logo
STUDY IN JAPAN
Nepal

Republic of Nepal
Country
Republic of Nepal

STUDY IN JAPAN
Global Network Project in Southwest Asia

Voice From Alumni

main image

Mr. Nikhil Khandelwal

From

Birgunj
Degree

Bachelor of Science and Master's degree in Chemistry and Biotechnology, the University of Tokyo

Message

Please give a short introduction about yourself.

I am Nikhil Khandelwal from Birgunj, Nepal. I went to Japan in April 2004 under MEXT Scholarship program for undergraduates. As a part of this program, I first studied Japanese language at JLC (Japanese Language Center) in Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Upon completion of my Japanese training, I went to The University of Tokyo for an undergrad program in Chemistry and Biotechnology. I continued until my Masters and did a research on the chemical synthesis of RNA molecules. I had the most exciting time as a student in U-Tokyo, not just in terms of academic & personal growth, but also social exposure.

Upon my graduation from the University of Tokyo, I moved to Kobe area to work for Proctor & Gamble (P&G) as a Process Engineer and then Operations Leader. A few years later, I decided to move back to Tokyo and joined JMEC, Co. Ltd., a Japanese Medical Equipment and Medicated Skincare company in a Business Development role. I had a fulfilling career in both P&G and JMEC, however, I always wanted to start a business that would connect Nepal to Japan and other countries. So, in 2017 I started a small trading firm called Ayurworld in Japan, and then moved to Nepal in 2018. I have started Bhaskar Wellness Pvt. Ltd., a herbal and organic personal care company that develops and markets skincare, haircare and various health products with unique herbs of Nepal. We are marketing our products in Nepal, Japan and now exploring other global markets.

What is your favorite thing about Tokyo?

I love Tokyo. It is one of the best cities to live in. It is deeply rooted in its culture, yet it is ultra-modern. You will find traditional buildings, pristine nature and beautiful parks amidst all the modern hi-tech buildings and cutting-edge tech in Tokyo. It is extremely convenient and safe. The metro and subways criss-cross the city like a spider’s web, and if you miss one, other would be around the corner in less than 4 minutes. You could shop for any basic necessities in the middle of the night, and walk freely on the streets of Tokyo even at 2:00 AM without worrying much.
Tokyo never falls short of any entertainment options or things to explore either.

In what ways has your impression of Japan changed since coming here?

When I went to Japan, all I knew of it was from the movies like Kill Bill or The Last Samurai. Upon arriving in Japan, in just a few days I realized that it is one of the most peace-loving, safe and beautiful country, and that I am going to fall in love with this country for ever. Japanese people are very kind-hearted, friendly and really smart. They are quite shy and don’t speak much English. However, if you learn to speak Japanese, a whole new world opens up for you.
Japan has many places to visit and explore. From Hokkaido to Okinawa, there is an ocean of cuisine to taste, places to explore, culture to immerse in. I especially love the country side of Japan, and often used to go on very picturesque bike trips.

What attracted you to choose the University of Tokyo as a place to study?

The University of Tokyo is one of the best universities in the world. When I studied there, it ranked 1st in Asia, and in the Top 10 globally. The major that I wanted to pursue was available in the University of Tokyo and they were well known in the world academia for the research they were doing in the field.
The cutting-edge infrastructure they have is unparalleled and you get an unmatched exposure with the best in class academia in this university. They also have students from all around the world which makes it a very fun and exciting place to be.
Report image
UTokyo graduation

What attracted you to work in the current position after studying in Japan? In what ways, do you like your work?

I always wanted to start a business of my own. I have a small start-up with a Japanese friend in Tokyo that imports herbal and ayurvedic products into Japan. However, currently for strategic reasons, I live in Nepal and also own a business here.
Japanese people are one of the most demanding consumers, as they are extremely quality-conscious consumers and will reject any sub-quality product. Hence, I believe that if I can export a product to Japan, and get it accepted by the Japanese people, then I can qualify to go anywhere in the world with full confidence.

Please give a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be contemplating studying in Japan?

Japan is a great place to pursue your higher education. If you want to pursue higher research, Japan has a great infrastructure, the best professors, really good research facilities and recently they have been way more welcoming to foreigners than before. However, apart from that, there is a lot to learn from Japanese culture and people. We can learn values like innovation under hardships, endurance, and working as a team for a better future. Throughout history, Japan has always endured the adverse situations and have emerged out in a better situation than before because of their hard work and great team work. These traits and values are something that we must learn as Nepalese, especially at this critical point.
For List