Sayuri Mizutani

Student

“In Japan they hold on to traditional ideas. Men are regarded as being much more able than women.”

As an Office Information Systems major, Sayuri Mizutani knows how crucial communication skills are to the success or failure of a business. And that’s why she would like to forge a career as “the liaison person between American and Japanese companies” when returning to her native Japan. With courses that include business English, typing, office procedures and accounting, Sayuri has thoroughly prepared herself to enter the world of international corporations as an office assistant.

SMC has been a positive experience, Sayuri feels. “The instructors are very encouraging. They know a lot about international students and have helped me very much.”

Living in Los Angeles for the past two years has made her aware of the cultural differences between Japan and America. “In America women are treated much better than they are in Japan. They can be the owner of a company, or they can say their own opinion at a meeting,”

Sayuri observes. “In Japan, they hold on to traditional ideas; men have more status than women in business.” Sayuri has enjoyed the independence that living away from home has given her. Japanese students usually live with their parents who have great influence over career goals, she says. “Here I live by myself, which is a good experience for me,” she explains, “And I can think about my future without my parents interfering.”

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