🌸Japanese Customer : Education

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Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

January 12, 2024

Funfact: What is Genkouyoushi and how do I use it?


Fun Fact: 

Genkouyoushi or in Japanese Kanji 原稿用紙 is a specific type of printed writing paper
 
It can can be used to write horizontally (yokogaki) or vertically (tategaki)





Correct use of genkō yōshi (400 square sheet shown):

  1. Title on the 1st column, first character in the 4th square.
  2. Author's name on the 2nd column, with 1 square between the family name and the given name, and 1 empty square below.
  3. First sentence of the essay begins on the 3rd column, in the 2nd square. Each new paragraph begins on the 2nd square.
  4. Subheadings have 1 empty column before and after, and begin on the 3rd square of a new column.
  5. Punctuation marks normally occupy their own square, except when they will occur at the top of a column, in which case they share a square with the last character of the previous column.



The paper comes in two variations, 

paper with 

1. 400 squares per page or 

2. 200 squares per page and 20 squares per line. 


It is normal to put one character or punctuation per square.

#japanesecustomer #writing #paper #japan #japanese #language #funfact #picture #news

May 11, 2022

Five things to consider when recruiting 🌸 Japanese Students

 
japanese students at assembly #japanesecustomer

Photo: Japanese students at assembly 





According to research published recently by IDP Education Australia
Asia will dominate the global demand for international higher education by 2025; Asia will represent some 70% of total global demand”.
Japan stands out as one of the most mature and stable economies in the region. From a recruiter’s point of view though Japan has always been considered a difficult recruitment market due to the high costs of visiting the market, doing business, and lack of access to market information. These factors are slowly changing and Japan is becoming more accessible and user-friendly as compared to many other student markets.
Recent signs of growth have been seen and reflect that the economy may be finally recovering from 15 years of stagnant economic growth. The rise of indicators such as the Nikkei 225 index has helped push this feeling throughout the marketplace and consumer sentiment has followed with small rises in the Consumer Price Index and inner-city real estate prices.
Japanese students enjoy studying abroad and each year thousands of them venture to an array of different countries to gain new skills. Based on recent research undertaken by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), the top five study destinations for Japanese students in 2005 were the USA, China, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
An important question to consider from an institutional viewpoint is why do Japanese students study abroad when there are currently over 500 government accredited Universities throughout the whole of Japan that offer a range of specialized courses in both Japanese and English formats.
Keiko Tanikawa, Managing Director of ISCS, believes that
Japanese students are picking courses that are a complete package, for example, they select a course that is easy to enter, provides international recognition (so the qualification can be recognized in Japan and worldwide if they decide to stay in-country), and has work placement. So it’s easier to get a job”. 
This view is echoed by Makoto Sanada, Student Adviser at MTSC, a Japanese education agency, 
Japanese students want a qualification, something that shows that they are licensed in the subject.
Following recent high levels of unemployment amongst university graduates, many students are looking to further develop their overall skills including English, and specialized programs including MBA courses. Japanese companies have been cutting workers, so we have begun to see the demise of the corporate samurai.
"Young people are in no doubt about the direction employment is taking. They get the connection between useable skills and job security" according to Dr. Greg Story of Austrade.
The changing marketplace provides insights that can be helpful for education institutions and recruiters, these include the increase in “Freeters” and “NEETs”, changes in the types of courses being studied, and employer needs for job-ready employees, and the changing role of English.
The term “Freeter” is a Japanese word that has been made by combining two words, the first word, "free" from English, and the second word “Arbeiter” a German word relating to work. 
The meaning is aimed at young people primarily between the ages of 15 and 34 years of age who have graduated from education but who engage in part-time work. 
The term is used to describe both young men and women and seems to have a rather negative connotation with older members of society who are relying on the young to pay for the national pension system. 
Figures released by MEXT show that the number of “Freeter’s” in Japan has more than quadrupled in the past 20 years” from 1982 to 2003.
The Japan Institute of Labor classifies “Freeter’s” into three distinctive and separate groups these include the moratorium type that wants to wait before starting a career. 
This type can be linked to Western University students who take a year off after completing their studies and may travel before starting their careers.
The dream pursuing type. “Freeter's” who fall under this category may attempt to work in glamour fields such as show business and the no alternative type, may remain in part-time employment as they have no other choice of jobs that match their skills or experiences. 
Recruiters could repackage an existing course or develop a brand new course that allows “Freeter's” a chance to upskill or to further develop skills learned in part-time work.
Young people not in education and training or “NEETS” represent a sizeable market in the Japanese education market. According to the government, there are about 850,000 “NEETs” in Japan. 
NEETS” have been so described as they are seen to live off allowances provided by their parents and are undecided about career and their role in society. 
It is felt that they lose motivation and self-confidence by not actively participating in society. According to Saori Kan of the Daily Yomiuri in the article, 
"Society needs to get serious about NEETS"
 she outlines that at present, 
About 520,000 people under the age of 35 were considered NEET's as of the end of 2003”. 
Free weekly employment magazines are now important mediums for a large number of young people in Japan.
Education institutions have an opportunity to develop courses and training to meet the needs of these young Japanese and to help them make a start or a restart toward their life’s journey.
Over the past thirty years, the courses selected by female university students have changed dramatically as seen in MEXT research. 
For example: in 1970 the number of females taking Social Science courses at University was 11.9% whereas in 2004 the number had risen to almost 30%. Changes have also been noted in Agriculture based courses which have increased by 1.6% and Engineering up 4% over the same period.
These changes provide insights for institutions to develop individual marketing plans based on gender whereby individual courses are targeted specifically to the need of the student. 
The message developed to attract a male Japanese student to enroll in an Engineering course would be different and unique compared to that developed for a female student.
Recruitment fairs in Japan are the battleground for recently graduated Japanese students who have returned home from studying abroad. 
Seas of grey-suited men and women shuffle through the required paperwork to register and enter these fairs.
Allowing them the chance to attend information sessions, meet companies face to face, collect brochures and make an impact with company recruiters in individual appointed interviews. 
Competition is fierce. Individuals get to events up to two hours earlier than the official starting time, in the hope that by lining up they will have the first opportunity to meet with employers of their choice. 
Seats found at the front of company booths are prized as candidates can have better eye contact and possibly increase their chances of getting noticed. 
Company booths have seating for up to twenty people and presenters click through PowerPoint presentations on the hour for the length of the fair.
Japanese employers are looking for graduates with more skills and experience to help them navigate the ever-changing marketplace that includes both domestic and international markets. 
Experience gained in a foreign market is also looked upon favourably. 
Small employers who haven’t the budgets to undertake extensive staff training is keen to hire those with experience. 
Recruiters have the chance to develop work experience as part of the course offering.
English is a skill that is still much prized in Japan and will continue to be so into the future. TOEIC a guide to English proficiency is an important measuring device but fluency is becoming a key skill. The ability to participate using English is now seen as a desirable attribute. 
In the past one member of staff was assigned as the English speaker but now employers require a higher usage of English by all of their employees. Institutions that can develop a student’s English fluency have the chance to meet a need.
As demand from Asian countries continues to dominate international recruitment, Japan can be seen as a stable and mature market with unique opportunities for education Institutions to explore.
This article was published in “Education Marketing Journal”, Higher Education Information Services Trust, (HEIST), The United Kingdom in March 2006.

