Oita Prefecture = Famous as a hot spring tourist destination, Oita is actually one of Japan’s top prefectures when it comes to the ratio of international students to local population. Many companies are accepting technical interns, actively preparing a suitable environment where they may work whilst enrolled in school or with a job.
To promote the charms of working in Oita Prefecture, Vietnamese technical interns Nguyen Thi Thuy and Hoang Thi Hoai appeared in our 「大分県の魅力発信動画」“Conveying Oita’s Charms Video”. In this interview, we ask them many things from why they came to Japan, what are Oita’s charms, and how they feel about the video filming.
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
Not only a Tourist Attraction - What are Oita’s Charms?
What made you come to Japan as a technical intern?
Thuy：After I graduated from high school in Vietnam, I got a job and was supporting my family. During that time, I found out about the technical intern training program in Japan. I thought that while working as a technical intern, I could not only learn many technical skills, but it would also lead to me improving my own skills, so I came to Japan in 2017.
Hoai：I was already interested in Japanese culture, such as kimono and fashion. I wanted to learn about the culture and the language, so I came to Japan in 2017 as a technical intern.
Did you know about Oita Prefecture before coming to Japan?
Thuy：I didn’t. When I arrived in Japan, the people in charge of intern placements told me about it. At the time, I simply looked forward to working there, wondering things like “What kind of place is it?” and “What are the people living there like?”
Hoai：I also found out about Oita for the first time from the people in charge of intern placements.
What do you like about Oita Prefecture after actually living there?
Thuy：The biggest thing for me is “the kind people”. Many people where I live and work with are very kind and they take initiative to help me when I need it, so it’s very comfortable to work here. What’s more, the atmosphere, townscape and architecture of “Totoro no Mori (Totoro’s Forest)” in Oita are similar to Vietnam so it’s very easy to like. I think that many Vietnamese people working in Oita feel the same way as me about its charms.
Hoai：Oita is famous as a hot springs locale, so its charm is the many hot springs. For this video, we went to Beppu and soaked our feet in the foot baths. After that, we ate the local specialty “地獄蒸し Jigoku Mushi” - vegetables and seafood steamed in the hot springs. It was really delicious. Oita has many other places to have fun, like Kijima Kogen Park and Umitamago Aquarium, so you can enjoy your days off.
Did you experience any culture shock after coming to Japan?
Thuy：Yes. I was especially surprised by how Japanese people flavor their food. A lot of Japanese food is sweet and uses sugar, but we hardly ever use sugar in Vietnamese food. It was difficult to get used to since we use salty flavoring that goes well with rice. I like prawn tempura the best in Japanese food. Other than the food, Japanese culture is not that different from Vietnamese culture so it was easy to assimilate.
Hoai：Other than being surprised by Japan’s flavoring of food like Nguyen Thi Thuy, I was also surprised by the difference in weather. Vietnam has a very warm climate, so I was really surprised by how cold Japan’s winters are when I arrived.
How was the video filming?
Thuy：It was really fun. Not only were we able to go to the hot springs, but I got to visit the Umitamago Aquarium in Oita City for the first time. It was fun to visit so many other tourist attractions in Oita Prefecture.
Hoai：They also filmed us while we were actually working. People can see what kind of work we do and how we live on an everyday basis. I hope it conveys how fun it is to work in Oita Prefecture especially to those thinking about becoming technical interns.
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Please tell us about your workplace.
Thuy：I’ve been working at “Yamaro Watanabe”, a seafood processing company since arriving in Japan. We mainly make processed seafood products like cut open and dried horse mackerel, and whole dried sardines and herrings.
Hoai：I also work at “Yamaro Watanabe”.
What do you like about your workplace?
Thuy：How my seniors and the chairman are very kind. The chairman is a big man, so at first he seemed a little scary. But as I continued to work there, he kindly gave me advice when I wouldn’t know what to do. He also told me the great things about working there and provided a great working environment.
Hoai：How everyone at work teaches me how to do things kindly and thoroughly. They teach me by showing me how to cut and trim fish, how to package things and such. There are many things that are difficult to communicate to us in just Japanese, so they use gestures and actions to teach us at times. Because they were so kind and thorough in teaching us, I’m able to cut open and dry fish well now even though it was difficult for me at the beginning.
Upon completing your training, please tell us your plans for the future.
Hoai：After completing the program, I want to open a fish shop in my home country. I want to use what I learned in Japan by not just selling fish but by cooking and serving it too.
Thuy：I want to open my own shop when I go back to my home country. I want to do my best to share the skills I learned in Japan in Vietnam as well.
ーーThank you very much.
