As COO and Co-Founder of SeiRogai, Inc., I’m thrilled to share that Minato City Hall and the Minato City Industrial Promotion Center gave us an exclusive interview that delves into the core of our company’s mission. At SeiRogai, our passion lies in serving as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, opening doors for companies to expand overseas and showcase this remarkable country.

株式会社SeiRogaiのCOO兼共同創業者として、港区役所と港区産業振興センターが、私たちの企業使命の核心に迫る独占インタビューに応じてくれたことを、とても嬉しく思います。SeiRogaiは、日本と世界の架け橋となり、企業の海外進出の扉を開き、日本の魅力を紹介することに情熱を注いでいます。

In this interview, we had the honor of discussing our vision, services, and the incredible journey that has brought us to where we are today. As foreigners living in Japan, we bring a unique perspective to the table, allowing us to shine a light on the hidden treasures, cultural richness, and historical wonders that often go unnoticed.

このインタビューでは、私たちのビジョン、サービス、そして私たちをここまで導いてきた信じられないほどの旅について語りました。私たちは日本に住む外国人として、独自の視点を持ち込むことで、見逃されがちな隠れた宝物、文化の豊かさ、歴史の驚異に光を当てることができます。

SeiRogai is more than just a media production company – we are a media tech startup that combines media production, marketing, advertising, branding, business consulting, and the latest digital technologies. We take pride in our ability to provide world-class support to our clients, fueled by our consolidated network of connections and cross-cultural business perspectives.

SeiRogaiは単なるメディア制作会社ではありません。メディア制作、マーケティング、広告、ブランディング、ビジネスコンサルティング、そして最新のデジタル技術を融合させたメディアテックスタートアップです。SeiRogaiは、メディア・プロダクション、マーケティング、広告、ブランディング、ビジネス・コンサルティング、そして最新のデジタル技術をワンストップで提供する会社です。

One aspect that truly sets us apart is our collaboration with the Government of Japan’s SME Agency as a certified “JAPAN Brand” partner company. Together, we promote and develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and overseas. Our goal is to bring the captivating essence of Japan to the global stage through high-quality media production and meaningful human connections.

本当に特別な存在にしているのは、日本政府の中小企業庁との協力関係であり、「JAPANブランド育成支援等事業」の認定パートナー企業として活動していることです。私たちは共に、日本国内外の中小企業を促進・育成しています。私たちの目標は、高品質なメディア制作と意味のある人的つながりを通じて、日本の魅力を世界の舞台に届けることです。

Two of our recent endeavors delves into innovating upon our expertise in filmmaking with the latest digital media equipment and technology. The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way we travel, making it difficult to cross borders and explore new horizons. However, where there are challenges, there are also opportunities for innovation. That’s why we developed our services, “SeiRogaiTV”, a new streaming platform that focuses on bringing more content from SouthEast Asia to the world, and “Global Virtual Travel,” a platform that offers VR360 virtual tours accessible to both domestic and international audiences.

新しい事業の2つは、最新のデジタルメディア機器と技術を駆使して、映画制作の専門知識を革新することに取り組んでいます。コロナ禍の影響により、私たちの旅行のあり方を変え、国境を越えて新たな地平を探求することが困難になりました。ただし、困難があるならば、イノベーションの機会もあるのです。そのために私たちは「SeiRogaiTV」という新しいVOD配信サービスを生み出しました。これは、より多くのコンテンツを東南アジアから世界に提供することに焦点を当てています。また、「Global Virtual Travel (グローバルバーチャルトラベル)」というDX観光プラットフォームも開発しました。これは、国内外の観客が利用できるVR360バーチャルツアーを提供しています。

In this interview, we also explore the story behind our company’s name. You see, our CEO Samuel Yuen had a serendipitous encounter with “Seirogan,” a Japanese medicine renowned for its healing properties. Inspired by the medicine’s ability to captivate and heal, we chose the name SeiRogai, which represents our journey of recognizing and spreading the true charms of Japan.

このインタビューでは、私たちの会社名の背後にある物語にも触れています。私たちのCEOであるサミュエル・ユエンは、「正露丸」という日本の医薬品と偶然の出会いを果たしました。その医薬品が持つ魅力と癒しの能力に感銘を受け、私たちはSeiRogaiという名前を選びました。これは、日本の真の魅力を認識し、広める旅路を象徴しています。

Continue reading for the full interview and story!

インタビューの全文と詳細については、続きをお読みください！

SeiRogai, Inc.:

“Bridging Japan to the World”

Point #1: One-stop shop service to promote the charms of Japan to the rest of the world.

SeiRogai Inc. is co-founded by CEO Samuel Yuen (pictured left), and myself, Rachel Leng, with the aim to serve as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, and the ultimate goal of showcasing the “true charms of Japan.”

The services we provide are comprised of the combination of the following areas (1) “Media Production” for overseas expansion, (2) “Marketing, Advertising and Branding” including every stage of marketing strategies such as planning, development, and assessment, (3) “Business Consulting” facilitating support for market research, overseas expansion strategies, overseas market development, and business establishment, and (4) “Online distribution services” for local tourism and companies in Japan and overseas through our platforms Global Virtual Travel and SeiRogaiTV. Our company’s distinctive feature is that we can effectively offer these services to our clients as a one-stop shop.

Point #2: The Japanese “norm” is a big attraction for foreigners.

Utilizing the advantages of media production, we strive to showcase the “charms of Japan” that are still rather unknown abroad and even on a domestic level because Japanese people might take them for granted. From our unique standpoint of foreigners living in Japan, we aim to spark interest in Japanese culture and places of interest from a historical and educational perspective, in order to serve as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world.

This also relates to the story behind our company’s name. Due to his busy schedule in preparation for the establishment of the company, our CEO Samuel Yuen experienced stomach pain. After taking “Seirogan” offered to him at the pharmacy, he recovered immediately. Seirogan, a Japanese medicine revered by the Japanese people for its healing properties, is usually out of the radar for most foreigners living in Japan. We found the wonderful effect to be quite alluring, so we shared it with our friends abroad, where it went on to gain quick popularity.

There are many things that are part of common knowledge in Japan but are still unknown to foreigners. We decided on the company’s name with the spirit of recognizing the true charms of Japan while taking on the mission of spreading it more widely. The “Seiro” in SeiRogai is easy to remember, as it sounds similar to Seirogan. At the same time, it also sounds similar to “seiko”, meaning “success” in Japanese. This visual is also included in the representation of the company’s logo, where the “road to success” is intended to be portrayed. The circle in the logo represents the round Seirogan pill, while the film strip represents the path we are trying to pave within the media production industry in Japan as a ground-breaking company.

Point #3: We want to bring the “JAPAN Brand” overseas by way of high-quality media production and human connections.

As a certified “JAPAN Brand” partner company, we actively collaborate with the Government of Japan’s SME Agency in the promotion and business development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing comprehensive support all across Japan and overseas by taking advantage of our unique distinction of serving as a “one-stop shop” for media production, marketing and advertising. All of this is supported by our established strong network of connections in Japan and overseas, a product of our cross-cultural business approach.

