Students deepen their learning at the Faculty of Economics
Leveraging the economic perspective he had developed over four years, he engaged in job hunting with an eye on the future
Going to university is not the goal in life. What thoughts do students who have deepened their learning in the Faculty of Economics have as they take flight into society? We spoke to four students who will be stepping out into society in the spring of 2023 about their growth in the Faculty of Economics and the untold stories of their job hunting experiences.
Ryota Sudo
Graduated from Chiba Prefectural Kemigawa High School
Mizutome Yuri
Graduated from Japan Women's University Senior High School, Tokyo
Honokaze Tanii
Graduated from Chiba Prefectural Funabashi Higashi High School
Yoshimori Sasaki
Graduated from Akita Prefectural Yokote High School
The years of employment, positions, activities, etc. of people appearing in this special feature are all current at the time of the interview.
Roundtable discussion with current students
■Everyone has their own vision for the future. What motivates them to take the next step?
--First of all, please tell us why you chose your workplace.
MizutomeI wanted to make many people happy, regardless of age or gender, through consumer goods that are essential to daily life, so I applied to a beverage manufacturer.I also had been proactively involved in various things since my university days, such as studying abroad in the United States and being active in the golf club, so I was attracted to the corporate culture that encourages challenges and the global environment.
TaniiI wanted to work in a position where I could be a part of someone's life's turning points, so I applied to the human resources industry, which supports people's career choices. Also, because I'm a curious person, I also valued an environment where I could experience a variety of jobs. I was attracted to the system that allows me to apply for assignment to various departments, so I decided to join the company.
Sasaki: My family is a farming family in Akita, and I plan to take over the family business in the future. I thought that in order to one day take on and develop the business as a full-fledged farmer, I would need practical knowledge of business and finance, so I decided to get a job at a local bank that is highly trusted.
Sudo: I studied abroad in the United States for a year starting in the summer of my third year of university. Living in a different culture and interacting with friends from overseas made me realize once again the charm of Japanese scenery and culture. In particular, when I returned to Japan with a local friend, I was particularly impressed by how pleased he was with the magnificent scenery and traditional culture of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, which I showed him around. I chose the tourism industry because I wanted to spread the charm of each region of Japan to the world.
■Job hunting that involved trial and error while considering one's own ideal future.
What did you keep in mind when job hunting?
Mizutome: Don't narrow your horizons, but deepen your understanding of as many industries and occupations as possible. As I researched occupations and companies I didn't know about before, my options expanded and I began to see my aptitude. Aoyama Gakuin offers many opportunities to deepen your understanding of occupations. In particular, the website "Web Ash," a career and employment support system exclusively for Aoyama Gakuin students, allowed me to find a list of places where my seniors had worked and company information, which was very helpful.
Tanii
Aoyama Gakuin University provides very generous support to students, which is reassuring. During the summer vacation, I also had the opportunity to participate in an internship through the university. After participating, I received detailed feedback from the Career and Employment Center, such as future challenges and what I should do to step up, which allowed me to proceed with my job search with peace of mind.
Like
Mizutome Sudo, in order to broaden my horizons, I contacted graduates working in a wide range of fields, such as companies and government ministries, to learn about their work and industries. I remember that by hearing directly from them, I was able to get real information and gain a deeper understanding of the profession. I was also able to learn about the enthusiastic work ethic of my seniors, which increased my motivation to find employment.
Sasaki: I was conscious of smooth communication during the interview. There was a lot of group work in seminars and classes at the Faculty of Economics, so I acquired the ability to listen and communicate. Interviews can be a time when you worry about whether you can speak well, but by understanding the intention of the interviewer's questions, I was able to respond appropriately and convey my true self.
--But have you ever had any difficulties? And how did you overcome them?
Tanii: "I had a hard time finding out what I really wanted to do. When I first started job hunting, I didn't have a clear goal, and I gradually began to feel impatient. At times like that, my friends were there to support me. Talking to them about my worries eased my mind, and they told me about my strengths from an objective point of view, which helped me gain confidence.
Sudo: I had to start job hunting immediately after returning from studying abroad, so it was hard for me to switch my mindset. My professor in the seminar was concerned about me and kindly gave me advice, which helped me to get a positive attitude and concentrate on my job even in a short period of time.
■The moment when an economic perspective connected with society.
--Has the knowledge and experience you gained in the Faculty of Economics been useful in your job search?
TaniiThe bookkeeping knowledge I acquired in class helped me interpret the financial statements of companies. Financial statements are difficult to understand without knowledge, but they are actually valuable data that can tell us about a company's strengths and weaknesses. I spoke in the interview based on that information, and was evaluated as being "data-based and persuasive."
