Share your journey to Bain.
After graduating from university, I joined Bain Tokyo as a new graduate in April 2024.
At first, I didn't know much about consulting firms or about Bain, so consulting wasn’t even on my list of career options.
One day, I had an opportunity to talk with a Bainie, and that conversation became the start of my journey to Bain. I was inspired by how thoughtfully Bain creates impact as a premium consulting firm, and I was impressed by how genuine, driven, and collaborative the people were. That experience truly resonated with me and made me want to be part of such a team. I had no doubt that Bain would give me the opportunity and environment to grow.
I strongly believe that joining Bain was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
How did you know that Bain was the right company for you?
I’ve always wanted to work in a global environment, which can sometimes be difficult to find in Japan.
Bain being a global consulting firm, I felt it was a perfect fit, a place where I could use both my Japanese and English skills to create value for clients. In fact, I’ve already had several opportunities to work on cross-office projects, collaborate with colleagues overseas, and be involved in English-driven cases.
Last but not least, the people at Bain have always been the biggest reason why I know it’s the right place for me. As we say, “A Bainie never lets another Bainie fail”, everyone is incredibly supportive no matter what, and that gives me a strong sense of trust and security — even during challenging moments.
Share some of your favorite work (personal or professional) you’ve done while at Bain.
I’m part of the Women at Bain (WAB) team, where I help organize events such as monthly lunches for female employees and WAB supporters. As more and more female employees join the office, I truly enjoy creating spaces where we can connect casually and share our experiences.
Since we usually work in project teams, we don't often have the chance to have deeper conversations with people outside our cases. That’s why I believe it’s so important to create opportunities like this, and I feel genuinely happy when many members come and enjoy the events together.
Bain’s APAC region is experiencing exciting growth. Can you share how you think Bain Tokyo specifically is driving impact for Bain?
Japan’s business landscape has been evolving rapidly, and many Japanese companies are growing stronger and more global. The market itself is also becoming more attractive to overseas clients, so the demand for Bain’s support here is definitely increasing.
I think Bain Tokyo contributes to this growth by combining deep local expertise with Bain’s global capabilities. It’s quite common for our team members to join cross-office projects and take ownership of researching, analyzing, and providing insights on the Japanese market. That hands-on involvement helps global teams deliver more relevant and practical recommendations for clients.
I also feel that our culture plays a big part in the impact we make. Recently, through the Women at Bain (WAB) initiative, we hosted a fireside chat with a female CXO, where she shared her experiences, career paths, and perspectives on leadership. It was such a great opportunity, not only to connect with clients, but also to learn from them.
Share an exceptional success story where you went above and beyond for a client, delivering something amazing. What does this mean to you? Why is this story special?
One of the most memorable experiences for me was when I worked on a Japan strategy project for a global consumer goods company. The client team was entirely based overseas, and the Tokyo team was supporting this project.
At one point, we needed to understand why certain brands were more favored by Japanese consumers, but there wasn’t a clear answer. To dig deeper, I reached out to many consumers inside and outside Bain to hear about their customer journeys and perceptions firsthand. The insights I gathered from those conversations became a key input for the project and helped shape our recommendations.
For a client that didn’t have much local knowledge of the Japanese market, it felt meaningful to contribute unique value that only someone on the ground could provide. As an Associate Consultant, I don’t often get to interact directly with clients, but moments like this, where I can see my work make a difference, feel truly special to me.