Our CEO Samuel Yuen, who was raised in Australia, is a seasoned international film producer with a career spanning for over 20 years. His extensive experience includes Hollywood productions, TV shows and commercials, documentaries, and many other media projects distributed across Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, and other countries. In addition to his rich experience in media production, he actively serves as General Secretary and Advisor to a former Senator and member of Thailand’s Royal Family.

On my part, I majored in East Asian Studies at Harvard University and have a network of business executives from all around the world. I am also a global speaker and public figure with a strong presence on social media.

With our exceptional synergy, we are able to provide world-class support by combining state-of-the-art quality media production with our consolidated network of connections and cross-cultural business perspectives.

Point #4: Japan and Japanese products are in demand around the world.

Japan was ranked first in the World Economic Forum (WEF) “2021 Travel and Tourism Development Index Report”, also known as the Davos Forum. This report ranks the competitiveness of the tourism industry by comparing tourism resources, transportation infrastructure, and safety of each country, among other indicators. This proves that Japan is by far the most popular destination for inbound tourism, especially from Southeast Asia and Australia, and that there is a growing number of foreigners who want to learn more about Japan and consume goods and services produced in Japan.

However, general media outlets often tend to focus solely on portraying Japan’s lush nature and delicious food. I saw there was a demand for content aiming to convey Japan’s rich history and culture throughout each region more deeply, showing interactions with local communities. We wanted to take on the challenge of creating such content complemented by story-telling of the culture, history and traditions of Japan’s hidden gems.

Point #5: Virtual tours using VR360 ° technology born from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, crossing borders and traveling freely was severely limited. In light of these events, new business models had to emerge. With our service “Global Virtual Travel,” we strive to provide an online distribution platform for local tourism and businesses for both domestic and international audiences. We are developing virtual tours using our unique VR360 ° shooting technology, supported by our interactive DX platform. The concept we are aiming for is “an immersive experience for the viewer.” The viewer will be able to choose a place of interest and access the footage as if being there, complemented by storytelling introducing the history and culture of the location, allowing them to interact with locals, and in this way promoting tourism in the area.

We have collaborated with Fuchu City as a pilot project in this exciting endeavor, producing a promotional video captivating its unique allure. As a former “Miss Singapore” titleholder, I am also featured as a guide. In addition, we have also been certified as “Minato City Promotion Crew,” one of the most acclaimed wards in Tokyo. We are cooperating to highlight the captivating essence of Minato Ward by producing an interactive VR360 virtual tour through Zojoji Temple, with the projection of further spreading its charm both in Japan and abroad.

The approach utilized in these videos involves incorporating a storyline while showcasing a specific destination, effectively merging the allure of the narrative with the captivating backdrop of the featured location. The ultimate goal is to forge innovative promotional videos that seamlessly integrate dynamic advertising strategies, creating a new and immersive experience for the viewer.

Point #6: An unprecedented entertainment platform.

In a post-pandemic landscape, another business venture we have taken on is SeiRogaiTV, an online distribution service that connects Southeast Asia and Japan. In the midst of the pandemic unfolding, we made attempts to collaborate with local TV stations, but due to travel restrictions, transmitting information proved to be a challenge. However, SeiRogaiTV has obtained authorization to distribute Thai programs and movies through our platform to Japan and the rest of the world, offering English and Japanese subtitles.

Our vision is to extend the showcase of the appealing and captivating facets of Japan to a larger audience. Furthermore, this platform could serve as a channel for promoting tourism and cultural soft power not only focused on Tokyo but also highlighting other regions of Japan, allowing many people, even those who cannot travel, to enjoy quality experiences transcending physical boundaries.

Point #7: The key to overseas expansion is market research from a local perspective.

We provide one-stop support for the overseas expansion of our partners through carefully planned marketing strategies and business consultation, but the question of “where to start?” is a challenge for many SMEs. As a solution, we offer branding and market research services.

For instance, if you are looking to expand your business overseas, you might have to make adjustments to the design, packaging, slogan and product description. To truly succeed, a strategic approach that goes beyond mere translation is required to fit the preferences of the target market. Without a deep understanding of the local culture and society, this objective becomes extremely complex. Through comprehensive market research, we assist entrepreneurs in uncovering valuable insights that will allow them to position their products in the desired way.

Without tailoring creative campaigns and marketing efforts to align with local lifestyle and culture, even substantial financial investments may fail to produce effective overseas reach and sales. When delving into the issue, we can see that insufficient market research is usually the root of the problems. It becomes evident that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is inadequate, especially when dealing with foreign markets. That is why we conduct our research at a local level with the aim of communicating effectively in order to reach the target market.

In a case of overseas expansion support into Thailand for a Japanese hotel brand, our CEO Samuel Yuen served as invaluable assistance by fostering a trusted relationship with the Thai Royal Family through his extensive work with the Thai National Tourism Organization. As a consultant, he succeeded in securing the best site for the establishment of the property by assessing the most convenient locations at a local level. As a result, a large hotel boasting more than 500 rooms is planned to be built.

Another crucial aspect to consider is aligning the products with effective promotional campaigns. We take advantage of our cross-cultural and multilingual expertise to excel at disseminating information to diverse audiences. Many local governments and Japanese companies find it difficult to monitor the impact of their marketing strategies, but with our comprehensive follow-up support, we make sure to keep track of visibility and engagement. In a recent experience, our international press release announcing the Zojoji Temple VR Tour project in English and Japanese was covered by over 600 media outlets, including some of the most influential global outlets, reaching an estimated of 29 million viewers in just one week. We believe that using our services as a one-stop shop results in a more cost-effective alternative than hiring different companies for the same purposes.

Point #8: A message to those who are thinking of expanding globally.

We hope to continue building bridges between Japan and the rest of the world, contributing to regional revitalization and the expansion of Japanese companies. Effective communication stands at the core of successful overseas expansion. With our expertise in multicultural understanding and multilingual support, we can guide any company in establishing a compelling target market and promoting its unique appeal from the ground up. We can help you expand your business to any part of the world, but especially Asia. We are your dedicated partner in maximizing your global impact and making your global expansion a resounding success.

The post Exclusive: Interview with Minato City <br> SeiRogai x 港区にインタビュー掲載 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

リンダ・ロセッティさんとのポッドキャストインタビューをDestination Unknown：a field guideでアップロードしました！私たちの12分のエピソードは、「地理的変遷：秘訣と行動計画」について話しましたので、是非お聞きくださいネ～！

URL: https://destinationunknownafieldguide.libsyn.com/website/geographic-transitions-secrets-and-strategies

I first met Linda Rosetti when I arrived at Harvard University as a fresh-eyed graduate student. As my international host, she was the first to welcome me with thoughtful recommendations on nearby places to explore down to detailing the nitty-gritty logistics of moving into my new home in Cambridge, MA.

Our first in-person meeting was at a potluck event. At first, I was very nervous to meet Linda and her daughter. My heart fluttered: What if they did not like me? What would we talk about? What if I did not live up to their expectations? What if we did not get along?

Linda Rossetti （リンダ・ロゼッティ）さんに初めて会ったのは、
ハーバード大学院に入学したばかりの時です。
私のインターナショナルホストとして、
彼女は私を歓迎してくれた最初の人です。
私がマサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジ市にある新しい家に引っ越す時、
生活がしやすいようにと近所にある色々な設備を教えてくださり、
引っ越しに必要な骨の折れる様々なことを詳しく調べてくださいました。

Photo with Linda and her daughter in 2013. ２０１３年のリンダさんと娘さんとの写真。

However, Linda and her daughter were very friendly and instantly made me feel comfortable. They later invited me to their house for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I had a conflict of schedule and to this day I regret not joining in on their family festivity!

