I currently run a YouTube channel called " Setouchi Ambience ," where I film the tranquil scenery of the Setouchi region.
However, tracing the origins of this activity leads me to
Recruit 's headquarters It was there that I realized I couldn't speak English, and that was the catalyst that set my life on a path abroad.
At 28, I found a job in expressive writing through Zexy magazine.
In 2004, I was unemployed when I was hired as
an advertising production director for Zexy . At the time, Zexy was riding the wave of a nationwide bridal boom, and local editions were being launched one after another. The Shikoku edition was no exception, and I was hired at a time when they were increasing their production staff.
I remember being really happy when I was selected from 10 applicants.
By the way, "Zexy" was also published in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, "Daishu Minxi" and was sold in local bookstores.
Setbacks and the challenge of Tokyo
However, a year later, my boss changed and the atmosphere at work changed completely.
It was no longer the ideal environment, so I decided to quit. However, deep down inside, I had a strong desire
continue working as an advertising director I thought, "There must be a similar job available in Tokyo," so I took the plunge and moved to Tokyo.
In Tokyo, I continued working in advertising production in a much larger market than Zexy - the recruitment (recruitment) industry.
It was a world where advertising costs were much higher than in the bridal industry, and the speed and demands were on a completely different level. However, I had a fatal weakness. I was not good
at building relationships I wanted to create advertisements based on logic, while the sales staff spoke to clients on a "casual basis." We often clashed (^_^;).
But even so, I still felt that I wanted to work for the main Recruit company
A shocking encounter with Recruit Headquarters, where my dreams came true
In 2014, I finally found a job posting for a " freelance advertising production director exclusively for Recruit " and applied.
I was successfully hired, and finally got my long-awaited opportunity to visit Recruit's headquarters in Yaesu, Tokyo.
However, what awaited me was an extremely long training period.
I was barely paid, and my days were like those of an intern .
But I kept going, determined to get something out of this place.
One day, I picked up a copy of the company newsletter, "Kamome," that was being distributed in the office.
The left page was in Japanese, and the right page was in English -- every page was printed fully bilingual.
I was shocked to learn that at the time, most of Recruit Holdings' sales came from the overseas recruitment market.
"Even Japanese people will not be able to survive if they do not speak English."
That was the moment I felt that strongly.
The decision to learn English and returning to Kagawa
However, the job at Recruit, which was my dream job, paid so little that I couldn't make a living.
I had no choice but to return to my hometown of Kagawa Prefecture.
However, I remained convinced that "English skills would be absolutely necessary."
I searched for a job in Takamatsu that would allow me to use English, but at the time I had no English skills whatsoever.So
I searched for a job that didn't require me to speak English but had connections with overseas companies, and that's when I found a company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where I ended up joining as a temporary employee.
And this is where my journey to self-study English began.
In the next issue, Vol. 2, I will talk about my days at my new workplace in Kagawa, where I struggled with English and honed my ability to express myself through "manufacturing."
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