Copyright. JapaneseCustomer.com. 2006. All Rights Reserved.

#highereducation #internationalstudents #recruitment #japanese #insights #japanesecustomer #students

April 27, 2022

Part time work for Japanese students studying abroad







Part-Time Work for International Japanese Students


Often when institutions recruit international students they have an employment service that caters only to the needs of local students.

The current challenge for institutions is to create meaningful part-time work opportunities for Japanese students while they are studying.

As English language skills are very important to Japanese students institutions should consider jobs that allow students to enter at their current language skills and to progress.

The ability to work with local people also helps students' cultural knowledge and helps build confidence.

Key Points:

Q. What part-time work opportunities are available at your institution for international Japanese students? 

Q. Do the opportunities available allow them to participate with their current language level, allow them to meet and work with local people?

June 19, 2020

Japanese Customer: Japanese university lecturers to be retrained




"162,000 - University lecturers to be retrained in how to teach effectively"




Source: The small print by Tabitha Miles
Nov 10 - Nov 16, 2006
Metropolis Magazine, page 4
www.metropolis.co.jp





Learn more about study in Japan at Study Abroad Japan

Japanese Customer: Fees charged to international students in Japan makes it a value for money destination



"The average level of fees charged to (International) students in Japan is around 4000 USD per year in ppp terms, much lower than in the United States (USD 12,000), in Australia (USD 11,000) and in Canada (USD8000)."

Source: Education at a glance, 2006
OECD Briefing note for Japan
http://www.oecd.org
accessed 20/09/06


Learn about study in Japan at Study Abroad Japan

Japanese Customer: Earlier language introduction ensures better language mastery





One of the practical reasons for
introducing English to younger learners
is to ensure that they have longer
in their school careers to master the language”


Source:
English Next – Why global English may mean the end of “English as a Foreign language”
By David Graddol,
British Council,
United Kingdom, 2006 page 89
Accessed 1/10/06



Japanese Customer: Attracting Japanese customers to learn English in Japan language schools play on student weaknesses to get attention




"Do you ever feel that right when you 
want to use your English, the words
 just won't come out? If so, why 
not take your frustration and turn it into fluency"

Source:Translation of Aeon
Train advertisement, Tokyo
September 2006


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Japanese Customer: Communicative style of child rearing is reflective of ones native culture





"I found that Japanese mothers in the United States,
while influenced by Western culture,
induct their children into a 
communicative style that is reflective of their native culture."





