MS. Ruri Tomioka speaks fluent Mandarin, but her delicate smile and soft voice reveal her Japanese heritage.

　　However, she is not as soft as her appearance suggests. Now a marketing manager of a large multinational consulting firm, she has overcome difficult times during her four-year stay in China, first in Hong Kong and now Shenzhen.

　　“At first, I didn’t like Hong Kong. I thought it was noisy, dirty and crowded. To make things worse, I had to work until late at night in the first year. At that time I always wondered what I was doing here in China?”

　　“Then, gradually, I got a feeling for Hong Kong. I began to love it as I understood more of its culture and people.”

　　“Some foreigners felt bad about China because they did not stay long enough to understand it. You must be patient. It takes time to make friends with Chinese people. But once you’ve got their trust, they will stick to you.”

　　“I think I’m really very lucky to have the opportunity to be exposed to Japanese and Chinese cultures.”

　　She lived in Taiwan with her parents for almost 10 years and moved back to Japan before middle school. Then she was sent to Hong Kong by her former employer and found she could pick up Chinese quite easily.

　　“It is not only language concerns, it is the culture. The better I understand the language, the more I know and like the culture. And it definitely helps me to communicate with my customers.”

　　She thinks people in Shenzhen work very hard and are eager to learn, especially the youth. They are more open to new things than their Japanese counterparts.

　　The biggest difference between major cities in Japan and China, in her view, is that women here share equal working rights with men.

　　“I don’t think I would have the opportunity to do in Japan what I’m doing now in Shenzhen.”

　　“My favorite Chinese food is Beijing dumpling. I like to read Chinese novels and I want to live in Beijing for a while.”

　　Fan Jingrong

　　MS. Ruri Tomioka speaks fluent Mandarin, but her delicate smile and soft voice reveal her Japanese heritage.

　　However, she is not as soft as her appearance suggests. Now a marketing manager of a large multinational consulting firm, she has overcome difficult times during her four-year stay in China, first in Hong Kong and now Shenzhen.

　　“At first, I didn’t like Hong Kong. I thought it was noisy, dirty and crowded. To make things worse, I had to work until late at night in the first year. At that time I always wondered what I was doing here in China?”

　　“Then, gradually, I got a feeling for Hong Kong. I began to love it as I understood more of its culture and people.”

　　“Some foreigners felt bad about China because they did not stay long enough to understand it. You must be patient. It takes time to make friends with Chinese people. But once you’ve got their trust, they will stick to you.”

　　“I think I’m really very lucky to have the opportunity to be exposed to Japanese and Chinese cultures.”

　　She lived in Taiwan with her parents for almost 10 years and moved back to Japan before middle school. Then she was sent to Hong Kong by her former employer and found she could pick up Chinese quite easily.

　　“It is not only language concerns, it is the culture. The better I understand the language, the more I know and like the culture. And it definitely helps me to communicate with my customers.”

　　She thinks people in Shenzhen work very hard and are eager to learn, especially the youth. They are more open to new things than their Japanese counterparts.

　　The biggest difference between major cities in Japan and China, in her view, is that women here share equal working rights with men.

　　“I don’t think I would have the opportunity to do in Japan what I’m doing now in Shenzhen.”

　　“My favorite Chinese food is Beijing dumpling. I like to read Chinese novels and I want to live in Beijing for a while.”

　　Fan Jingrong

　　MS. Ruri Tomioka speaks fluent Mandarin, but her delicate smile and soft voice reveal her Japanese heritage.

　　However, she is not as soft as her appearance suggests. Now a marketing manager of a large multinational consulting firm, she has overcome difficult times during her four-year stay in China, first in Hong Kong and now Shenzhen.

　　“At first, I didn’t like Hong Kong. I thought it was noisy, dirty and crowded. To make things worse, I had to work until late at night in the first year. At that time I always wondered what I was doing here in China?”

　　“Then, gradually, I got a feeling for Hong Kong. I began to love it as I understood more of its culture and people.”

　　“Some foreigners felt bad about China because they did not stay long enough to understand it. You must be patient. It takes time to make friends with Chinese people. But once you’ve got their trust, they will stick to you.”

　　“I think I’m really very lucky to have the opportunity to be exposed to Japanese and Chinese cultures.”

　　She lived in Taiwan with her parents for almost 10 years and moved back to Japan before middle school. Then she was sent to Hong Kong by her former employer and found she could pick up Chinese quite easily.

　　“It is not only language concerns, it is the culture. The better I understand the language, the more I know and like the culture. And it definitely helps me to communicate with my customers.”

　　She thinks people in Shenzhen work very hard and are eager to learn, especially the youth. They are more open to new things than their Japanese counterparts.

　　The biggest difference between major cities in Japan and China, in her view, is that women here share equal working rights with men.

　　“I don’t think I would have the opportunity to do in Japan what I’m doing now in Shenzhen.”

　　“My favorite Chinese food is Beijing dumpling. I like to read Chinese novels and I want to live in Beijing for a while.”