Speaking on his experience, Mr. Yin said, “When I was in university, the posters advertising different scholarships would catch my attention every time I passed by my school’s international student support office. At the time, all students interested in studying abroad were focused on government-funded scholarships. The reason for this was that government-funded scholarships offered more financial support. One day, I happened to come across a poster for the Panasonic Scholarship. At the time, Panasonic wanted to develop in fields like sonography and ultrasound CT imaging. This aligned perfectly with my major and the direction of my research. The amount they offered for their scholarship was also higher than government-funded ones. I thought it was worth a shot to apply, so I submitted my application and research plan for my master’s program, and to my surprise, I received a letter of acceptance right away. Panasonic was very interested in my research plan, and that helped me secure the Panasonic Scholarship.”

While receiving support from the Panasonic Scholarship, Mr. Yin actively participated in regular activities organized by the scholarship office. Through those activities, he was able to interact with Panasonic employees, and this allowed him to gradually develop a deeper understanding of the company’s management philosophy and business conditions that would become the foundation for new possibilities and growth in his life and career.

After Mr. Yin completed his master’s program in 2001, all the Panasonic Scholarship students were interviewed and asked about their post-graduation plans. While the students were free to choose their own path, including whether to return to their home countries, further pursue their studies in university, or look for work in Japan, Mr. Yin was the only Panasonic Scholarship graduate to join Panasonic at the time, and he was assigned to a laboratory in the Keihanna (Kyoto-Osaka-Nara) area, where he was engaged in technical research.

Afterward, Mr. Yin thought about his future career plans and decided that he would like to utilize his strengths to contribute even more to Panasonic’s business. Then, after realizing that he was better at communication than technical research, he figured he could best use his strengths by driving Panasonic’s expansion into the Chinese market as a sales representative. In the end, with the help of the human resources department, he began a new chapter of his career at Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd.

Commenting on this, Mr. Yin said, “I’ve always been deeply grateful for Panasonic’s support and wanted to devote my youth to Panasonic in order to repay every bit of kindness that I received from them.” This year marks his 23rd year with Panasonic, and reflecting on the time he spent with the company, Mr. Yin said,

“Above all, what has kept me going for all these years is Panasonic’s history and management philosophy. The company’s history and management philosophy are already deeply engraved in my heart and mind and have unknowingly shaped my growth as a person. The other factor is the sense of growth and accomplishment I’ve felt at Panasonic. This is something I didn’t just gain from my own efforts but was also thanks to the support of my supervisors and colleagues, which has allowed me to keep going this far.”

Among the management philosophies that have deeply influenced Mr. Yin, he says the one that most resonates with him is the phrase, “A company is a public entity.” He was also impressed by the words of founder Konosuke Matsushita: “A company does not merely exist to make a profit but to fulfill its social responsibilities.” Mr. Yin also spoke on the concept of “‘Sunao’ (untrapped or open) mind” saying, “When it comes to work, not overthink things and viewing your successes and failures with an open heart and mind allows you to go further in your career and walk a better path.”

“For young employees, it’s important to have a ‘Sunao’ mind. It’s vital to maintain a simple approach to work and not overthink things. The simpler you can be, the fewer worries you’ll have. Secondly, it’s important to never stop learning. We live in an era where generational changes happen very quickly, so we must always be curious and continue to constantly learn and grow. The third thing I want to say is to learn from loss. Some people say, ‘loss leads to good fortune,’ and the same can be said in one’s work. The process of doing work is an accumulation of experience that will serve you as a valuable asset for your personal growth.”

Mr. Yin then continued, “I would like to tell students who are thinking of applying for the Panasonic Scholarship that ‘I want them to wholeheartedly express their interests and their future ambitions.’ Apply for the scholarship with a positive attitude, and enjoy and appreciate everything you do.
And I hope you will create many opportunities in life without forgetting the enthusiasm you had when coming into this.”

Through the interview with Mr. Yin, it was clear that the Panasonic Scholarship has created many opportunities and supported the individual growth of numerous people. The attitude of people like Mr. Yin, who believe in their own choices and continue to challenge themselves with an open heart and mind, serves as an inspiration to all of us. The Panasonic Scholarship will continue to support young talent who bear the responsibility of leading the future.