My Journey: From India to Japan Tech Lead

The Beginning: From India to Tokyo

I'm Rohit Naidu Siriporam, and I'm 22. Right now, I'm the Tech Lead at AKIYA2.0 in Tokyo, building a platform that handles 50,000+ concurrent users and creates new services every day. I can proudly say that I created the technical foundation of a platform that's helping people find their dream homes in Japan. I became a tech lead at 21, and while it sounds fancy on paper, the journey here was anything but straightforward.

Growing up in India, I was that kid who wanted to experience everything. Like most children, I had this insatiable curiosity, wanting to do everything, be everywhere, understand everything. That curiosity led me down countless paths, some productive, others... less so. But those detours gave me something valuable: perspective. Along the way, I earned a brown belt in karate, an art diploma, and learned to play several instruments—flute, piano, harmonica, guitar, drums, and tabla.

Music became more than just a hobby. It's a language that speaks to parts of yourself that words can't reach. It helps me process emotions, maintain focus when everything feels chaotic, and yes, occasionally dance like nobody's watching (because nobody should be, haha). Music taught me something important: that mastery isn't about perfection, it's about genuine expression.

Among all my interests, one has remained constant: space. Not astrology or zodiac signs, but real space, astronomy, astrophysics, the mechanics of the universe. The scale of it all fascinates me. I love it so much that I started writing a sci-fi novel about it. I'm only two chapters in, but it's a start. Like every curious kid, I was obsessed with understanding our place in this vast cosmos. The funny thing is, I wasn't particularly brilliant growing up. Honestly, I don't think I'm exceptionally bright even now. But I've learned that intelligence isn't about knowing everything, it's about deeply understanding the things that resonate with you, the things that make you feel alive. Or as we say, catching your vibe.

I graduated from Sathyabama University with a Computer Science degree and an 8.5 GPA. Early on, I realized the conventional path, big corporate offices, the predictable grind—wasn't for me. I wanted something with more meaning, more impact, more room to grow in unexpected directions.

The First Steps: Learning by Building

My journey into tech didn't start in a classroom. It started with video games, the classics like Road Rash, Desert Storm, Splinter Cell, IGI, Max Payne. But I wasn't just playing them; I was fascinated by what made them work. Those terminal windows flashing in the background reminded me that everything polished and beautiful on the surface has layers of complexity underneath. That realization shaped how I think about technology: the best systems are invisible to users but incredibly sophisticated behind the scenes.

From a young age, I've believed in constant evolution, leveling up every day, not just as an individual but as part of humanity's collective progress. I knew computers would be central to that progress, so I focused on understanding code rather than just consuming its outputs. Once something truly captures your interest, you start asking deeper questions, and those questions drive real learning.

Growing up, I essentially had two paths: aeronautics or computer science. Life circumstances led me to computer science, and honestly, I'm grateful for how things unfolded. Sometimes the path you don't choose reveals why the path you're on is the right one.

During my second year at university, in one of India's hottest cities, I landed my first internship at Sparks Foundation in 2021. I built my first website there. Looking back, it was incredibly basic, but that moment of creating something from nothing, that was transformative. I was hooked.

In 2022, I intentionally diversified my experience. I did marketing and strategy work at MentorBoxx—not because it was part of my degree, but because I understood that great engineers need to understand the business context they operate in. Then I joined Japan Inc Holding KK as an intern on the O2O Stays project, working remotely with people I never met in person. It was a hotel management concept with Web3 elements, cutting edge at the time. After that, I spent several months at MarkoKnow in Delhi, diving deep into the MERN stack and React Native. App development was new territory for me, but I was absorbing everything. Still, something felt incomplete.

The Big Move: AKIYA2.0 and Tokyo

In August 2023, I joined AKIYA2.0 as an intern. At the time, AKIYA2.0 wasn't even a fully-fledged startup—it was an idea taking its first steps. The concept was unique: helping people discover and restore abandoned Japanese houses, known as akiyas. It's where real estate, technology, and cultural preservation intersect. Not your typical tech venture.

Over two years, I evolved from intern to full-time software engineer, and eventually to Tech Lead at 21. In March 2025, I relocated to Tokyo to work on-site. Moving from India to Tokyo at 21 was intense, though I'd already been living away from home for 6-7 years. But this felt different. New country, new culture, new language, new professional responsibilities. Interestingly, it reminded me of when I first moved to Chennai, same feeling of stepping into the unknown. I adapted relatively quickly, though I still have moments where I'm figuring things out. But that's part of growth, isn't it?

What I Actually Do

At AKIYA2.0, I'm responsible for the entire technical infrastructure. That might sound dramatic, but it's accurate. Here's the technology stack I work with:

Frontend

• React, React Native, Next.js
• Tailwind CSS, Webflow integration
• TypeScript, JavaScript

Backend

• Node.js, Express.js
• FastAPI (Python)
• RESTful APIs, webhooks

Databases & Infrastructure

• MongoDB (primary database)
• NGINX for load balancing
• Linode VPS deployment
• Docker for containerization

AI & Automation

• Gemini 2.0 Flash API for AI-powered scrapers
• Tesseract OCR for Japanese text extraction
• Selenium for web automation
• Python scripts processing 1,800+ municipalities

Tools & Platforms

• Git, GitHub
• Google Cloud Console
• Postman, VS Code
• Analytics dashboards

The real challenge? We scaled from 10,000 to 50,000+ concurrent users on the same infrastructure. No massive server upgrades, no exponential budget increases. Just intelligent optimization and countless late nights. Beyond the technical work, I've expanded into SEO strategy, making our pages fully optimized, steadily increasing organic traffic, and gradually taking on advertising management. But honestly, the most challenging aspect isn't the technology, it's managing people, especially when many are older than me. It's humbling and constantly teaches me about leadership, communication, and empathy.

