Page 61 - Forbes - Asia (September 2018)

JAPAN 2

tion). We would like to see an ‘Asian we will have to internationalize
Union’ like a European Union. Our ourselves in the future. One of the
successes and failures depend on easiest ways to do so is to invite
one another; we need to exchange students from all around the world
knowledge, experience, fresh minds to come study in Japan,” he says.
and visions,” Yoshimura says. An international mindset and un-
The Kake Group controls a derstanding of different cultures is
number of Kake Educational Insti- critical to the hospitality and ser-
tutions, which consists of private vice industry. The Bunri University
universities, high schools, elemen- of Hospitality in Sayama, Saitama
tary schools and vocational schools tries to teach its students the best
throughout Japan. Being active in of both Western practices and the
every tier of the Japanese educa- Japanese concept of hospitality,
tional system has allowed Kake to Q ”Japan is facing Q ”Our education known as omotenashi.
instill an international mindset at demographic issues and we system is one of the “To get the high quality of hos-
an early age. At the Hiroshima Kake will have to internationalize pitality that brings omotenashi and
Educational Institution, the group best in Asia, particularly the Western style together, you need
started an English immersion pro- ourselves in the future. in fields such as people who can not only apply the
gram at the elementary school 11 One of the easiest ways to science and advanced skills and techniques, but innovate
years ago. do so is to invite students technologies.” and think of new things,” says for-
Today, Kake has about 100 from all around the world to mer Bunri president, Koen Tokuda.
partnerships with schools from all come study in Japan.” SAKUJI YOSHIMURA, “Bunri revolves around four C’s:
around the world, giving students President, Higashi creativity, critical thinking, com-
an opportunity to study abroad at MAMORU KAKE, Nippon International munication and collaboration. And
an earlier stage than university age. Vice Chairman, University when it comes to personal charac-
“We feel this gives our students Kake Group ter qualities—curiosity and open-
the opportunity to broaden their mindedness—are also things we try
minds on a global level,” says Vice Kake’s universities also welcome and more international students,” to develop here at the university,”
Chairman Mamoru Kake. a number of international students says Kake. he says.
“Japan has a reputation of being every year, offering a one-year in- Kake boasts one of the highest The university also welcomes a
quite isolated. I personally believe it is tensive course in Japanese language graduate employment rates among large number of international Asian
caused by the language barrier, so it is and culture, which is recognized by universities in Japan, thanks to its students, who can take the valu-
essential for our students to become the Japanese Ministry of Education. partnerships and contacts with able service skills and knowledge
luent in English. With the English lan- “So, if companies are interested in companies in the private sector as acquired at Bunri and apply them
guage, we give our students the tools establishing ties with Japan, they well as its excellent career guidance in their home countries. “We’re also
to communicate,” he says. could send some of their employees services, such as its career center. working on changing our curricu-
With faculty and staff coming to Japan for a year to study Japanese “This service is not limited to lum. We want to offer an omote-
from China, Korea, the Democratic and those employees could go back Japanese nationals, as our inter- nashi course in English to reach
Republic of Congo, the U.S., the to their companies and be the bridge national students also benefit from non-Japanese speaking students,”
Philippines, among others, Kake is or liaison with Japan,” he adds. our career center. Our overseas li- adds Tokuda.
a truly international institution. Like HNIU, the Kake Group hopes aison officers help them to find a Japanese universities and educa-
“We want our students to expe- to increase that number by offer- job in their home country, so they tional institutions across the country
rience different types of teaching, ing more courses and lectures in are completely prepared when they are making efforts to internation-
to hear different opinions and to English. “We are in the process of graduate from our universities,” ex- alize. And these efforts will be
broaden their perspective. Out of internationalizing our organization, plains Kake. felt throughout Japanese society,
50 faculty members, 21 are non- but one of the main issues is still the Taking a similar view to HNIU’s business and the economy as the
Japanese. We are very proud of English language. We need to offer president, he recognizes “Japan nation looks to open up to a more
this,” says Kake. courses in English to attract more is facing demographic issues and globalized world.

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