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.

A shower of spray and we’re away!

– Fred Ladd

「空の冒険で出会う、本当の“せとうち”。」

If like me, you miss being up in the air and flying due to the pandemic and are in Japan, you will want to check out a chartered flight with the Setouchi Seaplanes! No need to worry about social distancing or a 14-day quarantine! 😉 

新型コロナウィルスの影響で、「飛行機はちょっと・・、」と感じている皆さま！
水上飛行機に乗ってみてはいかがでしょうか？日本でもチャーターできるのです。
チャーター便ですので、３密を気にしなくても大丈夫ですよ! ^_^/「レイチェルの日本探訪」最新号は「瀬戸内 シー プレーン搭乗記」です～。
是非更新したブログ記事をご覧くださいネ！  

Did you know that cargo and passenger seaplane flights were regularly operated in Japan until the mid-1960s? Even though their commercial use has decreased in recent decades, taking off and landing on the water still holds a romantic fascination. Based in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Setouchi Seaplanes is preserving and celebrating this unique way of flying by running sightseeing and chartered flights using modern amphibious aircraft. Enjoy the timeless charm of the Seto Inland Sea and its many islands from a bird’s eye view over the ocean! Whereas Seattle and Maldives are well known for chartered seaplane flights, Setouchi Seaplanes is the only seaplane operator in Japan.

貨物および旅客水上飛行機のフライトが1960年代半ばまで日本で
定期的に運航されていたことをご存知ですか？
ここ数十年で商業利用が減少したにもかかわらず、
水上での離着陸は依然としてロマンチックな魅力を保持していますね。
広島県尾道市に拠点を置くSetouchi Seaplanes は、
現代の水陸両用航空機を使用して観光やチャーター便を運航することで、
この特別な運航方法を維持していることを、尊敬しています。
瀬戸内海とその多くの島々の時を超えた魅力を、
海の鳥瞰図からお楽しみください！
シアトルとモルディブは水上飛行機のチャーター便で有名ですが、
Setouchi Seaplanes は日本で唯一の水上飛行機オペレーターです。

*~*~*~*

Be sure to also check out my posts on exploring Onomichi’s Downtown City, Island Hopping, and the Local Cuisine!

尾道を訪れたなら、市街散策、島巡り、地元料理のテーマで楽しむことをお勧めしますので、ぜひご覧くださいね~!

*~*~*~*

From the picturesque beauty created by its many islands to the relics and historical buildings that are age-old, enjoy the charms of the Seto Inland Sea in its most breathtaking form along with the new experience of flying from the sea up to the sky.

多くの島々が作り出す美しさから、
古くからの遺物や歴史的建造物まで、
瀬戸内海の魅力を最も息をのむ形で楽しみ、
海から空まで飛ぶという新しい体験をお楽しみください。

For the love of the Sea and Aviation

海と飛行機への愛のために

The moment you step onto the premises of Setouchi Seaplanes, a grand entrance hallway greets you. This place was clearly designed and built by someone with an eye for the exquisite beauty of aviation, as the entrance hall reminds one of the sleek hulls of an airplane.

Setouchi Seaplanesの施設内に足を踏み入れてからチェックインして搭乗するまで、
瀬戸内水上飛行機は航空機の絶妙な美しさに魅了された人によって設計されていると感じました。

Checking in at the front desk, you will be asked to weigh yourself along with any luggage. It was my first time experiencing having to record my weight before boarding a plane! (Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much for lunch…) As the seaplanes are small aircraft, every kg is taken into consideration to ensure that the plane is balanced.

フロントデスクでチェックインすると、
荷物だけではなく、本人の体重を測定するよう求められます。
飛行機に乗る前に体重を記録しなければならないのは初めての経験でした！
（ヤバイなー！昼ご飯をたくさん食べなければ良かった…）
水上飛行機は小型の飛行機なので、
飛行機のバランスを保つために、重量が考慮されます。

Bella Vista Marina: Getting ready for your flight

ベラビスタマリーナ：フライトの準備

Setouchi Seaplanes operates from a floating port in Onomichi city. Before your flight, make yourself comfortable in the luxurious lounge with panoramic views of the sea and marina facilities.

