Day 5
Amy Goetz and Jill Siegel | March 17, 2008
With two days left, we were ready to face our busiest day yet! We started at Bloomberg Tokyo, the interactive financial news network. While there, we toured the elaborate, modern office and media center. We then heard a presentation on Bloomberg’s business culture from Bloomberg employee Mikiko Moriya. Mikiko-san told the group about the vast opportunities available at Bloomberg locations in 146 countries.
Renowned author Bradley Martin fascinated the group with stories of his work as a foreign correspondent. Mr. Martin has worked in Japan as well as various other countries across Asia. He has spent much of his career focusing on North Korea. Mr. Martin explained to the group of eager young professionals that the most extreme form of PR can be found in North Korea. The entire North Korean culture is based around propaganda, pure and simple, along with fear.
After Bloomberg, we toured grounds around the Imperial Palace where we had a brief Japanese history lesson taught by our fearless tour guide, Hiromi Sumiyoshi.
We then headed to the American Embassy where the press attaché to the ambassador, David Marks, advised the group on opportunities in the state department. Mr. Marks earned his master’s at Indiana University, and told us how useful he found his IU education.
We were lucky enough to spend quite some time with the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Thomas “Tom” Schieffer. Today, Asia has the most opportunity for economic advancement, as well as difficulty, according to Schieffer. Japan, with the second largest economy in the world, continues to be a country that drives the world economy. Schieffer discussed with group the importance of the American presence in Japan to not only the United States and Japan, but also the entire world. Schieffer explained that by being in Japan, the U.S. has the ability to monitor the “sharp edges” that threaten the world.
Ambassador Schieffer encouraged the group to work for the government. He told us of the internship program that prepares young adults for working in a career in foreign affairs. He continued on, and stated that by working for the United States, you are privileged to meet very intellectual, thoughtful people. Also, the ambassador said he felt he has a “front row seat in history” doing a job he is proud to do and thoroughly enjoys.
Ambassador Schieffer gave our group some advice: he said that young people have a tendency to try and flip to the last chapter of our book. Instead, he said we should focus on the now as the last chapter has yet to be written.
While still at the embassy, we were then joined by Newsweek bureau chief, Christian Caryl. After a brief session, the floor was opened for a question and answer session in which Caryl moved the group with his stories of working as a foreign correspondent. After our fascinating session with Caryl, it was time to leave the embassy and head to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (FCCJ).
Sophie Hardach of Reuters led us on a tour of the FCCJ and answered our questions about working abroad and in Japan. Hardach is the lifestyle and arts editor for Reuters in Tokyo. Generally, the stories Reuters focuses on business and economics. Therefore, the stories Hardach writes and edits are tailored to be relevant to the global Reuters reader.
Hardach also told the group about the Reuters graduate traineeship, or internship program. She said that working in any country with a culture that differs from your own requires adjustment. With some assignments in fashion, Hardach says she is able to see a reflection of society. She continued our discussion with the benefits of joining the Foreign Correspondents Club – it is a great place for networking.
Later that evening, a few students went out on the town and explored Tokyo after dark. Classmate Lauren Bristow’s longtime friend, Kana Suziki, showed us around the Roppongi area known for its nightlife.
Sayonara,
Amy-san and Jill-san
Renowned author Bradley Martin fascinated the group with stories of his work as a foreign correspondent. Mr. Martin has worked in Japan as well as various other countries across Asia. He has spent much of his career focusing on North Korea. Mr. Martin explained to the group of eager young professionals that the most extreme form of PR can be found in North Korea. The entire North Korean culture is based around propaganda, pure and simple, along with fear.
After Bloomberg, we toured grounds around the Imperial Palace where we had a brief Japanese history lesson taught by our fearless tour guide, Hiromi Sumiyoshi.
We then headed to the American Embassy where the press attaché to the ambassador, David Marks, advised the group on opportunities in the state department. Mr. Marks earned his master’s at Indiana University, and told us how useful he found his IU education.
We were lucky enough to spend quite some time with the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Thomas “Tom” Schieffer. Today, Asia has the most opportunity for economic advancement, as well as difficulty, according to Schieffer. Japan, with the second largest economy in the world, continues to be a country that drives the world economy. Schieffer discussed with group the importance of the American presence in Japan to not only the United States and Japan, but also the entire world. Schieffer explained that by being in Japan, the U.S. has the ability to monitor the “sharp edges” that threaten the world.
Ambassador Schieffer encouraged the group to work for the government. He told us of the internship program that prepares young adults for working in a career in foreign affairs. He continued on, and stated that by working for the United States, you are privileged to meet very intellectual, thoughtful people. Also, the ambassador said he felt he has a “front row seat in history” doing a job he is proud to do and thoroughly enjoys.
Ambassador Schieffer gave our group some advice: he said that young people have a tendency to try and flip to the last chapter of our book. Instead, he said we should focus on the now as the last chapter has yet to be written.
While still at the embassy, we were then joined by Newsweek bureau chief, Christian Caryl. After a brief session, the floor was opened for a question and answer session in which Caryl moved the group with his stories of working as a foreign correspondent. After our fascinating session with Caryl, it was time to leave the embassy and head to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (FCCJ).
Sophie Hardach of Reuters led us on a tour of the FCCJ and answered our questions about working abroad and in Japan. Hardach is the lifestyle and arts editor for Reuters in Tokyo. Generally, the stories Reuters focuses on business and economics. Therefore, the stories Hardach writes and edits are tailored to be relevant to the global Reuters reader.
Hardach also told the group about the Reuters graduate traineeship, or internship program. She said that working in any country with a culture that differs from your own requires adjustment. With some assignments in fashion, Hardach says she is able to see a reflection of society. She continued our discussion with the benefits of joining the Foreign Correspondents Club – it is a great place for networking.
Later that evening, a few students went out on the town and explored Tokyo after dark. Classmate Lauren Bristow’s longtime friend, Kana Suziki, showed us around the Roppongi area known for its nightlife.
Sayonara,
Amy-san and Jill-san
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