the workplace is very good. Seniors and colleagues disregard whether a person is Japanese or a foreigner and simply treat me as a coworker. There's a sense of unity, and it feels very comfortable to work here.── Do you also interact with each other outside of work?Duy: Yes, we do. We often talk a lot during work, and often eat together after work. We all suggest restaurants and decide by majority vote. We also look forward to the annual training trip, which is held to deepen our relationships.Antu: On my days off, I also go out to eat and hang out with everyone. We all have fun together, without any sense of seniority or age difference. We all went to Shirahama recently, and I have plans to go to the beach again with my boss and colleagues when summer vacation starts.Wakayama is similar to my home country. I can feel the kindness of the local people, and it’s a comfortable place to live.── What kind of support did you receive from the company as you worked? Duy: The company provides a lot of support for living in Japan. I'm currently renting my own house, but I could live in company housing if I wanted. The company was also there to help me when I needed to get my driver's license or rent a place, which was really helpful. Also, since there are many foreign staff members, I think it's an environment where it's easy to get advice specific to foreigners. I myself help my junior colleagues out as well.Antu: When I first came to Japan, I didn't know about procedures at city hall or getting my My Number card, but my seniors and boss kindly supported me and explained things to me. The company taught me important things like health insurance and pensions, and they were happy to answer any questions I had when I asked.── How do you feel about life in Japan after experiencing it firsthand? Duy: First and foremost, I think it’s a safe country. The laws are well established, so you can live without worrying about your personal safety. There are many facilities, such as supermarkets, drugstores, restaurants, etc. so you can live comfortably. Also, as long as you have a car, you can move around easily, which makes life more enjoyable. Antu: I also think the biggest thing is safety. I think Japan is a country where you can live with more peace of mind than anywhere else. In terms of daily life, I had a lot of trouble at first because I didn't understand the language, but if there was something I didn't understand, I could just ask the people around me and they would help me right away, so I no longer feel so anxious.── What is your impression of Wakayama Prefecture?Duy: Wakayama is great because it has many places to enjoy nature. Its charm is that you can swim in the ocean at Shirahama and there are many hot springs. I often go to hot springs with my seniors. I also invite my wife and go with my family and everyone from work.Antu: There are many mountains, the sea is nearby, and the scenery is beautiful. I think that's the best thing about Wakayama. If I have time on my days off, I like to go out and have fun in various places. I grew up in the countryside of Bangladesh, and the atmosphere in Wakayama is similar to that of my hometown, so I feel comfortable living here.── How is the food here? Duy: I've never had any problems with food. Japanese food is delicious, and another reason is that there are few things I can't eat for religious reasons. I'm currently living with my wife, and whoever gets home first cooks. We cook Vietnamese food, and we often make Japanese dishes like karaage and miso soup. It's great that I can easily find my favorite ingredients at the nearby supermarket.Antu : At first, there were some flavors I wasn't used to, like pork dishes, but now I've gotten used to them and the number of dishes I like have increased, including ramen, fried rice, tempura, and yakiniku. I also make and eat food from my home country. Ingredients similar to those in Bangladesh are available in Japan, so I can make Bangladeshi food as well. I often make biryani (Bangladeshi fried rice). Biryani is my favorite dish, but it's hard to find biryani in Japanese restaurants that tastes the same as in my home country.── Please share with us your future goals.Duy: I am currently studying with plans to take the Grade 1 Suzuki Service Skills Qualification this year. The Grade 1 qualification is even more challenging, requiring not only a written and practical exam, but also an exam on telephone conversations in Japanese. It also requires polite communication using honorific language, so I think it is a difficult exam even for Japanese people to pass. It is quite difficult to balance work and study, but I would like to obtain the qualification and broaden the scope of my work.Antu: I would like to continue working in a job related to automobiles. There is still a lot I don't know, so I study about automobiles even after work. In the future, I would like to start my own automobile-related company. Starting a company requires money, so I am currently working hard to save up.── Lastly, do you have any advice for foreign nationals who are interested in working in Japan?Duy : I think it's really important to study Japanese thoroughly before coming to Japan. I think even just having a basic understanding of Japanese will make a huge difference in how you progress. Also, when speaking Japanese, it's important to speak with confidence, even if you make mistakes. The people around you will kindly correct you. If you don't have confidence, you won't even be able to speak, and your Japanese won't improve. I also think it's a good idea to use things like TV or Facebook, when you have time, to learn about Japanese culture and life beforehand.Antu : I also think that if you want to work in Japan, the most important thing is to study Japanese thoroughly. Many Japanese people are not so good at speaking foreign languages, so if you can speak Japanese well, it will make your job easier. It will certainly be difficult at first, but if you study basic words and grammar, I think it will gradually get easier from then on.Our customers like them, and it feels like they’ve become part of our local communityFinally, we spoke to their boss, Kusutani, about their work.▲ Kusutani, the Manager of the Service Department Planning Division. As the head of the maintenance section, he is in charge of administrative tasks such as revenue, environmental maintenance, and legal matters. He also sometimes personally visits the site to work. Kusutani: Duy is an energetic and determined person who approaches work with a positive attitude. In contrast, Antu is quiet and diligent. He rarely expresses his opinion but works very diligently. Duy has a Grade 2 Gasoline Car Mechanic Qualification, and thanks to his long time with the company, deals directly with customers. Even when he has trouble communicating in Japanese, many people warmly support him, which is very appreciated. Some customers really like Duy, and we think he has settled in very well. Antu is still learning Japanese, so he doesn’t have many opportunities to interact with customers. The next step is to be able to explain maintenance matters to customers. What we hope for from both of them in the future is to further improve their maintenance skills and acquire customer service skills. Duy is working hard to obtain qualifications, and Antu is thoroughly learning the basics of maintenance. Providing polite customer service and handling complaints in Japanese is a high hurdle, but we hope they will gradually master it.※The information in this article is current as of the time of the interview (July 2025).Interview Cooperation: Suzuki Motor Wakayama Corp.© Wakayama Tourism Federation