No After-Hours Messages! IIT Alumnus Explains Japan vs India Work Culture
Ashi goyal | Wed, 14 Jan 2026
An IIT Hyderabad graduate working in Tokyo went viral after explaining how Japan’s work culture differs from India’s, especially regarding after-hours communication and work–life balance. According to her, not having to respond outside work hours is one of the key perks that more professionals in India are starting to appreciate and even seek abroad.
Corporate Work Culture
Image credit : Freepik
The global workplace conversation has increasingly shifted toward work life balance and employee well-being, and a recent Instagram reel by an IIT graduate working in Tokyo has added new fuel to that debate. In a video shared on social media, the IIT Hyderabad alumnus, now a project manager in Japan, contrasted her experience of work culture in Tokyo with what she witnessed earlier in India. Her candid insights especially about not having to answer work messages after office hours have resonated widely and sparked conversations about how corporate environments shape daily life for young professionals :-
In the reel, she introduces herself as an Indian professional who moved to Japan after campus placements and quickly adapted to her new role. One of the primary differences she highlights is the clear separation between office hours and personal time. Unlike many Indian workplaces where employees often feel obligated to respond to calls or chats after leaving the office, in Japan the boundaries are more strictly respected. This has not only helped her protect personal time but also contributed to reduced stress and better overall mental well-being outside work.
Her account also touches upon broader cultural nuances. Japanese work culture, while known for discipline and efficiency, increasingly embraces structured schedules and respectful after-hours boundaries in many companies a trend that reflects evolving global attitudes toward work balance. For many young professionals, especially those from high-pressure environments, these practices can feel like a welcome change.
While every country and organization differs, her perspective shared through a short clip has prompted many viewers to re-evaluate their expectations of workplace norms and consider how a healthier boundary between professional and personal life can boost productivity and satisfaction in the long run.
In the reel, she introduces herself as an Indian professional who moved to Japan after campus placements and quickly adapted to her new role. One of the primary differences she highlights is the clear separation between office hours and personal time. Unlike many Indian workplaces where employees often feel obligated to respond to calls or chats after leaving the office, in Japan the boundaries are more strictly respected. This has not only helped her protect personal time but also contributed to reduced stress and better overall mental well-being outside work.
Her account also touches upon broader cultural nuances. Japanese work culture, while known for discipline and efficiency, increasingly embraces structured schedules and respectful after-hours boundaries in many companies a trend that reflects evolving global attitudes toward work balance. For many young professionals, especially those from high-pressure environments, these practices can feel like a welcome change.
While every country and organization differs, her perspective shared through a short clip has prompted many viewers to re-evaluate their expectations of workplace norms and consider how a healthier boundary between professional and personal life can boost productivity and satisfaction in the long run.
- Who made the comparison between Japan and India work culture?
An IIT Hyderabad graduate working as a project manager in Tokyo shared her experience online. - What is one key difference she mentioned?
She said that in Japan she doesn’t have to respond to work messages after work hours, unlike in many Indian jobs. - How did she get her job in Japan?
She landed it through campus placements after graduating from IIT Hyderabad.
