https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-immigration/Foreign-workers-in-Japan-climb-the-ladder-at-smaller-firms

Foreign workers in Japan climb the ladder at smaller firms

Factories, startups start to rely on non-native talent for leadership as well as labor

asia.nikkei.com

여기 기사에 한국인도 있네 

TOKYO/OSAKA -- At the small Japanese manufacturer where he works, Jang Ji-soo plays a big role in keeping costs down.

"When I can cut costs without compromising quality, it's rewarding because I feel like I've contributed to the company," said Jang, a purchasing manager at Kyokuto Valve Manufacturing in the southwestern city of Kitakyushu.

Jang's experience shows how small and midsize companies in Japan are increasingly elevating foreign workers to managerial posts, drawing on their language and personal skills to expand overseas sales and procurement.

Jang was hired as the company's business with South Korean steel companies like POSCO and Hyundai Steel grew. While handling the company's Korean business, Jang also marketed valves for steel mills and geothermal power generation in Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Kenya and other countries.

His work caught the attention of President Hideki Kabayama, who promoted him in 2017 to section manager at the head office, where there were only five workers at the time.

In the valve industry, "there is an increasing number of materials and parts from overseas that have the same quality as those made in Japan, but are cheaper and have shorter delivery times," said Kabayama. But the company had been reluctant to turn to overseas suppliers out of consideration for long-standing domestic business partners.

Jang worked with the sales department to gain the understanding of Kyokuto Valve's customers, enabling the company to greatly increase overseas procurement. While prices of iron, copper and other materials have soared in recent years, "we have been able to minimize increases in the ratio of materials costs to sales," Kabayama said.

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조선게들 말로는 일본 가면 최저시급 받으면서 

사람취급도 못 받는다고 하던데