From Nepal to Japan: Building a Career in the Hospitality Industry at Enterprise HUGE Co., Ltd.

Ajay says he was drawn to Japan’s world-class hospitality culture, anime, and career opportunities, which led him to study and work here.

Jeevan: For me, Japan has always been a great country because of its cultural values and hospitality. These things, along with the enormous job opportunities, made Japan an attractive place to work. And then there's technological advancement and innovation. Another thing I admire about Japan is its work culture. Here, teamwork is highly valued. It’s not just about individual effort—it’s about working together as a team, staying committed, and continuously putting in effort.

Mio: I see. Was there anything tough after you decided to come to Japan?

Jeevan: Learning Japanese was definitely a challenge for me. If you’re new to the language, you really have to stay committed. You can’t stop midway—you need to keep improving your Japanese. However, I think you’ll do well in Japan if you do that.

Jeevan says he was inspired by Japan's rich culture, hospitality, job opportunities, and teamwork-driven work culture to build his career here.

Rakesh: Japan was my dream country because I used to watch a lot of movies and anime and read manga. Seeing pictures of Japan in manga made it feel like a dream place for me. Also, Japan is a highly advanced and developed country with many things to do, including visiting different places.

The culture and food of Japan also attract me. For my personal development and career in hospitality, I believe Japan is the right place for me. That’s why I want to go to Japan.

Rakesh says he chose Japan to pursue his career in hospitality and personal growth, inspired by its rich culture.

②Diversity and Career Growth: Why These Foreign Workers Chose HUGE

— Why did you choose to work at HUGE?

Ajay: I chose HUGE for three reasons.

The first is because of the variety of restaurants. There are many different types, such as Mexican, French, Italian, and Asian. The atmosphere is like a scene from a movie, and I thought I would enjoy working there.

Second, there are many foreign staff members. I was also attracted by the English-speaking environment and the generous support.

Third, there are opportunities for career advancement in the future. This was the final deciding factor: HUGE was able to hire me as a manager candidate, so I decided to join HUGE with the goal of becoming a manager.

After working here for a few months, I really feel that I made the right choice.

Ajay, taking an order from customers.

Jeevan: When there was an opportunity to work in Japan, we also had the chance to explore different restaurants. I thought HUGE would let us explore a variety of flavors from all around the world since there are a variety of restaurants. At the same time, HUGE has staff members from more than 52 countries. So, it creates a great cultural and linguistic exchange within HUGE.

Rakesh: HUGE provides equal opportunities to people from all over the world, which really attracted me. There is also a lot of diversity among our colleagues here, so we can expand our cultural and food knowledge. That’s why I want to be here. There are multiple restaurants, not just authentic Japanese ones—HUGE also has Hispanic, Italian, and even Vietnamese cuisine. While I was in the interview process, I was interested in Mexican and Spanish cuisine, but Vietnamese was completely new to me.

---

③Hospitality Jobs in Japan: What It’s Like to Work at HUGE

— Could you tell me about your rewarding moments and tough moments at your work?

Mio: What is the most rewarding part of your work at HUGE?

Ajay: I am currently working at a restaurant called GINGER GRASS. We work in an environment where foreigners and Japanese work together, and we use both English and Japanese. Teamwork is very good and everyone enjoys working in an environment where everyone helps each other. It is especially rewarding when our customers like our food and service and when they smile. This motivates me and makes me want to work even harder.

HUGE staff values teamwork.

Jeevan: Every day we get to learn something new. The managers and the management team have been very supportive of our work. I believe that every day is a learning experience.

Rakesh: I feel proud to be part of HUGE. The managers are very supportive, and my colleagues are friendly. I’m happy that I joined, especially through Connect Job. I’m very proud of it. We are still in the learning process. We are not 100% sure yet, but every day we are improving, learning new skills, and growing. That’s what makes me happy.

Mio: What is the hardest part of your work at HUGE?

Ajay: The hardest part is getting used to the pace of work. It is fast and the working hours are a little longer than in Nepal. It was especially hard in December because it was very busy.

Jeevan: Language is one of the biggest challenges. We have studied Japanese, but interacting with guests is tough. Communication requires a high level of Japanese, but we are still at the N4 level, so sometimes there are misunderstandings.

Mio: How do you deal with that problem?

Jeevan: I prepare some phrases in advance before taking orders or serving food to ensure smooth communication with guests.

Rakesh: The most difficult experience for me is expressing my thoughts in Japanese. I feel like I can't speak as much as I want to. The language barrier is the biggest challenge.

There is not much culture of using gestures in Japan, but I sometimes use facial expressions and gestures to communicate. I continue to make efforts and improve step by step.

The language barrier is my biggest challenge, but I use gestures and keep improving.

④How HUGE Employees Enjoy Japan in Their Free Time

— What do you do in your free time?

Ajay: When I am tired, I sleep all day and rest, but when I want to go somewhere, I go out early in the morning. In winter, the sun sets quite early, so I try to go out early and enjoy the daylight. I have been to Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower, Sensoji Temple, etc., but there are many more places I would like to visit. The next thing I want to do is to drink beer while watching Mt. Fuji.