Source:

Book Review by Masahiko Minami,
Dinner Talk: Cultural Patterns of Sociability
and Socialization in Family Discourse.
Blum-Kulka, Shoshana, 1997
Accessed 29/6/2006



Japanese Customer: Japanese returnees -"a certain glamour to being bilingual" ?




"I suspect there is a certain glamour to being bilingual,
and this probably explains the current trend
for parents to get their preschoolers learning English"




Source: What we can learn from Japanese returnees
Asahi Shimbun
27/6/2006
www.asahi.com
Accessed 28/6/2006



Japanese Customer: Education board keen on hiring teaching rookies from baby boomer generation




"the board of education
(Yokohama municipal government)
is enthusiastic about hiring
rookies from the baby boomer generation."





Source: Baby boomers welcomed back to blackboard
Daily Yomiuri
Saturday 24/6/2006,
page 3




Japanese Customer: Japanese students in the ELICOS sector and their pathways in Australia summary 2002 - 2005




The following is a summary of Japanese student participation in the ELICOS sector in Australia 2002 - 2005 based on Australian Education International, Research Paper " Study pathways of international students in Australia through the ELICOS sector, 2002 to 2005", Number 2006/2.

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas students or (ELICOS) in the period 2002 to 2005 in Australia represented 14.2% of all single sector students and 19.5% of multiple sector students. Japanese students represented 12.9%of all international students enrolled in ELICOS 2002 - 2005, the third largest population of students after the Republic of Korea and China.

Pathways of study Japanese students chose in Australian education institutions included ELICOS only 65.6%, ELICOS - VTE (Vocational education) 16.6% and ELICOS - Higher Education 5.5%. Revealing that Japanese students have yet to fully participate in Australian education possibly due to their confidence based on their English language skills.

In terms of length of study in ELICOS courses, 1.3% of Japanese students studied 1 to 4 weeks, 46.9% studied 5 to 26 weeks and 51.8% studied 27 or more weeks. These figures indicate that Japanese students are not confident of their English language skills even though they have studied English for a number of years at school in Japan.

ELICOS is intensive English whereby students study for four or more hours per day depending on the course plus homework, revision and study for tests and assignments meaning that students could easily study 10 plus hours a day. English study in Japan is less rigorous and the change over between the two systems for the student must be very difficult. Learning language in a condensed format may be very good for some students and not so good for others. Pressure can be both a positive an a negative in learning depending how it is applied and interpreted by the individual student.

In summary 63.9% of ELICOS sector Japanese students undertook non award courses which suggests that they wanted to learn without the course counting on their academic record. That is, they wanted to learn, practice and achieve English skills before undertaking a course that would count.They wanted the freedom to learn and improve.

The results of this research have important implications for attracting, managing and retaining Japanese students to ELICOS courses in Australian education.




Japanese Customer: Japanese graduates see the unemployment rate fall but it reveals few opportunities




"People say recruitment is up, but I haven't picked up on that"

Shingo Suzuki



Source: Japan's young jobhunters still edgy despite upturn
By Isabel Reynolds
January 31 2006
Reuters
www.boston.com



Japanese Customer: Rush of actors studying English in Japan, hoping to get famous



“there has been a rush of actors studying English in the hope of becoming
the next Ken Watanabe”




Source: The small Print by Tabitha Miles
Metropolis magazine,
July 21 – 27th, 2006
Page 4


Learn more about travel in Japan at Motorcycle Japan

Japanese Customer: USA generates Japanese student interest with new book





It is often said that Japanese Students are less interested in the United States these days…to stem this apparent dissipation of interest.. a textbook featuring various aspects of contemporary life in the United States was published recently to encourage students to better understand the nation.



Source: Textbook urges students to learn from U.S
By Hiroko Ihara,
Daily Yomiuri, July 27th, 2006.






Learn more about travel in Japan at
Motorcycle Japan

Japanese Customer: Universities have to think creatively and innovatively about how they can attract students - Julie Bishop




"But I do believe that universities have to
think creatively and innovatively
about how they can attract students."


