"Nothing makes me happier than seeing our customers' smiles." A Myanmar native shines in Mister Donut's donut production, becoming the company's first designated skilled worker (Ms. Miat / Nippon Donuts Kansai Co., Ltd.)

[Staff Profile]

Miat (from Myanmar)

She came to Japan in February 2024 with the desire to learn Japanese food manufacturing technology. After gaining experience at a meat processing plant, she joined Nippon Donuts Kansai Co., Ltd. to pursue her long-held dream of making donuts. With her passion for donuts and positive attitude, she is growing every day!

【Company Profile】

Nippon Donuts Kansai Co., Ltd.

Established in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd., founded in 1896, which manufactures products such as Oh My Spaghetti, pasta sauces, wheat flour, and okonomiyaki flour. It operates and manages Mister Donut stores as a franchisee of Duskin Co., Ltd. https://nippn-dk.com/

This time, we visited Nippon Donuts Kansai Co., Ltd. and spoke with Miat, a Myanmar native who works in the production of Mister Donut products!

Mr. Otsuka, President of Nippon Donuts Kansai Co., Ltd., and Ms. Miat

—Could you tell us why you wanted to work in Japan ?

I've always been interested in food manufacturing technology, and I was particularly drawn to Japanese food manufacturing technology and Japanese food culture, which made me want to study in Japan . I studied Japanese on my own for a year in Myanmar. I had decided that if I were to work in Japan, it would be in food manufacturing, so I prepared from the beginning to aim for a "Specified Skilled Worker" visa.

—With so many food manufacturing companies out there, what were your reasons for wanting to work for Nippon Donuts?

I love donuts, and when I was living in Myanmar, every time I went to a donut shop, I thought, "I want to be able to make them like that." When I first came to Japan, I worked at a different meat processing plant, but I still wanted to work making donuts, which I love , so I started looking for a job again and came across this company's job posting. I felt, "Here, I can gain the experience to make donuts that I've always wanted to do!" and decided to apply.

I wasn't particular about the work location; my main criteria for choosing a company was that it would allow me to challenge myself with work I truly wanted to do. That's why I applied without hesitation to take on the challenge of manufacturing for "Mister Donut," one of Japan's leading brands.

--Could you tell us about your current work?

I'm currently in my fourth month at the company (at the time of the interview), and I'm in charge of finishing touches such as frying the donuts and coating them with chocolate . In addition to the regular products, there are also seasonal new products, and it's a little challenging to learn new tasks each time, but I get excited every time I learn how to make different kinds of donuts. The work manual is in Japanese, but the procedures are also shown in video, so I can check them while watching, which makes it easy for foreigners to understand, and that's a great help.

──When do you feel a sense of fulfillment in your work?

It makes me incredibly happy when customers tell me that the donuts I made are delicious . During my training, I also visited stores, and I found that most Mister Donut stores have kitchens inside, which is great because you can see the customers from the cooking area . The limited-edition product "Mochurin," released this year to commemorate our 55th anniversary, received an unprecedented response, and it was an experience beyond my imagination.

──Conversely, have you ever felt that something was "difficult"?

Although I'm experiencing many new things in this job, I received thorough training at the beginning, so I haven't had any major difficulties and things are progressing smoothly . Detailed tasks like coating are difficult, but it's very rewarding when I can do them well after practicing.

—What aspects of the workplace environment and support do you find appealing?

Everyone at work is kind and patiently explains things if I don't understand a word. When I'm talking to people, I try to use my own words as much as possible, without relying on translation apps. I enjoy chatting about all sorts of things during breaks. The other day, they even taught me about Japanese cuisine.

Also, this summer I went to the Osaka-Kansai Expo with three of my fellow trainees from the shop. I was happy to be able to interact with them through events like this, not just through work, and it became a very good memory.

Another challenge was when I switched from living in a shared house to living alone. However, I was able to make it happen by consulting with headquarters, and the company provided support with dormitory accommodations , which was a great help.

—What are your goals for the future?

I haven't been working here for very long, but I want to gradually increase what I can do in my current job and become someone that everyone can rely on. Now that my dream of working in Japan has come true, the things I want to do are increasing rapidly. I want to continue to find various possibilities and work hard at whatever job I take on.

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Interview with Representative Director Otsuka

We also had the opportunity to speak with President and CEO Otsuka, who was present at the interview that day, about employing foreign talent!

—This is your first time employing foreign workers. What has your experience been like so far?

Thanks to the excellent selection skills of the Food and Beverage Association, we were able to welcome two highly capable individuals who are very diligent and have good personalities. This was the first time our company had hired foreign employees , so we were a little worried about how the existing employees would react when they joined, but thanks to their bright and positive personalities, they quickly settled in, and we are relieved.

—Could you tell us why you chose our association as your registered support organization?

I first encountered the Food and Beverage Association at a trade show event last year. The deciding factors were the personality of the person in charge, Mr. Tanaka, and the high level of credibility that comes with being a general incorporated association . Also, having lived in Fukuoka myself, I learned that Mr. Tezuka, the managing director of the well-known Kyushu company "Torizen Foods Co., Ltd.", is a board member, which allowed me to understand the kind of activities they are involved in and gave me peace of mind.

--How is Ms. Miat's work performance?

This employee is extremely talented and has learned the job much faster than I expected , which has been a great help. They are highly motivated and proactively take on various tasks. Not only are they capable at their job, but they have already built excellent relationships with other employees, which I find very impressive.

—What are your expectations for skilled workers in the future?

Of course, we support each individual's wishes and dreams, but we would love for them to obtain the Specified Skilled Worker Visa (Type 2) at our company and continue working with us for a long time. In the future , we would also like them to challenge themselves in managerial positions or even store owner roles . To take on these positions, you will need to take a licensing exam at Mister Donut headquarters. There is a written exam as well as a technical exam, but we believe you have a good chance of passing.

For foreign employees to advance their careers, it's crucial that Japanese employees take ownership of the situation and provide support . We make it a point to communicate this to our Japanese employees on a regular basis and work to create a supportive environment for them.

--Could you tell us about your future prospects for utilizing skilled workers?

We plan to open more stores and expand our business further. We didn't expect our first foreign employee to be so proficient in Japanese, so we expect them to be able to contribute to customer service and cashier duties in our stores .

To expand our business further, we will not have enough Japanese workers. We would like to further increase our recruitment of skilled workers with specific skills.

Thank you, President Otsuka and Ms. Miat, for sharing your valuable insights!

Miat-san never gave up on her dream of working in donut making and made her wish to "work here!" a reality. Her diligent attitude, which earned her the trust of those around her from the very beginning, and her bright communication skills made a strong impression. We are truly looking forward to seeing her expand her field of activity even further in the future!

The entire Food and Beverage Association will continue to provide our full support! ^^

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The Japan Association for Employment of Foreign Food and Beverage Professionals

We provide full support to companies that want to hire skilled workers with specific qualifications .

Leveraging our unique network, we provide a comprehensive service from talent introduction and interviews to job placement and post-employment retention support.

"We want to solve the labor shortage."

"They leave soon after we hire them."

We will provide you with the best possible solution to address these concerns.

Please feel free to contact us !