The difference between a diplomat and an international civil servant is an important perspective to consider when considering your career path.
First of all, diplomats are representatives of a country and work for that country. I am a Japanese diplomat, so my mission is to work for Japan as a representative of Japan. On the other hand, international civil servants refer to staff who work for UN agencies such as WHO (World Health Organization), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund). They do not belong to any country, and work for the world, so to speak. The focus of their activities, in terms of "who they work for," is different.
There are also differences in the specific hiring process. Diplomats are hired by the Japanese government. There are three types of diplomats: general, Ministry of Foreign Affairs specialist, and general. In principle, those with a university degree or higher are eligible to take the exam for general and specialist positions. The future of a diplomat varies depending on the position, such as general positions, which allow you to gain comprehensive experience in a variety of jobs, and specialist positions, which allow you to delve deeper into a specific country or language. I didn't have a specific field that I wanted to work in, so I chose the general position, hoping to gain a variety of experiences. If there is a specific country that you want to be involved with forever, I think it would be a good idea to choose a specialist position to become a specialist in that country.
On the other hand, international civil servants are recruited by various UN agencies. To work at the UN, you basically need a master's degree from graduate school and work experience as an immediate asset. One thing to note is that the contract period is often two years, so you have to find a new job after two years. So, I think it's tough in terms of stability. So, if you want to become an international civil servant, I recommend that you "have a skill in your hand." In fact, many people who work at the UN have qualifications such as lawyers and doctors. You can return to your previous job after the contract period is over, so there is no need to worry about the two-year limit. I myself wanted to work at the UN when I was in college, so I wanted to get a lawyer's license and worked hard until the bar exam.

Language skills are of course important, but I think both require a desire to become friends with anyone, regardless of nationality, and the courage to approach others without hesitation. Working in the international community doesn't just involve negotiating across a table in a conference room. Sometimes it's also necessary to open up and talk honestly over a cup of coffee. I think it's very important to want to talk to people and become friends with them, no matter what country they're from.

Regardless of gender or physique, everyone can definitely go. I think you will spend about half of your life overseas. There used to be few female diplomats, but now nearly half of new graduates are women. Of course, you need a certain amount of physical strength to work overseas. But what's more important is the person's thoughts and words. Gender doesn't matter where you're posted either. There's no reason why you have to go to a difficult country just because you're a man.
I am currently on childcare leave, but when I return to work, I think I will go overseas. When that happens, I will be worried about what to do with my husband and children. But if you think about it, this is not just a concern for women, but men should be too. Nowadays, it is normal for women to work, so when a man is posted overseas, everyone worries about what to do with his wife. In that sense, I feel that the differences between men and women in the workplace are gradually disappearing. In the world of female diplomats, there are many cases where husbands temporarily quit their jobs to become househusbands, and I think there are various ways to overcome this.

To be honest, there are many times when I feel like it's tough (laughs). But sometimes there are moments when I think, "I'm really glad I chose this job."
For example, at Christmas in 2016, I accompanied then Prime Minister Abe on his visit to Hawaii. In Hawaii, I met with then President Obama and paid tribute to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the ceremony, elderly military veterans who were victims of the attack were in wheelchairs. When I saw the scene of Prime Minister Abe and President Obama embracing these elderly soldiers, I felt a sense of reconciliation after 70 years between Japan and the United States, who had fought so fiercely in World War II, and my heart was warmed. At that moment, I thought, "Only a diplomat can witness such a historic moment."
Of course, there are times when my private life is sacrificed. For example, when I was working at the Latin America Bureau, one Saturday I was about to go out and play when the news came in that Cuba's Fidel Castro had died. When an important person in the country I'm in charge of dies, I have to send a condolence telegram, so I canceled all my private plans and rushed to work. It's true that there are times when I have to respond to sudden situations. There is tension and pressure every day, but I feel that the experience I get out of it is also great.

