I Like Languages and Foreign Culture

① Speaking with Foreigners

When you meet a foreigner on the street and try to use the English words or phrases you learned in class,

and realize the conversation actually works—somehow, it feels unexpectedly joyful.

Interpreter

Interpreters build bridges between people who speak different languages.

They translate from foreign languages to native ones and vice versa—sometimes between two foreign languages—ensuring smooth communication.

They work in business negotiations, company visits, international conferences, lectures, or TV news programs.

Beyond language fluency, interpreters need broad knowledge: history, politics, economics, culture, and even sports or entertainment.

There are two main types:

• Simultaneous interpretation, translating while listening

• Consecutive interpretation, taking notes before speaking

Accuracy and nuance are crucial. Many interpreters in Japan are trained in professional translation schools or have studied abroad. Though no official license is required, obtaining certification is a major advantage.

Tour Guide (Domestic / Overseas)

Tour guides manage entire trips—from start to finish—ensuring travelers’ comfort and safety.

They often work for travel agencies or dispatch companies, coordinating itineraries, transport, and hotels.

International tour guides must handle unexpected situations in English at airports or hotels.

Pay is usually daily-based and increases with experience. The job suits people who can stay cheerful and calm under pressure, even when travelers fall ill or lose belongings abroad.

Cruise Service Manager

Large passenger ships are floating hotels. Service managers are responsible for guest relations, operations, and hospitality leadership—spending nearly one-third of the year at sea.

Although most companies do not require specific licenses, many prefer university graduates with strong English ability and a love for travel and the ocean.

Since voyages last long, it’s a role for sociable people who can also care for their team.

Media / Interview Coordinator

Interview coordinators organize overseas shoots or magazine features—selecting locations, arranging local crews and equipment, and negotiating costs and schedules.

They often interpret on site as well.

The job requires both language fluency and extensive local connections.

There’s no single path—many start at travel agencies abroad or as local assistants, gradually building networks.

Strong stamina and adaptability are essential for working under high tension and tight schedules.

Travel Writer

Travel writers record journeys, people, and stories from around the world.

They must write vividly and have both research and networking skills—often starting as editors or freelancers before publishing under their own name.

To sustain a living solely through travel writing is rare; most combine it with publishing or creative work.

Yet those who love discovering unseen places and sharing them with others find it deeply rewarding.

Tourism Bureau Staff

Tourism bureaus (like Japan’s JNTO) promote the culture and attractions of their home country.

They handle PR, advertising, and event planning to attract visitors.

Applicants usually have university or graduate degrees, language fluency, and lived experience in the country they represent.

Above all, they must have a genuine love for that place and the ability to express it vividly to others.

Essay | Masters of Language

by Ryū Murakami, 2003

What makes a “language genius”?

I’ve met several people who deserve that title—like Kondo Atsushi, who speaks Spanish with an Argentine accent, or Mr. O., one of Japan’s top five French speakers.

Both studied languages deeply and lived abroad. Their pronunciation is natural because they absorbed the sounds through life, not textbooks. But environment alone isn’t enough—it’s passion, curiosity, and constant exposure that make them exceptional.

People who master multiple languages often look much younger than their age. Perhaps it’s because living among diverse values keeps their minds flexible, always learning and adapting.

In contrast, those surrounded only by similar thinking age faster.

The joy of understanding and being understood—of successfully conveying one’s thoughts in another language—is irreplaceable.

It gives a sense of rebirth every time, as if you’ve crossed into a new world.

That, perhaps, is why language lovers always seem a little more alive.

Essay | Does the Tour Guide Have a Future?

by Ryū Murakami, 2003

Group travel once dominated Japan’s tourism, but the era is changing.

Instead of “London–Paris 8-Day Tours,” travelers now prefer smaller, more personal experiences: visiting writers’ hometowns, dining in three-star restaurants, studying Renaissance art in Italy, or learning tai chi in Shanghai.

As trips grow individualized, the need for large tour groups—and guides—declines.

In the future, guides must possess deeper expertise in specific fields: art, culture, or ecology.

Yet even that won’t guarantee stability, as people’s interests shift constantly.

The easy days of “loving travel, therefore being a guide” are long gone.

Tomorrow’s guides must be specialists, storytellers, and cultural interpreters—able to turn travel into learning, not just movement.

② Reading in Foreign Languages

Looking up unknown words, slowly grasping the meaning of foreign texts,

you feel a kind of satisfaction that cannot be found elsewhere.

The same concept can appear in countless ways depending on the language—reminding you how wide the world really is.

Translator

Translators bridge written worlds—rendering foreign novels, documents, films, and lyrics into another language.

There are literary translators, business translators, media translators, and more.

Most study in language schools or translation programs, then work for agencies or as freelancers.

While no license is required, certification from associations such as the Japan Translation Federation can help establish credibility.

Excellent command of both the source and target language is essential, as is subject knowledge for technical fields.

Few can live on translation alone at first—it often requires savings and patience to build a career.