しかし、リンダさんと娘さんはとてもフレンドリーで、
すぐに私は打ち解けることができました。
彼女たちは後で、私を感謝祭パーティのために家に招待してくれました。
残念ながら、私はスケジュールの都合で、
今日まで彼らの家族のディナーパーティに参加できなかったことを後悔しています！>.<;

Linda and I met a few other times during my years at Harvard. Every time we met, she would share about her work on transition and its impact on individuals and organizations, with a focus on the experiences of women. She would listen to my concerns and insightfully advise me on how to turn times of uncertainty into opportunities to build resiliency and redefine success. I had no idea at that time how much her words would be like seeds planted inside me, slowly incubating and taking hold at the necessary times when I was facing my own challenges, whether personal or career-related. I realized later, that the thing with our words to others, is that they tend to become thoughts and then actions. So, it is important we observe them and choose them wisely. As we disperse more “seeds” around the world, many will take root in the lives of others.

私はハーバード大学院在学中の数年間、リンダさんと何回も会いました。
私たちが会う時は、彼女は、女性の経験に焦点を当てながら、
「transition」に関して、仕事、個人や組織等の環境変化の影響について話してくれました。

リンダさんは私の関心事に耳を傾け、
どのようにして不確実性の時代を乗り越えて回復させるチャンスに変えるか、
成功の再定義について詳しく心が温まるアドバイスをしてくれました。

その時は、私自身もキャリアがなく、
彼女の言葉がまだよく理解できませんでした。
現在は、自分の「transition」に挑戦し、
直面しているので、事あるごとにリンダさんのアドバイスを噛みしめています。

他の人への私たちのアドバイスや言葉が、
後々に、その人達の思考の元になり、
行動になる可能性があります。
したがって、言葉を選び、それを賢明に選択することが重要です。
世界中の人に「良き言葉」や「良きアドバイス」を伝えることは、
多くの人の心の種になって育っていくでしょう。

5 years, 3 countries, and several job industry transitions later, Linda and I reconnected.

5年後、そして3か国に渡る就職先への移行後、リンダさんと私は再び繋がりました。

Linda’s podcast, Destination Unknown: a field guide, explores the variety of challenging life transitions that many of us encounter and how to navigate them successfully. Our conversation is available in the 12-minute episode titled “Geographic Transitions: Secrets and Strategies.”

Lindaのポッドキャスト、「Destination Unknown: a field guide」　（目的地不明：フィールドガイド）では、
私たちの多くが人生に挑戦して遭遇する様々な変化と、
それらをうまくナビゲートする方法を探ります。
12分のエピソード「Geographic Transitions: Secrets and Strategies」（地理的変遷：秘訣と行動計画）で
それらについての私たちの会話を聞くことができます。

If you are able to make the time, do tune in!

Some highlights and a full transcript of the podcast interview can be found below, for those who prefer reading. However, I would very much appreciate it if you could spare the time to listen to the audio!

As always, I would be happy to hear from you and your feedback.

時間に余裕があれば、お聞きください！

ポッドキャストインタビューの主要部分と完全なトランスクリプト(英語版のみ)は、下記を参照してください。
読書好きな人が時間を割いて音声を聞いてくだされば嬉しいです。

いつものように、ご意見をお聞かせください。

Some Highlights:

いくつかの主要部分：

“If I look back now, I had definitely underestimated how difficult it would be to live and work in a country where you have no knowledge of the language or the culture. When I actually arrived on the ground, everything from just grocery shopping to finding an apartment was really difficult.”

「今振り返ってみると、言語や文化を知らない国で生活し、働くのがどれほど難しいかを、私はあまり問題視していませんでした。実際にその地で生活を始めた時、食料品の買い物だけでなく、アパートを見つける等々、すべてが本当に大変でした。」 

“The biggest thing I faced was Asian female stereotypes… [sometimes] it was so entrenched in the cultural views of gender-defining roles.”

「私が直面した最大の障害は、アジアの女性の固定観念でした… [時々]それは性別についての役割における文化的な考え方が非常に強く根付いていました。」 

“On the surface, people look at your history or your Instagram persona and think that everything worked out so well for you, but when you are really in that moment, many days you wake up and have no energy to fight it anymore. I realized that I was beginning to internalize it, to believe that I was not good enough or adding much value.”

「表面的には、人々はあなたの過去やInstagramに載った外見的なあなたを見て、すべてがうまくいっていると思うでしょう。ですが、それはあなたがその瞬間にいる時のことで、日常の中では、憂鬱な日々もあり、元気に生活する気力が無い時もあります。 私はそれが内面化し始めていることに気づきました。自分の気力が無くなり、自分の人生に価値がないと思い始めてしまいました。」 

“For me, I think it was a stroke of luck but what I did was I started reaching out to people, and how I could help other people… through the process of sharing my experiences and insights and seeing their success… that really helped me also realize the value of my own experiences. By teaching them, they really taught me so much more in return.”  

「私にとって、それは運命の一撃だったと思います。その後、私がしたことは、どうやって他の人々を支援できるかと、色々な人に接触し始めました。 私の経験と洞察を共有し、私は本当に自分自身の経験が価値があるものと実感しました。彼らに私の経験を伝えることで、私は彼らからもっと学ばせていただいています。」 

“Whenever you move to a different country, it is really easy to feel like a fish out of water. And then, you start self-isolating… and feeling really alone. In many ways, after you do it a few times, you become aware that you need to break away from this comfort zone that is confining you… But it still takes time, you can’t rush it… [In my opinion], it takes about 6 months to adjust to moving to a new environment.”

「あなたがほかの国に引っ越すときはいつも、陸に上がった魚のように感じやすいものです。そして、あなたは孤立していき…　本当に孤独を感じます。 多くの点で、似たような経験を何回か行った後、あなたはあなたの快適ゾーンの中にいるようになりますが、色々なチャレンジをするためにはこの快適ゾーンの枠を壊す必要があることに気づきます…　しかし、それには少し時間がかかり、速く壊したくても急にはできません… [私の経験では] 新しい環境に慣れるまでに約6ヶ月かかります。」 

“Sometimes it is the ones closest to you and care for you the most who are the ones who give you the most detrimental advice that holds you back.”

「時に、両親や友達等あなたに最も親しい人たちは、あなたを気遣って、行動を妨げるようなアドバイスをしますが、これがあなたにとっての枠になる可能性が高いです。」

“Thinking and imagining about how difficult it will be is probably going to be more difficult and scary than what it is actually like when you are going through it.”
「新しく挑戦することがどれほど難しいかを考えたり想像したりすることより、あなたが実際にそれを経験しているときの方が想像していたより、難しくもなく怖くもないでしょう。」 “We heal ourselves by healing others.”
「私たちは他人を癒すことで自分自身もまた癒されます。」

Destination Unknown Podcast Interview Transcript

“Geographic Transitions: Secrets and Strategies” with Rachel Leng

Linda: Hi welcome back this is Linda Rossetti and I am thrilled you’re here for another episode of Destination Unknown. Today we have an extraordinary guest – a colleague and friend Rachel Leng joins me. Part of her resume has things like entrepreneur, Miss Singapore and a graduate of both Duke University and Harvard University. Rachel, it’s nice to have you here, welcome.

