Special Interviews

A desire to enjoy competing against the very best

Koji Uehara played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball, said goodbye to his 21-year career in 2019. In 2013, he became the first Japanese pitcher to win a World Series in the majors, and he continued to be at the forefront of the game until his retirement at the age of 44. What was the driving force behind his continued success in a different environment, and how did he continue to evolve until his retirement?

Face yourself, find your inclination and keep challenging

We sat down with Nobuko Nakano, who specialises in the mechanisms of human cognition, to hear her thoughts on what kind of work and challenges make people feel happier, comparing it to the values that we uphold at Robert Walters. 

Achieving goals begins with small successes

Toshiaki Hirose, former captain of the Japanese National Rugby Team, visited Robert Walters Japan to share his approach to leadership and taking on challenges to win in the global stage.

Jeremy Sampson, Managing Director, spoke with him about the importance of leadership and team management that brings together a diverse group to strive towards a shared goal.

“Extra preparation and a reliable guide” are essentials

Yoichi Watanabe, a famed war photographer, continually works to provide information about global current affairs.

He shared his experiences and opinions about taking on new challenges he feels passionate about with Jeremy Sampson, Managing Director at Robert Walters Japan, a topic that has many aspects in common with changing to a job in a global environment.

How a global perspective changed my view of work

Mayu Yamaguchi, a New York lawyer and frequent guest on Japanese TV, shared her experience of studying in the United States and the impact it had on how she viewed her career and work style. What is the difference between traditional Japanese work and the rest of the world? She spoke with Jeremy Sampson, Robert Walters Japan President, about the Japanese way of working in the midst of major changes. 

Get down from your chair

Professional golfer Shigeki Maruyama quickly became one of the leading players on the Japan Golf Tour and established himself as the top player in Japan in 2000. With 3 PGA Tour victories under his belt, Maruyama turned away from fame within Japan to face new challenges and to compete with foreign competition. With an action that reflects attitudes on career advancement, Jeremy Sampson, Robert Walters Japan Director, spoke with Maruyama about his decision to compete abroad and his unyielding desire to expand his horizons and realise his dreams.

Overcoming the fear of challenge and opening the door to new opportunity

Robert Walters was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985 and has since developed into a global business, operating in 31 countries worldwide. Robert Walters Japan, since opening its first office in Tokyo in 2000 and its second in Osaka in 2007, has been supporting career change in Japan for the past 19 years.

Today, foreign-affiliated companies are looking to hire increasing numbers of global talent, but what exactly is “global talent?” Jeremy Sampson, Managing Director of Robert Walters Japan, was asked what this phrase implies and the value in taking on new challenges in our lives.