from Nagasaki, a city on the west coast of the southern island of Kyushu, with a long history of western contact

Temple Abbot - This cheerful monk talks about being a monk, and how he got interested in Buddhism...

Fishermen - Two men from a village in Nagasaki prefecture talk about the difficulties of making living at sea...

Flight Attendant - This Nagasaki woman used to live and work in Canada...

Nightclub Owner - This smooth Nagasaki man has three girlie bars in Nagasaki...

Doctor/Researcher - This Nagasaki doctor works heroically in pursuit of a noble aim...

 

from Kumamoto, a city in the center of the southern island of Kyushu

Kindergarten Teacher - This Kumamoto woman loves teaching young children...

Soybean Farmer - This Kumamoto woman, living with her family on a mountain, also makes natto...

Beekeeper - This Kumamoto man overcame his fear of bees to run a very successful business...

Tarot Card Reader - This young Kumamoto woman sits on the arcade pavement reading tarot cards for very little money...

Kimono Teacher - This Kumamoto woman learned to dress kimono and talks of her deep interest in tea ceremony...

Social Worker - This young Kumamoto woman words as a mother for orphans...

Hotel Clerk - This young Kumamoto man endures difficult bosses as a front clerk...

Traditional Sweets Chef - This young Kumamoto man balances his love for karate with the family business...

Telemarketer English Texts - This Kumamoto woman works to get mothers to buy expensive English texts for their babies...

Taxi Driver - This Kumamoto man works an office job since an accident ended his driving career...

Motorcycle Shop Owner - This Kumamoto man lives his job 24/7 and loves a certain type of motorcycle...

Psychiatrist - This Kumamoto doctor, almost ready to retire, talks of today's youth and of working overseas...

Writer/Filmmaker - This dynamic and thoughtful Kumamoto man lives independently doing freelance work...

Tofu Maker - Long hours and low pay for this job...

 

from Takayama, Gifu, near the Japanese Alps, known as "little Kyoto" due to its great charm

Innkeeper - This woman runs an inn in the mountains of Gifu and dreams of opening a theater someday...

Craftsman/Fisherman - This man, who moved from Osaka to the Gifu mountains, makes paper mache fish for a living...

Jazz Bar Owner - This ex-salaryman, originally from Tokyo, opened a jazz bar in Takayama, Gifu because of his love for jazz...

Coffeeshop Owners - This couple serve organic coffee in a small mountain village in Gifu...

Nursing Mother Specialist - This Gifu woman uses a pioneering technique to help nursing mothers...

Craftswoman - This young woman spends much of her time weaving in Nepal and Laos...

Naturally Plus Pyramid Marketing Saleswoman - This woman has big financial dreams selling Super Letein...

Factory Worker - This Brazilian woman of Japanese descent tells of the tedious work of a factory worker...

Spinach Packager - This old lady, who lives alone up a mountain in Gifu, growing her own vegetables, talks about the old days...

from Osaka, Tokyo, and other

Road Worker - This homeless man originally from Okinawa is trying to survive in Osaka...

Magazine Vendor - This homeless man in Osaka works long hours selling magazines but still can't rent an apartment...

Car Counter - This man, originally from Shikoku, lives in a house of boards in an Osaka park...

House Cleaner - This man works occasionally and lives in a house of boards along a river in Tokyo...

Cardboard Collector - This old homeless man hauls cardboard all day, every day...

Ex-Deli Worker - This kind man lives on the streets and tells of an accident that changed his life...

NGO Consultant - This young woman works with Planet Finance to alleviate poverty...

Homeless NPO - This man works to aid the homeless and day laborers of Kamagasaki in Osaka...

NGO Worker - This unusual man has lived most of his life in developing countries, and presently teaches in Cambodia...

Human Rights Activist/University Professor - This American man hopes to see a law passed against racial discrimination...

 

Japanese from Akita, the "tohoku" (northeast) region of Japan, two prefectures south of Hokkaido

Concert Violinist - This woman, teaching in Akita, plays at symphonies around the world...

Environmental Specialist - This prefectural worker in Akita enjoys his job and working to preserve nature...

Restaurant Manager - This Akita "cooking papa" cooks and serves at a bar featuring micro-beer...