Julie Bishop, Federal Minister for Education, Australia

Source: Higher Education Debate
Report by Maxine McKew
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
06/07/2006
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1680822.htm


December 11, 2015

Japanese Customer News December 12th 2015






















“Japan is likely to win a multi-billion-dollar contract to build India’s first hogh speed railway, a 500 km high-speed railway link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad…valued at about AUS $20.4 billion”

Source: Japan nears India bullet train train deal by Mitsuru Obe and Rajesh Roy, The Wall Street Journal, The Australian Newspaper, Thursday 10th December, 2015, page 24.









● “The president of Nippon Life Insurance says his company will allow policy holders to list same-sex partners as beneficiaries”


Source” The Small Print, December 10th 2015, by Steve Trautlein, Metropolisjapan.com










“Where does Australia invest?

Rank Country AUS $Billions % of total

4. Japan 69.6 3.6

Source: Based on ABS catalogue 5352.0 September 2015”




Source: Turnbull throws down gauntlet, by Glenda Korporal, The Australian, Friday December 11th, 2015, page 37.










● “Worlds top five by revenue

For Games Mobile Games

China $US 22.2 billion China $US 6.5 billion

US $US 22 billion Japan $US 6.2 billion

Japan $US 12.3 billion US $US 6 billion

S Korea $US 4 billion S Korea $US 1.9 billion”



Source: Tencent looks abroad for games domination, by Juro Osawa, WSJ, The Australian Newspaper, Tuesday 8th December, 2015, page 25.
















“the most inspiring virtual reality VR came from Sony. Its VR headset for PlayStation 4 lets you explore a 3D, virtual environment, you can walk around it and, using move controllers, you can even pick up objects”



Source: Years top personal tech innovations on the money, by Chris Griffith, The Australian Newspaper, Tuesday December 8th, 2015, page 28.







 japan. japanese, consumer, customer, news, picture, quote, podcast, business, insights, trends, technology, www.japanesecustomer.com, @jcustomers, december, 12th, 2015, #japan, #japanese, #customer

October 06, 2015

Review: Japanese Student Success High School to MBA Australia by Rawdon Dalrymple




 http://www.scribd.com/doc/190027019/Japanese-Student-Success-High-School-to-MBA-Australia




Review:



                                            






Reviewed by Rawdon Dalrymple, AO. (Order of Australia)





Rawdon Dalrymple is visiting Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Sydney where he teaches courses in International Relations. He is also Chairman of the ASEAN Focus Group Pty Ltd. He has published articles in journals in Australia and the United States and writes a monthly column in a leading Japanese newspaper. He was the Australian Ambassador to Japan 1989 -1993







"There is paucity of research that examines the positive experiences of international students...Research that throws light on how students benefit from their experience, and then subsequently apply that experience, is therefore very welcome...




" is useful in helping to fill a substantial gap in our understanding…It is also useful to learn more about the factors that motivate individual Japanese students to study in Australia"

July 11, 2015

Article: Lean is not a word, it is a mindset



Lean is not a word, it is a mindset



Copyright. 2014.
All Rights Reserved

How Japanese keep their bath warmer longer
Picture: Japanese bath cover



Lean. The new western buzzword that borrows from the Japanese word "mottenai", no waste. But lean is more than just a word in Japan it is a mindset that impacts every aspect of daily life not just manufacturing or business.It applies from when you sit down to breakfast and leave your rice bowl with three grains of rice in it and someone at the table will inspect (probably everyone at the table) and someone will say to you directly, finish all your rice "mottenai". It continues when you throw out the waste paper basket and other household members will inspect the contents and take out things they can use and will say to you "mottenai". 

When you finish taking a bath in Japan at the end of the day which you share with all the other members of the household.You have to get in and out quickly and replace the bath covers (boards that cover the bath and keep in the heat in) so the next person also enjoys a hot bath, "mottenai". 

Bath water in Japan is typically used for up to three consecutive days before the bath is cleaned. The water in the bath is used in the washing machine, "mottenai". Nearly all Japanese households have a pump and a hose unit . This unit takes the bath water and fills the washing machine with a push of a button. Bath water is recycled, "mottenai". 

So you may now be getting a picture of how deep the meaning of "mottenai" or lean thinking goes in daily Japanese life. 

Japanese do not just apply this concept to manufacturing and business , they apply it to everything! 

For western companies to really compete with Japan they must not only understand the concept but apply it and Japan has had over a thousand years head start.

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October 06, 2013

Japan post may increase postage stamp rates ahead of next April sales tax hike



Picture: Japan Post delivering letters




"The internal affairs ministry said it intends to change an ordinance that would allow Japan Post Co. to raise postage rates to cushion itself from the impact of next April’s sales tax hike.The revision could raise the cost of sending a letter weighing 25 grams or less to ¥82 from ¥80, which would be the first postal rate hike in around 20 years, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry announced Friday."







Source:Japan Post set to raise mail prices
Oct 5th 2013
Japan Times