| COUNTRY |
| China |
| EDUCATION |
| Master’s in Business Administration in International Business, Rikkyo University Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance, University of Pittsburgh |
| COMPANY |
| A Japanese industrial distribution company specializing in construction products and machinery. |
| SUMMARY |
| This is the story of a University of Pittsburgh graduate who, while still a student, opened a successful Chinese street food stall in Tianjin. However, after being hit hard by the repeated lockdowns, he made the tough decision to close his shop and return to the United States to complete his studies and earn his degree. Once he graduated, he set his sights on opportunities abroad and chose Japan, drawn by its safety and high quality of life. With the support of the FAST OFFER International Program, he secured a job offer and now hopes to build a new life in Japan. This is a journey of resilience, aspiration, and the pursuit of a better future. |
Taste of Entrepreneurship: Selling Street Food In Tianjin Taught Me Resilience
If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s math. I can multiply three-digit numbers in my head faster than most people can find a calculator. Naturally, pursuing finance seemed like the perfect fit. But there’s more to me than just numbers; I’ve also always had a strong sense of adventure. I’ve longed to explore the world beyond my home in China.
So, armed with sharp math skills and an eagerness to experience something new, I left my hometown of Tianjin and made my way to the United States. There, I started college to earn a degree in business administration at the University of Pittsburgh. And that is just the start of my journey.
But here’s the twist: In 2021, I found myself back home in China. It was during the time when the country was experiencing a brief reprieve from the pandemic. While most of the world was still in lockdowns, China had lifted quarantine. Everyone was excited to be out and about after being isolated in their homes for a long time. The food business, in particular, was booming. I wanted to seize the opportunity. Partnering with a fellow entrepreneur, we opened three street food stalls at a popular Tianjin night market. For a time, business was booming, and we were making great profits.
But the reprieve was short-lived. China faced multiple rounds of lockdowns, and this had a major impact on our business. We tried a lot of things to stay afloat, such as switching online and offering discounts. But in the end, we had to close down our shops.
While it wasn’t exactly the grand finale I had envisioned, it was the ultimate crash course in real-world business challenges. As someone who studied finance, it was a chance to test my creativity, resilience, and ability to pivot under pressure. So, after closing that chapter, I returned to the United States to finish my degree. Afterwards, I started thinking about my next big leap — moving to Japan.
Why I Chose Japan: Safety and Freedom
After graduating, I found myself thinking a lot about my future and where I should settle down. My experience with selling street food in Tianjin and enduring the repeated sporadic lockdowns made me feel stifled and unable to reach my full potential. At this point, I realize I wanted to build my life somewhere outside of China. I wanted a place where I could feel empowered and experience a sense of freedom.
Going back to the United States seemed like an obvious option, but during my time there, I had a few experiences that made me reconsider. For one, I was robbed at gunpoint —twice. Picture this: it’s the dead of night, I’m walking down the street, and suddenly, a cold gun is pressed to my head. Luckily, I walked away after handing over my money and jewelry, but the experience left me shaken. There was also the rising issue of anti-Asian sentiment, which made me feel increasingly uneasy about living there.
So, I turned my sights to Japan. For me, Japan seemed like the perfect balance. It offered both a rich East Asian culture similar to China, but also an openness to foreigners. I enrolled in a Master’s International Business Program at Rikkyo University, and so far, living here as a student has felt like a breath of fresh air. I feel safe, welcomed, and free to express myself.
Learning Japanese Through Self-Study And My Favorite J-Dramas
When I came to Japan, I knew little Japanese. I only had a basic understanding of Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji. Although I could get by with just basic knowledge in my day-to-day, I felt that learning Japanese was crucial to fostering a deeper connection with the locals. And so, I studied Japanese by watching a lot of J-dramas. In total, I think I watched about 150 Japanese dramas, which greatly helped in improving my conversational Japanese.
I also took formal Japanese classes, which touched upon Business Japanese. Additionally, my part-time job as a Japan Visitor Hotline operator and a TOEFL instructor at a prep school helped me to learn workplace-appropriate Japanese.
All these efforts paid off, and I’m now able to comfortably carry a conversation in Japanese. Last July, I took the JLPT and passed the N1 level, which boosted my confidence about being able to live and work in Japan.