Rachel: Thank you Linda for having me on the show. I still remember when we first met, I believe you were my international host who helped me transition when I first arrived at Harvard about 7 years ago. As a Singaporean who had grown up in various countries around Asia – primarily China in Shanghai – and as a first-generation college student in the US it was really meaningful for me to hear about your experiences and work on transition at that time. Since then I’ve been through several other transitions. After graduating, I pursued a job in policy as I was studying international relations and East Asian Studies and had an interest in politics and public policy. So I went to Seoul, South Korea for that job at a political think tank. I was there for about a year and then I moved to Japan just on my own. I didn’t have anything lined up but I had the idea that I wanted to find a job there and learn more about finance and business development… I ended up landing a job in a private equity firm at which I still currently work. Since last year I co-founded my own company in business consultancy and media production with a mission to share knowledge to benefit others. Because, in my own experience it has been media and communication that has helped me along the way and given me the right advice when I needed it. For example, I should mention your blog because I constantly receive your updates and still manage to receive that inspiration and motivation from you and your work.

If I look back, I think moving to Korea was one of my most difficult transitions thus far when I decided to take the job at the think tank in Seoul. Most people were reacting – “Why would you go to Seoul? Why not stay in the US? You can get a perfectly good job here.” After all, I had other job offers for example in Singapore and Hong Kong, (so people would say) “why wouldn’t you go there seems to be a lot more going on there for young ambitious women.” Korea has been consistently ranked lowest or near the lowest on most OECD rankings for gender equality. I just had this desire to really experience it myself and to understand as much about different countries and cultures as possible… but if I look back now I definitely underestimated how difficult it would be to live and work in a country where you have no knowledge of the language or the culture. When I arrived on the ground, everything from just grocery shopping to renting an apartment was really difficult.

The most challenging thing of all I think I faced was the female Asian culture stereotypes. Something like only 2 percent of women in Korea are actually in leadership roles such as on board of directors of companies and women only earn about 60 percent of what men earn generally. There are very strong stereotypes that women should not pursue a career after having a family or have children… In my experience, sexual harassment at the workplace and in society was very common and even expected or accepted by many so that young women around me often did not even recognize it just because it was so entrenched in the cultural views of gender-defined roles. This was difficult for me to deal with coming from being educated in the U.S. and then going back to Asia and being in that kind of social and corporate environment where I just felt really devalued at that time.

Linda: I wonder if you could talk about extricating yourself from that. You know, what was that decision like to leave that moment because I think my listeners… You know, many of us could find ourselves in situations where we never imagined how they would be and when they’re not supportive of us and we know we need to move. So maybe you could talk a little bit about what that decision was like for you.

Rachel: It was really, really difficult. There were many days when I just felt so stuck and depressed with not much of a future and was getting really listless and resigned. On the surface, people will look at your history or your Instagram account persona and assume that everything worked out so well for you but when you’re really in that moment, there are just many days you wake up and you just have no energy to really fight it anymore. I realized that I was even beginning to internalize it – you just believe that you’re not good enough, that maybe you’re not adding much value to your career.

For me, I think it was a stroke of luck butwhat I did was I started reaching out to other people and seeing how I can help other people. I had this opportunity to work with the Korean government on the mentorship program for Korean youth who were interested in either working abroad or pursuing an education abroad. By working with these young Korean women, coaching them, and kind of helping them and through the process of sharing my experiences and seeing their success in applying to schools and good jobs overseas really helped me also realize the value of my experiences.

By teaching them, I think they taught me so much more in return. So as much as Korea was in some ways a very painful experience for me, it was also really important as a stepping stone to Japan because after going through that I just had more confidence especially after working with so many of my mentees and other students to help them through their transitions to move out of their career that I really decided to jump into my next chapter.

Linda: It’s interesting because you’ve had a number of transitions. I wonder – do you see any similarities as you look at the transitions that you’ve made?

Rachel: Whenever you move to a different country is really easy to feel like a fish out of water and then you start self-isolating as well and feeling really alone… In many ways, we learn after doing it a few times and you become more aware of the sense that you need to break out of this comfort zone and circle that is confining you. It becomes easier every time but it still takes time so you can’t rush it – it still takes about 6 months every time you transition to anything. Moving countries and moving to a new job are usually considered 2 of the most stressful things that you can do in your life and doing them at once is extremely difficult but I think that if you have the right mind-set and of course, thankfully in my situation, I had a lot of mentors who gave me really great advice that really helps pick you up at the times you need it the most.

Linda: I love this model that you’ve put in your head that as you move or make substantial changes there is a behaviour pattern that you relied on – and granted, it wasn’t maybe the most healthy to kind of draw inward and almost constrict your activities a little bit that self-isolation for a little while to get your feet underneath you. And so it’s very interesting because I think all of us have these reflexive behaviours that we turn to particularly at times when we’re facing substantial uncertainty which is really what transition is all about – it’s really walking forward into the unknown. You know in the first couple of weeks when you’re on the ground you are in a new place, how can my listeners prepare themselves for this moment really in terms of how it’s going to feel.

Rachel: So the most difficult step would probably have been getting your feet on the ground in the first place. The reason for that is you’re going to get so many people telling you what to do or not to do. The most painful realization that I came to at some point was that sometimes the people closest to you and care for you the most are the ones that give you the most detrimental advice that holds you back. Your thinking and imagining how difficult it will be it’s probably going to be more difficult and more scary than what it actually is like when you’re going through it.

Linda: Yeah I think so so fantastic advice and I think that that’s been played out so many times on the guests that we’ve had here on Destination Unknown. Many people who do go through transitions talk about surprises. I wonder if you could share a couple of those that maybe you’ve encountered.

Rachel: So you are absolutely right that a lot of times when you go through transition you just feel really down, really broken, and tend to want to just draw into yourself and I guess to protect your inner core in that way and kind of preserve some sense of yourself. One of the challenges I faced and many other people I have worked with do encounter is how to build up that confidence again. Since Korea I have continued working with many students and young professionals coaching and mentoring them. A girl from China reach out to me and that she confided in me her story that she was being abused by her father who was an alcoholic and she felt absolutely no confidence in herself and had no support from her family to pursue an education and in fact was advice or kind of discouraged from it.

Nonetheless, she was still having his curiosity about exploring going to university are learning more about the world. After hearing her story, I really empathized with her situation where somebody’s family and friends are the ones that hold you back in some ways simply by saying that you can’t do it. So, I decided to coach her through the entire application process and she ended up getting into a top university in the US on a full scholarship. I realized that as much as I taught her and shared with her, she’s taught me so much more in return. This kind of confirmed that the place of my own existence and my values that I had doubted at many times. We heal ourselves by healing others.

