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Senpai Spotlight
Senpai Spotlight
Songs ofSongs Succe Successful BusinessBusine
An Interview w An Interview with JET alum Justin Urso (Tokushima, 2006-2007), Director of Mc Director of McMillon Innovation Studio, University of Arkansas and Founder o and Founder of Big Box Karaoke Interviewed by Kimberly Matsuno (Niigata, 2019-2022), Program and Communications Coordinator, USJETAA
Interviewed by Program and C
As is tradition with every JET Program participant, we must ask the questions: Why JET? Why Japan?
As isyour tradition with every JET Program Tell us about business, Big Box Karaoke. participant, we must ask the questions: Am I correct in assuming it was inspired by JET? Why Japan? your timeWhy in Japan?
I got my bachelor’s degree in International Business Economics from the University of Arkansas. So there was always an interest in international business and working with people from diverse backgrounds. As part of my degree program, I actually went to Japan for a study abroad trip where we visited the corporate headquarters of companies like Sharp, Mazda, Toyota, and Shoyeido. So I had a bit of an introduction to Japanese culture, specifically business culture, from that experience.
I got my bachelor’s degree Absolutely. When my wife and I wereininInternational Japan, Business Economics from University of we had plenty of opportunities to gothe to karaArkansas. therewith wasit.always an interest in oke, and we just fellSo in love That love international and working for karaoke turned intobusiness a business plan as wewith peofromour diverse backgrounds. As part of my wanted tople share experiences with more I actually went to Japan for and moredegree people,program, and that’s when we develstudy where we visited the coroped the aplan forabroad Big Boxtrip Karaoke. porate headquarters of companies like Sharp and Shoyeido. In Japan, Mazda, we saw Toyota, that karaoke is a placeSo forI had a bit o anBeing introduction to Japanese everybody. in a karaoke room isculture, a safe specifica ly business culture, from It’s thataexperience. place of sorts for so many people. place where you can just relax and be comfortable. I also had a dream of being in thetoForeign And that is something my wife and I tried Service someday. So I thought the JET Progra emulate with Big Box Karaoke. would be a great experience that would lend itself well to the career trajectory I saw for my Photo by egodi1| Pixabay self at that time.
I also had a dream of being in the Foreign Service someday. So I thought the JET Program would be a great experience that would lend itself well to the career trajectory I saw for myself at that time. 122 |