![Visionista [JAC Specified Skills Introduction Case Studies: Visionista]](/common/img/logo_visionista_w.svg){kind=logo}
![Visionista [JAC Specified Skills Introduction Case Studies: Visionista]](/common/img/logo_visionista_b.svg){kind=logo}
Respecting individuality and culture,
I want to cherish human relationships.
2022.09.01
Directors
Kyoko Takeda氏
Kyoko Takeda supports the lives of Vietnamese employees working at Takeda Construction Co.,Ltd. Sometimes acting as a supervisor, sometimes as a dormitory manager, Ms. Takeda answered questions about their daily lives.
By living in a familiar environment, you can avoid the risk of trouble.
Please tell me about housing for Specified Skilled Worker
Originally, our company provided a work environment where Japanese employees could live on-site, such as by renovating the second floor of the chairman's and my home, and building a six-story dormitory for single employees on the adjacent plot of land. We also provide company housing in the suburbs for employees working at our own factory, and we allow Technical Intern Trainee and Specified Skilled Worker to use these facilities.
So you're also taking them into your home?
They live in an environment with completely different lifestyles and cultures, so the possibility of getting into trouble cannot be ruled out. Not only at my home, but also in the company dormitory and company housing, there are Japanese colleagues living there, so I see them every day. If something seems off or if trouble arises, I will notice it immediately, so I think living in a close-knit environment helps with risk management.
Before I knew it, I was tilling the soil and growing vegetables in the garden of my company housing.
How do you communicate with each other?
I communicate with new employees and foreigners whose Japanese isn't yet fluent by using gestures. However, when it comes to asking detailed questions about their lives or work, it's sometimes difficult to convey what I want to say. In those cases, I call an interpreter on the spot and have them translate through speakerphone.
Are there any things you pay particular attention to in your daily life?
First, there's the issue of how to dispose of garbage. They have absolutely no habit of sorting their waste, so I have to explain it to them from scratch. Also, they sometimes leave their bicycles on the road without a second thought, so I have to pay attention to the little details. Another thing that surprised me was that before I knew it, they were growing vegetables in the company housing yard and cleaning fish they had caught in the sea. I couldn't help but exclaim, "That's amazing!" along with them in admiration. Vietnamese people are very greedy when it comes to food, so I'm careful to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't cause any trouble.
Their eating habits seem to be completely different as well.
They like to use fish sauce, but its distinctive smell can also cause problems. Since they basically cook their own meals in the dormitory, we prepared a separate kitchen for them from the other Japanese residents. They are considerate enough to ventilate frequently, but we want to respect their food culture. Some of them are good cooks, and I remember one time they made fried spring rolls for us. They were piping hot and absolutely delicious.
Instead of lumping all foreigners together, we should interact with each individual on a personal level.
Have you noticed any other differences in culture or customs?
The attitude towards tattoos is completely different. I've heard that half of young people in Vietnam have tattoos. I think for them it's a fashion statement. However, in Japan, tattoos don't have a very good image, so I make sure to check during interviews.
If you have any advice for other companies regarding living with them, please share it.
It's a mistake to lump all foreigners together; especially the younger generation, they're almost indistinguishable from young Japanese people. They may cause problems, like inviting friends to the dorms or making loud noises, but that's not because they're foreigners, but rather due to their personalities. Each person has their own unique personality, so I hope you'll teach them the rules and manners necessary for proper human interaction.
(Interviewed on December 21, 2021)
