"The Lives of Women in the United States" is a series in which we introduce resilient Japanese women who have managed to strike a great work-life balance here in America.

In the first of this series, we interview Ms. Yoshiko Shimizu who balances a career as a real estate agent with working at a Japanese restaurant.

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

After graduating from a Junior-college in Japan, I started working in an office In Japan. However, having always wanted to study abroad, I lived in Bethesda, MD as an Au Pair for one year. After returning to Japan, I wanted to continue improving my English language skills and thus decided to study in the US. I first spent two years at NOVA Community College. Afterwards, I transferred to Virginia Tech University where I studied Human Development. Now I am married and live in Virginia.

2. What kind of career are you pursuing now?

Currently, I am working two jobs as a realtor and in a Japanese restaurant. Originally, I was only working in the restaurant, but I gained an interest in real estate after hearing about it from a work friend. That was just around the time when my child began going to daycare and I was looking for full-time employment. I took advantage of the chance and started studying. Also, even though I value the opportunity to work, I really want to prioritize my child, so the flexibility of real estate was particularly attractive. A realtor helps those looking to buy, sell, rent, or lease houses with negotiating contracts. To get certified as a realtor in the U.S. you must pass both a federal licensing exam as well as state-specific exams. You must take a 60 hour course, either online or in person, and go through training. Both exams can be taken on the same day. Now, I have a license to work in both Maryland and Virginia where I generally help Japanese living around DC. Knowing that I am helping them find a home, something so crucial to their experience living in the U.S, gives me a sense of responsibility as well as satisfaction with my work.

3. What are some of the fun aspects of your job? What are some of the challenges?

What makes my job exciting is getting to meet with such diverse clients, hearing their stories, and helping them find their dream home. Each client has individual needs and so it is crucial to have strong communication skills to be able to truly ask and understand what they are looking for. As for the challenges, time management is definitely a big one. In addition to my two jobs, I have to make sure to take my child to and from school, join play dates, and also do housework. It takes an extraordinary amount of planning to make sure I do not cause trouble for my clients. Of course, not everything always goes as planned, but I make it a point to reflect on areas of improvement and continue moving forward.

4. Have you ever faced difficulties living in the U.S? Have you ever wanted to return to Japan?

Of course, there are language difficulties and visa troubles, but I have never felt like I wanted to go back to Japan. Visa problems largely depend on the government, so that cannot really be helped. But problems with English can really only be solved by studying harder. Recently, it has become easy to get information about real estate from social media platforms like YouTube, so I make sure I am constantly keeping up with new information in my free time. Because English is not my first language, I make sure to document important things, to avoid miscommunication. I feel that the emphasis on the importance of family here in the U.S. really aligns with my own values.

5. Do you have an words of advice for Japanese women in America who have yet to find their passion?

I think if you are interested in something, even just a little, you should act on it. By joining events and surrounding yourself with people who share similar interests, you can learn more about different areas and get a better idea of what you like. The United States is a place where you are not limited by your age, where even if you fail, you can continue to try again. To be honest, I actually failed the license exam. But I tried again and was able to pass. For example, if you want to improve your English skills, you can join churches, free county language classes, and ESL classes at community colleges. Community college is especially great because you can receive credits that connect to getting a license or certificate, and eventually a job. If you are looking to work here in the U.S, having some form of certification is definitely advantageous.
When I was in Japan, I used to feel like I had to do things a certain way. Since moving here however, I have seen a variety of people who lead a variety of lifestyles, and I realize that there are many ways to accomplish something. The important thing is to go at your own pace and do what works best for you.

6. Do you have any dreams or goals for the future?

As a short-term goal, I would like to get my DC realtor license, and be able to help clients find homes in DC as well as Virginia and Maryland. As a long-term goal, I would like to start a business that supports investors living in Japan. The U.S. population is still growing, and there is still plenty of available land. I feel it will continue to grow economically in the long-term. Real estate is connected to the economy. Using my experience as a realtor, I would like to expand my area of focus to connect both the U.S. and Japanese economies.

★ Interviewer's note

Ms. Shimizu is clearly a woman who strongly values her family and maintaining her career, and I think it is incredible that she found a job that aligns with these values. This must be the result of having a clear vision of the kind of life she wanted for herself. She is a great model for those who have moved to the United States, who value their family but also want to work. Furthermore, “take things one step at a time” is an amazing message. Of course trying hard is not a problem, but believing that trying too hard is the correct way can cause stress. Because Japanese are used to trying so hard, bringing that mentality into a new living environment can be frustrating. I believe Ms. Shimizu's message will really help those who feel like they always have to try really hard.