Journey

M： At Canon USA, I partnered with US intellectual property specialists to support invention discovery and patent rights. I visited the US Patent and Trademark Office multiple times, underwent countless examiner interviews, gaining confidence along the way, and developed a deep understanding of how to navigate interactions with US examiners. Additionally, while I specialized in software in Japan, at my assignment location, I was responsible for all technology fields developed by Canon, including fields such as optics and chemistry, which were new territories for me, broadening my technical expertise significantly.

T：At Canon Australia, I worked as a part of a team local engineers on a project related to international standardization. In the project, I gained experience in overseas management by budgeting, managing achievements, and hiring new members according to local practices.

- It seems like employees experience completely different tasks depending on their assignment location.

R：The biggest challenge for me was dealing with unfamiliar tasks while using English. For instance, I had to negotiate for securing a budget for the IP division, which was something I had never done before, and I had to do it in English under local rules. This felt significantly more challenging than conducting patent litigation and managing which I did back in Japan just before my assignment. I was also shocked by the cultural differences. Adapting to an environment where there are fewer approval steps, decisions are made incredibly fast, and people are unafraid to express differing opinions was tough for me. However, after overcoming these challenges and gaining recognition from the local IP team, I began to enjoy my life there, and it felt worth all the effort.

T/M：We were also surprised by the difference in the sense of speed and struggled with English.

T：Regarding the difference in the sense of speed, for example, while talking to local engineers, I would get sudden requests where they would say something like, "We got good experimental results yesterday, so we want to file another application by tomorrow." Even though I thought some of the requests might be impossible, I somehow managed to handle them, and I realized that there was nothing I couldn’t handle and remember feeling like I had stepped up to a higher level. It was also eye opening to realize that my previous work pace was based on Japanese rules and approval steps.

M：The biggest struggle for me with English was in private matters, especially related to doctor visits and medication. Since these involve life-and-death situations, I wanted to convey information in detail rather than broadly, but it was quite challenging. While my colleagues at work would patiently listen even if my English wasn't perfect, people outside of work would not pay that much attention to me. Realizing that business English alone wouldn't suffice, I devoted time to improving my everyday conversational English. This effort paid off at work, and in the latter half of my assignment, I gained confidence in being able to communicate anything work-related effectively. I also rarely encountered further difficulties in everyday conversations.

T： I also visited several beautiful places, but I enjoyed spending my free days without plans as well. Like the locals, I would leisurely have lunch at a café or relax in a large park or on the beach. The way time flowed on my days off was different from how it felt on Japanese holidays.

R：In the UK, it's all about pubs and BBQs. Drinking beer in the bright pub gardens at night was exceptional, and I even became a skilled lamb grill master. I also traveled to 27 countries in Europe, encountering countless troubles that strengthened my resolve. I discovered the wonderful food and nature of Europe, gaining a deep appreciation for its charm.

R/M/T："My world expanded!!"

R：I think this sums it up perfectly. By experiencing the vastness, fascination, and challenges of the world firsthand, your perspective changes. This change in perspective alters your actions and can lead to significant contributions to the organization. I hope that Canon's IP team members will continue to experience overseas assignments and grow into individuals who can help build an attractive IP organization.