Premium

‘We began to understand each other’: IIT engineer from Bihar marries Japanese woman, their cross-cultural love story is a hit online

When the couple decided to get married, their families were concerned about the distance and cultural differences.

3 min readNew DelhiDec 22, 2025 10:11 AM IST

After a reception in Delhi, Marina expressed a wish to see India and visit Rahul Kumar's village (Image source: @NewsAlgebraIND/X)

Rahul Kumar, an engineer from Bihar’s Madhepura, and Marina, a Japanese national, tied the knot, leaving the Internet by storm. An IIT graduate, Kumar moved to Japan in 2020 to work with an automobile company. His early years in the country were challenging; however, after meeting Marina in 2023 at an international business gathering in Tokyo.

“I never imagined that the biggest story of my life would begin at a business party in Tokyo,” Patna Press quoted Kumar. “We started talking as friends. Friendship evolved into trust, and trust gradually blossomed into love. Despite being from two different countries and cultures, we began to understand each other.”

As reported by Patna Press, the duo began exploring each other’s cultures over time. “We spoke about families, childhoods and dreams,” he said. “What began as friendship steadily grew into a partnership built on understanding.”

When the couple decided to get married, their families were concerned about the distance and cultural differences, the report said. However, the family gave it a nod, following which, Kumar and Marina married in Tokyo in November 2025. The wedding followed Japanese traditions, with a personal Disneyland theme chosen because of its special meaning to the couple, the report added.

After a reception in Delhi, Marina expressed a wish to see India and visit Kumar’s village. The couple travelled to Madhepura, where Marina arrived with her parents. “Most people talk about honeymoon destinations,” Kumar said. “Marina kept asking about my village.”

Addressing villagers, Marina introduced herself, saying, “Namaste India. I am Marina… now Marina Ovasi Yadav. We met at a business party in Tokyo, exchanged numbers, and stayed connected for two years. Friendship turned into love.”

Calling the experience overwhelming but warm, she added, “Rahul’s village and Bihar are very good. I feel this decision was right.”

Watch here:

IIT graduate Rahul Kumar from Bihar married a Japanese girl in a beautiful cross-cultural wedding

Marina travelled from Japan to Bihar village for Rahul.

She touched her mother-in-law’s feet, said “I love India” 🙏

Villagers treated her like a celebritypic.twitter.com/BFVQI7wr9N

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) December 21, 2025

Also Read | ‘Hardly anyone using cash, girls wearing modern outfits’: NRI doctor expresses surprise at India’s transformation in 7 years

The couple’s video has since gone viral, prompting a flurry of reactions. “While Japan is tightening its immigration criteria and requirements despite a falling population. Some nations are just more welcoming than others,” a user wrote. “Love when cultures meet like this… feels like the world gets a little smaller & a lot warmer,” another user commented.