Open to the world, strengthen links with the world Pt1（世界に開かれ、世界とつながる社会を目指して パート１）

This year’s last guest of My Eyes Tokyo is Tomoe Ono, a representative of ASIA Link!
今年最後のゲスト、ASIA Link代表の小野朋江さんです！

ASIA Link works as a “bridge” between foreign students and small businesses in Japan. We also want to be a bridge between foreigners and Japanese, so we would like to learn from them.
Ono started business in October 2011. It’s still like a tottering infant, but had an event called “ASIA Link Cafe” in November 2011, only a month after she established business. 10 company people and 10 foreign students (from China, S.Korea, Thailand and Sri Lanka) gathered at the venue in the suburb of Tokyo.

小野さんが代表を務めるASIA Linkは、外国人留学生と日本の中小企業との「橋」となって、双方をつなげるマッチングビジネスを行っています。本当に、My Eyes Tokyoがお手本とさせていただきたい方です。
今年１０月に事業を始められたばかりですが、翌１１月に早くも「ASIA Link Cafe」というイベントを行いました。この日は中小企業関係者１０名、外国人留学生１０名（中国・韓国・タイ・スリランカ）が三鷹産業プラザに集結しました。

 
 
当日の様子についてはこちらに詳しく載っています！

They put themselves in the mind of entrepreneurs and had a lot of discussions in the workshop about the company which they wanted to work for.
After their presentations, they had a get-together in a relaxed atmosphere. Students and company people talked with each other very closely. Maybe you wouldn’t see that closeness at usual employment-explanation meetings.

留学生と中小企業関係者がいっしょになって「あなたが会社を作るとしたら、どんな会社がいい？」を話し合い、全員の前でプレゼンするワークショップが行われた後、リラックスした雰囲気の中で懇親会が行われました。通常の企業説明会にはあり得ない、学生と企業関係者の距離の近さでした。
（以下、日本語についてはページトップのプレイヤーから今夜の放送をお聴きください）

The reason why she became a “bridge” between foreign students and small businesses is that she felt something when she was a Japanese instructor. She had taught the language to the students mainly from Asian countries for 8 years, and she learned;

● There’s strong discrimination and prejudice against Asian students, compared to the one directed at Western students. They get questioned by the authorities because they draw suspicion as illegal residents. It’s difficult for them to rent apartments or work at fashionable shops.
● Students who come to Japan want to work at Japanese companies. But their job huntings go wrong because of lack of information. Unfortunately many foreign students left Japan.

Ono couldn’t do anything for those issues because those were not her specialized fields at that time. When she felt irritated, she had a fourth baby. Even though it was hard for her to work outside the house, she wanted to continue to work. But she came up with an idea.
“I’ll create jobs in my neighborhood and solve the societal challenges!” Then she decided to start business and support foreign students. She rewrote her business plan over and over again and took counsel from financial organizations. Then she devised the business matching between foreign students and small companies. Her idea fitted the environment surrounding them.

● Only 20% of foreign students can get jobs with companies in Japan. Because they tend to want to work at big corporations, they apply for fewer company entrance exams compared to Japanese students. Also companies are anxious about hiring foreigners.
● 99% of companies in Japan are small businesses that are not well-known among foreign students. And they feed their ways into overseas market.
● Companies’ targets are Asian countries which continue the growth of their markets.

Ono wanted to support mainly students from Asia and companies that aim at Asian countries. That’s why she put “ASIA” on her company’s name.

The 2nd session of her project “ASIA Link Cafe” will be held soon!
そんな小野さんがプロデュースする、留学生と企業の出会いの場「ASIA Link Cafe」第２弾が行われます！

（Date & Time 日時）630pm – 930pm Dec.22 (Thu) １２月２２日（木）午後６時半〜９時半
（Place 場所）Mitaka Sangyo Plaza 三鷹産業プラザ７階　＊地図はこちら
（Applicants 対象）10 company people/20 foreign students 中小企業関係者１０名　外国人留学生２０名
（Participation fee 参加費）Free 無料
No-host get-together will be held after the event. Company people: ¥2500  Students: ¥1000
＊会費制の懇親会があります。中小企業関係者：２５００円　留学生：１０００円

Ono will tell you about her another activity, which is to support foreign mothers. Also she’ll share some romantic episodes that are perfect for the Christmas Eve. The next session will be the last one this year, so don’t miss it!!

来週は、小野さんのもうひとつの活動である「外国人ママ」支援事業についてお聞きします。小野さんご夫婦の絆を深めた、ロマンチックなエピソードも教えちゃいます♪ 今年最後の放送ですので、どうかお聴き逃しの無いように！