Linda: I think that’s a beautiful sentiment Rachel, and I think that I’ve seen that replicated time and again for people who navigate transition that the gifts that we’re willing to extend to others come back to us tenfold and it is really quite powerful that your willingness to question what was around you and the opportunities that you had in front of you – that willingness to keep asking the question has clearly paid off for you. I am so honored to know you and to watch how you’ve grown and developed – you’ve done such an outstanding job and I can just imagine all the wonderful things are about to give to the world so I thank you for joining me and for being my guest and for your friendship. Thank you so much.

Rachel: Thank you so much.

Other Podcasts:

The post Podcast Interview on Geographic Transitions: Secrets and Strategies <br> ポッドキャストインタビュー: 地理的変遷に関する秘訣と行動計画 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

During a time when money is alarmingly scarce for many people, those who have some extra cash (or are even actually saving money by being forced to stay home and spending less than during normal times!) ought to be extremely grateful.

People are increasingly turning to the prime opportunity to grow their wealth by investing spare cash when the markets are down.

However, how do you make the most of it?

コロナウイルスによる危機は、
これまでにない嵐のように世界経済を襲い、
何百万人もの人々に経済的損害を与えています。
多くの人にとって経済的な危機に、余裕資金を持っている人
（または、家にいることを余儀なくされ、
通常より少ない費用で生活ができ、
実際にお金を節約できている人！）は、
非常に自分の境遇に感謝すべきです。
人々は、市場がダウンしているときにこそ余裕資金を投資することにより
彼らの富を成長させる最も重要な機会にますます目を向けています。

しかし、どうやってそれをこの時期に最大限に活用しますか？

What would Jim Rogers do?
ジム・ロジャーズだったらどのようにしますか？

I first met Jim Rogers during one of his trips to Tokyo where he shared his future economic forecast and gave me career advice as a young professional.

Curious about his outlook on the impact of the coronavirus and how to be a successful investor in such an unpredictable environment, I recently caught up with him over Skype!

私はジム・ロジャーズが東京に旅行中に、初めて会い、
その折に将来の経済予測を教えてくださり、
そしてまた私は彼にキャリアのアドバイスを伺いました。

コロナウイルスの影響についての彼の見通しと、
そのような予測不可能な環境で成功する投資家になる方法に興味があるので、
私は最近、Skypeで再びジムと話しました！

***

Read on to understand why he warns against investing in Japan for the long term, his outlook on the coronavirus, as well as advice to the next generation for success despite a grim future forecast for the world economy!

彼が日本への長期投資に警告する理由と、
コロナウイルスに関する彼の見解や世界経済の厳しい将来予測にもかかわらず、
成功のための次世代への彼のアドバイスを理解するために続けて読んでください！

Article Contents
記事の内容

1. Asia is the Future, but Do Not Invest in Japan
経済の未来はアジアにありますが、日本には投資しないでください

2. Invest in Korea: The Happiest Country in Asia
韓国への投資：アジアで最も幸せな国

3. Outlook on the Coronavirus: Be Worried!
コロナウイルスの展望：注意してください！

4. How to Be a Successful Investor
成功する投資家になる方法

5. Advice to the Next Generation: How to Achieve Success Amid Uncertainty
次世代へのアドバイス：不確実性の中で成功する方法

6. Final Thoughts: My Key Takeaways
最後に：私の主な学び

1.
Asia is the Future, but Do Not Invest in Japan
経済の未来はアジアにありますが、日本には投資しないでください

Last year, Jim Roger wrote 3 best-selling books all warning against problems in Japan, including The Future of Japan and The World That Will Be Read Through the Flow of Money (January 2019).

昨年、ジム・ロジャーズは、日本の問題に対して警告するベストセラーの本を3冊執筆しました。
これには、「日本への警告 米中朝鮮半島の激変から人とお金の動きを見抜く」（2019年1月）と「ジム・ロジャーズ 大予測: 激変する世界の見方」(2020年５月)が含まれます。

The international financial commentator has observed that “200 years ago, people moved to London; 100 years ago, they moved to New York; this century, the move is to Asia.” Although Jim has a strong positive outlook on the future of Asia as a region, he emphatically cautions that “Japan’s arithmetic does not work… [the country] is better now than it was before, but simple arithmetic does not add up… and someone needs to find a way to save Japan.”

国際的な金融コメンテーターのジム・ロジャーズは、「200年前、人々はロンドンに移住しました。 100年前、彼らはニューヨークにまた移住しました。
今世紀、動きはアジアに向けられています。」 ジムは地域としてのアジアの将来について強い肯定的な見通しを持っていますが、彼は「日本の算術はうまくいかない…[日本]は以前よりも優れていますが、単純な算術では成り立たない…日本を救う方法を見つけるために誰かが必要であることを強調します。」

According to Jim, with Japan’s population in decline, and debt levels continuing to increase, “unless somebody pays off the debt or has babies or has immigrants very quickly,” Japan will not be an attractive investment target. With high debt worldwide, Jim also warned that the next economic downturn and bear market will be “horrendous.”

ジムの「読み」は、日本の人口が減少し、債務水準が増加し続けているため、「誰かが借金を返済したり、出生率を増やしたり、移民をすぐに受け入れたりしない限り」、日本は魅力的な投資対象にならないでしょう。ジムは各国は世界的に高い負債を抱えており、次の景気後退とベア市場（相場が弱気な市場）は「恐ろしい」ものになると警告しました。

Although he is a self-proclaimed fan of Japan as a travel destination with some of the best restaurants, service, attention to detail, and cultural history, he is adamant that Korea is Japan’s main competitor, and that “Japan cannot compete with an open Korea.” He indicates that tourism, agriculture, and the education sector are the most promising industries to consider for investments, and proposed spending cuts, lower tariffs, more births, and greater acceptance of immigration to “save” Japan.

ジムは個人的には、最高のレストラン、サービス、細部へのこだわり、そして文化的歴史を誇る旅行先として自称日本のファンですが、韓国は日本の主な競争相手であり、「日本はオープンな韓国と競争することはできません。」と強く主張します。彼は、観光、農業、教育セクターが投資を検討するのに最も有望な産業であり、支出削減、関税引き下げ、より高い出生率、そして日本を「救う」ために移民の受け入れを提案しました。

As of April 1, 2019, the Japanese government introduced amendments to the Immigration Act allowing for more foreigners to work in Japan. (Click HERE to read my blog article on a seminar I gave on “Working with Foreigners in Japan” in response to this policy change). However, whether these amendments will be effective to support Japan’s dwindling workforce remains to be seen.

2019年4月1日の時点で、日本政府はより多くの外国人が日本で働くことを可能にする移民法の改正を導入しました。 （このポリシーの変更に対応して私が「日本で外国人と働くこと」について行ったセミナーに関しするブログ記事は、ここをクリックしてご覧ください）。 しかし、これらの改正が日本の減少する労働力をサポートするのに効果的であるかどうかはまだ不明です。

2.
Invest in Korea: The Most Exciting Area in Asia
韓国への投資：最もエキサイティングなエリア

Jim believes that in the near future, Korea will be the “most exciting area” among Asian countries, butthe main obstacle to this is that the US army does not want to leave. He nonetheless predicts that South and North Korea will open and emphasizes the Korean Peninsula as a “hot target for investment.” Unification would save money earmarked for defense (national defense budget) and save lives in both countries. While there might be resistance, he said combining natural resources and labor from North Korea with capital and ability from the South would improve upon the status quo. (Read about my experience visiting the DMZ border in Korea!)

