Learning "Fundamental Skills of Business" through Downtown Rocket

The book Learning "Fundamental Skills of Business" through Downtown Rocket (『下町ロケット』で学ぶ! 12の社会人基礎力) is an innovative business Japanese language learning material based on the "Shitamachi Rocket" series (the first four films) that teaches the 12 basic skills needed to enter the world of work.

Although it is aimed at Japanese students in vocational training courses, high school and university students in Japan, it is also valid for foreign students of intermediate and advanced Japanese as the book offers, via a QR code, the option to download the vocabulary in English. You can also download the audio files of the book from the same website.

Introduction translated into English from Japanese by an automatic translator (DeepL):

As globalisation of the world progresses, universities and other higher education institutions are required more than ever to nurture human resources who can play an active role in the world, and there is a growing demand for education for international students. As a result, business Japanese language education in recent years has been shifting from a place of language formality acquisition and language skill acquisition to a place of human development.

So what kind of people are companies actually looking for? The Basic Skills for Working People (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 2006) is a summary of the abilities that companies look for in working people. It can be said to be the basic skills needed to enter society and work with a wide range of people. The 'basic skills for working adults' refer to three skills and 12 ability elements: the ability to step forward (initiative, initiative and ability to work), the ability to think things through (problem-finding, planning and creativity) and the ability to work in a team (ability to communicate, listening, flexibility, understanding of situations, discipline and stress control).

In order to acquire the 'basic skills of a working adult', it is necessary not only to 1) know each ability element, but also 2) correctly understand how these abilities are demonstrated and 3) correctly understand how much of these abilities you possess, and be aware of them in your daily life. This book uses the novel series 'Shitamachi Rocket' (the first four novels) as its subject matter, and aims to teach the 12 basic skills for working adults that are necessary in society.

We believe it will be useful for many people, including international students and trainees, in career education classes for high school and university students and in training for new recruits at companies.

Contents of the book in Japanese:

■目次
PART 1 社会人って?
1.社会人になるということ
2.社会人に求められる能力
3.社会人基礎力とは?

PART 2 社会人に求められる12の力
佃製作所とは?
『下町ロケット』の世界
能力1 発信力/能力2 計画力/能力3 ストレスコントロール力
『ガウディ計画』の世界
能力4 傾聴力/能力5 主体性/能力6 実行力
『ゴースト』の世界
能力7 情況把握力/能力8 課題発見力/能力9 規律性
『ヤタガラス』の世界
能力10 働きかけ力/能力11 創造力/能力12 柔軟性

PART 3 これまでの自分・これからの自分
1.過去を振り返る
(1)人生曲線 (2)自分史
2.将来のプランを考える
マンダラチャート