MizutomeEconomics has a strong connection to the real world, so there are many situations where it can be applied. My experience studying regional economics at the Department of Contemporary Economic Design has been a big help to me. The beverage manufacturer I will be working for has bases all over the country, so relationships with each region will be important. I think that being exposed to the problems facing local governments across the country and the unique cultures of each region through my classes will be a big advantage in my future work.
Sudo: The Department of Contemporary Economic Design is unique in that it allows students to study local areas while using economic theory. I also became interested in local tax systems and urban development after learning about regional revitalization in my seminar. This may have been what made me want to work in a regional setting.
Sasaki: My knowledge is a little different from practical knowledge, but the logical thinking skills I developed in the Faculty of Economics helped me to proceed efficiently with my job search. In macroeconomics, we consider the results obtained when moving "variables" under the functional concepts of "variables" and "fixed values." If you apply this theory to job hunting, the way you speak and behave in an interview is a variable that can be improved immediately. By conducting my job search from this perspective, I was able to make steady progress.
--Please tell us how you would like to contribute to society in the future.
TaniiWe live in an age where we need to think about how we work in line with our life plans and dreams for the future. That is why, through my work in human resources, I want to help each and every person to enrich their lives.
Sasaki: My big goal at the moment is to make farming a more familiar occupation. I want to spread the appeal of agriculture from the perspective of young people and take on the role of the next generation. To achieve this, I would like to first improve my skills at my new workplace and get closer to my dream one step at a time.
Mizudome: First of all, I want to learn the job one by one, and in the future, I want to work overseas. I think that Japan's highly skilled manufacturing is something we can be proud of on a global scale. I want to convey the appeal of this to people all over the world and become a bridge between Japan and the world.
Sudo: I want to contribute to revitalizing Japan's regions through tourism. I want to utilize the skills I've acquired in the Faculty of Economics, absorb new knowledge, and come up with ideas to help more people learn about the charms of these regions.
Current Student Interview
Use logical thinking to "quantify" the mechanisms of the economy,
Approaching social issues
＜2022 Academic Achievement Award Winner＞
Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design, 4th year
Yurika Kashima
Having always wanted to be involved in some way in solving the world's poverty problem, Kashima entered the Department of Contemporary Economic Design to learn about the economic situation in developing countries. While deepening his understanding of statistics and development economics, he is working hard every day with the aim of becoming active on the global stage.
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Looking ahead to the future after studying with passion
Global success and contribution to Japanese society
Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design, 4th year
Keita Sekiguchi
Sekiguchi enrolled in the Department of Contemporary Economic Design because he wanted to contribute to Japanese society as a Japanese person. After studying abroad, he vowed to become a businessperson who will play an active role on the world stage, and is now graduating.
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Dreaming of one day making an impact on the international stage
Aiming to go to graduate school in the UK
＜2021 Academic Achievement Award Grand Prize Winner＞
Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design, 4th year
Zhuang Liyang
Zhuang is enrolled in a regional course studying "regions and communities" and is researching various population-related issues. He is intent on absorbing knowledge as he aims to go on to graduate school in the UK with the goal of working for the United Nations in the future.
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During his job search, he participated in an overseas internship.
My dream of working on a global stage came true
Faculty of Economics, Department of Economics, 4th year
Sotaro Kimura
Kimura studied abroad at a university in London for one year with the goal of experiencing an overseas internship. His experience working at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) London office promoting Japan also helped him land a job at a government organization.
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Seminar Interview
Public Choice Theory, Local Government Finance
Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design
Professor Masashi Nishikawa × Misaki Oto
The Department of Contemporary Economic Design aims to design economic systems (regulations) from a "public" perspective to create a society in which everyone can live comfortably. Nishikawa's seminar tackles research themes from a wide range of perspectives.
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Graduate Interview
As a "banker representative of Japan," I connect people with a spirit of harmony
Mitsubishi UFJ Bank
New York Branch Houston Office
Vice President
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics
Kosuke Suzuki
Suzuki is currently based in Houston, Texas, USA. He is in charge of providing support to Japanese companies expanding into the area, mainly by providing loans, in solving management issues. "It's my joy to see my customers and colleagues happy, and that's what makes my job rewarding," he says.
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Message from the Dean
Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Professor of the Department of Economics
Hiraide Naomichi
Specialty: Economic history
■Economics is a deep and fascinating subject that invites inquisitiveness.
Humans have a strong desire to inquire. And that desire supports universities. So what do we explore in the Faculty of Economics? This may seem sudden, but I have no farmland, tools, machines, or technology. Therefore, I cannot grow flax or cotton, spin thread, or weave cloth, nor can I grow, harvest, or process grains or vegetables. And yet, I have lived for more than 60 years without interruption. I am not alone. Although the times may have passed at different times, all people should have survived since birth. How did this come about? The Faculty of Economics is a place to explore this. Think about it. How we have come to exist, or have existed, is not something that can be explained simply. It is based on many factors. Therefore, the research themes of our faculty members are also very diverse. In this way, economics is a profound subject. And economics is a fascinating subject that invites curiosity.
