Moving to Thailand with zero planning
Nice to meet you. I'm Kawamura, the director of Monosus Thailand.
This time I would like to tell you why I work in Thailand.
I came to Thailand about four years ago.
The aftereffects of the earthquake are still fresh.
There's a lot of speculation and conflicting information.
The invisible conflict between those in favor of and against nuclear power.
Naturally, I began to think that I would like to distance myself from the situation for a while.
In addition, at that time, deep in my heart, a longing for a foreign country I had never seen before had begun to take root.
I don't have the knowledge, language skills, or connections to live abroad.
I am well aware that it is out of the question to do any work.
But even so, "Even if I fail now, I can still try again."
He told himself this, and made up his mind to move to Thailand.
Our life as an immigrant began without any planning whatsoever.
The fascinating word I encountered in Thailand: "Web production"
As I began to get used to life in Thailand, I started to wonder what kind of work I could actually get there, and began to visit a Japanese recruitment agency.
To be honest, I was worried about whether a Japanese person who could barely speak Thai would be able to find a job through local hiring, but I also didn't want to take a job here in Thailand that would just consume my time and effort, so I intended to look for a job that would offer a new challenge as long as time permitted.
At that time, the conditions I presented were
"Being able to work with people other than Japanese"
"I want to work in a job that creates something."
It was.
I would like to work with people who grew up in different cultures and have different ways of thinking.
Although I expressed such a vague desire, it seems that the types of jobs available are quite limited.
At that time, I recall that most job openings were for management, sales, and clerical positions in industrial areas away from Bangkok.
I had previously worked in the apparel industry while in Japan, and so I had my sights set on a job in the apparel manufacturing industry in Thailand, but one day during an interview I was introduced to a job offer.
There you see the words "Web production."
To be honest, although I was interested in web production, I felt it was too difficult.
In an instant, the previously unfamiliar word "web production" took over my mind, and I remember buying a coding book at Kinokuniya on my way home.
From then on, I couldn't see any other options.
I immediately sent my resume, secured an interview, and entered the world of web production.
Fantasy becomes reality.
Gain a real experience of "manufacturing" together with Thai people.
The main duties of a director working in Thailand include not only managing project schedules, but also communicating all the information necessary for production to the coder based on the client's requests, sharing any problems or issues with the client, and steering the team towards a solution. These were the same as when I was directing in Japan, but the big difference is that the people I communicate with are foreigners.
At the beginning, I had a hard time communicating the specifications correctly, as I was starting out with limited language ability and web production skills.
Aside from the problem of language barriers, you will also witness the difference in perception between Japanese and Thai people regarding what is considered "right."
Kawamura explaining the specifications to the Thai staff
When we had just started production in Thailand, there was one project where instructions were not conveyed well due to poor communication and phrasing, and as production was nearing the end, we found ourselves in a situation where we had to revise the entire site.
In order to meet the deadline, I asked the coder to somehow fix the whole thing. The fact that my mistake was putting a burden on the whole team was the most mentally painful situation.
However, even at times like those, my teammates never give up and see things through to the end.
Looking back, I realize that until I started web production, I had never been so conscious of working as a team.
I am grateful to have had this experience working with people from a different country.
Thanks to this, I am now able to work with Thai people and experience the joy of "manufacturing." I am a little surprised that the vague image I had when I first came to Thailand has somehow come close to my ideal.
A glimpse into life through Thai music.
History and evolution of Thailand.
Actually, there is another reason why I live in Thailand besides work.
When you think of Thailand, many people probably conjure up images of cheerful Thai people and the hustle and bustle of the city.
As anyone who has been to Thailand will know, you can hear Thai music everywhere, in the streets, in markets, food stalls, and in taxis.
Although it was difficult to hear the words, the music was unique and indescribable, what could be called "rustic."
I think that this background music is perfectly suited to the hot, lively, and chaotic atmosphere of Thailand.
Thai pop songs playing on the radio
Fascinated by such music and not satisfied with the hit songs that are played on the streets, I am now researching Thai music from the 60s to 80s in my own way. Since there are few CDs or MP3s of old music, I have to go to stores that sell records and tapes to look for them. (This is the perfect plan for your weekend!)
A shop selling old records and tapes in Thailand
I read in a book that electricity was first introduced to rural areas of Thailand in the 1980s.
The 1960s to 1980s were turbulent times for Thailand, just like for Japan.
From the 1960s, when much of the music was about poor life in the countryside, to the 1970s, when music showed a great influence from Western culture and music, to the 1980s, when urban music was popular among young people in Bangkok.
One of my aims in life is to get a glimpse of Thailand's history and changes through music, and I enjoy discovering new music every day.
New changes rooted in Thailand
Now, let's get back to the story.
As a production team, Monosus Thailand has already accumulated the skills and know-how to handle various types of projects, and the size of the team is slowly but steadily expanding.
Currently, I am mainly working on projects for the Japanese domestic market, but I am continuing to explore the possibility of working in the Thai market and with more countries in the future.
One of my ambitions now is to become a director and be involved in projects with a variety of clients, both in Japan and abroad.
All of our staff will continue to work hard!
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