Nepalese students who are studying in Japan are finding community at a local store selling Nepalese goods. What challenges do they face as they pursue their dreams so far from home?
Stories about people, stories about life.
Hometown Stories.
A short walk from Yoshizuka Station in Fukuoka is a small-but-fascinating alleyway.
It's lined with vibrant Asian eateries.
This one serves Burmese food.
There's also Vietnamese and Chinese food at the Yoshizuka Little Asia Market.
Today's story looks at a small Nepalese corner store, just a stone's throw away from the market.
Converted from a traditional Japanese house, it opened in 2022.
In just five square meters, it's brimming with food and sundries imported from Nepal.
It has everything from spices and instant noodles to bath products.
The shelves are completely packed.
These are delicious.
Chips from Nepal.
Many of the customers are students from Nepal.
Over 5,000 Nepalese students live in Fukuoka, eight times more than a decade ago.
They make up the region's largest group of international students.
I don't usually eat Japanese food,
so I come here to stock up on condiments.
Why don't you eat Japanese food?
It's not spicy enough for us.
What are their dreams and aspirations during their time in Japan?
We delve into the lives of these students, who are looking for a taste of home.
11 AM. The first customers of the day are arriving.
Good morning.
These three students are regulars.
- Masala, please.
- Meat masala, right?
- And puffed rice.
- We'll also get lentils.
The students purchase a variety of ingredients that are hard to find in Japan.
They're all attending a Japanese language school.
Today, they're going to have some friends over for a party.
Here we go.
Let's take a look.
Anzu and Krispa moved to Japan a few months ago.
They share an apartment, which they rent for about $350 a month.
Today they'll prepare a dish with goat meat,
lentil soup, and four other Nepalese dishes.
We usually eat this
with rice and veggies.
My favorite Nepalese dish.
Spices and herbs are essential to Nepalese cuisine.
Once the aroma of spices begins to fill the air, the meat is added to the pan.
Then turmeric and the masala mix they bought,
followed by a homemade paste made with cardamom.
This delectable meal is marinated with more than ten types of herbs and spices.
Looks delicious.
Nothing beats this.
The weather's great today.
You need to get curtains.
We want to but can't afford it.
Anzu and Krispa are looking for part-time jobs they can do alongside their studies.
For now, they have to cut corners.
Let's dig in.
We eat with our hands in Nepal.
How did the dishes turn out?
Delicious.
So good.
For their first two years in Japan, they will be studying Japanese.
But that's not their only goal.
After that, I'll go to
vocational school
to learn hotel management.
Same here.
Me too.
I actually want to learn
how to repair cars and bikes,
but I don't know how to
say that in Japanese.
Many students like them move on to vocational school or university after learning Japanese.
This corner store welcomes Fukuoka's Nepalese residents every day.
About 80% of the customers are students who are new to Japan.
The owner, Pramod Kumar Kadoka, is a source of support for them.
He has lived in Japan for a decade.
The restaurant where he used to work closed due to the COVID pandemic, so he opened this store in 2022.
These are some popular sundry items.
Perfume, toothpaste.
This toothpaste turns red when
you use it and has a unique flavor.
Nepalese people use it
from a very young age.
The store hasn't been open very long, but Pramod is already familiar with all the Nepalese students.
He even offers them special services.
I'm here to pay what I owe.
From yesterday, right?
He lets his regulars run tabs.
This is one reason why the students rely on him.
I have lots of customers like that.
They usually run a tab
until payday.
Once they've been paid,
I erase their name.
Do you call customers
when they haven't paid?
No. We have a small community here.
No one has any ill intentions.
It's not an issue.
- How are you?
- Good.
This man is seeking Pramod's help.
I want to see if he can
help my friend find work.
Aniket has been living in Fukuoka for a year and a half.
He hopes Pramod can help his roommate find a part-time job.
His name is Bishal BK Lamichhane.
Let me know when he can start.
I contacted a friend
with some connections.
He asked me to wait.
His roommate is home today.
Let's pay him a visit.
Hello there.
Looks like we caught him by surprise.
Bishal arrived in Fukuoka just a few months ago.
He's still struggling with Japanese, so he hasn't done well in job interviews.
You can't work as a cashier
if you can't speak Japanese.
An organization in Fukuoka offers assistance to international students.
But many are unable to take advantage of it due to the language barrier.
It's not easy for these students to support themselves, while they are attending Japanese language school.
Tuition is over $5,000 a year.
And they have other expenses, including rent and utilities.
I was asked to
take out the garbage
by my houselord...?
Houselord?
That's incorrect.
What's the right answer?
Landlord.
The correct answer is landlord.
In addition to his studies, Aniket also works part time.
He plans one day to study IT at a vocational school.
Japan is one of the top three countries in technology.
Get more knowledge and then we can go to Nepal for the big companies to deal with it.
The flag of his home country is a source of motivation.
I love Nepal. I am proud to be Nepalese. So I put this.
When you wake up in the morning, if you see this flag, you'll get like very happy faces.
Big smile and you could go to work.
