Mr.Kano-A Japanese Restaurant Owner in Beijing 

 We have always been accompanied by the existence of restaurants everywhere to this day and age, ranging from fast food drive-ins to varied cuisines of the world’s nations. The world of Japanese food has found its way into China decades ago, and out of the hundreds of thousands of Japanese cuisines in China, Kano Ichiki’s Japanese-styled Izakaya has been a highlight through its fascinating dishes as well as his piquing story throughout China. Beginning the exploration of Kano with an interview before, how he came to bring the amazing signatures of Japanese Izakaya to the Chinese food industry along with his background will be the center here.

 Spending the past 20 years of his life in China, Kano had a unique relationship with the country beginning as a scholar. Kano came along with the opportunity of moving to China in his career because of his background for studying abroad in Shanghai, working as the photographer and video editor for Japanese tourists in China. As a man who studied in China in the late 1990s for college, Kano experienced the change of the country himself and the society of it too.

  The question to Kano was: Do you feel easily accepted by the Chinese as a Japanese living in China?  His answer was, “During that time, numerous roads were still under construction, and life was inconvenient—therefore when I first entered China, the conditions for a foreigner were quite different and filled with challenges. My appearance was a shock to some locals since the number of Japanese in cities of China was scarce, and for many it was their first time meeting a foreigner.” This was first when he came from Japan and studied in China. Later on, as Kano officially stepped into the trails of business and life in the country, he was also brought to the welcoming and open side of the community, with many unfamiliar faces stepping in and aiding him. Because of this, Kano’s decision to stay in China long after and eventually start a restaurant of his own passion was then lighted.

  Along the same lines, the man did step into many issues beginning as a foreigner in China. In spite of being able to adjust to the Chinese society, many issues still existed in terms of Kano’s daily life throughout these years. When I interviewed him upon this topic, he did reveal some problems he encountered as part of the difference in language and culture: “The cultural difference between the Northern and Southern parts of China has also made me recognize a challenging point. There was once when I was on a Taxi in Northern China when the driver drove the wrong way, and even though he did not admit and claim his mistake right away, the driver still had a warm heart and offered a free ride. On the other hand, when I was stuck in a similar situation in the Southern locations of China—Shanghai, the driver there was not as kind on the inside even though he honestly admitted his mistake on the outside.” Not only reflected in Kano’s experience, but many Japanese business creators now in China have also been cheated on in differing areas. Similarly for Kano Ichiki, the man mentioned that the first time he started a business in Beijing, local cooperators around and supporting me also took advantage of my profits. Despite that some Chinese did take advantage of his identity and put him in challenging stages because of his difference, the open-minded spirit of China had engaged Kano greatly, himself loving the style of living in there.

  Kano’s current focus, his Japanese Izakaya—a Japanese traditional restaurant bar—originated along with the man’s love for food and his culture. However, one of his careers before this business was what built up Kano’s experience and confidence into his restaurant today.

  “I attempted to begin a bento meal company as a side occupation throughout my job as an editing photographer in earlier times; however, this business did not turn to success. Back then, there were much less companies that were in competition for the restaurant business, so if I continued that original idea, it would rise in state and success and could be a great addition to my current Izakaya.” Kano reflected over his past failures attempting over the same area he focuses on today as the creator of a restaurant of a foreign cuisine. Even if the bento business ended with some regret, the experience also led to Kano’s growth as a restaurant owner now when facing major falls.

  Challenges, from small to big, could not be absent through Kano’s business experience. Within his current Japanese restaurant, small obstacles have also popped out that did put him into a state of challenge, but more so, a state of growth. A challenge point towards the business Kano created out of his passion is how the Chinese creates many forged products, especially in the restaurant and food industry. Plagiarism between stores did in fact increase his own challenges in a Japanese cuisine restaurant, but meanwhile also risen Kano’s chances to shine in front of the hundreds of restaurants out there.

