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What kind of people are foreign technical intern trainees?
"Foreign technical intern trainees" are a name we often hear about in the news. Their numbers are increasing year by year, and it is said that there are now about 280,000 intern trainees working in Japan. How do they actually work and live? We spoke to Tuan and Tu, who came from Vietnam a year and a half ago, to find out more.
Text: Emi Sharyo
Photo: Shinya Kunihiro
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PROIFILE
- Emi Sharyo
- Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1990, he is a silly writer living in Kyoto Prefecture. He strives to break down difficult topics into easy-to-understand pieces, interview people about things they care about, and write interesting articles every day. He is always wondering why women aren't interesting when they take off their clothes, and his favorite food is crab.
- Takeuma
- Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology. Illustrator and sketcher. I live in Japan but I do a lot of work overseas. I also do a lot of work using ideas. I was selected for the international American competitions CA Illustration 59, CA Typography 2019, and 3×3 Show 14 and 15. My sketches have been featured in art books overseas several times. Some of my most notable works include illustrations for Air France's in-flight magazine and limited edition Smirnoff label illustrations. HP: studio-takeuma.com
I want to talk to foreign technical intern trainees!
Hello! This is Emi Sharyo.
Everyone, do you know about "foreign technical intern trainees"?
Roughly speaking, foreign technical intern trainees are "foreigners who work in Japan to acquire skills and techniques at Japanese companies, etc." In recent years, the number has been gradually increasing... As of the end of June 2018, there were a whopping 280,000 foreign intern trainees working in Japan.
280,000 people is roughly the same population as Meguro Ward in Tokyo! That's a huge number. There should be a ton of technical intern trainees in Japan... but...
Have you ever talked to a technical intern trainee?
I have never spoken...!
I want to try talking!
Recently, we have come across the term "foreign technical intern trainees" on the internet and in the news on television. We have only seen them through a screen, but how do they actually work and what kind of lives do they lead?
So we came to KRS Co., Ltd. in Gifu Prefecture!
There is a lot of scaffolding scaffolding" on the premises. That's right, KRS Co., Ltd. is a company that assembles "scaffolding" used on construction sites.
I also learned for the first time during this interview that scaffolding seen at building and residential construction sites is not assembled by the contractors doing the work! It is companies like KRS that specialize in assembling scaffolding that assemble the scaffolding so that construction can be done safely.
The people we spoke to this time are Tuan and Tu, two of the six technical intern trainees at KRS, who came from Vietnam.
They both started working at the company in June 2018, so it will soon be two years since then. We would like to hear from them about their daily lives, work, and various other topics!
Technical intern trainees Tuan and Tu from Vietnam
Hello! I'm glad to have the opportunity to meet with you today. How old are you two?
Tuan: 21.
Tu: 27.
You're so young! Have you gotten used to life in Japan yet?
Tu: Hehe...I've gotten used to it!
Tuan: Yeah. Hehehe.
Her shy smile is amazing. How is your work going?
Tuan: Hmm... that's kind of interesting.
Is it interesting? For example, what kind of things?
Tuan: For example...?
Yeah, for example.
Tu: For example.
Tuan: ...Hey, my words...
And "for example" doesn't work!
Both of them seemed to be less fluent in Japanese than I had expected. For some reason, I had assumed that technical intern trainees were fluent in Japanese... I decided to leave the difficult topics aside for the time being and listen carefully to them talk about their daily lives in simple terms.
What were you both doing in Vietnam before coming to Japan?
Tuan: Studying and school. I came to Japan when I was 19 years old.
Oh, I see. Tuan is still 21, so it seems he came to Japan straight after graduating from high school. What about Thu?
Tu: The military.
A military?!
Tu: Yes. And a clothing factory. Factories are too hot in the summer, I can't do it.
I see. You were doing work that had nothing to do with scaffolding.
By the way, here are the results of the written responses to the question, "How many young Vietnamese men work overseas?" Their English is poor! From their experience, it seems that about "10% to 20%" of young men go overseas to work. That's quite a lot.
Is this your first time in Japan?
Tu: Yes, it's my first time!
I see! Why did you become a technical intern trainee?
Tuan: For my family.
Tu: I'll send you the money.