ジムは近い将来、韓国がアジア諸国の中で「最もエキサイティングなエリア」になると信じていますが、これに対する主な障害は、米軍が韓国を離れたくないということです。 にもかかわらず、彼は南北朝鮮が統一されると予測し、朝鮮半島を「投資のホットターゲット」として強調しています。 統一は、両国の防衛のために割り当てられた予算を有効に費やし、人命さえも救うでしょう。 抵抗があるかもしれませんが、彼は北朝鮮からの天然資源と労働力を、韓国からの資本と能力を組み合わせると現状を改善できるでしょうと話しました。
（因みに、韓国のDMZ国境を訪問した私の経験について読んでください！）

When asked about the basis for his assumptions about Korea, Jim points out, “South Korea is one of the 10 largest economies in the world now. [It] is not a poor country. [People] should do their homework. This is not 1959. It is now [the 21^st century]. [Korea] is ready to be independent financially.” If it were up to him to spur the opening process, Jim also says he “would go to the 38th parallel and meet Mr. Moon and take down the border guards and have a K-pop concert. And I will open the border and let people come and go and open the economy.” The key to Korea’s success will be deregulation of the economy, as current regulations in Korea are so strict that it is hard to invest.

3.
Outlook on the Coronavirus: Be Worried!
コロナウイルスの展望：注意してください！

Speaking from his home in Singapore, Jim believes that the country is making a mistake by closing down. If it were up to him, he would not have closed down. He makes the point that “there have been many epidemics in history, but never before has the world closed down… the cure can be worse than the disease.” For COVID-19, the “current cure has been horrible, ruining many lives, but we will only know in a few years.”

Jim warns me that we should all be very worried about the future. He has commented on numerous occasions that world debt has skyrocketed since 2008, and the next global economic crisis would be the worse in his lifetime. The time has come. We now find ourselves in a situation where debt is becoming worse, exacerbating economic woes. However, he warns that it is “not over yet – at the moment, markets are rallying. Nearly every economy in the world has printed a huge amount of money, and are borrowing or spending it.” As money goes into markets, the markets will go up.

ジムはシンガポールの自宅で、次のように話してくれました。
国は閉鎖することによって間違いを犯していると考えています。
それがもし彼本人だったら、彼は閉鎖しなかっただろう。
「歴史の中で多くの伝染病がありましたが、これまでに国々が閉鎖されたことは一度もありません…　
治療は病気以上に困難な場合があります。」
COVID-19については、「現在の治療法はとても難しく、多くの命を損なうことになっていますが、
私たちは完全な治療法を数年後でしか知ることができません。」

ジムは私たち全員が将来について非常に心配するべきだと警告しています。
2008年以降、世界の債務が急増し、
次の世界経済危機は彼の生涯の中でより深刻になると何度も言いしました。
今、その時が来ました。負債が超過し、経済問題を悪化させている状況にいます。
しかし、彼は「それはまだ終わっていない」と警告しています。
「現在、市場は回復しています。 世界のほとんどの国が大量のお金を印刷し、
それを借り入れしたり、支出したりしています。」
お金が市場に入ると、相場は上がります。

Despite the fact that he has published several books (and has 2 more books upcoming) discussing problems in Japan, Jim himself has bought into Japanese shares (mostly ETFs at this stage). Jim observes that “the Bank of Japan has been going into work early, printing and spending money as fast as they can (on bonds, stocks, etc.).” Under these circumstances, he believes that “stocks can still go up for a while, with a lot of money flooding the world.” At this time, he is looking at companies operating in distressed industries such as tourism, transportation, and agriculture.

日本での問題を論じた本を何冊か出版している（そして、今後も2冊の本を出版する予定）にも係わらず、ジム自身は日本の株を買いました。 ジムはまた、「日本銀行は早期に業務を開始し、できるだけ早くお金を印刷し、（債券や株などに）費やすようになった」と述べています。 これらの状況下で、彼は「株式はまだしばらくの間上昇する可能性があり、大量のお金が世界にあふれている」と信じています。現在、彼は観光、交通、農業などの将来に問題を抱えた産業を運営している企業を観ています。

Yet, the US “only cares about the election in November” and is making the same mistake as the UK in the 1920s, where it was once the richest and most powerful county, but spent and borrowed too much. By scattering assets everywhere, the UK has since lost its position as the top world economy.
依然として、米国は「11月の選挙のみに関心がある」ため、1920年代の英国と同じ過ちを犯しています。英国はかつて最も裕福で強力な国でしたが、お金を使いすぎて負債を抱えてしまいました。資産をあちこちにまき散らすことにより、英国は経済のトップとしての地位を失ってしまいました。

For those who are unsure about investing in stocks, Jim advises that saving money in the bank is still a good strategy with one caveat – you need to know the right currency to put your money in! Personally, Jim holds on to USD, but mentions that the Japanese Yen “might be okay.”
ジムは、銀行へお金を預金することは、株式への投資について不安な人にとっては、依然として良い戦略であるとアドバイスしています。 でも、注意しなければいけないことが1つあります！あなたのお金を預けるのに適切な通貨を知ることは非常に重要です！ 個人的には、ジムは米ドルを保持していますが、日本円は「おそらく大丈夫です」と述べています。

4.
How to Be a Successful Investor

To be a successful investor, Jim instructs me not to listen to anyone but myself. Ultimately, people who are successful and happy in life must follow their passions and trust in themselves.

投資家として成功するために、他人の言うことを聞かないように言っています。結局のところ、人生で成功し、幸せである人々は、彼らの情熱と自分自身への信頼を守らなければなりません。

In his own words, “don’t listen to some guy on the TV or internet… everyone wants a hot tip! Everyone wants to get rich this month! Hot tip will ruin you… Invest only in what you and yourself know a lot about.”

彼自身の持論は、「テレビやインターネットで誰かの言うことを聞いてはいけません…誰もが飛び切りの情報を望んでいます！ 皆はすぐに金持ちになりたい！ ですが、飛び切りの情報はあなたを破滅させます…　あなたと自分自身がよく分かっていることのみに投資してください。」

Jim stresses that being a successful investor is, in fact, BORING. You are not going to get rich fast. The fundamental strategy is to follow your passion and dive deeply into the things that you like and get a good understanding of them. Then, when you see changes happening in your niche that you know will be good, simply do some research and invest. Jim’s advice: “If everyone treated it like they only had 20 investments to make in a lifetime, then everybody would be more careful and successful!”

ジムは、投資家として成功することは、実のところは詰まらないことであると強調しています。 あなたはすぐに金持ちになりたいわけではありません。 基本的な戦略は、あなたの情熱に従い、好きなものに熱中し、それらをよく理解することです。次に、自分の得意なことで起きている変化が良い物と分かったときに、調査を行って投資します。 ジムのアドバイス：「誰もが一生のうちに20件だけの投資をするならば、誰もが今以上に注意深くなり、そして成功するでしょう。」

Although Jim says that AI and Blockchain will be some of the most exciting things in the 21st century, if people are not interested in it then it will not do any good for them. If we look back in history, everything people thought at a certain time, was wrong 15 years later. Whatever we think now, is probably going to be wrong in 2035!

