Interviewee：
Qin Chang, now with Avex Music Creative Inc., graduated from the Graduate School of Political Science in 2023.
Discovering Japanese culture by chance and taking on video production at Waseda University.
My interest in Japanese language and culture began when I enrolled in university as a Japanese-language major after taking . I’d always wanted to study other cultures, but Japan was simply one of several options. After I began studying Japanese at university, I gradually started exploring anime and other aspects of Japanese culture. I was also a K-pop fan, so I started checking out Japanese artists, too. When I was in my third year of university, I had the chance to study abroad in Japan, and I felt that the culture and lifestyle really suited me. That’s when I started thinking about going to graduate school in Japan. After returning to China, I started researching graduate schools in Japan, and Waseda University stood out to me as a very open school with many international students, so I decided to apply.
At Waseda University, I entered the Journalism Course in the Graduate School of Political Science, primarily focusing on video production. The theme of my final video project was how people with visual impairments enjoy movies. I’d always loved entertainment culture, and it was an absolutely vital part of my life. When I learned about the audio guides used by people with vision impairments, I began to reflect on the fact that not everyone could enjoy entertainment in the same way I did. That realization really sparked my interest. I documented the activities of a group based in Kita Ward that brings people with visual impairments to movie theaters, and I edited the footage into a 30–40 minute film. At the time, traveling to Japan was difficult because of the pandemic, and I didn’t really feel the value of studying abroad, so I decided to take a six-month leave of absence. I was so happy when I was finally able to return to Japan and resume my research.
What matters in an internship isn’t experience, but intent and what you truly gain from it.
When I started looking for work, I set my sights on the Japanese entertainment industry, just as I’d planned from the start. At first, the language barrier presented a challenge in interviews. I’d majored in Japanese when I went to university in China. Before entering graduate school, I’d already passed the N1 level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). But I struggled to communicate, not only in interviews but even when shopping at the supermarket. It made me keenly aware of just how important it is, when learning a language, to communicate naturally with locals and build up experience.
I also worked diligently to prepare for my job search. This included reflecting on my strengths and polishing the examples I could bring up in interviews. I also made a point of looking back on each interview later and using that experience to improve the next one. Nobody wants to think back on times when things didn’t go well. However, by picking out areas for improvement and thinking about how I could approach things differently next time, my interviewing skills improved dramatically.
I also have vivid memories of how tight my schedule was. Job hunting in Japan is a long process, and you have to start soon after entering graduate school, all while doing your academic research. Even when I eased up on my research for a while, I would shift my focus to job hunting. In the entertainment industry, a resume isn’t enough. You also need to have a portfolio containing materials about your past experiences, videos you’ve created, a one-minute self-promotion video, and the like. Preparing your portfolio takes a lot of time.
One of the things that was a tremendous asset in my job search was my internship. In China, I’d worked as an assistant director on a variety show featuring Japanese dancers, handling on-site production duties. In Japan, I’d also worked as a photographer taking instant photos for underground idol events. These experiences were invaluable, reaffirming my dedication to joining the entertainment industry and further motivating me. The time you spend as an intern is limited, so instead of emphasizing the experience you accrued as an intern, I think it’s more important to convey to interviewers why you chose the internship and what you learned through it.
My dream is to work in the entertainment industry and contribute to cultural exchange on a global scale.
I’m now in my third year at Avex Music Creative. During the first two years, I was responsible for corporate projects and booking in the Chinese market. Since 2025, I’ve been in charge of social media for a Japanese boy band. Sometimes my social media posts reflect requests from the artists, while at other times I develop ideas from scratch. Also, the kind of content that goes viral on social media varies a lot depending on the platform and the region, so I’m always keeping up with trends and what resonates with people. I find being part of the entertainment industry especially rewarding when I see the happy reactions of fans.
One of the great things about Avex’s corporate culture is that it rotates personnel quite a bit, so every year brings new experiences and discoveries. A relatively high percentage of the staff are from other countries, and there’s no fixed dress code—both of which were things I’d been looking for in a company.
That said, it’s not just about doing what I enjoy—I also feel a great sense of responsibility as a professional. When I was a student, for better or for worse, I was only responsible for myself. In the working world, you communicate with many people and move projects forward as part of a team. I can’t just do what I want; I need to work with others to reach consensus and decide on a common direction. Since Japanese isn’t my native language, I often encounter language-related difficulties. Sometimes I won’t catch a word that someone says, and other times I might have a hard time communicating a particular idea. Even now that I’m working, I’m still practicing my communication skills every day on the job.
My own future goal is to launch an entertainment-related PR company in China. I want to introduce Japanese artists to China and handle their social media and media booking. And, on the flip side, I also want the company to introduce Chinese artists to Japan. I want to make it a company that fosters even greater intercultural communication. To do that, I’ll need to be active in even wider-ranging fields, so I’m also improving my English skills. I haven’t had much time to focus on that so far, but I’d like to be able to contribute more actively in meetings..
Message to current students: Even if you fail, regroup and keep working toward your dreams.
International students who come to Japan face many hurdles as they look for jobs, such as how little time they have, cultural differences, and language barriers. I think that the first step when encountering one of these hurdles is to communicate with locals in Japan and deepen your understanding of the language and culture.
Also, if you get turned down by a company, that doesn’t mean that it’s all over. It’s important to think of this not as a rejection of you as a person, but as simply an indication that you and the company aren’t a good match, and to keep moving forward. Take from the experience whatever you can to do even better in the future. Keep striving to achieve your dreams and goals, without giving up.