Setouchi Seaplanesは尾道市の水上港から運航しています。
フライトの前に、海とマリーナ施設のパノラマの景色を望む豪華なラウンジでリラックスできますよ～。

Drinks and light refreshments are available for you to enjoy with the view.

美しい景色を見ながらドリンクや軽食をお楽しみいただけます。

Boarding the Seaplane

水上飛行機に乗りましょう

When it is time to board the seaplane, guests are led to the marina.
The dock feels a lot larger when you are standing on it in person!

水上飛行機に乗る時間になると、
ゲストはマリーナに案内されます。
マリーナは、見た目より自分で直接立っているときの方が、
はるかに大きく感じます！

Watching the seaplane gently bobbing on the waves as the staff prepare for boarding.

スタッフが搭乗の準備をしているときに、
水上飛行機が波を優しく揺すっているのが見えます。

I meet with the pilots who tell me more about the seaplanes that they fly.

水上飛行機のパイロットに会いました。

At Setouchi Seaplanes, three US-made Kodiak 100 from Idaho are used for flights. Each plane can seat up to 10 persons including the pilot, carrying up to 3.3 tons. With a flight range from 500~1000km, it is an ideal way to explore the Shimanani Kaido area.

Setouchi Seaplanesでは、米国のアイダホ製コディアック100が3機使用されています。
各飛行機は、パイロットを含む最大10人を収容でき、
そして、最大3.3トンを運ぶことができます。
飛行距離は500〜1000kmで、
島内海道エリアを探索するのには理想的な方法ですよ！

The spacious aircraft offers deluxe leather seats and large windows to enjoy magnificent views.

広々とした飛行機の内部には、
豪華な革張りの座席と大きな窓があり、
素晴らしい景色を楽しめます。

Climbing aboard definitely feels more like boarding a boat than an aircraft. The comfortable leather seats, carpeted floors and four-point harness seatbelts excite you for the journey to come. The seaplanes have a maximum cruising speed of 300km/hour and are able to cruise with stable flight even at low speeds.

乗る時は、飛行機というよりボートに乗るような感じです。
快適な革張りのシート、カーペット敷きの床、
4点式のハーネスシートベルトが、
あなたを旅へといざないます。
水上飛行機の最大巡航速度は時速300kmで、
低速でも安定した飛行で巡航することができます。

Do you know where seaplanes store the fuel for their flight? I was surprised to learn that these aircraft store up to 1200 Kiloliters of fuel in their wings! Depending on the weight carried, this fuel amount typically allows the seaplane to fly for about 1 hour comfortably.

水上飛行機がフライト燃料をどこに保管しているか知っていますか？
私にとって、驚いたのは、これらの水上飛行機が翼に最大1200キロリットルの燃料を貯蔵していることです！
この燃料は、飛行する重量に応じて、通常、
水上飛行機が約1時間快適に飛行できる量です。

The “Setouchi Discovery flight” takes passengers on an enjoyable aerial loop over the stunning islands of the Shimanami Kaido. The vantage point from the seaplanes will provide you enthralling scenic views. Visitors may also charter private flights.

「瀬戸内ディスカバリーフライト」は、
乗客をしまなみ海道の見事な島々の美しい空中ルートにいざないます。
水上飛行機から見える景色は、とても素晴らしく魅惑的です。
訪問者は、プライベートフライトをチャーターすることもできます。

If you are in the Shimanani Kaido area, why not book a seaplane flight and enjoy the beautiful Setouchi Inland Sea from both the water and the sky?

しまなみ海道に行くなら、水上飛行機のフライトを予約して、
海と空の両方から美しい瀬戸内内海を楽しんでみませんか？

*~*~*~*

Onomichi City Website https://www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp/ 〒722-8501 広島県尾道市久保一丁目15-1 Tel：0848-38-9111 Fax：0848-37-2740   Onomichi Tourism Association 一般社団法人尾道観光協会 https://www.ononavi.jp/index.html 事務局：〒722-0036 広島県尾道市東御所町1-20 JB本四高速尾道ビル1F　 Tel: 0848-36-5495 Fax: 0848-22-2201   SHIMANAMI JAPAN 一般社団法人 しまなみジャパン https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/ 住所：広島県尾道市東御所町11-9　ＪＡ尾道市駅前ビル１階 Tel: 0848-22-4073

Related Article:

The post Setouchi Seaplanes: Luxury Aerial Adventures over the Seto Inland Sea <br>瀬戸内海を巡る贅沢な空中冒険 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

Zia Mody has been ranked the #1 most powerful woman in India by Fortune magazine.

