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Graduate Interview: Rie Kono, Representative Employee of Asante Sana, LLC
- Mar. 28, 2023
Profile.
Rie Kawano
Born in 1987 in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from Hosei University Senior High School for Girls and entered Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Career Studies. after graduating in March 2010, worked as a caregiver and part time job, worked for a major real estate company. in February 2018, moved to Kenya where her husband started a business, and launched an apparel brand "RAHA KENYA" in December. 2022 In 2006, she published "The Steps You Take Are Small Enough.
Revealing myself and making small progress over and over again: That's my way of life.
Rie Kono lost sight of herself after suffering the first setback of her life when she "lost 60 in a row" in her job search. She says that "anyone can change his or her life," based on her experience of throwing away her half-hearted pride, taking a bold step forward, and launching an apparel brand.
Colorful and unique clothing as an opportunity to take a step forward
I am the representative of the African cloth apparel brand "RAHA KENYA (Raha Kenya)" in Kenya. I had zero experience in apparel and no knowledge of business management, but when I wore clothes tailored from African fabrics with strong personalities, which I would never have chosen before, my switch to change was flipped.
The brand name "Raha" means "Be happy" in Swahili. I hope that these colorful clothes and accessories filled with African energy will inspire you to take a step forward.
The standard of "normal" in Japan and Kenya does not always match, so in the beginning, we asked the tailors to redo many times. I don't want to force them to accept the Japanese norm, but I also don't want them to think that African-made products are of low quality. By expressing these feelings in words, the relationship of trust with the tailors deepened, and I feel that we were able to grow together.
In order to provide more people with the opportunity to take the first step forward, we opened a guesthouse at the end of last year where people can enjoy their stay in Kenya in peace, and we have also increased the variety of local programs that have been well received.
The apparel business comes with the challenges of time and cost, but by increasing the pillars of our business, we hope to offer products that are uniquely Raha Kenya without compromise.
African cloth with unique colors and patterns. From the vast number of items available, Ms. Kono selects those that are suitable as "an opportunity to take a step forward.
I became lost in my career after a job-hunting setback.
I was a freshman in high school when the Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Career Studies was established at the university. While my classmates shied away from it because it was an unknown faculty, I was attracted by the wide range of studies available in the Faculty of Business Administration, culture, and education, so I entered the department without hesitation. I was very glad that I chose the Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Career Studies because the free school culture suited me very well, and there were classes where I could listen to the top management of companies, corporate internships, etc. I was very happy with my choice.
What I put a lot of effort into while I was a student was my part-time job. I was interested in manufacturing, so I often worked part-time at a factory on a daily basis. I even experienced assembling pachinko machines. While I acquired a knack for learning tasks, I also made the mistake of thinking that work = just doing the tasks given to me by others.
I went job hunting with only a vague image of wanting to be a career woman at a large company, but due to the decrease in the number of job openings caused by the Lehman Shock, I was unsuccessful in 60 consecutive selections. I lost all confidence and ended up quitting my nursing care job after only one year, and fell into a state of "career limbo.
In my fourth year after graduation, I was hired from a temporary position as a regular employee and became a "Marunouchi office worker," which I had longed for, but I was only happy for the first year. It was there that I finally realized that I was an empty shell of a person who cared only about how the world looked.
One of the local programs is a one-week internship for students and working adults, where they can experience everything from production to sales (the next program will be held in August).
Searching for what I can do now and exposing myself without decorating myself
I moved to Kenya because my husband started a business overseas, and being cut off from the company and the world, I became aware of the meaning of my existence for the first time. I had no self-confidence and could not keep a job, but I was able to make a big change because I made a 180-degree turn in the way I thought and the way I treated those around me.
First, I stopped saying "but" and "because" as reasons why I couldn't (or wouldn't) do something and started looking for what I could do now. No matter how small the thing is, when it works, you can feel the growth. Even now, chewing on small growth every day is my driving force.
I also stopped showing myself strong with a strange pride and started exposing my weak self. I have found that people around me are more willing to teach me and cooperate with me that way. I don't think I am suited to be a manager, but I have come to believe that it is not bad to be in a position where I can involve others and give shape to my thoughts.
Only you can change your life
As one of the "job-hunting dropouts," I have something to say to those who are about to enter the workforce. In Japan, we tend to unconsciously think for the sake of others or what those around us think, but I urge you to face yourself and act honestly according to your own feelings. It is your life that you are walking, and only you can change your life.
If you don't know what you want to do, why don't you start by continuously asking yourself, "What do I want to do? If you keep that kind of awareness, you will feel and think differently even when you do the same thing.
I often hear people say that they are afraid to take the first step because they are afraid of failure, but think that what lies ahead is not failure but progress. Even finding out that "that method doesn't work" is a harvest. Every time you take a step forward, your experience and the amount of information you have will increase.
The world and people change. I will continue to ask myself questions, constantly update my thinking, return to my starting point when I am uncertain, and continue to live my life in my own way.
- Raha Kenya website (also includes information on local programs)
(First published in the March 2023 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)