I see. Are you sending money in a good way?
Tu: It feels good.
That's impressive. Is your family worried about you coming to Japan?
Tuan: I'm fine now.
Tu: Phone...Facebook.
So you're calling on Facebook. That's convenient.
Tu: Convenient!
Tuan: I have one more year, so it will be over in three years.
Oh, so the training period ends in three years. So, I'll work for one more year and then go back to Vietnam.
Although it depends on the management organization, technical intern trainees are generally allowed to stay for three years, so the two of them will be working here until May 2021.
By the way, Thu has been dating his girlfriend for five years and is currently in a long-distance relationship between Vietnam and Japan. When he asked her if she wanted to go to Japan with him, she refused, saying, "Japan is too cold." When I asked her, "Aren't you lonely?" she replied, "It's a challenge, a challenge, it's okay, it's okay."
"Japanese people are great" The life of two people who love to eat
Where do you live in Japan?
Ms. Tu: We live in an apartment. There are three of us.
The two of them live in an apartment about a 15-minute bike ride from their workplace, with another person who came as a technical intern trainee at the same time.
What do you do on your days off?
Tuan: Hmm, I'll go shopping.
Shopping! What are you buying? Clothes or something?
Tu: Meat and fish!
Food, huh?
Tuan: I make lunch boxes. Every day.
Wow, that's amazing! So you're putting in Vietnamese food?
Tuan: That's right.
Is "Thịt kho" the name of a dish? Do you make it often?
Tuan: Yes.
After looking it up later, I found out that "Thịt" means meat and "kho" means to stew, so it seems to be a stewed pork dish.
In addition, on his days off, he watches soccer games and movies on his smartphone. Apparently, three more Vietnamese technical intern trainees joined KRS this year, and they all eat dinner together.
How is it living in Japan? Have you had any problems?
Tuan: No!
Tu: It feels good.
Eh! Have you had any problems at all? This is your first time in Japan?
Tuan: I'm fine now.
Tu: Everything is fine, everything.
Tuan: Japanese people are good.
Oh, really? Thank you... By the way, when was the happiest time living in Japan?
Tuan: Yes, I'll eat it.
Tu: Ramen!
ramen?
Tuan: At the store.
Tu: After work. Soy sauce ramen.
That's nice. Soy sauce ramen after work is the best thing!
Scaffolding is "hot, cold, and a bit difficult"
Before the interview, the two were busy painting scaffolding. Each scaffolding company paints their materials a different color to distinguish them from other companies', and the deep blue is KRS's color.
This was my first time to see the scaffolding materials up close, and they were bigger and more solid than I expected, with a strong "iron" feel. They look incredibly heavy!
They have to assemble all these heavy-looking materials to create scaffolding people can walk around safely...! That sounds like a lot of work!
Tuan: It's hard and interesting.
That's interesting! What's the most interesting thing about your job?
Tu: Tall!
Oh, so it's fun to build it up high?
Tu: Yes.
Wow. How high can you build scaffolding?
Tuan: 20m.
Twenty... Huh?!
They're assembling these heavy iron bars to the height of a 10-story apartment building! Come to think of it, it seems like buildings have scaffolding built to a great height. I'm sure I've seen it somewhere, but I've never imagined the process of making it or the people who make it.
He actually showed me the materials he uses for work. At first, he could only carry five, but now he can carry eight. Each of these materials weighs 4-5kg, so that means he's carrying the weight of a skinny gal on one shoulder...that's amazing!
You'll be climbing to high places and carrying heavy objects, so it can be dangerous.
Tu: Yes. It's dangerous. It's difficult.
Tuan: It's heavy. It's hot, it's cold, it's a bit difficult.
I see, so all the work is done outdoors! It's amazing that they set up scaffolding on hot, cold, and rainy days.
He usually works on site in pairs with other craftsmen. For a site the size of a house, the two of them can complete scaffolding in about half a day. That's super fast!
On the other hand, for large sites such as buildings and factories, more than 10 people may be dispatched and spend several days building the structure. Thu and Tuan say, "I like large projects because I can put things together quickly and it's more fun."
What are the two of them like on a regular basis? Let's ask their good friend, a senior, about it.
At this point, one of the workers returned from work.
