NEWSお知らせ

As my time at the Ikeda-Kan comes to an end, I have a lot to reflect on. This was truly an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Coming here, I was nervous. I knew my Japanese wasn’t the best, as I hadn’t been using it for almost a year. Connecting with people in Japanese has always been a struggle, as I’m not sure if what I am saying is making sense at all.

At first, I really doubted my decision after I got the job. It was my first job ever, and on top of that, it was in a different country that I know only a little about. When I met my coworkers for the first time, it probably couldn’t have gone worse. I barely talked with anybody during the group dinner, all I could think of was the fact that my hips hurt so much from sitting. However, once we started working, I began to communicate more because I had to, which allowed me to get to know everyone a little better. Fast forward two months, it really feels like a second family. Seeing and working with everybody during this time has created a special type of connection that I probably won’t get anywhere else. We shared problems and situations that we had to help each other get through and sometimes it could be tiring but we had to keep each other’s morale high.

My favorite memory here was learning how to do the stamp. It’s one of the few times when everybody is together helping each other out. The veterans taught us how to properly do it while the rookies tried to keep their calm. I still remember the first couple of times that I practiced stamping. I was so nervous that it took me a while to actually try the real thing. To me it is a form of art. Although it may seem simple, each person has their pre-stamp “ritual” and their way of stamping is different. I feel like I’ve mastered it, being able to control the darkness of the burn so that it comes out the way I want it to.

I can confidently say that these two months have been some of the best times of my life. From the first day, when I was seconds away from passing out, to teaching the new hire, I had so many new experiences that I would never have had if I hadn’t been here. I don’t regret working here at all, and I would definitely work here again if I have the time. If anybody has any doubts about working here, especially if you are from abroad, make the decision to work here. I promise you won’t regret it. Plus the views here can be incredible.

Lastly, to the coworkers who will probably read this: I appreciate each and every one of you guys who made this experience special. I couldn’t have asked for a better group and appreciate everything you guys did.