Go Tokyo Your Experience
Whether to base career choices on personal interests is a topic that has sparked intense discussion. Recently, renowned Japanese railway designer Kawanishi Koji shared his views on this issue in a television program, igniting a heated debate among netizens.
Kawanishi Koji candidly admitted that his design company never hires railway enthusiasts, as they tend to view issues solely from a fan’s perspective and lack the ability to think from an ordinary user’s standpoint.
Japanese architect and railway designer Katsuji Kawanishi
Katsuji Kawanishi often designs the appearance and interior of sightseeing trains
His works have won multiple domestic and international awards in Japan.
The views of this renowned designer not only attracted the audience’s attention but also sparked broader discussions about career choices. Some support Chuanxi’s viewpoint, believing that an excessive obsession with a particular interest can lead to a rigid adherence to one’s values, a lack of flexibility, and communication skills, resulting in difficulties at work.
Reporter: “Do all the employees at the company like electric cars?”
Chuanxi: “Not a single one likes electric cars.”
Employee A: “But it’s not that I hate it.”
Employee B: “I don’t hate it.”
Chuanxi: “To be honest, railway enthusiasts coming here only add trouble to the company.”
Chuanxi: “Because we must always think from the perspective of ordinary guests.”
Chuanxi: “A so-called designer must have the awareness to represent the average customer.”
In various industries such as video games, travel, and food, there are many similar examples: Some people who are not fanatically involved in the industry can actually think from the consumer’s perspective more calmly and design more attractive products.
Netizens have diverse opinions on this topic. Some believe that there should be an appropriate ratio in any industry, specifically “core fans 2: ordinary people 8”, in order to continuously expand the customer base and achieve healthy development.
However, opposing views indicate that if a company completely excludes enthusiasts from participation, it may miss out on the fresh perspectives and creativity brought by those who truly love the field.
Moreover, the renowned animation director Yoshiyuki Tomino has also stated that the animation industry does not require overly obsessed enthusiasts. He believes that those who wish to enter the animation industry need a broad cultural accumulation and to watch more domestic and foreign films in order to make an impact in this field.
This viewpoint is also applied to the food industry, where success does not solely rely on a passion for food, but rather on the ability to generate novel ideas that attract customers.
In the video game industry, some companies have faced criticism for preferring “non-gamers” in their hiring practices. Some critics believe that this recruitment strategy leads to a final product lacking in fun because these developers lack the perspective of insiders.
Overall, in any field, choosing a profession solely based on interest does have its pros and cons. Interest can serve as a driving force for one’s career, bringing innovation and passion, but if one cannot step outside personal preferences, they may struggle to adapt to market changes and consumer demands.
That’s very well said. No matter the industry, it’s not a school club. If a company is filled with hardcore fans, it won’t make any money at all.
Ultimately, finding the balance between interest and profession remains a question that every job seeker needs to think seriously about. In your respective fields, do they align with your true areas of interest? Or have you found a more suitable career path in another field?