Mr. Kanai is a scaffolding craftsman who has worked at KRS Corporation for two years.
Mr. Kanai seems to often visit the work site with Mr. Tu and Mr. Tuan. We decided to ask him a little about what the two of them usually do.
Kanai-san: I was originally working at this company before they joined. I quit and came back and they were there. We've been working together for about four months now.
I see. Is this your first time working with people from overseas?
Kanai: Yes, there are many Vietnamese technical intern trainees in the industry, but this is the first time I've worked with one.
What is it like for you two to usually work?
Kanai: Both Thu and Tuan are really diligent and helpful! When we're putting up scaffolding, they seem to know much more than I do about what we need to do next. It feels like I'm the one being taught by them.
amazing!
Tu: No, no!
Kanai: No no, it's true! It's really helpful. Sometimes he makes fun of me a little though (laughs).
Tuan: No (laughs).
It seems like they get along really well.
Kanai: We're like friends. They're both really good, serious people.
When you go back to Vietnam, will you "not" do scaffolding work?
Kanai was a really nice guy.
Tu: Yes.
Tuan: I like Kanai, he's so kind.
Tu: He is a kind worker. He doesn't get angry.
Are everyone at your company friendly?
Tu: Yes. The president is a kind person. I like him.
Tuan: ...Hmm...
Mr. Tuan, it seems like you have something on your mind!
Tuan: Right now, right now, I'm fine. Right now, I'm fine.
Tu: He doesn't work and is kind.
So you're nice when you're not working?
Tuan: Yes.
I see. I guess it's going to be tough because it's a dangerous job. It's tough, but I'd like to learn a lot now and put this experience to good use in Vietnam.
Tuan: We don't do that in Vietnam.
Huh? ... You don't? Work on scaffolding?
Tu: Yes.
Is that so?! Even though he's a "technical intern trainee"?!
Tuan: scaffolding in Vietnam is dangerous.
Tu: Japanese scaffolding is safe.
I see...! I thought that technical intern trainees were studying in order to take skills home with them!
According to the two, not many of the technical trainees who come to Japan return to Vietnam to do the same work.
After the interview, I asked an acquaintance who had lived in Vietnam for a long time, and found out that the average monthly income of a Vietnamese person is about 27,000 yen*. That's cheap! It varies depending on the occupation, but even people with a very good academic background have a starting salary of about 100,000 yen. That's why technical intern trainees tend to come to Japan, where wages are high, for the purpose of "earning money."
(*As of 2018, according to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor)
By the way, Thu and Tuan said they have not yet decided what work they will do when they return home.
"I want them to feel glad that they came to Japan." How can we support technical intern trainees who are working hard in a foreign country?
The last thing that concerns me is "the person who hired them."
How were they hired and how did they get used to their jobs? We spoke with Ayaka Seino, wife of Mitsusato Seino, president of KRS Co., Ltd., who has known them since they joined the company.
Could you tell us what led you to hire technical intern trainees?
Ms. Seino: It all started with the chronic labor shortage in the industry. The Scaffolding industry doesn't really interest young Japanese people. I had heard that other companies were accepting trainees, so I asked the Construction Scaffolding Business Cooperative Association if they could accept trainees.
How did you go about the interview? Was it a document review or something?
Seino: No, I went directly to the site! Those two were selected by our president when he went to Vietnam.
Wow! I had to go to Vietnam for an interview!
Seino: We could have outsourced the work, but the president said, "I have to go to the local area and see for myself." How hard will they work, leaving their families and coming to Japan, doing dangerous work? He wanted to assess that, just like with Japanese children.
That's how those two were selected and came to KRS.
Seino: Yes. He came to Japan in May 2018, and first spent a month at a school learning scaffolding and the Japanese language. During that time, we prepared a house and furniture for the trainee to live in, and he joined the company in June 2018.
The company even provides the furniture.
Seino: I provided all the living necessities, including futons, tableware, and shelves. However, the person is responsible for their own living expenses.
What was it like at first? This was your first time in Japan.
Seino: It must have been difficult at first. We couldn't communicate with each other as much as we do now, so we always used Google Translate to communicate. Now we both have a lot of facial expressions, but at first we didn't smile much at all.