   Yet, the need for the ability to deal with fatal issues was reflected within Kano as what seemed like the biggest challenge he had experienced over all these years came to him—more specifically, his business. Kano’s Japanese restaurant bloomed with customers and highly amazing compliments around the opening in 2019, with every seat full in December of the same year. But a sudden hit of the COVID-19 changed the entire future of the restaurant. Just as the food warmed up in people’s mouths, the pandemic two months later resulted in a temporary closure of the store and took away the lively atmosphere. Kano’s words revealed how even though the popularity of the business gradually grew back months later, it never did go back to the high morale in the beginning. Under all the pressure from a potential failure of another company, Kano stood firm and strong, managing to fight and bring back his profits and success of his business. His urge and determination into doing so was because of his growth and the desire to create a better future and change the past.

  Other than obstacles that struck his business as a whole, Kano also explained to us how he feels that developing the restaurant has been a great experience and also a very unique one. “My Chinese employees are all very eager to learn, holding lots of dedication within themselves everyday despite that the overall education the Chinese receive can be much less than Japan.” He replied with respect. This is another aspect why Kano has found starting a restaurant business a very different yet amazing experience than all his jobs beforehand. Like mentioned before, the mindset of the Chinese always brought admiration and interest among Kano himself, where he not only enjoyed the actions of his Chinese employees but also loved the difference in the living style of the entire society.

  Furthermore, around the mindset of the Chinese society, everyone there has been a great support to Kano’s life and process fitting in with the society. Upon questioning, he claimed, “What I really love about Beijing is how like Japan, the social status among each individual is not the key. Thus, when I came to Beijing alone, many ones were very warm and welcoming to be supporting me.” The life spirit of an ecstatic and easygoing society really engaged Kano, as he took the help from locals as great support. From old colleagues in Japan to new friends in China, they have all been a significant part of Kano’s growth over years in China, especially towards those local citizens who have brought me enjoyment in this nation. In addition, Kano also shared an interesting noticing upon different parts of the world in contrast with the two countries by his heart: “When I was in Western countries, where you sit at a dinner between colleagues reveals your social status. As a Japanese within those dinners, the fact that Japan is a minority is easily reflected from where I sit. What I really love about Beijing is how like Japan, the social status among each individual is not important. Thus, even when I came to Beijing alone as a Japanese, many ones were very warm and welcoming to be supporting me.” For this reason, Kano really had China as part of himself and as a whole with the Japanese born with him, although there may be differences in culture and customs of the two countries.

  Differences do arise between the two cultures of China and Japan in various ways, no matter by customs or by personality. Kano explained a point in relation to his words for the Chinese society. The respectable man explained how the Japanese are highly organized and often stick to the scheduled, where Chinese people are always willing to take risks and try varied tasks that appear new. “I really admire this way of taking action, which is why I always wanted to stay in China and continue with my career.” He responded. Kano claimed that he enjoyed the lifestyles here in China with a relaxed and openminded spirit, really loving to cooperate with his Chinese friends and getting accustomed to the life here. This man not only connected the bond between the two nations with his life actions, but also found similarity and enjoyment within each way of living. Starting from his first career, he embarked on the journey to connect Japan and China through his photography and editing company for Japanese tourists in China. Kano’s later contributions from Japan’s food industry to into China continued his relationship between the two countries he loved.

   Aside from his career, Kano also was struck by a challenge through his personal life because of the same reason his business was in suffer. He said with hope, “Aside of all the great facts I love about China, my newborn daughter is currently waiting in Japan for me to return, so I wish to be connected with my family again, hoping the pandemic will end fast.

 Suzumi Yasuda-Furniture Store Manager in China

“Why ‘Time & Style?’”

  “I always hope that the Japanese designs as well as its values towards these traditional products will fulfill lives in China. “This was my original goal of the furniture store, as it will always be despite the time and gap until reaching it 

  Q: Where is your home country? What was your experience coming to China?A: I came from the Northern areas of Japan, in an environment covered by ice and snow sports. Along with the frequent earthquakes and tsunamis, amazing hot springs our brought to our towns.

  I was born in 1972—a stage where the two countries of Japan and China reached normalization relationship and began to increase contact—and thus grew in an environment with high familiarity towards China. A panda sent from China to Japan marked the start of the normalization between the two. At the beginning of communications, the friendly atmosphere between the former-intense countries raised high among the society of my childhood, sparking my interest towards China at a young age. From that time on, I have always dreamed of coming to China and employing here—thus resulting in my choice of taking Chinese courses in college to support me into life in China.

