Hiromu Okamoto (Eikei University of Hiroshima)
Follow your passion.
Therefore you can make the most of your life.
In Japan, many people tend to prefer the stability of working for one company for a long time. However, we believe that pursuing "what I am interested in" and "what I want to do" is the best way to live a life without regret. Hiromu Okamoto has already had four jobs. After graduating from university, he worked in Uganda as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) member and worked in UNDP Nairobi. He later worked for a Japanese steel manufacturer, then went on to become involved in the launch of Eikei University of Hiroshima. What led him to the path of international cooperation and what did he gain from it? How have his experiences been applied to his current way of life? Our interview in January 2022 revealed his passion, his attitude toward international cooperation, his experiences in Africa, and his ideal way of working.
Authors: Miyu Okuno, David Wells, Trinity Canham January 2022
Relationship with international cooperation
ーWhat made you interested in international cooperation work?
Hiroshima, where I was born and raised, is one of the only places where an atomic bomb was dropped. I have been thinking about international cooperation issues for a long time, wondering whether there is a way to contribute to peace. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I have always wanted to get into peacebuilding.
ーWhen did you start to think that you wanted to do this kind of work?
I wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid, and I always wanted to work for the world. It was when I was in the third year of high school that I actually decided that I wanted to get involved in international cooperation work. When I was in junior high and high school, I participated in the JRC (Junior Red Cross) volunteering work. Through that work, I learned the spirit of the Red Cross and wanted to know how conflicts occur. From that point on, I started to get involved in international cooperation, especially in peacebuilding.
Activities in Uganda
<<About Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV)>>
The Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) project, that Mr. Okamoto was chosen to go to Uganda for, is a project run by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to send volunteers to developing countries who can contribute to national development.
ーWhat was the most memorable thing to you when you were in Uganda?
The people that live there are at an economic level that spends less than $1 a day. But everyone is kind and always smiles. Overall, the most memorable thing was our relationship with the locals. The children are cute. I still keep in touch with the Ugandan people via Messenger.
Above: Local Ugandan children smiling for the camera
ーYou were studying international affairs at university. Is the study useful for subsequent works you did until now?
At university, I always thought that what I studied would be directly useful for my activities in the field. But the most important thing in international cooperation is to face what is actually happening now. For example, our first project in Uganda was on how to increase cash income by processing agricultural products and selling them wholesale to markets. Since dried fruit lasts a long time, we expected that this would increase our income. But when I went there and looked at it, I found that fresh fruits are juicier and tastier. I thought, why should I sell that very tasty and cheap fruit by drying it and making it more expensive? Because to the locals, it's no longer delicious. So actually, that approach was a failure in Uganda.
ーWe read that you were involved in a project that helped local people produce honey and make money. Can you give us some details about it?
In the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, some of them there had the expertise and use them on a project, and others manage a project. I was the latter who worked in project management. There are various specialists such as veterinarians and entomologists in the prefectural office. Together with those people, we came up with the idea of beekeeping. We discussed what kind of service the prefectural office should provide to farmers, and what kind of rural development can be done through honey making. We did things like having workshops and making beehives from wood. The honey business was successful and was able to help the locals. Now that honey is also on sale in the UK.
ーHow was your life in Uganda?
In Uganda, the sense of time is different from Japan and there is almost no schedule. I was disappointed when I expected things to happen, so I didn't expect anything. I used to say, "Let's anticipate, not expect."
It was a very natural life to wake up when the sun rises and sleep when the sun goes down. On my days off, I used to read while drinking coffee in the garden, make an open-air bath using a drum, and go on safari. The place where I lived was very close to the elephant habitat, only 30 minutes by car. Uganda had a lot of things that were lacking compared to Japan, such as electricity supply, but the sky was very clear and the stars were very beautiful at night.
Above: The Ugandan night sky
ーDid you think that the way Uganda people work is different from Japanese people?
People in the central government work in the same way as Japanese people. But in a village, people often work not to make money, but to secure food. They grow crops and are raising livestock.
―What was the important thing in living abroad that you noticed while staying in Uganda?
First of all, it is important to try not to get sick in Uganda, and know the risk factors if you do. When in other countries, it may be best to use the medicine from the countries. I brought cold medicine with me from Japan, but sometimes even if I thought it looked like a cold and took the cold medicine, it didn't always work. So I think viruses are different over there.
When it comes to food, it can be very different. For example, rice is a staple food in Japan, but Uganda has many staple foods. Rice is very expensive and isn't commonly available.
Above: Typical Ugandan meal, featuring beans, mashed maize, rice, banana, pumpkin, etc.
UNDP Nairobi
<<What is the UNDP?>>
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the principal development assistance agency of the United Nations, promoting the eradication of poverty, the reduction of inequality, and sustainable development.
―So what was your job when you were in Nairobi?
I set up a project similar to the one we were doing in Uganda to increase cash income from agriculture. There was a need at that time to share knowledge across East Africa and to launch projects in other countries like Tanzania, Rwanda or Ethiopia. In Nairobi, it was more like a project planning and development proposal.
―When you worked in other East African countries, did you notice any differences between them?
I think the biggest difference is the way the people treat the government. For example, do they respect the president or the government? In some countries, the people say, "This president is very good, so I will follow him," while in other countries, the people say, "There is so much corruption here, I don't think I can trust him anymore." In countries where people don't trust the government, it doesn't make much sense to conduct government-led activities.
