JBusiness Forum 2022 Student Presentations
Beau Pray ＆ Whytnee Hollingsworth – UNC Charlotte:
Diversity in Japan’s Technical Division
This presentation examines diversity and inclusion within Japanese firms and their accessibility products as they relate to the concept of Uchi and Soto. Using an automobile manufacturer, Subaru, and a video game entertainment conglomerate, Nintendo, as points of reference, this presentation will explore the nature of diversity in Japan’s technical division. Additionally, comparisons amongst competing firms, domestically and internationally, will support an investigation into the differences between these companies.
Veronica Pérez – Kennesaw State University:
Internship at TOTO USA
TOTO USA is a subsidiary of TOTO, an internationally recognized manufacturer of luxury bathroom products. As a multinational organization, TOTO USA consists of a diverse population of employees, many of which have traveled to the United States as expatriates from Japan. The goals of my internship with TOTO USA involved providing English language tutoring for these expatriates, who varied across both proficiency levels and areas of interest. Additionally, through my perspective as an American citizen, I guided the expatriates through their process of acculturation in the US, specifically here in my state of Georgia. Sessions varied in structure, content, and objective. Every one of my students was incredibly driven and inspiring, motivating me to make every effort to help create a mutual learning exchange. Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are necessary and immensely powerful. Not only were the expatriates able to share perspectives from their different experiences, but their doing so enabled me to find connecting points between us from my own background.
This internship experience brought welcome challenges, rewards, and lasting lessons that I will carry with me into my professional experiences. Because other employees from different language backgrounds also expressed interest in participation in a program like this, I hope that this internship has served as a viable program for TOTO USA expatriates to pursue.
Sebastian Allman & Jade Franklin – Baylor University:
Takarazuka and Emotional Labor
Many industries in Japan require extensive emotional labor to maintain famously high standards of customer service. This study sought to evaluate the relationship between emotional labor and Takarazuka Revue actresses.
Through collaboration with University students from Seinan Gakuin in Japan, my American partner and I were able to examine the various avenues through which the Takarazuka Revue caters to CS with a specific interest on how this affects the actresses on and offstage. We approached this topic by examining CS media concerning the Revue such as affiliated and unofficial fan websites. These sources in combination with interviews given by current and former actresses allowed an examination of how experiences in the industry continue to impact the performer’s lives.
Our analysis found a strong relationship between emotional labor and Takarazuka Revue actresses. Qualitative research indicates Takarazuka actresses experince a high-cost low-reward emotional labor both on and off the stage. A few examples of aforementioned labor costs in Takarazuka include:
- Endurance of long rehearsal hours (13+ per day).
- “Purity, Honesty, and Beauty” (清く正しく美しく) Takarazuka School Mottol for Actresses in their career
- Performers are unable to marry until retirement
- Secretive promotion processes for becoming a trope star
- Otokoyaku in particular must maintain the fantasy of their genre off the stage for the sake of their fans
In conclusion, Takrarazuka actresses experience an exorbitant amount of emotional labor both on and off stage. Our research affirms emotional labor practices in Takarazuka Revue, but raises questions about the promotion of specific actresses over others and their gender identities. Future research into this topic may find the CS relationship of Takarazuka fans to the actresses useful in providing additional context for Takarazian emotional labor.