STORY 1 : The person who gave me encounter with the world
Hello! I am Shinji - project manager of 73eats! I am now, has developed the 73eats application
which "anyone can understand menu from around the world" to inbound guest.
which "anyone can understand menu from around the world" to inbound guest.
Until March this year, I was the manager of a guest house in Araki-cho, Shinjuku-ku.
Since starting Airbnb host in January 2015, there were over 3,200 people in 55 countries in total!
I experienced cross-cultural communication every day with cool guests came to Japan from all over the world.
I experienced cross-cultural communication every day with cool guests came to Japan from all over the world.
Recently I left guest house business, so my encounter with foreigners has decreased.
However, thankfully, every time I meet with people involved in hostel or the inbound industry at work,
I often hear that my cross-cultural communication experience is interesting.
I often hear that my cross-cultural communication experience is interesting.
I hope that my experience will be useful to everyone, and I'll try to dredge up my memories little by little
and share the “Intercultural Communication Experience”.
and share the “Intercultural Communication Experience”.
"Kinjo Takuma" - who gave me the encounter with the world
In November 2014, I renewed my passport, got a VISA at the Embassy of Tanzania,
and visited Tanzania alone in East Africa.
and visited Tanzania alone in East Africa.
There was only one purpose. “To drink alcohol together with Kinjo-san!” LOL
This summer, I met a person who started a new business in Tanzania with a certain relationship,
known about Kinjo-san, read a book, and decided to visit for a month.
The only thing I told him was “I’ll help you with everything for a month!
So please make a chance for me to go drinking with Kinjo-san!”
known about Kinjo-san, read a book, and decided to visit for a month.
The only thing I told him was “I’ll help you with everything for a month!
So please make a chance for me to go drinking with Kinjo-san!”
Why did I take such ridiculous behavior? Because i was so attracted to Kinjo-san's career.
He is the most famous Japanese in Africa, Kinjo-san, who manages 50 companies in his 30s
and has an annual turnover of 40 billion jpy, was a recluse!
He is the most famous Japanese in Africa, Kinjo-san, who manages 50 companies in his 30s
and has an annual turnover of 40 billion jpy, was a recluse!
At that time, I was doing psychological counseling, so I was shocked that I was beaten
by this amazing career! And while I imagined what kind of person he was,
I got on the plane that took 7 hours one way! Lol
by this amazing career! And while I imagined what kind of person he was,
I got on the plane that took 7 hours one way! Lol
Finally meet with Kinjo-san!
I have been with him for two days and he told me various stories.
It was a rain of words that I would never notice if I was in Japan.
But Kinjo-san's words are still in my mind after 5 years.
It was a rain of words that I would never notice if I was in Japan.
But Kinjo-san's words are still in my mind after 5 years.
I asked :"Kinjo-san, did you have a turning point?"
Kinjo-san :"The clear turning point is the word “So what”."
Me :"what! ? what do you mean?"
Kinjo-san :"I was originally a recluse and worried.
When I came here and hired a local staff to start a business,
I wasn't worried about whether it would work every day."
When I came here and hired a local staff to start a business,
I wasn't worried about whether it would work every day."
"So, i found time every day for local staff to asked "Is this okay?" "Is that okay?"
and when you ask persistently, they always say
"So what?" It sounds like "だから何だよ？(what is it?) in Japanese."
and when you ask persistently, they always say
"So what?" It sounds like "だから何だよ？(what is it?) in Japanese."
"Then one time, the local staff told me too persistent."
"You are worried every day, you worried, but just try to compare yesterday and today!
Nothing has changed! Rather the business is doing well!"
"At that time, I realized I was worried about all the details and lost sight of what was important!"
"From then on, I've been taking advantage of the human observation techniques i'm good at,
and trying to find out what people's good at regardless of race and put it into the company's work."
and trying to find out what people's good at regardless of race and put it into the company's work."
"This hasn't changed since I started managing 50 companies, and what I'm doing is just
filling in the jigsaw puzzle of business with human resources!"
filling in the jigsaw puzzle of business with human resources!"
There are various ways of thinking in the world
When I heard this story, I also realized how I was bullied by biased thoughts in a closed environment called “Japan”.
By the way, Kinjo-san accepted Japanese student interns for several years.
It seems that it was triggered by a story about attending a great Japanese company planning to advance into Africa.
It seems that it was triggered by a story about attending a great Japanese company planning to advance into Africa.
It seems a director of a large company have said this.
"Young people who come to companies that have overseas businesses like ours are usually misunderstood and strong-willed.
So my job is to dampen theirs confidence one after another!"
So my job is to dampen theirs confidence one after another!"
It seems that Kinjo-san felt absolutely different after hearing these words.
Rather, Japan has weakened because it has continued to kill young people's personality and potential!
So it seems that he started a student intern by trying to prove it!
Rather, Japan has weakened because it has continued to kill young people's personality and potential!
So it seems that he started a student intern by trying to prove it!
There are actually young people starting up in Africa as student interns, so it's even cooler! It's so cool!
This encounter with Kinjiro-san was definitely a “turning point connected to the world” for me.
Then the last week for 1 month stay. Like Kinjo-san, I was given a “big opportunity” by the local guide Tanzanian.
At that time, I wasn't able to imagine myself that I would be addicted to intercultural communication.
See you next time Tanzanian!
See you again!
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