Our Corporate Communications staff spend time getting to know Sumitomo Corporation's different business sites around the world, reporting on how the people at those sites work. We will keep you up to date with the world of Sumitomo Corporation, which extends to every corner of the globe.
Katsuhiko Onishi,
Mass Media Relations Team and Publications Team, Corporate Communications Department
Upon joining the company in 2007, Onishi was assigned to the Corporate Communications Department. After tested by fire, he is now in charge of Mass Media Relations related to infrastructure and is responsible for creating and maintaining the “SC WORKMATES”, one of the contents of this website. This trip to Singapore was the first time for him to visit foreign country.
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Japanese culture increasingly appealing to Singaporeans
Japan Hour's audience has changed over time. As of July 2009, it began airing the TV Tokyo-produced “Doyo (Saturday) Special,” a Japanese program that looks at interesting travel destinations. Remarkably, its audience consists of more Singaporeans than Japanese. Mr. Asano, the man in charge of Doyo Special, explained, “Singapore is a country of perpetual summer, so people tend to be fascinated with the various sceneries of Japan's four seasons.“
Mr. Kohama (pictured above) with three other members takes charge of Japan Hour broadcasting.
In addition, ASIASAT, broadcast via satellite, started airing in November 2007, reaching about 24 million households in 22 countries, from the Middle East in the west to Australia in the east. An annual quiz and prize campaign has grown in popularity, resulting in 33 thousand entries last January.
“The Central” is a Japanese-style shopping mall built in 2007.
Mr. Asano also explained how Japanese culture is viewed by Singaporeans. “In Europe and Taiwan, the main symbols of Japan involve animation, video games, J-POP, and teen idols. In Singapore, people are more interested in Japanese cuisine and travel destinations.“ A Japanese-style shopping mall, made up of small tenant stores, was built in 2007, and many Japanese restaurateurs are planning to open branches in Singapore.
After learning more about Singapore and seeing what it offered, I headed for Indonesia on Sunday morning. Waiting in the airport departure lobby, I could hear a Japanese program on a nearby TV. Looking up at the screen, I could see Japan Hour had an entertainer dancing aboard a yakatabune (houseboat). Between you and me, this was my first trip abroad, so seeing a Japanese program in a far-away country made me long for Japan a little.
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