Career Coach. Ex-recruiter. Lifelong learner in transition.
Hi there! I’m Eri Ochiai — a certified career coach based in Tokyo. I specialize in helping international tech professionals build successful and fulfilling careers in Japan.
Since 2019, I’ve helped 500+ professionals grow their careers, change industries, and navigate job offers with confidence. I’ve also written career content for platforms like Japan Dev and TokyoDev, and I host the podcast Your Next Chapter Japan.
🌍From Italy to Japan: Learning Through Change
After university, I moved to rural Italy with little more than curiosity, courage, and a carry-on. I didn’t speak the language and had no job lined up — but I figured it out. Eventually, I relocated to Milan, where I taught Business English to professionals at Big Four firms, banks, and tech companies.
I didn’t expect to fall in love with teaching, but I did. And through it, I developed a skill I still use every day: helping people express themselves clearly, confidently, and authentically.
🔄 Starting Over: My Career Change into Tech HR
When I moved back to Japan, I faced one of the hardest transitions of my 20s — shifting from education into a role in HR.
I was told I “lacked business experience.” I began questioning the value of everything I’d done up to that point. But I kept going. I learned how to present myself in a way that connected. Eventually, I landed a role in HR at an autonomous driving tech company.
As the only bilingual team member in a half-expat workplace, I led international hiring and saw up close what makes a candidate stand out in Japan — and what companies actually look for.
🚀 Discovering Career Coaching
After speaking with a graduate of a coding bootcamp, I realized how much I loved learning people’s stories and supporting their growth. I later joined that bootcamp full-time and helped revamp their career curriculum for the Japanese job market.
A single interview changed everything.
I eventually became Career Support Lead, coaching hundreds of graduates — mostly expats — on resumes, interviews, job offers, and strategy. It was the first time everything I’d done, taught, and lived came together.
Expanding the Mission: Helping Expats in Japan
Since 2023, I’ve been fully dedicated to running Your Next Chapter Japan — my career coaching business focused on helping international professionals grow their careers while honoring their values and life outside of work.
Every person I coach teaches me something new. I believe in collaborative coaching, practical strategy, and creating space for both ambition and reflection.
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career in Japan — or want help getting clarity on what that even looks like — I’d love to talk.
Eri Ochiai - Tech Career Coach in Japan 