On a December day in 2008, those affiliated with the guesthouses run by J&F Plaza Co., Ltd. gathered for a discussion at Saitama's J&F Guesthouse Warabi, which typically boasts around 90 residents. Based on our extensive talks, we're excited to tell you what the managers of J&F guesthouses really think about their company's concept of international exchange.

Whether you're curious about guesthouses or not, we urge you to take a peek at what goes on behind the scenes.

 

Discussion participants:

 

― Becoming a guesthouse manager

Moki: It all started when I was looking for a new place to live just during my fourth year at university. I happened to see an advertisement in Kamata recruiting managers for J&F properties. I had always been interested in guesthouses, and I thought their offer of free rent was great. Unfortunately that building was subsequently closed, but I was next asked to manage Guesthouse Warabi, where I am today.

Ueda: I spent a long time living overseas, and the way this guesthouse is set up is a lot like the dorms I lived in back then. Also, because people helped me out when I was living overseas, I hoped that I could return the favor when I got back to Japan. There are so many things you don't know when you're abroad. I want people to learn what is great about Japan.

Noguchi: I started out as a company employee at J&F. The previous manager reached the end of his term, and I took over.

Kikuno: Well, I'm not a manager... my previous job was in a completely unrelated field--education. I went to study in Canada after graduating university. Once I got back, I worked for two years before transferring to J&F. My biggest influence of course came from my experience living abroad, where I realized how much fun it was to meet people from different countries. I realized how incredibly difficult it was to live in a foreign country, so I chose this job out of a desire to support those people. Visiting different properties and talking with various residents gives me ideas about different ways I want to help them.

 

― Qualifications to become a manager

Higa: In terms of qualifications, naturally you must be diligent and hardworking. Over the course of many interviews, I've found that the people who apply to be guesthouse managers are often rather unusual (laughs). But even if they've got a fun side to them, we will never hire anyone who might cause trouble by being irresponsible in their work duties. In addition, managers must not only manage, but particularly for large properties*, we're really looking for people who have the ability to come up with ideas and suggestions. We also look closely at the kind of life experience the person has had. To be honest, Guesthouse Warabi is not in the best location, and many other cheap places can be found close by if you look. Despite that, I think the reason that Warabi is the only one to maintain a large number of residents has to do with Mr. Moki's personality. There is no doubt that the character of each guesthouse changes depending on the strong and weak points of its manager.

*J&F has both large and small properties. Managers of small properties are offered residency in lieu of a salary. Managers of large properties are permanent residents and thus provided with salary as well.

 

― The advantages and difficulties of being a manager

Moki: I've never traveled abroad, but in Japan I've had the chance to meet people from thirty or forty countries and experience their languages and cultures firsthand. I feel that I may have an advantage in learning about foreign countries over those who have gone on superficial overseas trips.

Higa: Moving in and out is quite frequent but you get to encounter people and things in your daily life that you would never encounter normally. That's a really big plus. One of the difficulties of the job is that you have to be strict with people sometimes. If you get too close, people will inevitably try to take advantage of that. It's important to detach yourself and remind them that rules are rules. It can be difficult to strike a balance.

 

― The biggest problems

Moki: Trash, noise, and lost items!

Higa: It's got to be trash--a lot of people from other countries aren't conscientious about sorting it. You want to get angry at someone but you have no idea who's done it...

Kikuno: It's probably noise. Everyone has a different threshold, and no matter what you say you can't force people to do anything--rather, you've got to warn them each time.

Ueda: Because there are cultural differences too, you know.

Noguchi: At Minami-Gyotoku, each person tends to follow the rules fairly carefully, so I've never really had to get angry with anyone.

Others: That would be nice... (all burst out laughing)

 

― Residents or episodes that stand out

Ueda: Everyone is so unique. They're each so different... it's hard to put into words.

Moki: There are a lot of things I can't repeat (laughs). But I continue to keep contact with the people that stood out from the beginning. On the other hand, those people that I've sensed are going to be trouble always cause some sort of problem. In meeting so many different kinds of people in this job, I've realized the importance of first impressions.

Higa: I once had a resident from Belgium who got sick on the first day and I had to take him to the hospital. But because he could only speak French, I had to get a resident who understood French to translate into English for me, which I then translated into Japanese for the emergency staff (laughs).

Noguchi: One person that the previous manager knew went back to their home country with no intention of coming back to Japan--but came back to the guesthouse the other day to pay a visit, and is now on a trip with some of the other residents.

Moki: Come to think of it, I know two married couples that met here. It's like the TV show Ainori. It's an easy place to fall in love.

 

― The role of the manager

Noguchi: Most of the residents are older than me, so rather than me acting in a protective role, we all relate to each other as individuals.

Higa: The foreign residents here think of the manager as someone who will do everything for them in terms of residential life, so managers are depended upon for a lot of things.

Kikuno: Managers help not only with residential issues, but discuss all kinds of things with residents, like job-hunting.

 

― Influence of the economic downturn

Higa: We still have many inquiries. Of course there are some exchange students whose parents pay for their expenses who are asked to come back and go home. The way the real estate market works, there is always a drop in occupancy around the year-end holidays no matter what. It's not that we've given up, but there isn't much we can do about it right now.

Kikuno: With the global economic slowdown, we have seen a number of foreign students whose parents pay for their expenses return home. On top of that, with the influence of the strong yen, there are certainly many who give up on the idea of coming to Japan at all. But the worsening economy hasn't seemed to affect those foreigners already working in Japan that much, so although occupancy is certainly down, our outlook is far from pessimistic.

In terms of our company's contribution to social issues, we have considered providing rooms to Japanese who have lost their jobs or homes due to recent problems like the issues facing temporary workers. Unfortunately, the concept behind our guesthouses is exchange with people from different countries, and we don't want to create problems like having newcomers' values conflict with those of our current residents. So at this point, we have put those considerations on hold.

 

― Advice to aspiring residents

Moki: Naturally there are many people who are anxious about taking the first step, but if they can move past that, they are sure to make friends and be successful.

Ueda: I think anyone who is curious will be fine.

Noguchi: I think it's important that you're a person who is able to call out "good morning" when everyone is gathered together, say in the kitchen in the morning.

Higa: There are a huge number of guesthouses in the city these days whose residents are either all Japanese or foreigners who are fluent in Japanese. They're in good locations, and many are used as second homes because they are close to work, for example. But what I want to emphasize about J&F guesthouses is that, because of their concept of international exchange, it would be a waste to live there and not interact with people. Of course, we're not saying that you have to participate in international exchange, but that ultimately, what we are providing is a space for that to happen.

Kikuno: I think that's true. It doesn't matter what you say--the idea is to reach out to people. It's not as if every resident is interested in the guesthouse concept--some residents live here because the rent is cheap. But even if it's not your thing at first, once people have gone to the trouble of finding the guesthouse and moving in, we encourage them to take a chance and try and talk to people. There are very few opportunities to live alongside people from other countries without actually living abroad, so I would hope that communicating with many people would inspire residents. If they do that, I think it can be a really exciting experience!