Jane Fong – entrepreneur, cosplay addict, and ‘girl’
June 13th, 2008 by Mark A BucktonWhen you first meet Jane Fong, the adjectives, shy or reserved instantly spring to mind.
When you leave her, walk away and contemplate any conversation or chat you may have just shared, those words evaporate with the speed of a politician’s pre-election promises; replaced by determined, insightful, and perhaps above all – fun-loving.
Aged just 25, Jane, a tall, slim Singaporean national and native English speaker, has been in Japan just 3 and a half years. She arrived as a student, already speaks the language (in addition to Chinese, and a smattering of Thai, German, Cantonese and Taiwanese) and, for good measure is CEO of the self titled Gi-jANE Global Enterprises.
But just what is it that makes this bundle of South East Asian energy tick? What is it that pushes her to the fringes of Japanese society in her other persona as Jane in cosplay, as CEO of her own company when out of the public glare?
Tokyo Explorer’s Ed, Mark Buckton sat down with Jane recently to try and find out.
TE – Tokyo Explorer /GJ– Jane Fong
TE: Please tell our readers five things about Gi-jANE, Jane Fong.
GJ: (laughing) Five things about me? OK, I like cosplay, I come from Singapore, I’m an entrepreneur, I’m a foreigner in Japan, and I’m a girl.
TE: How long have you been in Japan?
GJ: About three and a half years if you put everything together. I come and go.
TE: Why do you speak such good Japanese?
GJ: I have lots of Japanese friends here and I started learning Japanese in my second year of university, but I wasn’t serious back then. (Then) I came to Japan as an exchange student and that’s when I felt I really need to master the language to communicate with the local people.
TE: What image of Japan do Singaporeans have?
GJ: It’s a good image because there are lots of Japanese people (in Singapore) and we have access to Japanese drama (on TV), large Japanese stores such as Kinokuniya and Daimaru, so we are very much exposed to the Japanese culture. A lot of us grew up watching Japanese TV. Animation too, Sailor Moon was popular.
TE: What about music? Is Japanese music popular?
GJ: Yeah, music is really popular. (Japanese music) is still considered ‘niche’ music, but when I was a teenager about 10-years ago, I listened to a lot of Japanese music.
TE: Why did you set up shop in Japan, in Tokyo?
GJ: Well, I’ve always know that I’m supposed to be an entrepreneur, and I was supposed to do my MBA…..(looks pensive)
TE: However, …?
GJ: However, I gave it up. I had a scholarship to do my Master’s in Japan, and, I don’t know if this is politically correct, but the education system in Japan is not that good, so while I was still on the pre-study language course, I gave it up.
TE: Which university?
GJ: It wasn’t set in stone, but the problem was studying Japanese before entering the university. I had to study JLPT 2 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test 2) and ‘make friends’ (gestures) when I already had JLPT 1, so I was, like, completely bored. Then I managed to negotiate a position on a university course – I didn’t care where – and I chose Sophia University. I went to classes there for one semester, but the conditions still depended upon me attending both language school and university which was quite stupid. So, I decided to give up my scholarship and start my own business.
TE: You have hair! (at which point Jane’s face finds a few creases – clearly wondering where this is going) That said, the image of Gi-jANE in the movie starring Demi Moore is of a woman with no hair.
GJ: (laughs again) Well, because she’s a GI!
TE: But why the name Gi-jANE?
GJ: Ah, OK. Well, I have lots of advisors – a lot of entrepreneurs and CEOs (here) in Japan. One of them is the boss of Digital Hollywood University, and he happens to be into military related concepts, and when I started the company, I asked him for advice on the name because he is a wonderful producer, and since this company will be in Japan, it has to be a name Japanese people will like, something memorable. There are so many company names I forget, but when you introduce yourself and say Gi-jANE no Jane desu, they will remember.
TE: Would you shave your head?
GJ: No, I want my hair.
TE: Any problems setting up the company?
GJ: There were lots of obstacles but I had already anticipated them, so I wasn’t surprised. In fact, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be because I’m kinda weird. If I don’t have any challenges, I’ll get bored so I enjoy looking for the challenges, for difficulties. Weird hey?