Zoo Vet - This Akita man tells about a giraffe accident...

Shossuru (Traditional Soy Sauce) Factory Owner - This Akita man promotes the concept of "Slow Foods..."

Japanese Teacher - This woman holds a Ph.D. and teaches Japanese at Akita International University...

University Professor - Born in America, this Japanese man fights for racial equality...

Labor Union Representative - This man works for the benefit of workers whose rights have been violated...

 

from Kunsan, a city on the west coast of Korea

Taxi Driver - This healthy and kind Kunsan man is inspired by his Christian faith...

Truck Driver - This outgoing Kunsan man tells about a shocking accident and his three marriages...

Security Guard - This kind man worked as a successful banker in Kunsan until Korea's economic bubble burst...

Hairstylist - This ambitious young man works his own business  while studying fulltime at a Kunsan university...

Bathhouse Owner - This insightful Kunsan entrepreneur started a business in the right place at the right time...

Gym Owner - This muscular Kunsan entrepreneur runs a busy gym and used to train professionally as a body builder...

Pharmacist - This outgoing Kunsan woman was a successful pharmacist before quitting for the sake of her family...

Pansori Professor - This aged professor teaches what he loves, about a traditional Korean performance...

Accounting Professor - This young professor wrote an accounting textbook that sells well...

 

from Gwanju, a city on the coast of southwest Korea

Organic Persimmon Farmer - This man who hates city life works on a mountain in Gwanju growing sweet persimmons...

Boxer - This ex-professional boxer from Gwangju talks about his days fighting...

Yoga Teacher - This exotic woman tries to escape city life and teach and practice yoga on a mountain outside Gwangju...

YMCA Executive Director - This Gwangju man believes in the mission of the YMCA...

Leather Craftsperson - This woman on a famous crafts street in Gwangju talks about her craft...

Fruit Peddler - This old woman seems extremely pleased with her job selling fruits on a Gwangju street...

Professional Volunteer - This selfless professional woman in Gwangju works without pay to help society...

Prison Counselor - This Gwangju woman expresses her faith by volunteering at a local prison...

Unemployment Director - This selfless woman in Gwanju works a full time professional job for no pay...

 

from Seoul, the capital of South Korea

Leather Goods Manager - This skillful salesman in Seoul sells leather goods...

Freelance Translator - This young Seoul man talks about interpreting at the World Cup soccer matches...

Factory Worker - This Nigerian working in Seoul tells of his struggles to be accepted in Korea...

 

Taiwanese at Work
(Interviews by John Spiri)

from Dalio, a small city just south of Taichung, on the west coast of Taiwan

Local Politician - This tireless Yun-lin County Councilman was the first local politician in Taiwan to not buy votes...

Slaughterhouse Owner - This successful entrepreneur has been making money and working hard his entire life...

TV Reporter - This cheerful man is on call for news 24 hours a day, 365 days a year...

Japanese Teacher - This young woman enjoys her job in Taiwan and dreams of returning to Japan someday to marry...

Grave Digger - This man works the generally undesirable job of digging graves...

Well Digger - This man runs a profitable family business of digging wells and selling farming supplies...

Camera Shopkeeper - This man has made a fine living selling everything related to cameras...

Accupressurist - This warm-hearted healer is more concerned with helping people than making money...

Pesticide Sales Consultant - This man gives farmers advice to improve crop yields...

Farmer - This vegetable farmer invented an award-winning agricultural machine...

Student - This student has learned the meaning of education and reasons for studying English...

Taxi Driver - This man works hard to support his family...

Natural Gas Deliveryman - This man runs a successful home business with his wife...

Convenience Store Clerk - This young woman enjoys her job as a clerk and dreams of owning her own store...

Rice Salesman - This man struggles to make enough money selling rice...

Pharmacist - This man has a profitable pharmacy, with two branch stores...

Temple Poem Interpreter - This elderly man understands the subtle meaning of mysterious, ancient, Chinese poems...

Real Estate Agent - This agent has been working hard to improve his income...

Balloon Shopkeeper - This young man wants to move to a bigger city where balloons and balloon services are more in demand...

Baptist Minister - This minister loves collecting rocks...

