Nana Hoshino

STAFF INTERVIEW: Nana Hoshino (Accounts Coordinator)

Nana Hoshino works in student affairs alongside Yoko Hikosaka.

Jon: Can you tell me a little bit about what you do here at Yamasa?
Nana Hoshino A range of things. Dealing with students enquiries, producing documents, taking payments and so on.
J: Are you doing a similar job to Yoko Hikosaka?
H: Yes, pretty much. We work together doing similar things that are split between the two of us.

J: What were you doing before you started working at Yamasa?
H: I worked in a flower shop in Nagoya, and did some temp work in Okazaki.

J: Do you live in the area?
H: Yes, I live in Okazaki.
J: How long have you lived in Okazaki?
H: All my life.

J: What do you think of Okazaki as a city, compared with somewhere like Nagoya?
H: I think it's a very easy, comfortable place to live.

J: What do you do in your spare time?
H: I like to watch movies and go shopping.
J: And what kind of movies do you go and see?
H: Dramas and love stories; my favourite movie is 'Chocolate'.
J: What is the most recent film you've seen?
H: I saw the new Star Wars movie, Episode 2.
J: I've been planning on seeing that for a while, was it good?
H: Yeh, it was brilliant!

J: Many of the staff in student affairs can speak at least one other language. How about yourself?
H: A little bit of English, but I'm not fluent.
J: Though you understand most of what an English speaker says?
H: Yes, however, when somebody speaks very quickly it can become difficult.

J: Where did you study English?
H: At university. I also went to Chicago in the U.S. for 4 months to study.
J: Did you find it a good experience?
H: Yes, it was great. I still want to learn more.

J: You told me about what you do when your not working, but what about your hobbies?
H: Apart from watching movies I like concerts, going to museums and listening to R&B music. I went to a Janet Jackson concert earlier this year in Osaka.

J: Tell me about your family.
H: There are 7 people in my family - my 2 parents and 2 grandparents and 2 younger brothers. We all live in the same house together.
J: Wow! it must be a big house!?
H: It can get noisy at times.

J: Getting back to your job; what do you find is the most difficult aspect of it?
H: The money. I can't seem to remember all the different prices for the courses and accommodation. Also, trying to remember the student's names can be hard.
J: I have that problem as well. I recognize the face, but not always the name........And the good aspects of the job?
H: Meeting all the different students is probably the most enjoyable part of the job.

J: What are your future plans after you finish working at Yamasa?
H: Someday I would like to run my own flowershop.
J: So you have a strong interest in flowers?
H: Yes, I like making bouquets, for example, wedding bouquets.

J: And finally....what's it really like working in student affairs?
H: Everybody is very friendly, and the jokes (oyajigyagu) that Toh Bansho and another member of the office come up with are funny but sometimes really awful!!

Return to top of page