I had the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Zia Mody when she previously delivered a lecture at the International House of Japan for the “Japan-India Distinguished Visitors Program”. 

As the indisputable leader in Indian corporate law and ranked the #1 most powerful woman in India by Fortune magazine, it was very stimulating to hear her analysis of India’s future potential. Her firm, AZB & Partners, is rated first among the top law firms for mergers and acquisitions. After better understanding Zia Mody’s background and career path (full of a whole lot of pure determination and hard work!), I was even more inspired by how she has managed to achieve so much (well-deserved) success. She is a true role model not only for women in India, but for anyone who aims to achieve the best in their field internationally.

ジア・モディ氏が【日印対話プログラム】のために国際文化会館で講演を行った際に、私は会う機会をいただきました。

インドの会社法のゆるぎのないリーダーであり、フォーチュン誌によってインドで最も強力な女性の第1位に選出されましたインドの将来の可能性に関する彼女の講演を聞くことは非常に刺激的でした。 ジア・モディ氏の会社であるAZB＆Partnersは、合併と買収で大手の法律事務所の中で最初に評価されています。　モディ氏のバックグラウンドとキャリアパス（純粋な決意とハードワークがいっぱい詰まっている！）はインドの女性だけでなく、自分の分野で国際的に成功することを目指している人にとってのロールモデルです。

In this post, I will share some key takeaways from her talk on “Further Changing India: Business, Women” and career advice from my meeting with her.

I hope that you may also learn something new and find inspiration together with me.

今回のブログでは、「インドのさらなる可能性―ビジネス、法律、女性の視点から」に関するジア・モディ氏の講演から重要なポイントと、彼女との出会いとキャリアアドバイスを皆様にシェアしたいと思います。

また、私と一緒に新しいことを学び、インスピレーションを得られることを願っています。

Meeting Zia Mody
ジア・モディとの出会い

My Key Takeaways
私が聞いた重要なポイント

Ms. Mody spoke on the intriguing possibilities of and in India, as well as how she has been working to bring change to Indian society from the perspective of business, law and women. It was stimulating to hear first-hand about the fast pace of change in present-day India, making it an especially exciting and fruitful place for business.

モディ氏は、インドの未来の可能性の魅力について語り、ビジネス、法律、女性の観点からインド社会に変化をもたらすためにどのように取り組んでいるかについて話しました。 変化の激しいインドがどのように進んでいるのかを直接知ることができたので、インドのビジネスにおいて特にエキサイティングで実り多い国だと知りました。

On Rural India:

• Almost 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas (according to recent data, the rural–urban distribution is 68.84% and 31.16%).
• Greatest growth potential for India in the near future can be unlocked if rural India were provided better infrastructure, bridging the rural-urban divide.
   

インドの農村地域について：

• インドの人口のほぼ70％が農村地域に住んでいます（最近のデータによると、農村部と都市部の分布は68.84％と31.16％です）。
• インドの農村地域がより良いインフラストラクチャを提供して、農村部と都市部の格差を埋めるならば、近い将来のインドはとても成長する可能性があります。

On Indian Youth:

• Latest Census data shows nearly 41% of India’s population is below the age of 20!
• India’s population demographics with surging numbers of youth is the OPPOSITE to Japan’s aging society
• Youth society implies huge potential for development especially with the fast adoption of technology
• However, problems could arise with unemployment (leading to societal restlessness and instability) – India’s youth unemployment is relatively high, hovering around 20%

インドの若者について：

• 最新の国勢調査のデータは若者の急増を示しています。インドの人口のほぼ41％が20歳未満です！
• 急増する若者を抱えるインドの人口統計は、日本の高齢化社会の反対です
• 若者社会は、特にテクノロジーの急速な発展により、開発の大きな可能性を示しています
• ただし、若者の失業においては問題が発生する可能性があります（社会の安定と不安定）–インドの若者の失業率も比較的高く、約20％になります。

On Women in India:

• Mody is a strong advocate in bringing about changes in legislation supporting women, especially their financial independence
  • Mody has pushed for legislation that would empower more women through microfinancing and enabling women to open bank accounts in their name
• India was 14^th in 14 major Asian markets in MasterCard’s “Worldwide Index of Women’s Advancement”
  • 99% of women are in informal sector; 1/3 of agricultural workers are female
• If participation of women in the economy were at par with men, India could increase GDP up to 60% by 2025!
• Advice to businesses: “Hire us because you want to, because we are good and because you are willing to train us; not because you have to.” – Zia Mody
   

インドの女性について:

• モディ氏は、女性、特に経済的自立を支援する法律の改正をもたらす強力な支持者です。
• マイクロファイナンスを通じてより多くの女性に力を与える、または女性が自分の名前で銀行口座を開設できるようにする法律を推進しました
• インドは、MasterCardの「Worldwide Index of Women’s Advancement」のアジアの主要14市場で14位最下位です。
• 女性の99％はインフォーマルセクターです。農業労働者の1/3は女性です。
• 女性の経済参加が男性と同等であれば、インドは2025年までにGDPを最大60％増加させる可能性があります！
• 企業へのアドバイス：「あなたが望んでいるから、女性たちが良いから、そして女性たちを訓練する意思があるから、女性たちを雇ってください。しなければならないからではありません。」

Career Advice:

Mody’s advice to young women striving for a successful career was particularly inspirational for me. Based on her own career experiences, she understands fully that there is nothing that can replace the results of hard work and steadfast determination.

Mody shared her story of how when she first started working, she was paid half the salary of her male colleagues. Rather than being discouraged, she made the commitment to work more than twice as hard than others in order to be better than everyone else. And so she did.

According to Mody, “hard work, a sense of self-worth, and passion for what you do are the cornerstones to success.”

Standing tall on the stage, it is hard to believe that Ms. Zia Mody is over 60 years old from the strength in her poise and steady resilience of her speech.
 

キャリアアドバイス：

キャリアを成功させるために努力している若い女性へのモディ氏のアドバイスは、私にとって特にインスパイアされました。 彼女自身のキャリア経験に基づいて、彼女のハードワークと揺るぎない決意の結果を深く理解することができました。

モディ氏自身の経験では、最初に働き始めたとき、女性として、男性の同僚の給与の半分しか受け取っていなかったのです。あの時、モディ氏は落胆するのではなく、他の誰よりも優れているために、他の人よりも2倍以上努力することを決めました。 そして、彼女はそのように行動しました。

モディ氏によれば、「勤勉、自尊心、そしてあなたがすることへの情熱こそが成功の礎です。」と話してくれました。

ステージに立つと、彼女の冷静さと力強さをとても感じました。モディ氏が60才以上であるとはとても信じられませんでした。これからも色々活躍されると思います。そして、とても尊敬できる女性です。

After meeting with Ms. Zia Mody, I feel renewed with energy and motivation to tackle my own career challenges. I look forward to creating my own (business, career, and life) opportunities with India in the near future.

モディ氏に会った後、私は自分のキャリアの課題に取り組むためのエネルギーやモチベーションを新たに感じました。 近い将来に、インドと自分の機会（ビジネス、キャリア、人生など）縁を作ることを楽しみにしています。

More on Zia Mody, a true powerhouse!

The post Zia Mody <br> ジア・モディ appeared first on Rachel Leng.

ナパバレーはサンフランシスコの北にあり、何百もの山腹はブドウ園で知られています。 ワイン愛好家として、秋にナパを訪れるのがずっと夢でした。 ナパの一番ピークな時は、8月から10月（収穫期）または3月から5月（春期）らしいです。 いくつかの収穫後の夕食、グレープ・ストンプ（ブドウ踏み）、そして数え切れないほどの試飲会に出席した後、下記の事は私の一番のおすすめです！

*****

#1

Visit a famous winery!

有名なワイナリーを一つぐらい必ず訪れましょう！

There are quite a number of world-famous wineries in Napa, including Stag’s Leap, Duckhorn, Screaming Eagle… Many of the expensive wineries require advance reservations and tastings can be quite expensive (often around or more than $100 per person). I think it is worthwhile to pick one to visit, even if only just for the experience. Personally, I really enjoyed visiting Opus One! It was a fantastic experience learning about the vineyard’s history, and the architecture was very beautiful.