Shoyu Factory Owner - This owner is proud that his business has been successful for three generations...

from Taipei

Freelance Philanthropist - This woman's main concern in life is supporting people in developing countries who have material needs...

Consultant - This talkative woman has an unusual job but is considering more steady work...

Quality Controller - This young woman travels to China to oversee factory operations...

Model - This artistic woman has found modeling to be an excellent career...

Activist/Professor - This Taipei man is very knowledgable about labor and environmental issues...

 

from Tainan, the old capital of Taiwan, in the southwest

Dental Supply Clerk - This young woman's job, while not exciting, pays the bills...

 

from the Bunan aborigine tribe, living in Litao, a mountain village in central Taiwan

Dance Teacher - This aborigine woman dreams of preserving her tribe's traditions...

Protestant Minister - This cheerful aborigine minister recalls his days as a sailor when he wasted money on young women...

Insurance Saleswoman - This aborigine woman got a job to support her two children...

Civil Servant - This aborigine man, the husband of the Insurance Saleswoman, works in the Agriculture Department...

Military Teacher - This serious aborigine man enjoys his job as a teacher...

Weaver - This elderly aborigine woman recalls her childhood days, when Taiwan was occupied by Japanese soldiers...

Politician/Farmer/Hunter - This aborigine man works hard and has learned much from the Han Chinese...

Shopkeeper - This Chinese woman doesn't regret settling in a mountain aborigine village...

 

Noodler Maker - This relaxed man living along a canal outside Can Tho has various food production related jobs...

Cook - This woman, who cooks a traditional soup dish (secret recipe!) has a small but successful restaurant in an alley in Hanoi...

Farmer - This man's life is extremely difficult because of his son's mental illness. It's difficult for him to earn enough money to survive...

Orphanage Director - This man works for the welfare of orphans in Danang...

Credit Union Officer - This man works for the Vietnamese credit union in Hanoi...

Motorcycle Taxi Driver - This man struggles so support his family working a dangerous job in Hanoi...

Truck Driver - This friendly Vietnamese born man works hard, driving a truck for a living in California...

Hairstylist - This Can Tho man, as a successful barber, dreams of emigrating to the United States...

Police Officer - This tough Can Tho police officer gives interesting but brief answers about his job...

Tour Boat Owner - This ambitious English speaking entrepreneur outside Hanoi finds customers to bring out to see for a tour...

Woodcarver - This Hanoi man is carrying on his family profession. He and his wife cater to Japanese tourists...

Diving Instructor - This Phu Quoc instructor loves the sea and his job...

Travel Agent - This man talks about his job, and customers, in Luang Prabang, Laos...

Waiter - The young man, the friend of the Travel Agent, discusses waiting on tables in Luang Prabang, Laos...

Tour Guide - This young man, another friend of the Travel Agent, tells about working as a tour guide in Luang Prabang, Laos...

Sawmill Owner - This friendly man has his own lumber business in Luang Prabang, tells about the difficulty of trading in landlocked Laos...

Credit Union Officer - This man, friendly and fluent in English, tells about his efforts to help the poor in Laos through microloans...

Produce Vendor - This microloan borrower runs a vegetable stall at a busy market in Luang Prabang, Laos...

Clothing Vendor - This microloan borrower runs a clothing stall at a busy market in Luang Prabang, Laos...

Credit Union Officer - These Cambodian men tell about trying to provide loans for individuals in rural Cambodia...

International Relations - This semi-retired man from Burma (Myanmar) explains about the struggles of his country...

Silk Shop Owner - This Beligian shares his perceptions and experiences in Laos, including selling silk at a home shop...

Temple NPO - This Malaysian Chinese woman tells about her job in Kuala Lumpur's largest Chinese temple...

Security Guard - This ex-coffeeshop owner tells about his new, more relaxed job in a Kuala Lumpur condo...

Used LP/CD/Instrument Vendor - This Malaysian man of Indian descent has a profound passion for music and life...

Advertising Exec - An experienced advertising specialist is challenged to explain whether advertising is a kind of illusion...

Professional Singer - This female singer of Portuguese-Indian-Chinese descent tells about life as an entertainer...

Pub Owner - This animated female pub owner relates how it is to operate a drinking etablishment in Kuala Lumpur...

University Instructor - A Malaysian-born and -bred American citizen talks about life in a university environment...

