Currently, I 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 an unexpected place—Recruitthe headquarters of.
The moment I realized my own limitations in English at that place was the catalyst that led my life overseas.
At 28, I found a job in expressive writing through Zexy magazine.
while unemployed in my hometown of Takamatsu City, Kagawa PrefectureZexy"an advertising production directorwas hired as
At that time, Zexy was riding the wave of a nationwide bridal boom, and regional 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 so happy when I was selected from among 10 applicants.
Incidentally, Zexy is also"Dazhong Jie Xi"published in Shanghai, China, under the name
Setbacks and the challenge of Tokyo
However, a year later, my boss changed, and the atmosphere at work completely transformed. It
was no longer the environment I had envisioned, so I decided to quit. Nevertheless, deep down, Ito continue working as an advertising director!had a strong desire
Thinking that I could find the same job in Tokyo, I took the plunge and moved to the capital.
In Tokyo, instead of working for Zexy, I continued working in advertising production in a much larger market—the recruitment (job advertising) industry.
It was a world where far larger advertising budgets were involved than in the bridal industry, and the speed and demands were on a completely different level. However, I had a fatal weakness: Ibad at building relationshipswas
I wanted to create advertisements based on logic, while the sales staff talked to clients based on "casual relationships." We clashed all the time (^_^;).
Even so, the feeling that "I still want to work for the original Recruit" never disappeared.
A shocking encounter with Recruit Headquarters, where my dreams came true
In 2014, I finallyfreelance advertising production director exclusively for Recruitfound a job posting for
I was successfully hired and was able to go in and out of Recruit's headquarters in Yaesu, Tokyo, which I had always dreamed of.
However, what awaited me was an excessively long training period.
It was almost unpaid,like being an intern.
Nevertheless, I went in with all my might, driven by the desire to "gain something in this place."
One day, I picked up the company newsletter, "Kamome," which was being distributed in the office.
The left page was in Japanese, and the right page was in English—the entire pagewas printed in complete bilingual format.
I was shocked to learn that a large portion of Recruit Holdings' sales at the time 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 had been my dream, paid so little that I couldn't make ends meet.
I reluctantly decided to return to my hometown in Kagawa Prefecture.
Even so, I remained convinced that "English skills would be absolutely essential."
I looked for a job in Takamatsu that would allow me to use English, but at the time I had absolutely no English skills.
So I looked for a workplace that didn't require me to speak English but had connections with overseas companies, and that's how I found a company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where I ended up joining as a temporary employee.
And that's wheremy journey of learning English on my ownbegan.
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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