Mr. Otsuki

Mr. Otsuki is a translator, a Japanese man who speaks fluent Chinese. He has spent and will spend the majority of his life in a foreign country. His experiences could be explained as unparalleled. I was absolutely amused by Mr. Otsuki’s accomplishments and decisions over all these years, from his experience first encountering China to his varied contributions over time to his continuously lit spirit in his own goal. Mr. Otsuki explained to me his story at the beginning of his life in China, also the spark that brought up the fire of his career.

I was born in Sendai, Japan, having studied college in Tokyo and then transferring to Osaka and beginning my full-time employment. As a former worker in a Japanese trading company, I had the intention to originate my own company with my abilities, becoming independent from my first job in 1998. Before, in 1979, I first came in contact with China through my period of studying abroad at Shanghai’s Fudan University, where I embarked on my learning of the Chinese language. Returning to Japan after my scholarship, I was sent to China and designated the role of communicating the exportation of Japanese products to China within my trading company. During that time period, I spent more than half of each year in China, with the rest spent in Japan guiding Chinese tourists to familiarize themselves with the process of our Japanese product creations. A majority of my early economic career was spent making contact with the Chinese, which was still a relatively foreign country to me at the time.

As a foreigner, especially from a country provoking sensitivity in China, Mr. Otsuki’s life accommodating to China was set with numerous obstacles. Acceptance among the Chinese was a major aspect of that, yet Mr. Otsuki always had his way of joining society.

When I first began my college life in China, the whole university only had 20 Japanese students; yet, I always aimed to socialize with the local Chinese students for the benefit of my Chinese, rarely spending time with those of my origin. I always enjoyed making Chinese friends, despite the fact that I may be a lot older in school. Even though they sometimes may joke about my language skills, I would always be seeking for advice about my Chinese, for their words mean no harm and also stimulate my eagerness to learn even more. At that time without the existence of smartphones, I grew a lot and gained much experience spending time with these Chinese peers, both in terms of the Chinese language and customs of daily life. As years passed by, I gradually became capable of understanding the difficult language, though I still struggled with the ability to fully express myself through words. Now, having spent more than 20 years in China, my Chinese is mainly fluent.

An inquisitive learner

The elderly man’s inquisitive spirit as a student gave him my admiration as well, while I noted Mr. Otsuki’s recount of how he sought help among those in his school that I never thought could be possible.

Because I came to China through an opportunity of studying abroad in a foreign country, the majority of my classes were filled with foreigners like me. Thus, I always valued the Chinese students around our campus as I would often take the initiative to ask for help. They would sometimes make jokes and act sarcastic about my actions and words; they were all filled with humor without insult. Therefore, I never felt excluded or ignored. Together with my Chinese classmates, we might occasionally joke about the rivalry between China and Japan. Still, we all see each other as kind friends, and it is always comfortable and natural when we are together. The relationship between the two countries was not an obstacle to the relationship I had with my Chinese friends, as well as my connection with China. These friends from my college would always be accepting of my questions and always respond with “sure” or “no problem” to my request for support on Chinese after courses. Back then, communication methods were not as advanced, so they had lots of spare time after assignments. For them, tutoring me may be a way to effectively spend time while also gaining new experiences.

Changes in front of his eyes

It is definite that China has been through many stages of development and changed majorly over the past decades, and Mr. Otsuki was there to experience them himself. Mr. Otsuki shared his perspective on the changes he experienced.

From the time of China’s reform until today, its society and economy have been through significant changes. If the country continues on the path that it has been raking over the past decades, I oversee China as the most powerful and successful country in the world in just 20 years. Though recognizing itself as a developing country, China is already far beyond its definition of it.

Additionally, Mr. Otsuki, as a Japanese man, also noted his view of the difference in the progression of Japan throughout his years in China as a contrast.

In great contrast, the progression of Japan moves much slower than China—majorly reflected by the actions both countries have taken during the COVID-19 crisis. China, having quickly acted upon controlling the spread of the disease, has advanced greatly in tracking systems that aid the control of the virus. The Japanese tend to carefully think over decisions and strategies before action, always concerning the opinion of each citizen. There must always be pros and cons to situations in life; thus, under these circumstances, the development of Japan will never reach a higher state as the country’s government always stays loyal to its traditional “way of doing.”

Bumps on the road

Coming to Mr. Otsuki’s career, being a translator between Japanese and Chinese is a job of high needs, yet Mr. Otsuki has the ability to be one. Despite his advanced language skills, challenges in Japan gave Mr. Otsuki many struggles throughout the starting stages of his translation company that aimed to translate contracts and documents between the two languages.

In the early 2000s, the Chinese policy was not as complete and open, therefore having many restrictions to creating a company back then. There were numerous requirements for the establishment of Sino-Japanese joint ventures, and China and Japan did not recognize the establishment of individual companies at that time. Due to the difference in pathways to start a company in China from those in Japan, I can only rely on an agency to set up my business. However, some agencies back then were not qualified, using short-cut methods to open a business, which I chose not to follow and took the challenging path of creating a company. Now, these situations are a lot more convenient, for they can be completed by foreign-funded enterprises alone. At that time, starting a business for a foreigner like me was extremely difficult.

As mentioned above, running into struggles with cultural aspects in China was beyond normal for Mr. Otsuki. Yet, his career was a major one of it.

Undoubtedly, my biggest struggle with the difference in culture is my current job as a translator. Before I served as an oral translator and interpreter, I was able to conduct my job with face-to-face clients, getting to see their emotions and expressions. Yet now as a digital translator, I am only limited to words when I work; therefore, there are often times when I struggle to convey the exact meaning of a Chinese phrase to Japanese. Many words in both languages contrast metaphorically and meaningly, increasing the chance of indirect translation if not translated with the correct representing phrase. Moreover, the Chinese and Japanese cultural difference also varies in their customs, attitude, and expression methods. I have also come to struggle to find the right words for the right audience while meeting different people in China.

Paying it forward

Every foreigner in China meets those who are willing to step into their lives and offer support, as well as Mr. Otsuki too. However, Mr. Otsuki’s interesting view of this intrigued me deeply throughout his explanation in the interview.

There are way too many who once supported me, all in terms of my career and life. However, even if I feel thankful and gratefully appreciate them, I do not want to return their help. My growth and success today have been a major result of their actions; thus, I believe what they want to see is for me to pass on that kindness to others. Back in the days when I was working in Japan, my boss never let me pay any time when we hung out for meals. His words once left an unforgettable mark in my mind. I offered to take the bill once, yet he said this to me: “Don’t worry, because one day, you will have your subordinate workers whom you will use your money to treat.

His words and actions are why this phrase still stays in my heart today. Those that once helped me will wish me to use help others the same way, passing on the warm heart to complete the dream of others.

The voice in his heart

His words to China expressed a point I always agreed to and want to share as well.

I have something I want to say to the world, and not just the Chinese: Your ethnicity is not your choice. Your parents make up your background, and you will follow theirs. Because of this, people should not all be distinguished by their nationality. One cannot be defined as high or successful because of who you are. I believe that there is no necessary difference between men and women because we are all humans part of this living. Everyone begins with a unique experience, and there should be no advantage or definition based on those. I have encountered and contacted friends of all ages and backgrounds, yet they are all friends of mine. No one treats me differently because of my age.

Mr. Otsuki has opened me to many new fascinating views of our society, just within only 15 minutes of our conversation. His use of his ability to connect the two countries—Japan and China—throughout his life is what made him stand out as unique to the other Japanese people in China.