Travel Agent - This experienced lady talks about work in the travel industry...

Sound Engineer- This talented young man explains how he got into the recording business...

Lawyer - This Penang-based lawyer offers surprising insights into the criminal justice system...

Flight Attendant - This Sabahan Malaysian woman tells about the pleasures and demands of working at 35,000 feet...

Journalist - This gentleman explains how hot topics like terrorism are the focus of his professional life...

Student -  This creative young lady wows the interviewer with her flights of fancy...

Taxi Driver - This man explains that he has experiences way beyond traffic jams and exhaust fumes...

Human Resources Director

Guitarist

Foot Masseusse - In broken English, this kind Bangkok woman tells about her life and work...

Animal Groomer - This ambitious young female entrepreneur talks about her job and other business ventures...

Inn Receptionist - This young woman explains what it's like dealing with farang (foreigners) at a Bangkok guest house...

Nurse - This Chiangmai woman talks about her job of helping mothers deliver their babies...

Accountant - This young woman in Bangkok tells about her love for teaching and decision to change careers...

Personal Assistant - This woman, the younger sister of the accountant, talks about her job and dreams...

Product Manager - This young Bangkok woman discusses her job, which she's comfortable with...

Scientist - This female scientists in Chiangmai talks about animal testing and other related issues...

Saleswoman - This Chiangmai woman talks about her exciting job that gives her the chance to travel around Thailand...

Interior Designer - This Bangkok company worker gives insight into the world of interior design...

Senior Interior Designer - This man, working at a foreign company in Bangkok, talks about his experience working abroad...

Credit Union Executive Officer - This Sri Lankan based in Bangkok tells about his efforts to reduce poverty in Asia...

Monk - In a rather bizarre interview, this young monk tells, in often incomprehensible English, his ideas...

Restaurant Owner - This Japanese man is preparing to immigrate to Thailand and set up a chain of cheap Japanese restaurants...

Amanda Oslbom - A Swedish female explains how she views education in Japan and elsewhere...

Aya Watanabe - This Japanese student tells about her noble dreams and ambitions...

Fang Li - This Chinese female talks about her studies in Japan and China...

Gantulga Budjargal - This Mongolian lady gives insights into her experiences in Mongolia, America and Japan...

Genny Yang - This Asian-American woman compares studies in the U.S. and Japan...

Li Ying - This Chinese lady tells of he studies and dreams...

Eiko Omi - This experienced Japanese female student talks about working then returning to school...

Burmaa -  This Mongolian student tells about her dreams to start a business...

May Kao Lee - An Asian-American lady describes her cross-cultural world...

Naranchimeg Khalzan - An ambitious Mongolian student talks about her experience and dreams...

Ramon Castille - An American student describes his passion for studying Japanese...

Risa Tsutsui - This Japanese student talks about what excites her in her studies...

Sean Bell - This American from Texas expresses strong opinions about his educational experiences...

Tserenpurea Khuyagt - This Mongolian lady talks about her experiences before school...

Victor Pan - This Taiwanese fellows discusses his motivation for studying in the unversity...

Yasushi Suenaga - This Japanese guy discusses his interest in journalism and China...

Yukiko Waki - This Japanese student tells of being raised in Brazil in a bi-cultural environment...

Yuko Uchima - This Okinawan-Japanese lady describes being a minority student in Japan...

Janis Rozario -  This creative young Malaysian woman wows the interviewer with her flights of fancy...

link to "Interviews With College Students" by William M. Balsamo

 

NGO Worker/Teacher (Japanese in Cambodia)

Factory Worker (Nigerian in Korea)

Truck Driver (Vietnamese in the United States)

Credit Union Executive Officer (Sri Lankan in Thailand)

Restaurant Owner (Japanese in Thailand)

Flight Attendant (Japanese in Canada)

Silk Shop Owner (Belgian in Laos)

University Professor (Malaysian in the United States)

University Professor (American in Japan)

 

Air Hostess

Zoo Curator

Guitarist

Taxi Driver

Waiter

Bellhop

Reflex Man

Snake Handler

Americans at Work

Inventor

Fireman

Yogi

Psychotherapist

Zoo Fundraiser

Systems Engineer

Natural Soap Factory Owner