Meet Yumiko, the publisher

An Ibaraki-born Tokyoite, I was raised in the Showa era, which ended in 1989 when I was a teenager. I spent the first 12 years of my career as a newspaper journalist at the Yomiuri, a leading Japanese newspaper. After that, I worked for the non-profit sector, including the United Nations and an NGO, interspersed with a master's degree in the UK. I am also the founder of Posse Nippon KK, the publisher of Small Business Japan. Go to my LinkedIn profile.

'What have I done to build my career?'

When asked why I started my business, I always answer, 'Because I was unemployed!' I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it's true.　During my unemployment, someone at an interview told me, 'You're overqualified for this role.' By that time, I had been applying for any suitable role, which backfired on me.

This experience made me question everything I'd done to build my career.

'You do it on your own. Stop sending CVs' is what my mentor told me when I started looking for work again, adding, 'You have enough experience now.'

I had little idea about doing business on my own, but I was at least clear about the fact that my employability had significantly decreased by that time. What Japanese employer would want to hire an ex-journalist woman who is potentially outspoken and possibly older than the manager? (As you can see, age matters in Japanese society.) Being a journalist or non-profit worker did not require me to develop money-generating skills or even a simple concept of what a business was. So, I started from scratch by referring to classic books, such as James Webb Young’s A Technique for Producing Ideas.

While researching and generating ideas, I thought of foreigners in Japan, like my friend. She wasn't happy with her work. Her Japanese skills limited her options, and her job didn't utilise her skills or background. It was a huge waste of human talent and potential that I felt Japanese society didn't fully appreciate. In hindsight, I believe this also stemmed from my experience of losing my job and feeling like the career I had built meant nothing.

Through this process, I'd come to realise that business is all about understanding people. It's about understanding customers' pain and aspirations. Looking back, this was the very essence of my work as a journalist and perhaps my only transferable skill.

Let's help foreigners in Japan fully utilise their talents. This was like a lightbulb moment that inspired me to embark on another journey. It was the very starting point for Posse Nippon, the operating company of Small Business Japan, with the vision of helping foreigners do business and work here. Sharing this vision, this online journal provides essential information for business and life for the international community in Japan.

Let's onboard on a never-ending journey

Each of you has your own story and journey of your business and career. Surely, you, too, have or will have encountered eye-opening moments of truth in your career. Doing business is a never-ending journey of harnessing your talent and skills to contribute to someone else and, thus, to society as a whole.

I value your input and would love to hear your thoughts and questions on potential topics. If there is a specific subject you're interested in, I'd be delighted to consider it for a future article.