What This Job Actually Taught Me

Working at AKIYA2.0 has been fundamentally different from working at a conventional tech company. Here's what I've learned:

1. Technology is a Means, Not an End

I had to learn Japanese real estate law, traditional construction methods, cultural nuances around homeownership, domains completely outside my technical training. But understanding the context made me exponentially better at solving problems. You can't build something truly meaningful without understanding what you're building for and why it matters.

2. Small Teams Demand Versatility

One day I'm architecting React components. The next, I'm optimizing complex database queries. Then implementing AI scrapers. Then managing interns. Then strategizing marketing approaches. It's chaotic, but I've come to appreciate it. When you're forced to engage with every layer of a system, your understanding becomes holistic rather than fragmented.

3. Behind Every User is a Human Story

Our users aren't abstract demographics. They're digital nomads seeking a home base in Asia. Second-generation Japanese reconnecting with their cultural roots. Retirees pursuing a radically different lifestyle. Families who've lost everything and are searching for a fresh beginning. Building for them taught me empathy in ways no academic course could. It reminded me that code has consequences, and those consequences affect real lives.

4. Constraints Breed Innovation

In a small company, you can't simply "hire a specialist" or "spin up another microservice." You work with what you have. This constraint actually made me a more resourceful engineer. You learn to optimize ruthlessly, think creatively, and extract maximum value from minimal resources. Some of my best work has emerged from limitation, not abundance.

5. Direct Impact is Deeply Meaningful

When I fix a critical bug or launch a new feature, I witness its immediate impact. Real people use what I build to make life-altering decisions. That direct connection between my code and someone's actual life? It's profoundly motivating. It reminds me why I chose this path in the first place.

The Challenges Nobody Discusses

Technical Complexity at Scale

Building a platform that processes Japanese PDFs, scrapes websites, extracts property data using AI, manages Google Maps API rate limits, serves thousands of concurrent users, and accomplishes all this within tight budget constraints, it's been genuinely difficult. There were nights I questioned whether I'd ever solve certain problems. But each problem solved adds to your capability. That's how you grow.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Moving to Japan meant navigating an entirely different work culture. Communication styles differ significantly. Business etiquette operates on different principles. I'm still learning Japanese (and it's genuinely challenging). Some days I feel lost in translation, both linguistically and culturally. But discomfort is where growth lives. Each challenge makes me more adaptable, more understanding, more capable.

Current Focus

Projects currently occupying my attention:

• Developing AI-powered PDF scraping systems across all 47 Japanese prefectures
• Building comprehensive analytics dashboards for advertising campaign optimization
• Continuously improving website performance and SEO effectiveness
• Managing intern recruitment, training, and performance development

Life Beyond Code

I'm not defined solely by my work. I cook extensively—biryani is my specialty, and I'm confident I make one of the best versions you'll find. Give me a recipe and some time, and I can prepare virtually anything. Cooking is meditative for me, a creative outlet that parallels engineering in interesting ways.

I explore Japan's natural beauty and urban energy regularly, the serene mountains and forests, the tranquil countryside, the vibrant streets of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi. It's dramatically different from what I knew growing up. I also photograph extensively. Tokyo and its surroundings are visually stunning, and I'm constantly trying to capture something that conveys what I see and feel.

Tokyo at night has a particular energy that's hard to describe but impossible to forget.

Advice to My Younger Self

If I could communicate with myself from a few years ago, when I was deciding which direction to take, here's what I'd say:

Don't optimize for what appears impressive externally. Optimize for genuine learning opportunities and work that creates meaningful impact.

Technical skills are abundant and accessible. What's rare is finding work that challenges you across multiple dimensions: technically, intellectually, emotionally, ethically. That multidimensional challenge is where authentic growth occurs.

Looking Forward

I'm 22, living in Tokyo, leading technical development at a startup. It's been an intense few years.

Some days are difficult. Some days I question my decisions. But most days? I wake up genuinely curious about what the day will bring, what I'll create, what I'll learn, what I'll cook, which instrument I'll play, where I'll explore. That sense of possibility and purpose is more valuable than any title or salary could ever be.

If you're a student or early in your career, consider this perspective:

• Pursue unconventional paths if they genuinely resonate with you. Don't follow crowds; follow curiosity.
• Understand the business context, not just the technical implementation. Context transforms good engineers into exceptional ones.
• Build publicly and transparently. Share your successes and your failures. Both teach others something valuable.
• Seek mentors who invest in your growth. Good mentorship is rare and transformative.
• Money matters, but it's not everything. Early in your career, optimize for learning velocity and meaningful impact.

Let's Connect

If you'd like to discuss technology, inquire about working in Japan, or simply connect, I'm accessible through:

• Email: rohitnaidusiriporam@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: Rohit Naidu Siriporam
• X: ron808
• Location: Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵

This is my first blog post. I'm planning to write more about full-stack development, AI systems, platform scaling, and the reality of living and working in Tokyo. If that interests you, please check back.