Big proud.
After eight years, they're going to see me successful, right?
So, till then, till the last in their breath, they will be always with us.
So, we also have to be with them, right?
That's my responsibility, so I have go to Nepal.
11 PM.
Exact change.
Thank you.
Aniket's shift at the store begins.
He will be working for 9 hours until the morning.
He prefers the night shift, since it pays more per hour.
During his break, Aniket hangs out with his coworkers.
I have an interview at school,
so I did this.
You shaved?
Yep, I'm still adorable.
How's Aniket doing at work?
He works hard.
His Japanese is fluent.
He struggled in the beginning,
when he wasn't used to the job.
Now he knows the ins and outs,
and is more proactive.
Working here has helped me
improve my Japanese.
When you had your kanji test,
we stayed back
and helped you with it.
Aniket came to Japan with the hope of finding success in Nepal someday.
It seems he's also found a place where he feels accepted.
Agriculture, forestry and tourism
are the main industries in Nepal.
Many Nepalese students find it hard
to land a job after graduation in their home country.
Young people tend to study abroad in order
to acquire advanced skills and knowledge.
Culture and safety have
made Japan a prime choice.
One student has a smile that can light up an entire room.
Manju Bhattarai came to Japan in the spring of 2022, and is now studying Japanese.
This park is so pretty when
the cherry trees are in bloom.
In spring.
Lovely.
You're like a model.
She gives us a glimpse into her life.
Hello.
Good to see you.
This is masala tea.
I got it from the Nepalese store.
Manju had always been fascinated with Japan.
Japan has such a bustling lifestyle.
It captivated me.
I want to work for a good company
and live here as long as I can.
She wants to earn money in Japan, so she can help her parents live a more comfortable life.
Manju's first visit to Japan was a few years ago,
when she interned for a food processing firm in Kumamoto Prefecture.
She spent a year there.
I couldn't speak much Japanese,
so quite often I'd end up crying.
I felt lonely.
One Japanese woman was a pillar of support in her time of need.
She's like a second mother to me.
She bought me this summer kimono.
Nishimura Chiyoko was a co-worker.
After seeing Manju struggling, she offered her support and encouragement.
If I had a bad day, she'd tell me
it's OK and not to give up.
She supported me like a mother.
I'd reach out when I felt down,
and she'd cheer me up.
The internship fueled Manju's desire to live in Japan.
She continued to study Japanese after returning to Nepal.
She returned to Japan in 2022.
She will graduate in six months, and is trying to figure out her next steps.
I'm graduating soon,
so I wonder if I should go to
vocational school.
I want to finish my studies soon.
But if I want to have
a good life in Japan,
I must give it my all and study hard.
Manju's grappling with a tough choice:
should she spend four years in university,
or just two years in vocational school, so she can start working earlier?
I'll get some ramen.
This student lives in the neighborhood.
He has been attending Japanese language school since last spring.
He's been rather homesick, and has taken up a new hobby to distract himself.
I play the guitar.
He also writes poems in his spare time.
I've written a bunch.
These are all poems?
Sudip's poems are all about his family and friends back home.
"Mom, don't wait for me to return.
I'm sure the rice fields are beautiful this time of year."
Hello.
Sudip has come to a local park to debut his new song.
I broke up with my ex
two years ago.
She recently got married
to someone else.
Then I wrote this song.
"I look at the sky,
count the stars and think of you."
"All alone, with nothing but a drink.
Please, hold my hand."
I want to study here in Japan.
I hope to learn global marketing
at a firm here,
and then open
my own company in Nepal.
Manju is torn between two educational paths.
With graduation looming, her decision deadline is fast approaching.
Mid-October.
Manju is visiting Kumamoto.
Hello.
- You recognized me.
- Of course I did.
She's here to see Chiyoko, who was like a mother to her, when she was an intern.
Your Japanese has improved so much.
I want to get even better.
You could barely speak before.
It's such a huge improvement.
How've you been?
You enjoyed eating
foreign food, right?
We did.
We'd put newspapers down
on the floor to eat.
Manju's former neighbor joins in as well to reminisce.
Such a kind girl.
Very pure hearted.
She's working so hard.
I would love to see her succeed.
Manju decides to open up about her plans for the future.
I'll be in Fukuoka until March.
Then I plan to move to Tokyo.
I want to find a good job there,
and continue to live in Japan.
She wants to take the entrance exams for university in Tokyo this winter.
You're sure about that?
Absolutely.
I love Japan.
That's good to hear.
I wish you all the best.
Happy Dashain.
The school is celebrating Dashain,
a major Nepalese festival.
"Tika" - rice grains with vermillion
is placed on the forehead for good luck.
Thank you.
I'll work hard, just as I promised.
I'll start writing my application.
This university has lots of
IT and business classes.
I speak English,
and If I can get better at Japanese,
I can get into a good company.
I do miss Nepal sometimes,
but now I want to focus
on setting up roots here.
That's what's driving me forward.
These students have come all the way from Nepal to Japan.
Each day, they are taking small steps to achieve their dreams.