❻・❼・❿❽・❾・⓫⓬・⓭●⓰●⓯●⓮❷Introduction ❸・❺Information■Ⅰ▶ ■Ⅱ Hot Angle ［Ms. Reiko Tokushige Rogers］ ❹Education■Ⅰ▶■Ⅲ Information■Ⅲ▶■Ⅴ Educational Institutions INDEXURL▶http://daigakushinbun.com/ E-mail▶info@daigakushinbun.comINCORPORATING Thursday, August 17, 2017 [Summer Special Issue] vol.2Special InterviewNews & TopicsMr. Mark J. Hashem, Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives Mr. Yasunori Shirota awarded the Order of the Polar StarMr. Mark J. Hashem was born in Hokkaido. Studied at Hokkaido University Graduate School, and is currently a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. In this interview we will talk about his life as well as ask his advice for those interested in studying in Japan.―Mr. Hashem, please tell us about yourself.I was born in Hokkaido. My father is American and served on Chitose Air Base (Chitose-shi), and my mother is Japanese born in Hokkaido., so I guess that makes me “hāfu” [half-Japanese ― Ed.].I lived in Hokkaido until I was three and then moved to Hawaii where I graduated from McKinley High School (Honolulu, Hawaii). After that I majored in Finance and Commerce at Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR). Then I felt a strong need to return to Hokkaido and enrolled at Hokkaido University Graduate School (Sapporo-shi).―Please tell us more about your life in Japan.My initial impression was that Hokkaido was freezing because I was used to Hawaii climate. No matter how many layers of clothes I put on, it was still cold, so I went to onsen [Japanese hot springs ― Ed.] quite often to keep myself warm. Showers are great but taking baths makes you feel relaxed, so I really loved onsen.―And what about your life as a graduate student?It was back in the 90s when the Internet was gaining momentum, so I decided to pursue a degree in IT instead of Finance and Commerce.In need of money to pay my tuition I had set up an Eikaiwa school [English conversation school ― Ed.] but, contrary to my expectations, business grew bigger and bigger and at some point it became difficult to handle while studying.Studying at a graduate school was rather challenging, so I couldn't afford wearing two hats and had to choose. I left school and decided to concentrate on my Eikaiwa school instead. For the next 10 years I worked as an operator responsible for dispatching my school teachers to kindergartens in Hokkaido in order to improve kids' English.―What path did you choose after Eikaiwa?I lived in Seattle for a while. But one day one of my old acquaintances in Hawaii who worked as a political representative asked me to help him out with work. So that's how I went back to Hawaii and started working under my friend.My main responsibility was finding solutions for various issues revolving around Hawaii, and I really enjoyed it. And my friend asked me “Mark, why don't you become a representative too?” I thought, why not? So I ran for the Representative in 2009, won and have been doing this job since then.―Could you please tell us about your work as a Representative in more detail?My main responsibilities are budget allocation management and passing bills into law. Being a Representative is very compelling but you have to remember that it's also quite hectic with the various events to attend on weekends and so on.―We know that you have been contributing to the relations between Mr. Spencer Kimura & Ms. Sharon Fukayama ●Profi leBorn in Hokkaido, raised in Hawaii. Moved to Hawaii at the age of 3, and lived there until high school graduation. Graduated from Pacifi c University, studied at Hokkaido University Graduate School. Currently working as a Representative.Hokkaido and Hawaii.Yes, I did contribute to the sister-state agreement between Hokkaido and Hawaii. Honestly speaking, direct flights between Hokkaido and Hawaii were in danger of being cancelled because the airline company that operates these fl ights didn't earn any profit. If they cancelled the flights, you'd have to transfer planes in Tokyo which would be rather inconvenient.Plus, Hokkaido and Hawaii climates are completely different. You can enjoy all kinds of winter sports in Hokkaido in winter, while Hawaii is warm all year round, so you can enjoy swimming in the ocean.Therefore, by signing the sister-state agreement interaction between Hawaii and Hokkaido will increase, and will provide us with more business connections in terms of goods and tourism. So I believe it will have an astonishing economic effect. We had been working towards that agreement for 4 years.And the moment we had all been waiting for fi nally happened. Hokkaido Governor Takahashi Harumi and Hawaii Governor David Ige signed the agreement at the offi cial ceremony on May 8 this year.So I'm looking forward to working together with Hokkaido to further develop our partnership in a number of spheres.―Please give advice to all the young people who are interested in studying abroad in Japan.If you're thinking “I want to study abroad in Japan”, “I want to learn Japanese”, “I want to live in Japan”, then you definitely have what it takes to make your dreams come true. That being said, if you have that kind of goal, I strongly recommend you to challenge yourself and do it.Besides, if you graduate from a university overseas and come back to your home country, you will be perceived differently.What I am trying to say is that you'd become more competitive on the international arena, therefore, you will have more opportunities.Japan RYUGAKU Fair〜Let's Study in Japan〜2nd Event in HawaiiMr. Mark J. Hashem ALL THE NEWS & TOPICS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS進路新聞Contribution to the Sister-State Agreement Between Hokkaido-Hawaii Hawaii EditionThe Shinro Shimbun
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