BA (Hons) Japanese and Management, graduated 2007

Current position: Global Human Resources Dept., SATO Corporation

It’s been three years since I graduated from Leeds, and I would say that everything I have been able to accomplish so far has been built on the foundations of my degree.

I decided to study at Leeds because of the excellent reputation the Business School has, and to continue studying Japanese at one of the leading East Asian studies departments in the country.

Studying Japanese and Management was very hectic to say the least. The workload was heavy from both sides, and I remember having classes from 9am – 5pm without a break some days (don’t let that put you off!), but looking back, there’s no way I would change my degree for anything else. Both sides were compatible, as I was able to study about Japanese management philosophies in the Japanese side, and also use case studies of Japanese companies in the Management side of my degree. It’s definitely worth considering potential overlaps, and the opportunities to specialise when you choose what to study.

During my year abroad in the second year I studied at Kobe Gakuin University, and the experience there was just as memorable as the three years I spent in Leeds. Along with three other students from Leeds, we lived in a non-catered dormitory in Kobe, so right from the beginning we had no choice but to get by in Japan by ourselves! I think everyone came out of that year more independent, and well-prepared for the last two years of university. The year spent in Kobe and the third year of intensive study at Leeds allowed me to improve my Japanese enough to secure an internship in Tokyo for the summer before my fourth year at university, working at a publishing company and a recruitment company.

After graduating from Leeds, I lived in Wakayama on the JET Programme for a year. I decided to do JET just for one year as I was keen to progress towards a more focused career, and after spending a year working in recruitment in Osaka, I joined SATO Corporation last year, working in the Global Human Resources Group. I am building on what I learnt in both sides of my degree on a daily basis, and the company has been great in providing a platform to develop skills in an area that I am interested in.

The staff at Leeds offer great support, and you will make friends for life during your time there. Your university degree will not dictate your career entirely, but I would recommend that you at least give some thought as to what broad areas you are interested in as a career, and tailor your degree to give yourself the best start possible. Being able to speak another language and having a tangible skill will open up many doors for you in the future, and the wide variety of degrees and electives offered at Leeds means you have the chance to develop in a number of different areas, at a highly reputable university.