Hokkaido is blessed with magnificent nature, surrounded on all four sides by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. Hokkaido is located at the north end of Japan with a vast area accounting for approximately 22% of total area of Japan. The population is 5.63 million and the population density is one fifth of that of national average.
Cultivated acreage in the area accounting for approximately one fourth in Japan has been utilized to develop the agriculture with high productivity centered on the utilization of land such as rice cultivation, upland farming and dairy. Agricultural output in the area constitutes 12% of the output in Japan. Furthermore, the area boasts the largest output nationwide in the production of wheat, potatoes, soybeans, red beans, kidney beans, buckwheat, sugar beet, onions and milk, respectively.
Also, Hokkaido has some of the nation's greatest tourism resources in its grand nature including the Shiretoko Peninsula designated as a World Heritage Site.
Hokkaido area
| Implemented area： | Hokkaido Prefecture |
| Managing organization： | Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Universities participating in the program： | a total of ninth universities consisting of Hokkaido University, Otaru University of Commerce, Kitami Institute of Technology, Muroran Institute of Technology, Dohto University, Hokkai Gakuen University, Sapporo University, Hokkaido University of Education and Sapporo Intrenational University. |
| Private companies participating in the program： | 116 companies including Asahi Inovex Co.,Ltd.,Home Kikaku Center Co., Ltd., SAPPORO CONSTRUCTION & TRUCKING .,CORP, GulfNet Co., Ltd., M&G Inc., The Hokkaido Bank Ltd., NITORI Co.,Ltd., ECONIXE Co., Ltd., North Pacific Bank, LTD., Clarke Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co.,Ltd., and B-COMMUNICATIONS Co., Ltd, etc. |
Outline of program
"The Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Asian Bridge Program"
In recent years, an increasing number of companies in Hokkaido have been focusing on Asia for business opportunities. Under such circumstances, this program aims to provide comprehensive education including business practices in Japan as well as high-standard education of Japanese language suitable for business scenes with excellent foreign students from Asia to nurture them to meet the demands by companies, and to globalize Hokkaido through actual employment of these foreign students.
■ Business / Japanese language education
● Business / Japanese
・Acquire communication skills tactfully usable according to relation with other people, scene and objective
・Improve skills for non-responsive communication such as phone and email
・Acquire reading comprehension and writing skills of report, project proposal, specifications, approval document and bill
● Abilities needed to be the global human resources
・Acknowledge the cultural difference between Japan and home country and be able to respond
・Adapt oneself to a foreign culture to think from diverse points of view
・Create the third culture and new values
● Business culture / knowledge
・Understand the hierarchical relationship in companies and communication methods unique to Japanese companies
・Understand the customer-oriented services, commitment to manufacturing and the spirits of manufacturing
・Understand the social and economical conditions within and outside Japanese companies
・Recognize the need of teamwork in Japanese companies
● Behavioral abilities as a member of society
・Acquire ability to advance by train and error and positive attitude
・Acquire ability to think through the methods and process of resolving problems
・Understand Japanese manners to be liked by others
・Acquire ability to collect and consolidate information, ability to conduct a meeting, presentation ability, explanation ability, business manners and ability to manage relationships
■ Internship
・Period: Two weeks to one month
・Project-based internship
・Experience-based internship
・Introduction of business tutor system
(Business tutor links foreign students with companies providing training)
■ Job hunting support
・What kind of job should I look for? ⇒Career counseling
・What is this company like? ⇒Company information
・I don't know how to get working visa!?⇒Support for application procedures
・I am not sure what my superior is demanding from me.⇒Support for job retention
Theme
Through comprehensive education for foreign students from Asia and other areas including education of Japanese language suitable for business scenes, business custom and manners unique to Japan, develop human resources who can bridge with overseas companies for the globalization of the local economy.
Goal of human resources development
Human resources who can bridge with overseas companies and who have proficiency in Japanese suitable for business scenes and understanding of business custom and manners unique to Japan.
Associated website
Contact
Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TEL：011-231-1077
FAX：011-231-1078
E-mail：kokusai@sapporo-cci.or.jp