Japanese Steel Manufacturing Job
―Why did you change jobs to work with a Japanese steel manufacturing company?
I changed my job because I wanted to help with promoting international cooperation through a private Japanese company. The company was contributing to raising the economic level not only in Japan but also in the world. When I worked there, I helped to make steel for new buildings.
ーWhat was the most difficult thing about working in Japan?
When I came back to Japan, the most difficult thing was task management, because there were so many things that had to be done in a day, and I had to prioritize them. In addition, I don't work alone anymore, I work in a team, or I visit my business partner's house. In Japan, it is quite difficult to prioritize while managing the schedule and tasks.
Eikei University
ーWhy did you decide to work at the university?
I decided to work at the university because I thought it would be nice to share my thoughts and experiences with the people who are going to spread their wings in the world. What I felt most keenly after working there was the importance of working as a team, with the help of many people. On the other hand, there are only so many things you can do by yourself. Of course, I want to commit myself to the field, but I think my desire to work at a university is partly due to my experience of working in the field of international cooperation and overseas business.
ーWhat do you do at the university now?
I'm currently doing a lot of things as a staff member of Eikei University, but one thing I'm working on right now is forming partnerships with other universities to create exchange programs that will start next year. It's a new university and the situation regarding COVID-19 is different everywhere, so there are a lot of unexpected things that are going to happen at a time like this. I think it's very helpful to have thought about how I should move and imagine how things will progress as I get into my work.
Future Goal and Advice to the Youth
―Do you have any short-term goals or long-term goals?
As for a short-time goal, I would like to help make Eikei University become more widely acknowledged in Japan and around the world. In order to achieve this goal, I will appeal to the university more and make the curriculum denser. I want to make the most of my experiences.
As for a long-term goal, I would like to start a business in Uganda. Recently I talked with local people in the country to help realize this dream. I want to contribute to economic development in the country through certain businesses.
―What do you want to achieve before you stop working?
I am looking forward to seeing the success of students at Eikei university. I would like to hear the report that the students work successfully in some fields like business and international cooperation.
―Do you have any regrets through your work experiences?
Since I always choose what I want to do, I do not have any regrets about my experience. If I say something, I'd like to go to university again and study marketing in graduate school.
―How do you find out what you want to do and what you are interested in?
I researched anything I was interested in. However, there are limitations to what I can look for by myself. Thus, you should make connections with many people and ask them to teach you many kinds of new information. The more people you have relationships with, the more things you can learn from them. I recommend you research many kinds of events and take part in them if you are interested. For me, I often consult with colleagues from these events if I have any troubles. Expanding human relationships can be a key to finding what you want to do.
―Do you have any advice for today's young people?
You should do what you want. I think that is most important. Whether you work or study, enjoying what you want to do is essential. If you enjoy studying and working, people surrounding you should think that they want to cheer and support you. Thus, I want you to enjoy everything you do.
About the authors
Miyu Okuno  | Before interviewing Mr. Okamoto, I thought that volunteer work like the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) project is entirely different from office work in Japan. Accordingly, I wondered if there is a connection between some jobs he has experienced. In the interview, he said that the relationship between local people and the flexible response according to the situation is essential, and what he learned in Africa is helpful to the present job. Those are not unique things to do volunteer activities there, but necessary whether we work abroad or in Japan. I thought that changing jobs and volunteering in foreign countries was unstable. However, I started to think that I would like to pursue my interests because he works successfully in every workplace by using past experiences. To live without regret, I want to keep his advice in mind. |
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David Wells  | Mr. Hiromu Okamoto is still a young person, but he has accomplished many things in his life. Through the experience of interviewing him, I have learned some valuable ideas. He loved working in Africa to pursue his passion for international cooperation. He advises us that follow your passion, then you can make the most of your life. Whether you are working or studying, you should enjoy what you do. It is very important for your overall well-being and happiness. In recent years, he wanted to share his thoughts and experiences with young students, so he decided to work at a university. University students and other young people are the future of our community and will have a major impact on the world we live in. However, there are limits to what one person can do alone. He suggested that we should connect and cooperate with many people. By working as a team, we can achieve more. By interviewing Mr. Hiromu Okamoto, I had the opportunity to think about my goals, interests, passions, and life in general. I would like to continue following my interest in language studies. I am also determined to pursue a passion for traveling and promoting international business between New Zealand and Japan. It may be difficult, but as Mr. Hiromu Okamoto said in the interview, we should be working on what we are interested in and living a life without regrets. |
Trinity Canham  | What impressed me from our interview with Hiromu Okamoto was that he wanted to help build and influence world peace since late his high school days! I think it's wonderful that Okamoto is so motivated but relaxed. We also learnt a lot about Okamoto(s work-life balance and his work style, he does not take his work home with him, which is rare in today's world. Okamoto has had a lot of experience living abroad/overseas (such as Uganda) and he gave our group a lot of advice. Mainly, it is best to anticipate rather than expect things in life. Since I am someone who wants to live abroad, I found Okamoto's advice to be very helpful. Eating, health/medical care when living abroad can be scary, but it is helpful to know some of the challenges. I hope that one day when I go abroad to pursue my dreams, passions, and goals, I will also be motivated, relaxed, and successful. Life is full of challenges, but I hope to do my best with the help of Okamoto's advice! |
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