  Q: As a foreigner of a Japanese background living in China, how accepting has the society been throughout your experiences—were there challenges in terms of that?

  A: Having spent decades in China, there are only very few that still see me as a Japanese over my fluent Chinese. I spent my first studies abroad within the major in Japanese a the Capital Normal University in Beijing. Classmates were all exceptionally welcoming as I managed to start friendships quickly within. I also especially appreciate the way how the Chinese get along with one another over my own experiences in encountering individuals. I also have a principle to myself; I believe that I should be conducting tasks in China with a Chinese partner—as seen through all the companies that I have originated, each with a Chinese co-founder.

 *Around the aspect of the Chinese society, a connection with the Japanese society has led to one unique experience of Yasuda: Over the 30 years I spent in China, and event that occurred in 2005 left a touching memory in me. Anti-Japanese parades began rising in Beijing, where the relationship between the two countries still held tense the years after. Some locals began uprising against and throwing things at the embassy of Japan in Beijing. As a Japanese myself, I was hard hit by the news when I heard it, desperately wanting to change the situation. Communicating with the head of our company at the factory I started, he quickly analyzed and understood the issue from all his years of experience between the two countries, telling me that starting a media company would bring effective solutions, temporarily putting aside my ballet shoes factory; starting a media company would allow the existence of Japanese enterprises in to spread, potentially turning the crisis towards an opposite direction. That was the creation of my third company, though reaching its end in 2008 as the relationship between Japan and China recovered. I transferred my focus back to the factory I created, continuing my work on ballet shoes.The majority of my jobs throughout my time in China have been companies that I originated, since that is the strategy of work I always hoped for. 

   Q: What was behind your story leading you to China?

  A: After my graduation from studying Chinese in college, I came to China. My first decision was to find employment in China because of the economic conditions that could prompt various opportunities to create my own business as the country’s reform entered market liberalization. Despite that the environment and facility in China back then was not the best, I still continued my initial goal and created my first company with Chinese friends that studied abroad in Japan. That company held the purpose of expanding the production of a dance company Chacott’s ballet shoes. Our choice of beginning this business in Beijing was due to consideration in terms of how the standard mandarin spoken there could benefit my language skills and give me a better chance to grow.

 Q: How hard was it to develop your career in China? How did you get in touch with your current career? A: I have transferred from job to job over the many companies I have created, now focusing on maintaining a Japanese furniture store. My first official, permanent job was a company that helped to create costumes for theme parks like Disneyland. Because product values and processing charges were higher in Japan, my first company often cooperated with Chinese performance groups as their target. The creative designs from Japan in our company brought into production within China also set the path for greater opportunities in this industry. From this strategy, I was then inspired to begin a company of my own—the second company of my employing career. It was not only an opportunity to challenge myself into the international market, but also to connect a foreign company to Beijing, China. I created a factory for an overseas company, introducing them to Chinese productions. I wanted to prove the quality of products produced in China as well as aiding international dance companies in their ballet shoes products.

  Q: Why did you choose to begin a furniture store named Time & Style?

  A: Japan has always advanced around housing and lifestyles, as materials and products from Japan have gained high popularity among China. Ten years ago, few enterprises of this industry existed in China, therefore giving me a greater opportunity to develop. Thus, I used this opportunity and begun my 3^rd individual company of furniture, continuing until today as my main business focus. The intension of the company was to bring the innovative designs and materials from Japan to China, expanding original Japanese furniture products to a foreign country.Apart from developing success, holes and obstacles were also a grieving part of Yasuda’s store. However, the past ten years of maintaining this business was filled with struggles and unease.  There were often moments of tears. I faced a closure of my original store in Shanghai under numerous pressures, as well as obstacles within the opening of my second store in Beijing, Because of all I’ve been through, I really wish that the future ten years of my furniture business will become bright and filled with success. “I always hope that the Japanese designs as well as its values towards these traditional products will fulfill lives in China. “This was my original goal of the furniture store, as it will always be despite the gap until reaching it.

  Q: As someone who has experienced gradual changes over long spans in China, how has the development of the Chinese culture reflected an impact on you?