Stag’s Leap、Duckhorn、Screaming Eagleなど、世界的に有名なワイナリーが数多くありますね。高価なワイナリーの多くは事前予約が必要です。また、テイスティングは非常に高価なこともありますよ。（参加費一人USD１００以上は普通のことです！高～い！）>.<;

それにもかかわらず、単に経験のためだけであっても、一回ぐらい訪問する価値はあります。

私は、Opus Oneを訪れて本当に楽しかったです！ ぶどう畑の歴史を知るのは素晴らしい経験でした。その上に、ワイナリーの景色は驚くほど美しかったです。

On the way to the winery’s tasting room. The estate’s architecture is so beautiful!

ワイナリーの試飲室へ行く途中。 建築物はとても美しいですね！

Tasting the 2013 and 2015 vintages of Opus One in the Partners’ Room.

Opus Oneのパートナールームで、2013年および2015年のヴィンテージを試飲しました。

Ponder the refined taste of Opus One wine while enjoying a beautiful view of the winery’s grounds.

ワイナリーの敷地の美しい景色を眺めながら、ワインの味を吟味してみましょう。

Robert Mondavi Winery is just across the street from Opus One, making it easy to visit both vineyards together!

ロバート・モンダヴィ・ワイナリーは、オパス・ワンのすぐ向かいにあり、両方のブドウ畑を一緒に訪問するのが簡単です！

*****

#2

Tour a winery and learn about the winemaking process!

ワイナリーを巡って、ワイン造りのプロセスについて学びましょう!

With hundreds of wineries to choose from, you are spoilt for choice picking a few to tour. Definitely take the time to go on a few tours to learn about the winemaking process and explore the vineyards!

何百ものワイナリーからツアーを選ぶことができます。 ワイナリーツアーに行き、ワイン造りのプロセスについて学ぶことを強くお勧めします！

You get to walk through the vineyards and try many different types of grapes!

ブドウ畑の中を歩き、さまざまな種類のブドウを試してみましょう！

Napa is one of the most diverse wine-growing regions in the world because half of the world’s 12 recognized soil orders and 33 different soil series (even volcanic types!) can be found in the region. This is due to the varied topography – vineyards range in elevation from sea level to 2,600 feet (800 meters)!

ナパは世界で最も多様なワイン栽培地域の1つです。その理由は、世界で認められた12の土壌順序と33

種類の土壌系列（火山の種類さえも）の半分がこの地域で見つけるからですよ。これは、様々な地形にあるブドウ園は標高が海抜2,600フィート（800メートル）に及ぶ範囲にあります！

Vats filled with wine after the harvest.

収穫後のワットはワインで満たされています。

I learned that each wine barrel is equivalent to about 300 bottles of wine! Wow.

１つのワインの樽が約300本のワインになります！すごいですね！

There are over 600 vineyards in Napa Valley. Did you know that nearly 89% of all United States wine is produced in California, and roughly a third of California wineries are based in Napa County, but only about 4% of California wine is produced in Napa? Crazy to think that one of the most renowned winegrowing regions in the U.S. is also one of the smallest for actual wine production!

ナパバレーには600以上のブドウ園があります。 アメリカのワイナリーの約89％がカリフォルニアで生産されており、そしてカリフォルニアワイナリーの約3分の1がナパ郡に拠点を置いていますが、ナパではカリフォルニアワインの約4％しか生産されていません。 米国で最も有名なワイン栽培地域の1つが、実際のワイン生産のための最小のものの1つであることを知ったのはとても驚きでした！

*****

#3

Have fun grape stomping!

グレープ・ストンプ（ブドウ踏み）をしましょう！

Visiting Napa during Harvest Season wouldn’t be complete without trying out some grape stomping for yourself! Grgich Hills Estate is one of the wineries to offer this special activity to visitors.

ハーヴェストシーズン中にナパを訪問すると、自分自身で「グレープ・ストンプ」を体験できますよ！これを絶対おすすめします！Grgich Hills Estateは、この特別なアクティビティを訪問者に提供しています。

It was fun to stomp on grapes with your feet in a barrel! The grapes get in between your toes and your feet are stained with grape juice – but that just adds to the fun!

足で樽のぶどうを踏みつけるのはめちゃくちゃ楽しかったです！！ ブドウはつま先の間に入り、足はグレープジュースで染められていますが、それだけで楽しい経験になりますよ！

(Don’t worry, the grapes people stomp on are not used for any wines. The winemaking process is very high-tech these days and people no longer need to manually stomp on grapes, hehe.)

