Takeuchi: I am the manager of the LSI Design Group, which has about 20 members involved mostly in the design of LSIs used in applications for digital and video cameras. Our projects last anywhere from four months to a half year, and our work spans all processes, from LSI design, prototype evaluation and mass-production control.

Misai: I currently work for Mr. Takeuchi in his LSI design group. My first year was mostly training and I started participating in projects from March of last year. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when the first LSI that I helped design was finished. I am in the midst of my second project right now and have become solely responsible for one of the circuits, which as a design engineer is quite a fulfilling experience, one that I enjoy on a daily basis.

When I was in school I focused on electronics and wasn’t really aware of what type of company Asahi Kasei was. But after researching, I learned that the company started out in chemicals and fabrics, and has expanded their operations into many other businesses. So I thought that it would be interesting to work here precisely because of the fact that Asahi Kasei is not an electronics manufacturer, and three years into my work I still feel the same way.

Misai: Truthfully, I can’t say I feel many gaps as a result of me being a foreigner here.
Takeuchi: I feel the same way. Maybe that’s because I don’t think of Misai as a foreigner when we work together.

Misai: I guess if I were to look for a difference, it would be in the communication between bosses and their subordinates, and more specifically, how to respond to a directive from your boss. At first, when I was asked to do a job I was often at a loss as to how I should answer. But my experiences have taught me that it is always better to propose two or three different approaches rather than just one. For example, for the circuit that I am responsible for, even though there will be only one finished product there can be many different ways to achieve the same thing. So I try to read up on and study the methods of other companies, then suggest a few different approaches in order to find best method.

Takeuchi: Of course, there are times when we are communicating in Japanese that I think, “That Japanese was a little strange,” or that a certain small nuance might not be getting through. But I make an effort to understand these things when we work together, so they never become problematic.

Misai: I don’t think this type of thing applies only to non-Japanese. Even among Japanese, if there are differences in viewpoints or backgrounds, there will often be gaps in communication, or contrasting opinions. In my case, I am always making an effort to prevent such gaps with my Japanese co-workers and bosses.

Takeuchi: That’s right. That’s why I treat all the employees that I supervise basically the same, whether they’re Japanese or foreigners. As a boss, the considerations that I make for non-Japanese employees like Misai have to do with their futures and families, and are basically no different than the considerations I make for Japanese employees.
In addition to non-Japanese employees at the Asahi Kasei Group, we proactively pursue internship programs with overseas universities, so we always have a handful of foreign students here. And we even have the foreign students join our projects and work together with us. I think that this type of working environment is one reason that the idea of treating someone differently because they are not Japanese does not take hold at Asahi Kasei.

Misai: Even if languages, cultures and customs are completely different, we are all here to get positive end results, whether a foreigner or a Japanese.
Another difference that I have felt is how much working together as a group is emphasized in Japanese society in general. Asahi Kasei is a company with a very open environment that values the opinion of the individual, but there are still people here who put weight on working as a group. At first non-Japanese employees might find it a little difficult to work in such an environment.
When I started working here I was too conscious of being a foreigner and would sometimes hesitate to speak my mind or would feel like I wasn’t working well in the context of the group. But with my three years of experience here I feel like one of the great strengths of Asahi Kasei is the high productivity of its teamwork, which flourishes in the company’s free and open atmosphere.

Takeuchi: I think that Misai understands that even when your language, culture and customs are different, if you gradually try to become more proactive as a member of your group, you become aware of the openness here and of the fact that this is a company that values the opinions of individuals.

Misai: There are, of course, many differences in the culture and customs of everyday life in Japan. But things you don’t understand at first are never really a problem because co-workers and bosses explain anything you ask in a kind and courteous manner. And there are always other non-Japanese employees here that offer each other helpful support and advice. So recently, rather than contemplating what my future will be like once I return to my country, I find myself thinking about the future of my life here in Japan, and have become very satisfied with working and living here.

Takeuchi: Speaking in terms of projects, there are many ways to reach one goal, so when I give directions to my subordinates, I provide a basic roadmap but leave the methods up to them as much as possible. Of course with Misai only in his third year, the methods of the more experienced members are often going to be more productive. But even for such cases, I consciously strive to build a work environment where any opinion can be freely shared and to continually provide the workers with opportunities to gain more work experience.
In this way I’d like to see Misai continue to take in more information and build more skills, and to share his ideas without hesitation. And at the same time, I want him to always look outward and embrace the challenge of creating big results in the future.
The technologies of our industry are constantly evolving and most technical materials and information are of the English-speaking domain, so there is a real need for the different perspectives offered by foreigners who are interested in working in Japan. I have these expectations not only of Misai, but of all English-speaking foreign engineers. Asahi Kasei looks to employ and train capable personnel on a global level regardless of nationality.

Misai: I think that the ability that Japanese businesses have to train their human resources is phenomenal. In my team, for example, the project leader gives excellent direction and advice, and has an enormous capacity as a human for detailed attention. In time I would like to become such a leader. I feel very lucky to have such an ideal superior to work under. Like I mentioned in the beginning, this is an interesting company. It’s a place where people from different disciplines work together, where change is abundant and where the businesses continue to grow, and that makes working for Asahi Kasei very challenging and rewarding.

Moderator: Thank you.