Aug. 31 - Today's guest blogger works in the Visa Section of the American Consulate General in Osaka. He writes about how his mother, a Japanese entrepreneur, inspired his own life.
- Jim
Inspiration from My Mother
My parents and me on the UC Berkeley campus
We are seeing more and more women entrepreneurs in Japan these days, and my mother is one of those. She established her own computer software company at home more than 20 years ago. Not only did she establish her own company, Yumekobo Co., Ltd., but she has also helped women by hiring only women, and later by broadening gender equality as a representative of the women entrepreneurs' group of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce.
She was proud to receive the Prime Minister's Award in June 2009 in recognition of her long-time gender equality activities. And her experience of living in America played an important role in making her a strong woman entrepreneur who could contribute to broadening gender equality activities in Japan. Let me share her story.
A recent family photo with my parents in front. I'm standing second from left with my family; my brother is in the middle with his family; and my sister is on the right.
When she first met my father more than 30 years ago at university, she was one of only a very few female students majoring in mathematics. Although she was good at mathematics and science, she had difficulties with English. My father was quite good at English and was running his university's English Speaking Society, where they met and fell in love with each other.
Some years later, my father was given the opportunity to study for an M.S. in architecture at the University of California at Berkeley, on a scholarship paid for by his company. I was not yet 1 year old and my mother was on child-care leave. Her only choice was to stick with her company or resign to accompany my father to the U.S., so she chose to resign.
My mother is receiving her award from then Prime Minister Taro Aso.
They always joked about how much my father missed Japan, while my mother wanted to stay longer in the U.S. She loved being among the independent women she met there and was very inspired by America's open society, where mothers can keep their jobs even after they give birth. U.S. companies allow mothers to work continuously, unlike in Japan.
I am very thankful to my father, who gave my mother the precious experience of living in California. That led to my mother eventually winning the Prime Minister's award. Furthermore, my own precious experience of living in the U.S. made me want to study at an American university and also to work with the U.S. government. I am very proud of my parents.
- Yoichi Tanaka
