Supporting Customers Through Their Life Stories

Supporting Customers Through Their Life Stories

Daito Kentaku Leasing, International Branch (Ohatsu Tenjin-mae)
Interview with Ms. Camila Komatsuzaki

Q (Interviewer: Kazumi Miyazaki): Could you tell us about the circumstances that brought you to Japan and the journey that led to your return?

A (Ms. Camila Komatsuzaki): I first came to Japan when I was 11 years old, following my mother. She had come to Japan about six months earlier, established a foundation for our life here, and then brought my brother and me over. Later, when I was 19, I returned to Brazil and received my high school and university education there. Then, at the age of 33, my husband and I came back to Japan because I wanted to further improve the Japanese-language skills I had developed here and grow professionally through work.

Q: Could you tell us how you came to work at Daito Kentaku Leasing Co., Ltd., and about your current role?

A: After returning to Japan, I gained experience in a variety of fields, including working at a factory, interpretation and translation, sales, and educational support for Brazilian children. I joined Daito Kentaku Leasing in April 2022 and work in Osaka. I mainly use my English and Portuguese skills to support customers from overseas in finding a home. Centering on the Kansai region, I work closely with a Portuguese-language support center to provide careful and attentive service.

Q: What do you value most in serving customers, and what are your hopes for them?

A: Many of our customers have experienced being rejected from housing or having unpleasant experiences while searching for a home simply because they are foreign nationals. I have also experienced housing discrimination in the past, so I understand their feelings and struggles very well. That is why I want to be like a “filter” who receives and absorbs those painful experiences. Many people also feel lonely while living in Japan, so I place great importance on listening to each customer’s life story and being there for them.

Q: What is life like in Osaka, where you are based now, and what impression do you have of the city?

A: People in Osaka are sincere, open, and very frank when they speak to you. That warmth feels similar to the personality of Brazilian people, and living here truly heals my heart. I love the Kansai region.

Q: Finally, could you share your goals for the future and your hopes going forward?

A: Above all, I want to stay healthy. If I have good health and energy, I can take on any challenge. Beyond that, I want to use my language skills to contribute to the community and continue helping people who have come from overseas live in Japan with peace of mind and security.

Interviewer’s Comment (Kazumi Mizumi, Representative of GLOBALCOMMUNITY):
What left a deep impression on me was that Ms. Camila, who herself experienced difficulties when searching for an apartment, silently cheers on the international customers she helps find homes, thinking, “Do your best in your new life in Japan.” For foreign nationals who have just arrived in Japan, a real estate agent can be an incredibly important person to consult with. Listening to her story made me feel truly refreshed and uplifted.

Ohatsu Tenjin for love and good relationships

Ohatsu Tenjin is a shrine located in Sonezaki, Kita Ward, Osaka, and its official name is Tsuyu Tenjin Shrine. It is located at the end of the Ohatsu Tenjin shopping street, about a five-minute walk from Umeda Station, standing quietly amid the surrounding buildings in a busy entertainment district. The shrine is said to have been founded about 1,300 years ago and enshrines Sukunahikona no Mikoto and Sugawara no Michizane. It serves as the chief guardian shrine of the Umeda and Sonezaki areas.

The name “Ohatsu Tenjin” comes from a double suicide that took place within the shrine grounds in 1703, involving Ohatsu, a courtesan, and Tokubei, a shop clerk. Chikamatsu Monzaemon wrote the puppet play The Love Suicides at Sonezaki based on this tragic love story, and it became hugely popular. As a result, the shrine became known as “Ohatsu Tenjin,” after the heroine’s name.

Today, many people visit the shrine to pray for success in love and good relationships. Within the grounds, visitors can see bronze statues of Ohatsu and Tokubei, as well as stone monuments connected to their story. The shrine is also popular for prayers related to business prosperity, academic success, and traffic safety. A flea market is held on the first Friday of each month, and its annual festival takes place in July, making it a shrine deeply rooted in the local community.

The Daito Kentaku Leasing International Branch is located near Ohatsu Tenjin and supports international residents in finding homes. In the historic and human-centered neighborhood of Sonezaki, we listen closely to each customer’s life story and help them begin a new life in Japan.