Foreign students interested in Japan's music entertainment business have a high concern and interest about employment in Japan. But as there are only two years of study in vocational schools, students have to find those answers in those two years. The school also helps and gives support to the students, such as the business guidance exposition.

SHOBI holds every year this business guidance inside the school to give the students the support needed to find employment. This year, the guidance was held on November 27th (Wednesday).
SHOBI has a carrier center in which students can find the support needed to look for information about the companies, how to write a resume or an entry sheet as well as help in practicing for job interviews.
For this occasion, we talked and asked a few questions to the head of the carrier center, Mr, Saeki, about the business guidance and the current situation for foreign students to find employment in Japan's music and entertainment industry.

△How many companies participated in this year's exposition?
------26 companies participated this year, including record companies, entertainment production, TV production companies, Event, sound and lighting companies, etc.

△How about the year and course of the students who participated?
------160 students from the music business course, audio and visual course, among others, listened with enthusiasm the conferences of a variety of companies. All of them 1st year students as the employment activities start from the 1st year.

△Is it difficult for foreign students to find employment in Japan's music and entertainment companies?
------Its vital for the music business to advance into a new market in Asia based most in Taiwan and Korea. Companies look for employees who can be a bridge between Japan and their own country.

△What kind of foreign students is the Japanese music and entertainment industry looking for?
------They are looking for people who can transmit and promote, with english as a basic, a variety of demands such as information and music globally.

△Thanks to the carrier center, every year foreign students see their dreams about working in the Japanese music entertainment industry come true. What does the carrier center look for in foreign students?
------We want students to have their goals very clear and to collect the necessary information to enjoy appealing and approaching the companies.

Thanks to the carrier center's head Mr. Saeki's, we got very helpful information. Now let's hear what two foreign students who participated in the business guidance exposition have to say.

Sai - Audio and visuals course 1st year (Korea)
I went and listened to the conferences of 5 different companies including PA and visual companies. I found a company in which I would like to get employed. This company will hold a training in March so I decided to participate on it.
It's very difficult to search and choose a good company if you do it by yourself but the school makes it easier thanks to events like that.

▲Cheng - Music Business course 1st year (Taiwan)
I also went to 5 conferences. Apart from that I also listened Pony Canyon's conference and Golden Bomber's company Euclid Ageny in which the boss is Kimura, a teacher from SHOBI. As my first choice is concert production the conference of a company called HIP was also very useful to me.

In the international exchange center we give a variety of support to foreign students to help them reach their dreams.
If you have any questions after reading this article please send us a mail in your language. Best regards.

Contact mail:
iec@shobi.ac.jp

The voice actor course's Christmas Live [Kurikora LIVE @ Buca] will be held on December the 8th of 2013.
[Kurikora LIVE @ Buca] is a live about singing with bands from the Pro-musician course In the back, a medley of animation hit songs arranged by the Comprehensive Music department's composition course.
Apart from the students of the voice actor course, everybody can also join them on stage and sing together the medley if animation songs!
The voice actor Osuka Jun (Mausu Promotion), a graduate student from the voice actor course, will also appear as a special guest!
Songs like 「Shoujou S」,「Linked Horizon」,「We Are!!」,「Lion」are planed to be on the set list. ※some songs on the list may change

How to participate:
You can choose to participate as a part of the audience or going on stage and singing the animation songs medley ※（requires to take a vocal lesson previously）
The participation for both is free (you will need to fill in the application form).

Participate in [Kurikora LIVE @ Buca] and sing a medley of anime songs!!
【Date and time】
December 8, 2013 (Sunday)
Open 15:30
Start 16:00　（estimated to end at 18:00）

【Price】
Free（application form needed previously).
【How to participate】
There are two ways you can participate
●「As a part of the audience 」
●「Joining on stage to sing the medley」（requires to take a vocal lesson previously）

[How to apply]

Please send the following information written below from 1 to 5 by mail to
t-wajima@hongo.shobi.ac.jp
1. Choose to participate 「As a part of the audience 」or 「Joining on stage to sing the medley」.
2. Name
3. School name or job
4. Contact phone number (mobile or home number).
5. If you chose 「Joining on stage to sing the medley」select a day for the vocal lesson from the schedule written below.

