In leadership, staying open to new experiences and perspectives is crucial. When faced with unfamiliar situations, we often rely on past experiences to predict positive and negative outcomes. However, this reliance can make us overly cautious, causing us to miss opportunities that a fresh approach or situation might offer.
I want to share a story where I encountered something new and was embraced by a community. For those who have had negative experiences with the Japanese, you might read this with scepticism, anticipating a negative twist. But consider what this caution adds to your situation. The more we close ourselves off, the less others see our “excellence” and our light – the very light attracting moths, butterflies, and those who want to amplify your light to others. Pain can lead to suffering and withdrawal, and while we may feel safe in our cocoons, it’s this retraction that prevents us from reaching our true potential.
As I describe my experience with the Human Rights Commission, consider the potential of every situation, even when you feel sceptical. Ask yourself what is lost in the worst case and what is gained, even when things go wrong. It’s not a zero-sum game; allowing yourself to shine always adds value.
In 2022, I was informed by the Matsudo Ministry of Justice that our Human Rights Commission branch would host the Human Rights Commissioners from the cities of Shirai and Inzai. Their goal was to learn how we promoted human rights in Nagareyama, a city with a growing, diverse population. Both Shirai and Inzai were experiencing similar trends and hoped to gain insights from us.
I was asked to be one of the presenters for our city. As the first foreign-born human rights commissioner in Japan, my topic was my journey and the challenges I faced in the country. I expected my experiences to provide useful insights for supporting foreigners living in Japan.
I didn’t expect to deliver anything inspirational, just a few slides on some discrimination and biases I faced in Japan. I also shared my perspective on what was going through my mind during those times and what I felt would have been helpful to me in those situations.
After my talk, everyone thanked me and conducted all the expected bows and respectful feedback. I assumed that no one cared about my talk in the grand scheme of things.
Fast forward a year and a half, and we were finally having a year-end party for the Matsudo and Nagareyama Human Rights Branches at a restaurant in Matsudo. I found myself at a table with five other commissioners, most of whom I didn’t recall meeting. One of them, a man celebrating his retirement from the commission that night, told me he had attended my talk in 2022. He said he was inspired and hoped to meet me to ask if I would be interested in giving the same talk to the greater Matsudo community.
I couldn’t remember what I had presented that could have inspired him, but I accepted. Within a week, he had confirmed a paid speaking engagement at the Matsudo Cultural Hall. When I asked him why he wanted me to present, he said, “We all need to hear your message that we can all benefit from accepting change and diversity. You make it real.”
Taking this to heart, I revisited and expanded upon my previous presentation.
The interest in my talk from an elderly Japanese man and his apparent effort to ensure I could present to a larger audience touched me. Even if the world hadn’t reached world peace, this was progress I could see and feel.
On the day of my talk, I arrived at the Matsudo Cultural Hall about 30 minutes early. After checking in with the organizers, I was introduced to the facility’s manager, Ms. Usui, who thanked me for agreeing to speak. An unassuming middle-aged woman, she expressed her interest in hearing my talk and offered to give me a tour of the facility. I accepted, and she showed me around the one-floor facility, which included a conference hall (where I was speaking), an international exchange centre (where volunteers teach Japanese lessons), and a full-blown daycare centre catered to foreign parents and foreign/bicultural children.
I don’t recall any marches or social protests in Matsudo in the wake of the facility’s founding, which had been there for several years. This was a product of the leaders and people of Matsudo seeing the value in supporting immigrants and aiding their assimilation into society. Again, I wouldn’t have expected this in Matsudo, and even if I had, I would have assumed a much smaller facility with a much smaller footprint. But there it was, right next to Matsudo station, filled with children, adults, and the elderly from all walks of life, coexisting and working together for a better world.
Sometimes, it’s good to assume if only to be proven wrong.
What assumptions are you making about Japan? Ask yourself how they are helping you, and then let them go. The worst that can happen is you’re proven right.
