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We are all "newcomers," just like them.
I am inspired and growing every day.
2025.07.31
Natsumi Usui氏
Ms. Usui, a third-year employee at Sasaki Construction, is in charge of construction management. While she also provides support for the daily lives of foreign workers, she sometimes finds herself in a position where she is learning from them. Through her interactions on site and her efforts to improve her language skills, she says, "Both they and I are growing every day."
They were the first ones to tell me.
Please tell me about your current job responsibilities and your interactions with foreigners.
Currently, I'm in charge of construction management, which includes arranging materials and personnel, as well as providing support for the lives of foreigners. For example, I make sure everyone has an easy-to-use mobile phone, and if there are any requests for assistance, such as a shortage of rice, I assess the situation and take action myself.
Do you remember your first experience interacting with foreigners?
Yes, my first involvement was when I had just joined the company, and Specified Skills workers were already familiar with the work, so I often learned a lot from them. They patiently taught me the basics of carpentry, such as how to use a hammer, which was a great help.
Shorten the distance by exchanging jokes.
Are there any specific techniques you use to improve communication?
Since I'm younger than them, I got the impression that they were the ones who made the effort to get closer to me. We joked around with each other, and at the year-end party they asked me things like, "What do you do on your days off?" There's a relaxed atmosphere where we can easily talk. I'm grateful that they open up to me so naturally.
How do you usually handle communication?
Our communication is mainly through LINE, but I'm sometimes surprised by how well he uses polite Japanese. He'll respond with phrases like "Not at all," which shows his high level of Japanese proficiency. He's also very open and honest when we're drinking together, and I've even confided in him sometimes; he's a very reliable person.
How do you overcome the language barrier?
In conversations, I'm flexible and use methods like showing pictures or using Google Translate. When contacting them via LINE, I send messages in both Japanese and automatically translated Indonesian, or I send them only in Japanese so they can remember it—I try to be creative in my approach.
We can learn from the attitudes of foreigners.
Are there any concerns you have about them right now?
The biggest challenge is definitely communication on site. Some craftsmen speak quickly or use dialects, so even I, a Japanese person, sometimes can't understand them. It seems to be even more difficult for foreigners who are not fluent in Japanese, and they sometimes end up just saying "I understand" without being able to ask for clarification.
Are you taking any measures to address those problems?
As someone who teaches Japanese to foreigners, I have taken JAC's "Easy Japanese Course" for Japanese employees three times. I feel that my communication has become much easier, as I now clearly state things like "please do it" and "please do it at this time." They are constantly making an effort, such as studying kanji while commuting on the train. I am motivated every day and feel that I can't fall behind.
(Interviewed on October 3, 2024)