That's right…….
Seino: I think we mentioned this a little earlier, but there were some interpersonal problems. After all, this job can be dangerous, and people who are craftsmen tend to be strict with their instructions.
If you are trying to teach someone who doesn't speak your language how to do their job in a dangerous situation, it can be very stressful.
Seino: Yes, the craftsmen work hard too. So at first, I tried to look after them as diligently as possible. I told the craftsmen not to say too harsh things. If trouble still arose, I listened to them and made them distance themselves from the senior workers with whom they didn't get along. At first, the president and foremen would go and look at their homes to make sure they were living properly in an unfamiliar environment. Also, I've always told them, "Speak up if anything happens," ever since I joined the company.
Once a month, all employees at KRS go out to eat after a safety conference. It's a great opportunity to hear about the latest happenings and concerns of not only the technical intern trainees, but all the employees.
So, what was it like actually working there?
Seino: It was great! I think they are very, very serious kids. They are much more serious than the young kids around here, and they work hard and are honest. They are getting better and better at their jobs, and thanks to them, we have decided to welcome the next trainees.
Wow, amazing!
Seino: Also, I think that both of them have become quite humorous (laughs). Everything they say and do is funny.
I see. You were laughing a lot today too, so I guess you've become more relaxed at work.
Seino: I think so. His Japanese has also improved a lot. He writes a daily report for us, and look, his handwriting is so good!
"Today I was with Daian-san.
Daian-san, I hope you're well.
The launch was quick."
All the craftsmen write their daily reports every day. The reports for the technical intern trainees are all written in hiragana, and there are also practice papers for writing hiragana and katakana filed away. Both were apparently prepared for the technical intern trainees.
By the way, the Hiragana and Katakana practice papers are also used by Japanese people if their handwriting is messy! This is the president's educational policy, as he believes that "if you do things carelessly, you won't be able to do a good job on the job site."
That's amazing... They provide Japanese practice papers and take good care of the trainees' mental health. They really do take good care of the trainees.
Seino: They are working hard at our house, away from their home countries, in the midst of uncertainty. What makes me happiest is for them to think that it was a good idea to come to Japan, come to KRS, and work here.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! I felt relieved to hear about how sincerely KRS treats its trainees.
At least, the trainees at KRS are "very satisfied"
Following this interview, I sent a questionnaire to both Tuan and Thu.
On the day of the interview, from what I saw and heard, KRS seemed like a really good company, and the couple seemed very satisfied. However, there were many scenes where we couldn't understand many words, and couldn't communicate or answer well, so I couldn't help but wonder, "Are they really satisfied?" and "Is there anything they wanted to say?"
So, although I was a little nervous, I honestly asked them three questions about things like money and work. I asked a translator to translate the questions in Vietnamese, which is both of their native languages. Here are the questions and answers.
1. Are you satisfied with your wages? If so, please tell us how you use them. If not, please tell us what you are dissatisfied with.
2. Please tell us what is good about working at your current workplace, and if there are any, what concerns you.
3. What do you think is important when working on scaffolding?
...The two of them were really satisfied with their work and it was obvious they were absorbing the work rapidly, and I was incredibly moved!
There are many things that you can't understand just by looking at a screen.
The conversation between me and the two trainees in this article may seem like a very smooth exchange. However, in reality, there were many slips of the tongue, mishearings, and misunderstandings! Using body language, writing, Google Translate, and other tools, we tried to speak as much as we could in the limited time we had, and it was a truly "desperate" exchange.
Even before this interview, I had a negative image of foreign technical intern trainees. Because I always saw only dark stories on the news. ... But I never knew there were such earnest technical intern trainees and companies that treated them well and supported them warmly!
It was a truly rewarding interview, as I was able to actually experience, see and hear with my own body.
It was Sharyo Emi!
| What is "POP UP SOCIETY"? | "POP UP SOCIETY" is an irregularly published magazine that ASNOVA ran from March 2020 to March 2022 with the aim of getting the general public interested in the industry and contributing to the mid-to-long term shortage of young talent in the temporary construction industry. It introduces unique and experimental initiatives from Japan and abroad through interviews with people and companies, experience reports, and more, focusing on temporary construction. |
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