Messages from faculty members of each department
Professor, Faculty of Economics, Department of Economics
Shigeru Matsumoto
Specialization: Environmental economics, agricultural economics
経済活動が環境に与える影響をエンジニアリングと経済学の複眼的視点でとらえる
（AGU RESEARCH）
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Combining engineering and economics perspectives
(AGU RESEARCH)
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■The impact of economic activity on the environment. What can we do now to protect the future?
The appeal of environmental economics
Traditionally, economics has contributed to economic growth by proposing ways to make market transactions of goods and services easier. However, if we look a little more closely at our daily lives, we will notice that we obtain various goods and services directly from the environment without going through the market. Leisure activities at the sea or in the mountains are one easy-to-understand example of this. If market transactions damage the environment, they will deprive future generations of their benefits. Based on this awareness, environmental economics has rapidly developed since the late 1970s as a research field that analyzes the economy, including its impact on the environment. Many environmental problems are caused by human economic activities. Many researchers around the world are now studying a variety of environmental issues. As the 2021 climate change conference COP26 has attracted global attention, the compatibility of the environment and the economy is currently the hottest topic.
●Message to students
I am personally interested in environmental problems caused by people's consumption behavior and the measures to correct them. In my classes, we also cover many research topics closely related to daily life, such as energy conservation and recycling. My research style is "start with yourself." Using your knowledge of economics, develop your interests and unravel the relationship between preserving the global environment and economic activity. It is also fun to get a glimpse of human behavior patterns through research, as it helps you understand people's feelings. I believe that if you acquire an economic perspective, it will be very useful when you face various problems.
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design
Tanaka Ayumu
Specialization: Global economy, public regional policy (international), economic and financial situation (international), world economy
■ Understand the dynamics of the international economic wave that is changing our lives
The appeal of international economics
Currently, the economy that drives society cannot be considered within the scope of only one country or one region. The rapid progress of globalization is fluctuating the world's economic balance on a daily basis. This has various effects on ordinary workers. Even in Japan, there are many research topics such as the pros and cons of the foreign technical intern training program, the decrease in work places due to the relocation of production bases overseas, and the advancement of foreign capital. In order to tackle such issues, knowledge of labor economics is required in addition to international economics. Personally, I am currently discussing with a professor at the University of Hawaii, and together we analyzed a huge amount of data to explore how Japanese workers are affected in terms of wages, and we have also revealed the small wage gap between men and women in foreign-affiliated companies. How will the dynamic movement of the multinational economy change our lives? Analyzing this and considering solutions to a better situation is the real joy of international economics.
●Message to students
Economics is one of the most internationalized disciplines in the humanities. You will have to read English academic papers, and data analysis will require knowledge of statistics and the ability to use analytical software. It may be difficult at first, but as your understanding improves, it will undoubtedly become more interesting. It is a good idea to reach out to a wide range of fields, come into contact with new knowledge and ideas, and find your own research topic and dig deeper. Please discover that the Department of Contemporary Economic Design and the study of international economics offer the joy of deep exploration.
Faculty Interviews
Statistics is rapidly spreading in modern society
Statistical literacy required for today's data science
Faculty of Economics Department of Economics
Associate Professor Tamae Kawasaki
Associate Professor Kawasaki's research involves analyzing huge amounts of big data using statistical methods to gain new perspectives that were previously invisible. Associate Professor Kawasaki explains the importance of having statistical literacy and using data correctly.
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Predicting population distribution for the next few decades by block and district
Providing basic data for urban and disaster prevention planning
Faculty of Economics, Department of Contemporary Economic Design
Professor Takashi Inoue
Professor Inoue's research involves estimating future populations for each small area (town and district) across the country, and building a web system for this purpose. Professor Inoue proposes a new method that incorporates the idea of "population potential," a classic theory in population geography.
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The history of Japanese economy seen through salt
Faculty of Economics Department of Economics
Professor Isao Ochiai
Professor Ochiai has been studying "salt" for 30 years. He says that through salt, various aspects of Japanese economic history can be seen, such as the activities of merchants and labor issues. And by studying one subject deeply, a different "world" can be seen.
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A Doctor of Science's Thoughts on SDGs
-Sustainability of civilized society-
Faculty of Economics General Education and Foreign Language Courses
Professor Kazutaka Kishida
Professor Kishida has been involved in research into particle and nuclear physics at the RIKEN Institute. One of his current research themes is the SDGs. Professor Kishida will explain the sustainability of civilized society and the SDGs-related projects he has worked on with his students.
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