My tips for learning Japanese as a Chinese person
- Leverage Your Knowledge of Chinese. Being Chinese gave me a huge head start in learning Japanese, especially when it comes to reading Kanji. Since many Kanji characters are shared between Chinese and Japanese, I could already recognize a lot of them. Honestly, I think this is one of the main reasons I managed to pass the JLPT N1. If you’re Chinese, this is a big advantage!
- Embrace Learning Apps. Apps can be a game-changer, especially for skills like listening. I used Pimsleur to work on my listening comprehension.
- Watch a Lot of J-Dramas. Watching Japanese dramas wasn’t just a way to unwind — it became one of my secret weapons for language learning. You can pick up casual phrases, slang, and even cultural nuances. My all-time favorite drama? The Confidence Man JP (コンフィデンスマンJP), starring my favorite actress, Masami Nagasawa. It’s got a great mix of comedy and suspense, and I swear, it made my Japanese improve without me even realizing it.
4. Make Friends and Practice with Locals. You can’t really learn a language until you practice speaking it. One of the best ways I did this was by meeting people and having real conversations. I joined a hiking club, and it was the perfect way to chat with locals while doing something fun.
Job Hunting With FAST OFFER International Program
Now that I’m fluent in Japanese and have completed my Master’s degree at Rikkyo University, I’m ready to take the next step and explore job opportunities in Japan. It was during this phase that I learned about the FAST OFFER International Program.
I first came across the program while scrolling through the Xiao Hong Shu (小红书) app. Intrigued, I visited the official website, signed up, and submitted my details. After completing the initial interview screening, I waited for about three weeks. Finally, a FAST OFFER mentor reached out to me, sharing that a few companies were interested in my resume.
More Than Just a Number: Choosing A Company I Vibe With
There was one company in particular where I really clicked with the interviewer. We discussed my potential role and what the job would entail, and by the end of the 40-minute interview, it felt like we had become good friends. In all my job-hunting experiences, this was the first time I felt truly seen as a person. Other interviews had felt like strict, impersonal procedures, but this one was different.
The company is based in Osaka, and honestly, the people there really embodied the Osaka vibe. They’re friendly, warm, and easy to connect with. We just hit it off. When they made the offer, I didn’t hesitate for even a second. I knew I was ready to accept.
Japanese Job Interview Tips, Gained From Experience
- Be a good conversationalist. Japanese job interviews often involve a lot of back-and-forth, so it’s important to keep the conversation flowing smoothly. You need to ask insightful “reverse-questions” that show you’ve researched the company and understand its goals. This demonstrates your genuine interest in contributing to their mission. To prepare, I dedicated around 4-5 hours a day for a week to researching and practicing.
- Be yourself. It may sound cliché, but it’s solid advice: be authentic. You need to be confident in your identity. If the vibe doesn’t match, don’t stress and just move on to the next opportunity. Remember, the interview reflects the company’s culture. If you and the interviewer aren’t on the same wavelength, it’s likely that the company culture and your values won’t align either.
My Advice for Anyone Who Wants to Work and Live in Japan? Learn Japanese.
If there’s one thing I can tell you, it’s this: learning Japanese is key—like, the key. Without it, you’re going to run into a lot of roadblocks. I’d say, if you’re serious about living and working here, start learning Japanese at least a year before you arrive. Trust me, it’ll make all the difference.
Once you’ve got the language down, things will fall into place. The rest? You’ll figure it out as you go. Seriously, as long as you can communicate, a lot of other challenges will be easier to navigate. It might not go exactly how you expect, but if you know Japanese, things are going to flow much smoother.
Oh, and don’t expect everyone to speak English. I made this mistake when I first arrived. It’s on you to learn the local language if you want to build relationships and have meaningful conversations.
I’m Excited for My Next Adventure
My journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster — starting in China, heading to the United States for college, back to Tianjin selling street food, and now here I am, graduated in Japan and ready to start the next chapter. There were a few challenges along the way, but looking back, I’m just grateful I made it here and excited to start my job in Osaka!