  A: First coming to China in 1994, I felt that the change within the country has not been that major. I have seen myself the development of China over the past 28 years, where I felt that the values of the overall country have remained similar. The continuity of the values throughout Chin a is something I admire as you can see a complete change in Japan of this aspect. As seen through China’s reaction towards the pandemic, even though the country was hard hit, the fundamental parts of China have still remained. Q: Were there anyone that helped you during the process of fitting in with the Chinese society? Who were they and how did they help you?A: Many people have come to my side as support. I am glad that the turnover rate at my current business is not as great, as we can build connection and similarity among eachother.I always believed in the importance to be challenging myself; unless reaching an achievement, I never will give up.

 Q: Through all your personal experience in China, are there any words and thoughts you would want to share with the Chinese society?

A: Many Chinese have been extremely welcoming and supportive upon myself, as I wish the same could be for them when the Chinese are in Japan. However, numerous Chinese are now found in Japan, as there are increasing numbers in the Chinese-speaking population in Japan. As a result, there are very few Chinese enterprises that have the opportunity to cooperate with full Japanese businesses, yet I feel that it is important to do so to build the connection between the two countries financially. More cooperation will mean more understanding.  Suzumi Yasuda has definitely been a women of deep memory within my interviews, not only because of her fascinating background connection with China, but also the great spirit shown through her businesses and personality.

 

Ms.Abe- A famours Japanese Hair Dresser in Beijing

We visit salons almost every few months as it is a complement to our lives. From the perspective of a citizen of China, I can say that barber shops cover the streets and malls of the majority of Chinese cities. However, numerous salons do share a similar “Chinese” and “Traditional” style of hairstyle, whereas the center of attention here maintains a rather unique style of hair-creation: a cultural Japanese styled hair-salon. Maybe her roots weren’t set in China, but her love for her career is what settled Megumi Abe in China despite the numerous challenges over these years. The initial intention that led Abe into this developed city was her goal in her career. 

How in the First Place?
In 2011, the woman was brought to China in response to her attempt to start a hair-making business in addition to her career in Sendai, Japan. Abe was at start piqued by the idea to bring her business and career as a hairdresser to a higher level. Under the circumstance that the Japanese culture and Chinese culture overall had a similar appreciation of beauty, Abe chose China as her focus rather than American or European countries to continue her dream of working and starting a barber shop. The determined woman hoped to bring her traditional Japanese-styled salon techniques into China, embarking on her road in giving Chinese citizens the opportunity to be exposed to a different yet unique hairdressing style. All until this day, Abe’s hair salon is what holds up her life and hopes. Meanwhile, this decision involves Abe having to adjust to a completely differing lifestyle in China, where she met some obstacles of contrast. 

In the Beginning
When I asked upon her experiences at the beginning of her story in China, Abe began addressing that adjusting to the new community has been quite easy as the two cultures share many characteristics like food and cultural acts. The Chinese were also quite accepting towards the Japanese since she came to Beijing in a relatively modern time. However, two points of contrast has been an obstacle throughout her fitting in process. The first point Abe mentioned is how China is a very organized and controlled country, with government control over many aspects; thus, this decreases the convenience and freedom citizens have, whereas Japan is a relatively free country towards residents. In relation with her own status, Abe also explained that “citizens all over Japan have a stable education level and cultural background, therefore starting a business there can be easier in terms of communication. China, on the other hand, has a greater variation in everyone’s knowledge and education amount, so as the creator of a barber shop in China, challenges can be revealed through the contrasting opinions and actions of employees.” Nevertheless of all the struggles among the society that interfered with Abe’s business and life, she kept her strong will in her original goal and managed to find the highlights within the new and unfamiliar environment.