（心配しないで、ブドウストンプのぶどうは、ワインに使用されません。最近、ワイン造りのプロセスはハイテクになりましたので、人々はもはや足でブドウを踏む必要はありません。笑）

How about some champagne at sunset?

夕方のシャンパンはどうでしょうか？

Related Articles:

The post Napa Valley Harvest Season <br> ナパバレーの収穫期 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

☆劇場の壮大な入り口で写真を撮られました☆

素晴らしい俳優さんと女優さんがゴールド・クレイン賞をもらいました！

最近、中国と日本で人気のある映画監督たちもイベントにいらっしゃいました！

授賞式の後、ディナーレセプションにも誘っていただきました。オシャレなテーブルセッティングと素晴らしい雰囲気の会場でした！ライブ音楽を聞きながら、友達と他のお客様と一緒に美味しい食事をいただいたのは幸せな時間でした。色々な才能あるアーティストさん達にお会いすることができて、本当に光栄でした。

素敵な一日でした！　今度も機会があれば、映画祭りのイベントにまた行きたいと思います～

Related Articles:

The post China-Japan Film Festival <br> 東京・日本映画週間の授賞式 appeared first on Rachel Leng.

最近、築地市場は海外でも有名です。でも、面白いことに、東京に住んでいる日本人はまだ行ったことがない人もいるんです。皆様は行ったことがありますか？今日は築地市場についてお話したいと思います。

Tsukiji market has an ‘inner market’ and an ‘outer market.’ First time visitors may be rather confused by that the difference is between the inner/outer markets.

築地市場についてよく耳にする「場内」と「場外」ですね。初めて築地市場を訪れる人にとってはこの場内/場外の違いが分かりにくいのではないのはないでしょうか。

Simply put, Tsukiji’s inner market is the wholesale market for professional buyers such as chefs and restaurant owners buying seafood for their stores.

築地市場の場内は、簡単に言うとプロの買い付け人々が自分たちの店のために買いに来る場所です。

The public is only allowed to enter after 10AM (used to be 9am, but as far as I know, they changed to 10am recently). However, the inner market gets rather crazy with many people rushing about and driving around in big trolley carts, and so can be rather scary for first-time visitors. The picture above is taken in Tsukiji’s inner market after most of the seafood rush has subsided and sellers have begun to pack up. 

一般の人は、朝１０時から入られます。しかし、迷路のような市場内は、混乱しやすくて、ちょっと怖いです。上記の写真は築地場内市場で撮りました。

The public can enter and shop freely in Tsukiji’s outer market from 7AM until about 3PM. There are abou 410 stores in the outer market selling everything from every kind of seafood (of course) to drinks and fruits/vegetables. There is also an open space area and food court where you can sit and eat your fresh purchases! 

朝７時を過ぎると午後３時ごろまで、一般の人たちが買い物を自由にできる『築地場外市場』が活況を呈します。ここは、約410店の物販、飲食店が立ち並ぶ街です。

マグロ、ウニ、活魚、カキ、フルーツ、玉子焼き店、調理道具店、すし店など見どころ、食べどころが沢山あります。新鮮な魚の買い物も可能です。全部美味しそう！

魚市場は青果市場とは雰囲気が異なります。魚を捌いたり、大きなマグロを切ったりという作業があり刃物を扱うので、緊張感が漂います。

動画のように、色々な店があります。

There are also many tuna specialty stores that sell every part of a tuna you could ask for and live demonstrations of cutting up the fish for sashimi!  

Read also about my visit to the Sydney Fish Market and Tsukiji Tuna Fish Auction! 

この店で、マグロの目玉も販売しています。コラーゲンが豊富なので、定期的に買いに来る人もいるそうです。本当に体に良い影響を与えるかどうか分からないけど、食べてみたいと思います～

本日も読んでくださってありがとうございます。

「シドニー・フィッシュマーケット　||　Sydney Fish Market」 と「Tsukiji Market Tuna Fish Auction || 築地市場マグロの卸売市場」についても、ぜひご覧ください～

The post Tsukiji Fish Market <br> 築地市場 appeared first on Rachel Leng.