Ellen-May Evans

IP Assistant

“The opportunity to experience life in a country where almost everything is completely different from my country of origin. Through this, I have discovered how well I am able to cope when taken out of my comfort zone, and I have learned new skills and gained more experiences from which I will grow stronger and wiser as a person.”

 

What was the most difficult aspect of adjusting to work in Japan initially?

So-called 'house-keeping' items like managing a Japanese bank account, finding a new place to live or even paying a visit to the dentist can be daunting, because a satisfactory level of Japanese is usually a must for these situations. However, support and assistance in these areas is usually provided by the Firm and your fellow colleagues.

How did you cope with the stresses of working and living in Japan?

By focusing on the benefits of living and working in Japan, i.e. the ability to save money with the stronger Japanese yen, and the opportunity to travel and explore unseen horizons.

What has been your fondest experience in Japan?

The opportunity to experience life in a country where almost everything is completely different from my country of origin. Through this, I have discovered how well I am able to cope when taken out of my comfort zone, and I have learned new skills and gained more experiences from which I will grow stronger and wiser as a person.

What advice would you give to entry level recruits?

Learn to adjust to hard work and constant challenges; once you are able to master these, you will be able to overcome almost anything in both your work and life in general, and meet any challenge that may come your way in the future with confidence. It may seem clichéd, but don't be afraid to ask for clarification and assistance. No one is expected to know everything all the time. If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to ask for help to resolve it. Everyone is as serious about their work as they are about developing junior staff.

What did you like most about living and working in Osaka?

Late shopping hours - even during public holidays. This means that even though work hours are long, there is still time for leisure.

What advice you would offer to someone looking to work at Shusaku Yamamoto?

Beware of summer! Summertime in Osaka is very hot, humid and unforgiving, and some public areas, in an effort to save electricity, will turn down cooling devices. But at least the Firm's office is air-conditioned, and you are given paid summer holidays to help ease the discomfort a summer in Osaka will bring. Be prepared to be immersed in some really interesting problems requiring innovative solutions. It gave me enough opportunities and experience to do what I like really well and also to quickly complete what I didn't like but had to.