This time, we would like to introduce Miki Shintani, who runs a company supporting tennis study abroad in San Diego, California, USA.

1. Please tell us about your journey coming to the United States.

In 1997, I, together with our two children, moved to San Diego to accompany my husband on his overseas assignment. The day we moved was the day before our younger child turned one, and I remember arriving in America and immediately celebrating their first birthday. Since then, we have been living in San Diego.

2. What is your current job, or what are you passionately engaged in or enjoying doing now?

Since 2017, I have been running a company called Pop Tennis, primarily supporting Japanese individuals who want to study tennis at American universities. Tennis originally started as my hobby, but my hobby turned into a job when I least expected it (laughs).

3. How did your hobby turn into a job? What kind of circumstances led to this result?

I had always wanted to learn tennis. Therefore, after moving to America, I joined a Japanese tennis group. At the group, we practiced diligently together and started participating in recreational leagues. As I began participating in tournaments and gaining experience as a captain, I started thinking, “I want to get better!” and began playing in other districts. In this way, my tennis world expanded gradually. Meanwhile, my children also started playing junior tennis, and through them, my network in the tennis community continued to grow. Through the connections I made, I ended up working for a company run by Japanese individuals that facilitated sports study abroad opportunities.

Additionally, during temporary returns to Japan, my own tennis world expanded through my children's tennis activities. From the connections I made there, I began to be asked, ‘I want to play tennis in America, but what should I do?” This increased my awareness of the demand for American tennis study in Japan.

As I wanted to work in a role focused on tennis, I decided to acquire solid knowledge. I obtained a coaching qualification in tennis and connected with other instructors. At that point, I decided to break away from the sports study abroad agency I was working for, started my own business, and specialized in tennis-related services.

4. What are the sources of joy and harsh points in your current job?

It's truly enjoyable when I'm active on-site, coordinating coaches and players, taking care of players during matches, and so on. It's an indescribable feeling when the players I've assisted are participating in matches. Nowadays, many American universities have cameras installed on their tennis courts, so parents in Japan can watch their children play through online streaming. Witnessing the joy of parents as they watch their children play is also incredibly rewarding.

As for challenges, well... there are many challenging aspects (laughs). Especially, the paperwork involved in the process of enrolling in an American university is quite demanding. One specific example is university insurance. In the past, universities themselves would choose an insurance plan, provide it to students, and students would pay the insurance premium to the university. However, now, as part of cost-cutting measures, most universities outsource such tasks. Consequently, students have to directly contract with the insurance company chosen by the university, and they also need to manage their accounts themselves. Each decision has to be made individually, and students who have just arrived in the United States from Japan may not be familiar with the details of the American insurance system. Additionally, since most students are not accustomed to the American university class system, we also support them with study-related matters such as submitting assignments until they get used to the system. Supporting these finer details not directly related to tennis can be challenging. However, we want to ensure that both tennis and academic life become fulfilling experiences. Therefore, we are committed to providing comprehensive support.

5. Could you please share any difficulties you faced in your life in America or any experiences that made you consider returning to Japan?

In the past, when I was going through tough times, I often complained to my husband, saying things like, “I came here for you!” But strangely, since starting my job, I feel like I've stopped complaining to my husband and have also stopped thinking about wanting to return to Japan. Perhaps finding something I can do for myself and pursuing what I want to do has made me too busy to complain.
It's true that having an environment where I can do what I want is something I find truly grateful when I think about it.

6. Despite the activities you are involved in, have you had any experiences or moments that you feel have been catalysts for your personal growth since coming to America?

While I do have the desire to grow, the reality is that I often find myself reflecting and introspecting (laughs). However, if I were to point out something, I can definitely say that there are things I've become capable of due to the work I've been doing. For example, I've become more proactive in connecting with people and making an effort to express my feelings. Initially, I wasn't particularly good at communicating with others, but since starting my job, I've been making efforts to make myself better understood as well as to understand others more. I've learned a lot from those experiences.

Moreover, meeting students has also contributed to my personal growth. Students who decide to leave Japan and intentionally come to America to play tennis already have high aspirations while still in Japan. However, from the initial introduction to going through university entrance exams and starting their college life while playing tennis in America, you can see their facial expressions gradually changing. The accumulated experience becomes an aura. It's very exciting to witness. College life and tennis are not always smooth sailing. There are many times when things don't go well, such as poor tests or match results. When there's a need to find a way forward, magma accumulates, and sensing that, I release the pressure appropriately. Then, I guide the players towards the best direction. Discerning that moment is both a learning experience for myself and an opportunity for growth.

7. Can you share your future plan?

I want to expand the circle of “Pop Tennis” even more. One of the students who studied abroad in America through Pop Tennis graduated in May of this year, making him/her our first graduate. After returning to Japan, he/she successfully found employment. When I visited Japan recently for business, we had a graduation celebration, and the student's coach and underclassmen also attended. It truly felt like a gathering of the“Pop Family.”
We regularly organize meet-ups for players and parents, and these events have been well-received as they provide a platform for individuals with the common theme of “study abroad through tennis” to connect with each other. I aim to continue these gatherings in the future.

Personally, I always want to think about how I can continue to connect with people to sustain the company. Expanding the network and promoting Pop Tennis are goals I aspire to achieve. Someone once told me, “It seems challenging.” However, I believe that if I appear to be “having fun” and “enjoying my work,” it will be easier to find people who want to join in this venture. So, I consciously work towards presenting the job as something enjoyable and easy, making others think, 'This job looks fun; I want to be a part of it,' rather than 'It seems challenging' (laughs).

8. To Japanese women in America who may be feeling lost and uncertain about what they want to do, please share a message.
I, too, went through a period of uncertainty. When I decided to start my own business, I was over 50 years old. Until then, I had been feeling lost, and it was when that feeling reached its peak that I thought, 'This can't go on!' I spontaneously drove 8 hours to San Francisco, where I took a coaching test over the next three days. This turned out to be a game-changer in my life. In my case, pushing myself to the limit allows me to unleash explosive energy. So, I believe it was a good thing that I continued to feel lost until that feeling reached its peak.
This is just my way of doing things, but if there's someone feeling lost right now, please cherish this 'lost time.' Believe that someday, this feeling of uncertainty will become a source of strength.

American Tennis Study Pop Tennis:https://poptennissd.com/

★ Interviewer's note

Miki was consistently warm and friendly, and with tennis as the central theme, I felt a refreshing breeze blowing constantly. Her genuine love for tennis and her desire to support students striving in tennis in America came through clearly during the interview. Her presence, watching over students from behind the scenes and in the spotlight, felt like a reliable “dorm mother.” The advice, “It's okay to feel lost until it reaches its peak and explodes,” is a powerful message for those who might be anxious to quickly dispel feelings of uncertainty, potentially leading to even more confusion. It serves as a reassuring message for those individuals.