ジムは、AIとブロックチェーンは21世紀で最もエキサイティングなものになると言っていますが、人々がそれに興味を持っていなければ、彼らにとって何の役にも立ちません。歴史を振り返ると、ある時点で人々が考えたことはすべて、15年後に間違いとされました。私たちが今考えていることは何であれ、おそらく2035年には間違いと見なされるでしょう。

For those who feel that they do not know much about anything or have not found their passion, Jim advises to put money in a bank (being mindful of choosing the right currency!), then travel if you can or even “just look out the window until you see and find something, then do your research.”

何も分からない、またはまだパッションを見つけていないと感じている方は、銀行に預金して（ただし、正しい通貨を選択することに気を付けてください！）、できる限り世界を旅するか、「何かが見つかるまで今の状況では窓から外を眺めて、色々なことを調べてみましょう。」

Having driven around the world twice, Jim spent 5 years seeking adventure, different lives, and chasing a desire to see the world from the ground up. During his travels, every turn brought him something new – sometimes it was a great surprise, other times he found his own life in danger. Nonetheless, the exposure to many different people and backgrounds and seeing as much of the world as possible is the best way to inspire new ideas and discover interests, which will then lead to successful investments in life.

ジムは2度世界中をドライブした後、冒険や、様々な生活を求め、世界を一から見たいという夢を追いかけて5年間過ごしました。彼の旅行中、旅は世界の隅々で何か新しい発見をもたらしました。ある時には大きなサプライズでしたが、またある時は彼は危険にさらされてしまいました。それにもかかわらず、多くの人々や異なる文化に触れ、できるだけ多くの世界を見ることは、新しいアイデアを引き出し、新たな興味を発見する最良の方法であり、それが人生への投資の成功につながるでしょう。

5.
Advice to the Next Generation: How to Achieve Success Amid Uncertainty

Famous as an “Investment Biker” for his twenty-two-month, fifty-two-country motorcycle odyssey, Jim does not hesitate to stress the importance of everyone, especially youth, to stay curious and see the world. Jim shared a story where even when he was riding through poor villages in rural areas, whenever he asked a mother if he could take a photo of her child, the mother would always want to have her child look the best possible. Such behaviors highlight how people are not that different from one another despite widely different socioeconomic circumstances, and that there needs to be more interconnection and mutual understanding globally.   

ジムは、22か月間、52か国をオートバイで旅をして書いた「Investment Biker (冒険投資家ジム・ロジャーズ 世界バイク紀行)」が有名で、特に若い内は好奇心を持ち、世界を見聞することが、すべての人に重要だと強く説いています。

ジムは、田舎の貧しい村をバイクで通過する時、母親に子供の写真を撮らせてもらえないかと尋ねた時、母親は常にできるだけ最高の子供の姿を写真で見せたいと思っていたという話をしてくれました。このような母の思いは、社会的経済状況が国によって大きく異なるにもかかわらず、人々は皆お互いにそれほど違っていないこと、及びグローバルに「互いに繋がり、より理解し合うこと」が必要であると力説しています。

When I asked him on what young professionals and students can do in these uncertain times to develop their careers. His advice: “Don’t do what people say you should do, and don’t listen if they say you are crazy. Do what you believe in… Once you are successful, everybody will come back claiming credit after even if they didn’t believe you back when you started.”

若い専門家や学生がこの不確実な時代に彼らのキャリアを発展させるために何ができるかを彼に尋ねた時、彼のアドバイスは：「あなたがやるべきだと言われていることをしないでください。そして、あなたがクレイジーだと言われたら、それを真に受けてはいけません。 あなたが信じていることを行ってください…　あなたが成功すると、彼らは最初にあなたを信じていなかったとしても、後であなたのところに戻ってきますよ。」

For example, imagine this: If you really enjoyed gardening as a kid, and everyone told you not to pursue gardening because it would not bring you great success, but you did it anyway. Later on, if you started a company providing gardening services, and this company grows and maybe even IPOs on the stock market, you would find that many people suddenly start appearing. Parents will come back saying that they gave you the seeds to start gardening, teachers will say that they always knew you were different and would be successful (even if they didn’t), and old friends will suddenly approach you saying they need jobs. As Jim says, the morale of the story is that “if anyone laughs at your idea, view it as a sign of potential success!” After all, he credits his own success to the idea that he has always made money by straying away from the herd. Only by wandering away from the action can you find the way to the new action.

例を上げてみましょう。次のように想像してみてください。あなたは子供の頃からガーデニングが好きで、楽しんでいても、将来大きな成功に繋がらないので、皆からガーデニングの仕事をしないように言われました。でも、好きなことですので、とにかくそのようにしました。後で、ガーデニングサービスを提供する会社を立ち上げ、この会社が成長し、株式市場でIPO（上場）が行われるようになると、突然多くの人々があなたの前に現れ始めるはずです。両親は、園芸を始めるためのきっかけの種を与えたと言って戻ってきます。教師や先生は、あなたがいつも他の人と違っていて成功するだろうと常に思っていたと言うでしょう（たとえそうでなかったとしても）。古い友達は突然あなたに近づいてきて、「私は仕事が必要だ」とあなたに言います。ジムが言うように、この話の要点は「誰かがあなたのアイデアを笑ったら、それは潜在的な成功のしるしと見なすことです！」最終的には、彼は自分が一般の群れから離れて常に自分自身でお金を稼いでいるという考えに自分の成功を信じています。 いつもの行動から離れて、一歩踏み出すだけで新しい未来への道を見つけることができます。

As a proud father of two daughters aged 16 and 12, Jim tells me that his daughters have been the best learning experience for him. He stresses that the ability for youth to think independently and stay curious is imperative, and tries in every way to encourage their interests and ideas. Additionally, Jim strongly believes that for his daughters’ generation, Asia and mandarin will be extremely important.

16歳と12歳の娘たちの誇り高い父親として、彼にとって娘たちが彼の最高の学びの経験であったと私に話します。彼は、若者が独立して考え、好奇心を持ち続ける能力が不可欠であることを強調し、あらゆる方法で娘たちの興味やアイデアを試すことを奨励します。さらに、ジムは娘の世代にとって、アジアと中国語（マンダリン）が非常に重要になると強く信じています。

Ultimately, financial education is very important – it can make and destroys lives. Jim gave piggy banks to his daughters at a very young age to not only teach them the importance of saving, but also the fact that there are many different currencies in the world! I believe this approach is a great way for parents to help their children grow up globally minded.  

結局のところ、金融教育は非常に重要です。それは生活を良くしますが、破滅する可能性もあります。ジムはお金を貯めることの重要性を教えるだけでなく、世界中に様々な通貨があるという事実を教えるために、幼い頃に貯金箱を娘に与えました。このアプローチは、親が子供たちに世界的な視野を持って、成長していくのを助ける素晴らしい方法だと思います。

Final Thoughts

In these times of coronavirus, perhaps the most important lesson to keep in mind is that there is a crucial need to recognize change and react accordingly. Those who are still thinking that the world will “return to normal” and the way it was before are the ones who will be swept aside by inevitable change.