[Entry deadline]
Until the 1st of December of 2013 at 12:00

[Schedule for the vocal lessons]　Everytime from 13:00 to 14:20
・November 4（Monday・Holiday）
・November 17（Sunday）
・December 1（Sunday）

【Place/Venue】
Live Studio Buca

【Sponsor・Inquiry】
Shobi College of Music　
International exchange center
Ｔｅｌ　03-3813-9326
e-mail iec@shobi.ac.jp

　I came to Japan because I got tired of America. I came to Tokyo because....well it's Tokyo. In a traditional (non-music) school, we study cultural movements like the Renaissance, the Baroque, and the Age of Enlightenment, but I feel that modern Tokyo has such Culture that there is something here for everyone. The city pulses with a life force that is indescribable and irresistible--the districts and neighborhoods have so many distinct colors, sights, scents, and sounds that entering each one of them is like exploring a new world. It's a great environment--especially for me and my love of music. I think wherever you are, it is important to be in a place where you are constantly fascinated.
　　My love for music has existed well before I entered Shobi, but the energy of Tokyo has encouraged me to pursue what means the most to me. I was studying at the University of Tokyo since September of last year, but my mind on music, my many travels around the city led me to Shobi--and I am very glad I found it.
　The buildings themselves are nice learning environments, but what strikes me most about my Shobi experience is the people. My classmates are very interesting people, they teach me Japanese you don't usually find in textbooks, and their personal stories are enriching. As for my Sensei's, I am amazed every time I come to class! Besides the fact that they are maestros at several different instruments and have compendious, encyclopedic musical knowledge, I get the feeling that they really enjoy what they do. It is a true love story--the fact that they have been in music for years, playing at concerts, recording, and teaching--and yet they remain as fascinated as a first year student like me. Their freshness is refreshing for me and my classmates.

My name is Ramon and I'm from Barcelona, Spain. Since I was 16 I wanted to come to Tokyo and work in the music industry here so I finally made up my mind and moved to Japan 5 years ago.

After studying 2 years in a Japanese language school and another 2 years in a vocational school,I found out about Shobi's 4 year course in music business. I attended the open college and I was impressed by the quality of the equipments in the classrooms and the environment of the whole school. The staff was really helpful and friendly too, so I decided to transfer to the 3rd year of the Comprehensive Music Dep.
Once the lessons started I felt that the subjects matched perfectly what I wanted to do and that I was getting a very good training to find a good job later. But the most important thing for me is the support and help that the teachers and staff provide me about the lessons, job hunting and my career in general.

I've met a lot of good friends in Shobi, both Japanese and foreigners. I'm a vocalist of my own band too. So I can say I'm really satisfied and enjoying my life in Japan.

Currently, I keep on doing activities and lives with my band besides studying music business at Shobi. So I'm sure that I can get the job I want when I graduate next year.

I started playing the guitar at the age of 18. But I knew that people started learning music at an earlier age. So I always wondered if I could begin to study and understand music. I often learned from my friends or the internet, but I soon realized that it was not enough, and I wasn't progressing. So eventually, I got into a music university. I started learning about the music theory, an array of music styles, various genres, composing methods, Western classical music, Western music, Eastern classical music, ethnic music, tribal music, and the history of music itself.

Alas! I soon found myself dissatisfied only to realize that my approach to music studies was wrong. Even with a BA Degree in Music, I could hardly do that a musician should. Although I had the music in me, I could never really harness and channel my musical abilities. Therefore, I decided to study music overseas to discover all the things that had been ignored, or things I had missed.

Then I came to Japan, I studied the language for 2 years, and upon my graduation I joined Shobi College of Music. This is my first year, and I love it so far. The school has a strong core curriculum that suits my needs, and enables me to expand my musical style. I am excited and eager to go for my lessons everyday. The teachers are experienced, helpful, encouraging, kind, and easy to understand. It has only been a couple of months here at Shobi, nevertheless, I have received some very valuable lessons, and I know there is more. Overall, I find the Shobi teaching method, its sound curriculum, the dedicated and approachable faculty, well equipped rooms, and a good management has made my journey to Japan worthwhile.

I'm very pleased and grateful to be here.

Thank you.
Sagar Pradhan
Pops Contemporary 1st year.