According to Wesley Jacobsen, professor of the practice of Japanese language and director of the Japanese Language Program at Harvard, the number of students studying Japanese has declined from a high of 340 in 1991 to 166 in 1996.
"The big news is the sudden decrease in Japanese language studies nationwide," Jacobsen says. "[After] the so-called bursting of the Japanese 'bubble' in roughly 1993, Japan ceased to be viewed as the economic powerhouse."
On the other hand, Jacobsen notes in that in the meantime the Chinese department at Harvard "has been overwhelmed."
Job Scramble Persists
At Japan Career Forum at the World Trade Center in Boston in October, however, there was no shortage of recruiters. More than 120 companies participated, including Mitsubishi Corp. of Tokyo, which is headed by a Harvard graduate, Minoru B. Makihara '54.
Taka Gondo, a representative from Hitachi Telecom, said that Japanese companies are still very focused on internationalizing their employees. He referred to Sakamoto Ryoma, a ronin (masterless samurai) hero who helped unify Japan and is idealized as a patriot.
"Right now, Japanese companies need to change, We need Sakamoto Ryomas to change, and we think that they're abroad studying here. So we're here to look for them."
Some companies did have specific qualifications that they were looking for in candidates.
"We're looking for people with financial services and technology background [for our Tokyo office]," says Neal Bruce, a representative from Ernst and Young Management Consulting.
Others, such as representatives from Toys 'R' Us, and McDonald's, had relatively few requirements.
"We're looking for people who are cheerful and customer-oriented," says Sato Osamu, human-resources director for Toys 'R' Us.
"We want aggressive, communicative team players," says Sato Tadahiro, a representative from McDonald's. "McDonald's was successful in Japan. But we also have to run it American-style. So we need people who've lived in the U.S., who've had international experience."
On the other hand, the companies sent a clear message. Every representative interviewed required some degree of fluency in Japanese--for most, native-level or business Japanese. In short, while Americans not of Japanese descent were considered, many companies prefer Japanese expatriates.
According to a chart from the organizers of the Career Forum, students who had majored in business, computer studies and engineering were most in demand.
It is that enduring demand for top college graduates that impels many students to continue to look to Japan for employment.
For example, Moland says Japan is definitely in his long-term plans.
"Things are happening [in Japan]," Moland said. "I think I'll stick around."
--Anne Y. Lee contributed to the reporting of this article.