コロナウイルスの時代において、おそらく心に留めておくべき最も重要な教訓は、変化を認識し、それ相応に応じることがとても重要であるということです。 世界が「今まで通りの日常に戻る」とまだ考えている人々には、避けられない変化に追いやられるでしょう。

My Key Takeaways from Jim Rogers’ Advice

ジム・ロジャーズのアドバイスからの私の主に学んだこと

• Learn to listen to your intuition and trust your own judgment about your own true potential, even when other people are highly skeptical.
• Focus on your passions, but also work on broadening your passions by constantly experiencing and learning new things outside of your comfort zone.
• Hard work and persistence DOES payoff: Jim never stopped studying and wound up in Yale and then a scholarship to Oxford from rural Alabama! More important than this, however, is the willingness and ability to thrive amid change.
• You are never too young to start seeing as much of the world as possible, as this will contribute richly to your ability to approach opportunities with a global perspective.

• 他の人が非常に懐疑的であっても、自分の直感に耳を傾け、自分の真の可能性について自分の判断を信頼することを学びましょう。
• 自分の情熱に焦点を当てるだけでなく、常に安全地帯の外で新しいものを体験して学習することにより、情熱を広げることにも取り組みます。
• 懸命な努力と粘り強さが成果を生む：ジムは勉強を続けて、アラバマ州の田舎からエール大学を卒業し、そして、オックスフォード大学で奨学金をもらいました！しかし、これよりも重要なのは、変化の中で成長するための能力と意欲です。

 “Never act upon wishful thinking. Act without checking the facts, and chances are that you will be swept away along with the mob.”

“Not one country in existence today has had the same borders and government for as long as two hundred years. The world will continue changing.”

 “Beware of all politicians everywhere. They excelled at recess when they were in school but have excelled at little since.”

 “The Roman censor Appius Claudius the Blind said, “Every man is the architect of his own fortune.”

The post Jim Rogers’ Investment Advice <br> ジム・ロジャーズの投資アドバイス appeared first on Rachel Leng.

先週の土曜日は品川宿場祭りの花魁道中でした！皆様がお越しいただきありがとうございました！そして、応援してくださって本当に感謝します。

Thank you for all of your support at the Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri last Saturday! The Oiran Dochu parade was a great success! 

It was a hectic day, but I am grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience to transform into the Oiran named Esaki Taiyu 恵穎太夫 (characters taken from my Chinese name but read in the Japanese pronunciation) to lead the procession as the first-ever foreign Oiran. 

朝から夜まで忙しい日でしたが、とても楽しかったですよ！一生に一度の新しい経験ができて、本当に幸せな１日でした！褒め言葉とカメラのシャッターがたくさん押されましたので、とっても素晴らしい雰囲気で楽しかったです♡　恵穎（えさき）太夫の花魁姿に変身した後はこんな感じでした！史上初の外国人花魁として、最高の一日となりました。

The whole outfit weighed close to 16 kgs! The Kimono and Wig, in particular, were very heavy, and my head and shoulders were very sore after the day’s activities. However, with the festive atmosphere, it was easy to forget about the costume and keep on with the show! 

着物やかつらの重さで途中肩凝りと頭痛がキツイ時も多々ありましたが、沿道の声援が力となり、乗り切ることができたと思っています。でも、翌日は全身が筋肉痛でした。特に足が痛くなって、普段使わない筋肉を使ったからだと思います。そして、疲れすぎのせいで、風邪を引いて、熱も出て、大変体調が悪くなって、お休みさせていただきました。T.T

☆皆さんが来てくださって本当に嬉しかったです！☆

Leading the Oiran Dochu parade as Esaki Taiyu.

カメラの写真や動画はまだ修整中ですから、またお知らせします。今日は携帯からの写真と花魁道中についてのメディアを先にシャアしたいと思います。

Some Media Coverage:

Made the front page of The Japan News (English version of Yomiuri Shimbun, one of the most widely read national newspapers in Japan) the next day! 

読売新聞が発行する日刊英字新聞ジャパン・ニュース（The Japan News）のニュースになりました！フロントページのニュースになって本当にびっくりしましたが、光栄に思っています。記事はこのリンクをクリックしてご覧ください～

Also appeared on Sankei Shimbun!

☆産経新聞の記事も見つかりました！☆

http://www.sankei.com/smp/life/news/170924/lif1709240031-s1.html

Related Articles:

The post Oiran Dochu News <br> 花魁道中のニュース appeared first on Rachel Leng.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA on my Oiran Dochu festival experience

1. Mothership (Oct 17, 2017) “S’porean Harvard scholar & equity fund associate takes to Tokyo streets as Japan’s 1st foreign oiran”

2. Maction Planet. (Oct 12, 2017). “Mac on Tokyo: Rachel Leng on her Oiran Transformation.”

3. Maction Planet. (Sept 12, 2017). “Mac on Tokyo:Rachel Leng.”

4. Channel 8 News 8频道新闻及事情节目 (Oct 16, 2017) “前新加坡世界小姐成日本传统庆典内首名外籍花魁表演者”

5. The Japan News ジャパン・ニュース【by Yomiuri Shimbun 読売新聞】(Sept 24, 2017). “Singaporean becomes 1st foreign oiran festival star.” 

• Click HERE for all media and interviews.

———-

先週末、品川宿場祭りの花魁道中について、ケーブルTVの取材を受けました。初めて日本語でのインタビューでしたので、超緊張しました！

TVの人にたくさんの質問をされました。例えば、「太夫の名前」「かつら合わせの経験」「外八文字練習会の感想」など、様々なトピックについて話をしました。しかし、私は日本語をうまく話せないほど緊張しました…！ >.<;　何か変な日本語を言ったかもしれないので、とても恥ずかしかったです…　T.T　でも、もう仕方がないですね。残念ですが、また今度頑張ります…！収材はお祭りの後で品川広報ビデオ「しながわのチ・カ・ラ」という番組で放送されるそうです。Youtubeでもアップロードする予定があるらしいです。この番組について、お祭りの当日、ディレクターさんにもっと詳しく聞いたら、またお知らせします。^^

実は、「太夫の名前」については、どういう名前をつけようかとても悩んでいて、色々考えましたが、自分の中国名の漢字を入れようと思っていました。私の中国語の名前は恵穎（Hui Ying）と言います。穎という漢字は日本の訓読みで、『さき』とも読めます。恵穎と書いて『えさき』という読み方でも良いかなと思っているので、そのまま原名は「恵穎太夫」と決めました。

他に、Maction Planetという東京トラベル旅行会社からのインタビューも受けました。英語版しかないですが、興味があれば、このリンクをクリックしてご覧ください。

品川ケーブルTVのインタビューの後で、５０年前に作ったビンテージ着物の打掛を着てみました！皆様はどう思いますか？着物の後ろに贅沢な鳳凰の刺繡があります。とても立派な着物だと思います！

ちなみに、２３日のスケジュールと順番についてはもう少し詳しく決まりました。太夫たちの人力車ルートは１時から３０分ごとに1台ずつ出発します。下のイメージに載ったように、私の出発時間は２時半で、旧街道を回ります。そして、４時からパレートがスタートして、順番は太夫たちの１番最初になります。

来週末の土曜日を楽しみにしています！品川宿場祭りの花魁道中で待っていますよ！ぜひお越しください～　

Related Article:

The post Shinagawa Cable TV Interview <br> 品川ケーブルTVの取材 appeared first on Rachel Leng.