When I give a lecture, there is one question I always ask: "Do you think Japan is a small country? Or a big country?" What do you think? When I ask this question, about 90% of people answer, "Japan is a small country." Before I became a diplomat, I also thought the same way. With so much gloomy news out there, it can't be helped, right?
However, when you go outside of Japan, your perspective changes. Many countries in Asia and the Middle East trust Japan. The United States also seeks Japan's opinion, saying, "Let's ask Japan about Asia first." When you go outside of Japan, you realize how much influence Japan has on the world. So after becoming a diplomat, I began to think that "Japan is a big country." And I began to love my country even more than before. So, I think that the job that only I can do is to tell stories that will make young people proud of being Japanese and have hope for Japan's future through lectures and writing.

When I first studied abroad in Geneva, I struggled with how to communicate with the locals. How was it in Spain?

I'd love to hear what you think people should have done while they were students. Also, is there anything that you regret not doing?

I am currently job hunting. I have been advised by alumni that self-analysis is important, but when it comes to actually doing it, I am no longer sure of what I want to do. How did you find your vision and direction for the future?

I guess it means "never give up, never quit halfway". When I was in high school, I quit halfway. I know that I am where I am now because of that past, but I honestly regret quitting high school. So I don't want to repeat the same thing.
When you become a diplomat, there are many things you have to learn from scratch, and it can be tough at times. For example, I thought I was an expert on Spanish-speaking countries, but one day I was put in charge of the comfort women issue with South Korea. It took a lot of perseverance to understand where the differences in historical perception between Japan and South Korea came from and why such a problem still exists. But I can't explain to others what I don't understand, so I studied hard.
I also had to start learning Spanish from scratch, so it was quite difficult. In the apartment I lived in in Spain, even the bathroom walls were covered in Spanish sticky notes, which surprised my roommate.
While I was studying for the bar exam and even after becoming a diplomat, there were many times when I wanted to give up, but I am working hard, determined not to give up like I did in high school.

If you experience a sense of accomplishment and success, thinking, "I'm glad I tried my best!", you'll probably feel motivated to try harder again next time.
Speaking from my own experience, when I graduated from Aogaku, I thought it was almost a reckless challenge to go from College of Literature to law school and get a lawyer's license. It was my first time studying law, and studying for the bar exam was so difficult that I almost gave up many times. There were days when I didn't understand the assignments for the next day's class at all and stayed up all night. People often say that staying up all night or cramming is not good, but when I felt like giving up, I started to think, "I worked so hard that day, maybe I can do it a little more." So, even at law school, if I thought, "I'll study hard until the end of this month," I would think, "I managed to work hard this month," and if I thought, "I'll work hard until the final exam of this semester," I would think, "I managed to work hard this semester again." By repeating these small goals, I was able to finish the race to the end. It's like a marathon. If you work hard at what's in front of you, thinking, "I'll work one more meter," or "I'll run one more kilometer," you will surely reach the goal.
By the way, I am really glad that I passed the bar exam. I think that qualifications are "wings to live freely." Even at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I work freely without worrying too much about promotion or evaluation. I can do that because I believe that even if I lose my place in this organization, I can make a living as a lawyer. I believe that having something solid, whether it be a language or a qualification, gives you freedom in life. That's why I am really glad that I didn't give up back then and worked hard.

Everyone is able to act independently and with freedom.
I think Aogaku is a place that cultivates the mindset that will be a strength in opening up new worlds. As Hiramine-san says, Aogaku study in an overwhelmingly international learning environment, so they will surely be able to step into an international setting with courage and approach foreigners without hesitation.
I also feel that the influence of my exposure to Christianity, which is practiced in many countries and regions, at Aogaku is being put to good use in my diplomatic work. Compassion for others is important for building good relationships with people from other countries. In diplomacy, the interests of two countries may clash and cause disputes, but it is necessary to understand, acknowledge and forgive the other party at some point, and move forward based on that, and I think the mindset I acquired at Aogaku is still with me today. So, be confident, think outside the box, and pursue what moves you to make your dreams come true.