 Progressing Forward
Continuing about Abe’s business as a hairdresser, she received various high remarks and success concerning her store — Queen’s berry Hair Salon. Abe herself also experienced what it was like to be employing at a hair salon, which was another reason of her arrival in China: “I used to be an employee at a beauty salon in Japan, experiencing all the duties from a massaging employee to a store manager. Even though I found success throughout my past 14 years at a salon in Japan, I wanted to challenge myself into a new level of this career.” Coming to China to embark on her own business was Abe’s plan to improve and gain new experiences as a barber, also taking the chance to reach a new section of the world with diverse people and cultures. Yet as mentioned above, a change in audience focus and community has put trouble on Abe’s business path. “Many Chinese employees are not stable when at a job, so the frequent change between barber employees has been a main challenge to my career” explained Abe. This was a major effect to maintaining a stable business around the start of her salon since the use of the Japanese styled techniques in hair in China requires much training, where that training process takes time within groups of employees. Despite the amount of effort put into training Abe stated that the individuality in the Chinese workers’ personalities—opposite from that of Japanese employees—drive them into different jobs, resulting in herself having to train a new group of workers. Thus far, the way the Chinese customs to jobs has reflected a point that Abe must adjust to behind the scenes of a typical hair salon. Despite this, time has also brought herself the chance to overcome the contrastive key point in building up a business. Although Abe’s hair salon maintained at a stable state over the past 10 years, a significant issue did hit her business as I was admirable of her decisions within.

 Running into Obstacles: Career     
  Encountering a major difficulty in terms of her business has changed the road of Abe’s hair salon. Over the development of her hair salon, Abe then had the hope to expand her business all over the city, where she “started a separate store of the current salon in the Daxing area of Beijing but was unable to maintain the shop success to today” (Abe). Facing both financial and personal issues, a cascade of problems resulted in the closure of her second barber shop, which also affected the business of Abe’s main store. “I was at the risk of a failed business in a foreign country, potentially resulting in a complete closure,” the woman explained, feelings of misery coming up to her face when responding. Within this issue, a main factor of it was because the closure of Abe’s second store was correlated with a forced move of her main store, therefore the business owner was left with no choice but to put all the attention on the main store to rent a new location. Despite the chance of a total loss of her business, Abe still held the hope of continuing with her dream career—which led herself to my success in her hair salon today, even if it means taking on risky choices. Her courage put into her life sparked inspiration among myself. 

Image- I also really liked the Chinese poet LiBai’s “Quiet Night Thoughts” that I learned throughout my first years spent here in China with a former student.

Our daily health is strongly correlated with exercise—sports and activities that keep us fit. Over the hundreds of activities in the sports field, Tennis has been a sport of high popularity over recent decades, as we follow the greatest tennis players of every region of the world. As the majority of our population’s attention is attracted by the intense matches of the world-famous athletes, the coaches behind their outstanding performance has been a great factor. I have interviewed a Japanese tennis and fitness coach, Hikaru Sakida, currently working behind the training of the Chinese national tennis team to find out the story behind his dedication into coaching for a foreign country of his liking. 

Tennis and fitness by heart:

Backing up to the origin of Sakida’s journey in China, he was first touched with his tennis career during school life. The man first found a job after graduation, yet it was not something of his favor: “I quit that job to do what I love: begin focusing on fitness and tennis training and becoming a coach” Sakida expressed with passion, “Tennis coaches fill the numerous tennis courts of Japan; thus, I wanted to be a different one—a fitness coach who plays tennis.” He always held a passion and love for tennis, as playing it has also brought Sakida satisfaction and happiness. This mindset in his heart set his firm path, as coming to China became a complement to his career.

At last starting from the age of 16, Sakida began working as a coach, since it is not as demanding for a young man while also a job that involves a great part of his interests.

Variation in Students:

Continuing on his career, Sakida has been engaged with both Japanese and Chinese students from the time he embarked on this road. He also shared an interesting view upon his coaching experiences over the two countries: “Students that I have taught between China and Japan have contrasting personalities, where Japanese children tend to be smaller in shape and Chinese students are bolder and advanced in coordination. The Chinese enjoy taking private classes for study to gain a more targeted learning, whereas the Japanese feel more motivation within a group class.” These varied customs of Sakida’s students has also contributed to his experience as a coach, improving his coaching abilities as well. Moreover, he has also importance of how the contrasting cultures of Japan and China was reflected through a simple sport, as Sakida has learned the value of each group of students he has been with. That being said, the coach claimed that he, personally, enjoys coaching classes consisting of 4-6 students.