Jeevan: During my day off, I usually go to the nearest Shinjuku Chuo Park to get some fresh air and sunlight. Apart from that, sometimes I visit areas nearby like Akihabara and Asakusa. I’m currently planning to develop some new hobbies in the future like skateboarding. If my friends have the same day off, we visit different places together and also try local cuisines.

Mio: Oh, nice! Have you tried any Japanese cuisines?

Jeevan: I have only tried ramen now, but I want to eat Gyu-don soon.

Rakesh: If my day off is more than two days, I would plan to travel. But if I have only one day off, I usually stay home, cook, watch anime, or go somewhere nearby. If I had more time, I could go a little farther, like Yokohama. There are so many places to visit, and one day is never enough.

Mio: Have you traveled to somewhere?

Rakesh: For New Year's, I went to Fukuoka to meet my brother. I had four days off, so I traveled there. It was amazing! I loved the place—the beautiful villages, mountains, and hills. I also enjoyed the nature and the sea nearby. It was such a great experience.

Mio: If you had a vacation of more than one week, what would you like to do?

Rakesh: I would like to climb Mount Fuji, or maybe I’d go to Kyoto or Hokkaido and explore a city environment somewhere.

Mio: Have you been studying Japanese since you came to Japan?

Rakesh: Currently, we are not joining the class or something to learn Japanese, but I’m studying by mobile apps or practicing speaking.

Jeevan: Yeah, I also use apps to study Japanese.

Mio: How about you, Ajay?

Ajay: Unfortunately, since coming to Japan, I have less time to study from textbooks, but I am practicing by talking in Japanese with my friends. I want to challenge for N2 in December this year. I intend to study as hard as I can.

---

⑤Exploring HUGE: A Restaurant Group That Embraces Diversity and Innovation

— What is attractive about HUGE?

Ajay: I have been working for HUGE for about two months now, and I feel that the company is very supportive. They have interviewed us several times about our working style just in the past two months.

I can also tell that they are thinking about our future career development. And we have never felt that we, as foreigners, have been treated in a discriminatory way. HUGE has a group for international teams and gatherings to get to know each other better.

Jeevan: One of the great points about HUGE is that employees have the opportunity to experience working in different restaurants and interact with various colleagues. Additionally, good communication among staff members allows for cultural and linguistic exchange, making the work environment even more enriching.

Rakesh: HUGE provides equal opportunities to people from all over the world. Those who want to join here are all welcome. If they have a degree in hospitality, they can really become part of HUGE because they welcome us.

Though the main role is to communicate with customers, seasoning is also one of their jobs.

---

⑥Gaining Experience, Learning, and Growing: The Future Goals of HUGE Employees

— Do you have any goals in your career?

Ajay: In the future, I would like to become a certified wine sommelier; HUGE has some of the best wine sommeliers in the world, and I look forward to learning from them. At the same time, I would like to become a manager.

Currently, I am working towards that goal step by step. Also, as the number of Nepalese staff will increase, I would like to support them.

Jeevan: My current goal is to gain as much experience as possible in restaurant operations. Right now, I’m focusing on service, but in the future, I’d love to move to another restaurant in HUGE. If I get the chance, I also want to work in the kitchen to understand both service and kitchen operations.

Eventually, I plan to go back to Nepal and use everything I’ve learned here. I had my own restaurant in Nepal before, but I had to shut it down. That’s why I came to Japan—to gain more experience and apply that knowledge back home. I want to open a fast-food restaurant that mainly serves Arabian or Indian cuisine.

If I could move to another HUGE outlet, I think I’d go for an Italian restaurant since there aren’t any Indian or Arabian restaurants in the group right now.

Rakesh: My career goal is to develop myself from the very beginning, step by step. I want to keep improving every day, taking on new challenges, and overcoming difficulties one by one.

Being part of HUGE is a challenge, but I find it exciting. I want to reach a top-level position where I can manage a restaurant, handle customers, and communicate effectively in different languages—just like my boss.

Rakesh, improving his skills every day, stands by the bar counter every day.

⑦Tips for Foreigners Planning to Work in Japan: Learn from HUGE Employees

— Please give a message to those who are planning to work in Japan in the future.

Ajay: Japan is beautiful, safe, and the people are kind.

Working in Japan is tough, but if you work hard for a few months you will get used to it and your efforts will be rewarded. You will need to have a good command of the language, especially conversational skills, so I would recommend practicing every day.

Furthermore, if you make a list of places you want to visit and foods you want to eat before you come to Japan, you will not only be able to fully enjoy your stay in Japan, but you will also be more motivated. I look forward to meeting you all in Japan. Good luck with your Japanese language studies.

Jeevan: Japan offers enormous opportunities for everyone.

If you want to come here, the most important thing is to learn Japanese—not just the basics, but as much as you can. And once you're in Japan, keep learning and improving your language skills.

If you're new to living abroad, especially in Japan, the first few months can be tough. But if you stay committed, Japan is a very rewarding place. Keep pushing yourself, and you'll see the benefits.

Rakesh: I would recommend that they study the language first. Language should be a priority because there shouldn't be a language barrier.

When you come to Japan, being able to express yourself fully with an open mind and open heart is very important. The second thing is that Japan is a very beautiful country, and everyone should visit. Japan welcomes everyone, and there are so many things to do here.

Satoko, HR of HUGE, came to Nepal to have interviews with them, and now working together.