Linguist

Linguistics and language learning are not the same.

Linguistics studies the nature of language scientifically—its structure, history, and universality.

Some linguists focus on human languages; others study dialects, slang, or even animal communication.

To become a linguist, one usually majors in literature or foreign languages, then pursues graduate research.

It’s a field where careful observation and curiosity about everyday speech can lead to fascinating discoveries.

English Reporter

English-language newspapers in Japan serve both foreigners living in Japan and Japanese readers studying English.

Their journalists report, translate, and adapt articles to make them accessible across cultures.

Strong writing skills matter more than speaking fluency.

The key is perspective—writing from the viewpoint of a foreign reader, not merely translating domestic news.

Study Abroad Coordinator

Study abroad coordinators advise clients, design plans, arrange schools, visas, and housing.

Almost all work for education agencies rather than freelance.

Having personal study-abroad experience is an advantage, but not a requirement.

The job requires good communication skills to understand students’ goals and the flexibility to handle logistics across countries.

International Conference Coordinator

From global summits to academic conventions, conference coordinators handle everything from schedules to venue setup.

They must grasp the intentions of organizers, communicate with international participants, and stay calm under pressure.

Most are employed by specialized agencies.

The job demands both linguistic ability and courage—the kind that allows quick decisions when something unexpected happens.

Interpreter-Guide

Interpreter-guides accompany foreign tourists, explaining Japan’s culture, history, and landscape in their language.

Beyond fluency, they need deep knowledge of Japan’s geography, traditions, economy, and etiquette.

It’s a demanding but meaningful role that directly contributes to international goodwill.

To qualify, candidates must pass the national interpreter-guide exam and obtain a prefectural license—known for its low pass rate.

After certification, guides may join agencies or register with associations as freelancers.

Today, there’s growing demand for Chinese and Korean speakers alongside English, German, and Russian.

Copyright Agent

When Japanese publishers translate and release foreign books, they must acquire rights through copyright agents.

Agents connect foreign authors and publishers with Japanese companies, negotiating contracts and royalties.

The job requires excellent business English and a sense for market trends—spotting potential bestsellers early.

With the recent growth of Japanese works being translated abroad, the field now flows both ways across cultures.

I Like the World Beyond My Own

I’m fascinated by distant horizons, by lives and voices I can’t yet understand, and by the courage it takes to step across the sea.

③ Dreaming of the World Outside

Across the ocean lies a world I’ve never seen —

with landscapes I can’t imagine, cuisines I’ve never tasted, strange and beautiful buildings, and lives completely unlike my own.

Without even realizing it, I gather the courage and silently promise myself: Someday, I’ll see it with my own eyes.

Embassy Staff

In Japanese embassies and consulates around the world, not only diplomats work there — many local and Japan-hired staff do as well.

Their roles include secretarial work, visa processing, cultural promotion, translation, and interpretation.

Local employees often serve as drivers, receptionists, or chefs.

Applicants are usually expected to start work immediately, and strong language skills are essential — both in English and in the host country’s language.

Recruitment happens when new posts open or staff shortages occur, and listings can be found on embassy websites or in newspapers like The Japan Times.

It’s work that demands precision, discretion, and diplomacy — the kind that quietly keeps international relationships functioning every day.

Customs Broker

Customs brokers handle import and export paperwork on behalf of companies — managing declarations, documentation, and communication with customs officials.

Only licensed brokers can officially sign and seal such documents.

They work across logistics, shipping, food imports, and apparel industries.

The national exam covers customs law, tariffs, trade regulations, and international finance.

There are no restrictions on age, education, or nationality — yet the pass rate remains notoriously low, often below 10%.

As Japan’s personal import market grows, certified brokers have become increasingly valuable professionals in global trade.

United Nations Staff

The United Nations Secretariat employs around 2,800 people, while the broader UN system — including UNICEF, UNESCO, and WHO — employs over 65,000 worldwide.

These “international civil servants” are specialists in fields like economics, healthcare, humanitarian aid, and development.

Positions open irregularly across various agencies and usually require international work experience.

For young candidates, the UN conducts a Competitive Examination for Recruitment.

While the official qualifications are “a university degree” and “fluency in English or French,” in practice, a master’s degree, expertise in economics or law, and proficiency in multiple languages are almost essential.

Some professionals join through secondments from their national ministries of foreign affairs.

To work at the UN is to dedicate oneself to global cooperation — a career built on both intellect and empathy.

Diplomat

Diplomats represent their nations abroad, negotiating treaties, gathering and analyzing political and economic information, and reporting back to their home government.

Most Japanese diplomats are employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

They are selected through the National Public Service Level I Examination or the ministry’s own specialized foreign service exam.

After passing, recruits undergo rigorous training and rotate between the ministry and embassies overseas.

MOFA has in recent years encouraged appointing ambassadors from non-traditional, civilian backgrounds — though whether this shift will take root remains to be seen.

The diplomat’s life is one of duty and distance: serving one’s country by living far from it, translating not only between languages but between worlds.