中文快问快答版
| 国家 |
| 中国 |
| 大学 |
| 立教大学国际商务工商管理硕士 匹兹堡大学金融工商管理学士学位 |
公司 |
| 一家专门从事建筑产品和机械的日本工业分销公司。 |
这是一个匹兹堡大学毕业生的故事，他上学期间在天津开了一家中式小吃摊。毕业后，他开始关注海外发展机会，最终选择了日本，因为日本的安全和高品质生活吸引了他。在“快速录取”国际项目的帮助下，他获得了工作机会，现在希望在日本开启新的生活。
1. 您为什么选择在日本发展事业？
从我在中国、美国和日本的生活经历来看，我觉得日本提供了完美的平衡。它既拥有与中国相似的丰富的东亚文化，又对外国人保持着开放的心态。我入读了立教大学的国际商务硕士课程，到目前为止，在这里学习生活就像呼吸了一口清新的空气。我感到安全、受欢迎，并且可以自由地表达自己。
2. 是如何了解到 FAST OFFER 的？
我第一次看到这个项目是在浏览小红书的时候。我好奇地访问了官方网站，注册并提交了我的信息。完成初步面试筛选后，我等待了大约三周。最终，一位FAST OFFER导师联系了我，告诉我有几家公司对我的简历感兴趣。
其中有一家公司，我和面试官一拍即合。我们讨论了我的潜在职位以及这份工作的具体内容。在40分钟的面试结束后，我们感觉就像成了好朋友一样。
3. 您是如何學習日文的？
刚到日本时，我的日语水平很低。我只懂片假名、平假名和汉字。虽然日常基本能用日语应付，但我觉得学习日语对于加深与当地人的联系至关重要。因此，我通过观看大量日剧学习日语。我总共看了大约150部日剧，这对我的日语会话能力提升非常有帮助。
我还参加了一些正式的日语课程，学习商务日语。此外，我在一所预科学校兼职担任日本游客热线接线员和托福老师，这帮助我学习了适合职场的日语。
所有这些努力都得到了回报，现在我已经能够轻松地用日语进行对话了。去年7月，我参加了日本语能力考试（JLPT），并通过了N1级别，这增强了我在日本生活和工作的信心。
中国人学习日语的秘诀
充分利用你的中文知识
作为中国人，我的日语学习优势非常明显，尤其是在阅读汉字方面。由于中文和日语之间有很多汉字是共用的，所以我已经能认出很多了。说实话，我认为这也是我成功通过日语能力测试N1的主要原因之一。如果你是中国人，这可是个很大的优势！
拥抱学习应用程序
应用程序可以改变学习方式，尤其是在听力等技能方面。我使用Pimsleur来提高我的听力理解能力。
多看日剧
看日剧不仅仅是一种放松的方式，它还成了我学习语言的秘密武器之一。你可以学习日常用语、俚语，甚至文化差异。我最喜欢的日剧是什么？ 《行骗天王JP》（コンフィデンスマンJP），由我最喜欢的女演员长泽雅美主演。这部电影将喜剧和悬疑元素完美融合，我敢发誓，它让我的日语水平在不知不觉中得到了提升。
结交朋友，与当地人练习
只有练习说一门语言，才能真正学会它。我做到这一点的最佳方法之一就是结识新朋友，进行真正的对话。我加入了一个徒步旅行俱乐部，这是在享受乐趣的同时与当地人聊天的绝佳方式。
4. 对于想要在日本生活和工作的人，您有什么建议？
如果我能告诉你一件事，那就是：学习日语是关键。不学习日语，你会遇到很多障碍。我想说，如果你真的想在这里生活和工作，至少在来之前一年就开始学习日语。相信我，这会带来巨大的改变。
一旦你掌握了这门语言，其他一切都会水到渠成。剩下的呢？你自己去解决吧。说实话，如果你能沟通，很多其他挑战都会容易得多。事情可能不会完全按照你的预期发展，但如果你会日语，事情就会顺利得多。
哦，对了，别指望每个人都会说英语。我刚来的时候就犯过这个错误。如果你想建立人际关系并进行有意义的对话，学习当地语言是你的责任。
5. 您对参加日本工作面试有什么建议？
做一个善于交谈的人。
在日本，求职面试通常需要大量的来回沟通，因此保持对话流畅至关重要。你需要提出一些富有洞察力的“反向问题”，以表明你已经彻底了解了公司并理解其目标。这表明你真心实意地想要为他们的使命做出贡献。为了做好准备，我每天花了大约4-5个小时进行研究和练习。
做你自己。
这听起来可能有些陈词滥调，但却是一个实用的建议：保持真诚。你需要对自己充满信心。如果面试氛围不对，不要惊慌，继续寻找下一个机会。记住，面试反映了公司的文化。如果你的心态与面试官不一致，那么公司文化和你的价值观很可能也不一致。