TE: Have you ever thought about joining the (Singaporean) military yourself?
GJ: Mmmmm, no, women don’t have to join like men (in Singapore). Men join for about 2-years but I’d prefer having to use my brain than my body. That said, I do like to strategize and to ‘wage war.’
TE: To wage war?
GJ: Yeah, the battlefield is kind of like the business field. You know Sun Tzu – his famous book “Art of War” has been written in a business context and teaches you how to apply those ideas in business. I love doing business – it is like a game.
TE: What has been the biggest challenge?
GJ: Finding the right people to employ.
TE: How do you do that?
GJ: The company has to have a good vision. Of course a good leader (too) with a vision that people want to be a part of and feel excited (about) when they hear (that vision).
TE: How many people do you have working for you now?
GJ: About six to eight. We are restructuring right now. For example, my IT people used to number three but I got rid of two and I am going to outsource most of my IT work to a Chinese company over in China. Generally most of the staff are freelancers, writers etc. They don’t always have to be in the office.
TE: Any problems with other foreign people in Japan - oftentimes the foreign community can get jealous of other foreign people succeeding?
GJ: I don’t really hang out with foreigners much, and I don’t really work with foreigners either.
TE: You have the popular Akihabara tour, but recently the government of Japan has introduced rules that limit the operators of ‘tours’ to those with special licences. Have you been affected by that legislation?
GJ: No, we don’t operate tours per-se; we offer simulations in a voluntary form.
TE: Do you call your staff ‘guides’?
GJ: No, and we don’t call ourselves a tour agency or anything like that, and we don’t advertise. We don’t actually consider the tours a business, more for fun. (That said) now things are changing because there is so much demand. So, in order to (meet that demand) we (will) have to do it properly.
TE: Do you actually like Akihabara?
GJ: Of course, I love Akihabara, and I think this place is very suitable for me because it changes all the time so I think this is a place I could not become sick of.
TE: Let me ask you about Jane Fong the woman – not Jane Fong the Akiba entrepreneur – what do you do when you are not working? Any hobbies?
GJ: I cosplay! (shows pics of her recent cosplay appearances) I like travel too.
TE: Who did you admire when growing up?
GJ: No-one. I don’t have any idols.
TE: Where does your imagination come from then – in creating your own company, your own niche in Japanese society?
GJ: I was an only child until the age of 17, so I had lots of time alone. So, I guess that time alone somehow stimulated my imagination.
TE: There has been some trouble in the past few weeks in Akihabara – a woman displaying a little too much ‘skin’ for example. I understand the police have stopped some of the street performances, but have you been affected?
GJ: Yes, kind of. I was in cosplay then. But it is all because of Asuka Sawamoto, the girl who lifted up her legs to show of her ‘butt’ and all the people surrounded her and started taking pictures. That became big news.
TE: Do you know her well?
GJ: No, but she is always in Akihabara. In the past, people were able to actually perform in the streets. Nobody complained. But then, because of her (Sawamoto), the public are complaining and blaming the police for being too lenient, so they have become stricter.
TE: Will the police clampdown fade away as they so often do in Japan?
GJ: We hope so, but Sawamoto will not come back – that is for sure. That made huge headlines. She became famous overnight.
TE: If you could be born again – in the past, present or future, which era would you like to make an appearance in?
GJ: I’d like to be born in the future I guess. I always think that I belong to the future.
TE: In Japan?
GJ: Hmmm, yeah?
TE: Imagine yourself aged around 50. Where do you want to settle?
GJ: Somewhere near the sea.
TE: Which country?
GJ: I don’t think I can stay put in any one place. I think I’ll always be moving around.
TE: Last Q for you Jane, and the one you will be judged on by our readers – give me an adjective for the average guy seen hanging around in Akihabara – my own printable adjective being ‘sad.’
GJ: (Laughs, thinks, frowns) Obsessed. They have their own kind of fantasy world and I also like to create my own world, but I’m not obsessed – that is the only difference. (grins)