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In addition to his own favor, he has also realized an essential part of each individual student: “I also hold the value that no matter from what country, students are all my students. They all can be the one shining out of others, as long as they are willing to communicate and learn with me, improving together.”

Greatness within numerous struggles: Life in the beginning

Life in China could contrast greatly as that of living in Japan, for Sakida too, in some aspects. Transferring life to China beginning 2014, the majority of locals accepted foreigners directly, so it wasn’t as difficult for a man like him. Everyone was offering help, and experiences where Sakida was insulted or mistreated were only few. However, changes in terms of daily customs has been a challenge in his life, where Japanese citizens have a greatly contrasting way of living than the Chinese. When Sakida was firs exposed to life in Beijing, Chinese habits were completely a new stage for him, with numerous difficulties in terms of language. Unease did find its way through him as a Japanese too. The man unfamiliar to the new country told of his struggles, “Taxi drivers avoid the short route when carrying me, and even worse, I was once let out of a taxi because of my Japanese identity. People also gave e fake money in exchange, even at the bank.” With turbulent first years in China, Sakida did strike obstacles in addition to the smooth acceptance.

       Along the same lines, communication habits has also been a struggle to Sakida for quite a while. Sakida first mentioned how he has a high respect towards the quality of the Japanese; contrastingly, the cultural and personal quality of each individual in China varies, so communicating with some people of a relatively lower quality has been an mental obstacle to him at first. Altogether, the Chinese culture may not value a social distance when communicating as much as the Japanese culture, which has brought some tensions of struggles among Sakida when speaking with some locals. He explained for this reason, “Because the majority of my values were mainly developed throughout my life in Japan, the tendency to be respectful of everyone’s communicating space sets a gap between the way the Chinese do.”

Despite difficulties that lighted some discomfort, Sakida addressed that most people he encountered accepted and enjoyed spending time with him, therefore the man decided to stay in Beijing since then.

Those aside him:

Tracking back to Sakida’s first times in China, challenges did accompany him, but as well as people support.

When I asked Sakida about this topic, he shared an individual that contributed to much of his success: “I attempted in creating my own company in 2014-2015, beginning to find myself into independent life in Beijing; yet as a new foreigner, I had no idea how. One major support was from a Chinese consultant of mine—with him covering for organizing my files, handling visas, and going through formalities.” This became big step forward into Sakida’s own tennis career, and thus his success had a great correlation with his amazing consultant.

Furthermore, the coach also adjusted deeper into this Chinese community within eight years of arrival. As he fulfilled his personal relationship within a Chinese woman, this has greatly improved Sakida’s Chinese skills as well as increased his knowledge of the Chinese culture. He claimed how gaining the chance to get in contact with a greater variety of the Chinese was an inseparable part to it.

Student as a teacher:

“Within my early times in Beijing, I had a student who was willing to teach me about this culture and Chinese, which I am more than grateful of. Though I struggled to thoroughly organize my responses, every advice he offered back gave me a great chance to improve. As I used my tennis abilities to improve his playing skills, he did so as well giving me great support in Chinese.” Reflected Sakida, explaining how his former student played an significant role in his growth as a citizen in China.

The strike of the pandemic:

The COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years has set a big influence on the lives of tennis players, as well as coaches like Sakida. Numerous tennis courts have been at a force closure due to the crisis.

Sakida told of the influence on himself: “The Chinese regulations on the current issue has left me the only Japanese tennis coach of our organization in China, as before there were four. As a result, the benefit to me has been the stableness of my current job, which is why I see my future in this country too.” Though there can be an increasing difficulty in life in this current day and age in China, it also led to a benefit in Sakida’s job as a coach too.

Simultaneously, about his personal life, Sakida had also taken time to visit and see the beauties of this fascinating country of varied cultures the years before. From the warriors of Xi’an to the gorgeous views of Lijiang to the dim sum of Guangdong, he stated that his knowledge of these cultures deep inside China’s roots have grown, greater over recent years as well.

Why Beijing? Beginning my career as a fitness coach in Tokyo, I came to Beijing alongside the cooperation between my former organization in Japan and a tennis team in Beijing. Currently, I train with tennis players in Beijing as their coach, focusing on the development of junior tennis players in the Chinese national team.