#Japan #Shizuoka #Shizuoka Gas #Bizmates #Global Training

Shizuoka Gas Implements Global Mindset Training

In a groundbreaking initiative, Shizuoka Gas Co., Ltd. has recently introduced its inaugural Global Mindset Program on May 20, 2025. This program, provided by Bizmates, a Tokyo-based company specializing in business-oriented English language education, aims to enhance not only language skills but also to help employees overcome their anxieties around speaking English and cultivate a global perspective.

The launch of this program serves as an essential component of the Shizuoka Gas Group’s 2030 Vision, which emphasizes a strategic focus on global personnel development. As the company aims to generate about 14% of its consolidated ordinary profit of 13 billion yen from overseas operations by 2030, this training is seen as a critical step to prepare employees for future global endeavors. Their strategic plans include expanding operations in South and Southeast Asia in renewable energy and natural gas, setting up a local corporation in India by 2024, and participating in U.S. shale gas development starting in February 2025.

The Global Mindset Program does not solely aim to teach English; rather, it emphasizes developing the confidence to communicate using existing English language skills. This experiential training approach encourages participants to redefine English as a tool for communication rather than a subject for examination. By addressing common psychological barriers faced by Japanese speakers—such as the fear of making mistakes and the obsession with perfection—the program nurtures a mindset that values understanding cultural and value differences in communication.

During a one-day training session, participants engaged in lectures and workshops on various topics, such as:

• - Communicating with awareness of cultural and contextual differences
• - Practicing quick responses and interjecting in conversations
• - Techniques for rephrasing and confirming understanding, along with conversational exchanges
• - Strategies to articulate opinions logically and strategically

The instruction was led by Graham Lenz, a Canadian expert who has been active in Japan since 1994 and has specialized in business communication since 2006. He has provided training in global talent development for over 100 firms, both domestic and international.

Around 20 employees from diverse departments participated in the training, and feedback revealed significant transformations in their approaches to English. Many noted, “Although I have studied for TOEIC, speaking was an entirely different challenge,” and “I realized that it was sufficient to convey my thoughts using familiar words.” Participants noted a significant decrease in psychological barriers to speaking English and reported changes in their mindsets towards engaging with the language confidently.

Taku Tahara, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shizuoka Gas, commented: “As a region-focused energy company, we have traditionally operated on local scales. However, our Group 2030 Vision clearly emphasizes the expansion of our overseas business, requiring profound changes in the awareness of each employee and our organization as a whole. The training focusing on mindset change is an essential first step for our company's initiatives, not just in the overseas department but also in finance, HR, and management sectors.”

Looking towards the future, Tahara expressed a desire to increase opportunities for employees to engage with English, fostering a “global atmosphere” across the organization. He believes today’s training is the first step towards an essential transformation in how employees perceive and interact with the English language, surpassing mere language acquisition.

Bizmates remains committed to its mission of empowering more business professionals to thrive globally. By integrating language, human resources, and technology, they continue to provide solutions that facilitate corporate globalization and nurture personnel development.

For more information on Bizmates, visit www.bizmates.co.jp.

Through this and other initiatives, Shizuoka Gas and Bizmates aim to build a workforce capable of thriving in a global marketplace, marking a pivotal shift in Japan's approach to business communication and international engagement.