Why a Business Professional Living in the U.S. Chose a Personal Editor as a Partner for Sharing "English x Coaching"

Satoshi Murai moved to the U.S. alone after graduating from high school and currently works at Goldman Sachs in the United States.

While working abroad, he developed a desire to "encourage more Japanese people to take the first step toward challenging themselves overseas." He continues to share information on English learning on note from the unique perspective of "English x Coaching" for Japanese people who want to succeed internationally.

He wanted to compile his experiences and ideas into a book, so he chose a "Personal Editor®" as a partner to help him put his thoughts into words.

In fact, "Personal Editor®" is widely used not only by those who want to write essays or note, but also by those who want to promote their expertise or services, and those who want support in articulating their ideas.

This time, we connected online with Mr. Murai, who lives in the U.S., and looked back on their six-month partnership together with his assigned Personal Editor, Mikanu, who is also a nationally certified career consultant.

We unravel how he utilizes the sessions, which he calls a monthly treat, and the value of a "Personal Editor®" as felt by Mr. Murai, who is himself a certified coach.

I want to support Japanese people in their challenges abroad. The "Personal Editor®" I chose to turn that desire into "words."

── You currently live in the U.S. Could you tell us what led you to move to the U.S. in the first place and about your current work?

Murai: I decided to move to the U.S. after graduating from high school. The trigger was reading books about the Meiji Restoration, such as Ryotaro Shiba's "Ryoma ga Yuku."

I was inspired by the way the young people of that time were influenced by the West and working hard, and I felt strongly that I wanted to challenge myself too. Being from the Kansai region, I was originally interested in "making money," so I majored in business administration at university.

Having studied business mechanisms and finance while earning my MBA, I joined the IT department of Goldman Sachs, where I currently work. Before I knew it, it had been 27 years.

── You are involved in coaching and sharing on note separately from your main job. Why did you start those activities?

Murai: After working as a company employee for a long time, I decided to do something I could enjoy outside of work. Having often listened to the worries of my juniors and colleagues, I obtained a coaching certification from THE COACH in 2024.

Mikanu: Satoshi-san, you also have a desire to share information that combines English and coaching for Japanese people living in Japan, don't you?

Murai: I want more Japanese people to succeed overseas. Japanese people are polite and talented, yet they are modest and don't try to stand out. To those people, I want to deliver the fun and courage of speaking English and experiencing different cultures.

I applied for the 'Personal Editor®' service because I wanted to compile useful information and ideas into a book based on my own experiences.

Mikanne: When I learned about Satoshi-san's background, I thought quite a bit about what I could do for him.

However, when I heard his story during our first online session, I realized his goal was to use his English-related publishing as a foundation, and he wanted a partner not only for writing but also for consulting on expressions that would resonate well with Japanese readers.

Organizing Satoshi-san's thoughts together and thinking about how to deliver them.My role as a personal editor became clear.

Murai: It was surprising because, from our very first online session, Mikanne-san gave me blunt feedback on the titles of the notes I had written. However, for me, it was the moment I realized,I could engage in creative work with Mikanne-san, who tells me everything honestly.that moment.

Imagining an 'Emotional Dad.' How to convey messages that reach readers

── Murai-san, you have been writing notes about English learning. Since taking the 'Personal Editor®' course, have there been any changes in your creative process or mindset?

Murai: Before the course, I had set a character for myself like a 'nagging old man,' writing articles that felt like I was cracking the whip. But Mikanne-san and I reviewed whether my intended message was actually reaching the readers accurately.

Mikanne: I felt it would be a shame if someone reading Satoshi-san's note for the first time felt like they were being scolded.

Mikanne: Satoshi-san's charm lies in his ability to say tough things while also having a sense of humor. We had a serious talk about whether he was aiming to be a nagging old man or an emotional dad.

Without changing the core of the message, we explored ways to express it that would resonate with readers.Of course, it was up to Satoshi-san to decide how to incorporate that, so I focused on my role of broadening his options.

Murai: Personally, I don't usually nag that much, and I like humor, so 'emotional dad' felt just right (laughs). It also matches the current theme of my notes: 'You don't have to try that hard to be able to speak English.'

Mikanne: Although I wasn't involved in the editing, I thought the recent article, 'English conversation learning methods for adults learned from the tea ceremony!,' was a great piece that gave a glimpse of Satoshi-san's gentle personality. The tone was calm, and it ended with a sentence that encourages the reader.

Feedback that captures emotional nuances that AI cannot, stimulating project ideas

── Murai-san, please tell us how you utilize the 'Personal Editor®' service.

Murai: When I'm thinking about article ideas for my notes, I use Mikanne-san as a sounding board during our sessions.By sharing my screen online and talking, I'm grateful that she broadens my perspective by saying, 'There's also this way of conveying it.'

Furthermore, recently I've been asking for feedback on a project regarding the launch of an English school I'm involved in. I show her the project proposal and get advice on how to convey it effectively in Japanese.

Being able to get real-time feedback and make corrections on the spot is something I'm grateful for.It has a sense of speed, and I think it suits me.

Mikanne: I have experienced failing at English study many times myself, so I provide feedback from the perspective of someone who is learning English.

Besides, there is a breakthrough point in every session, which is stimulating for me as well.

Murai: I believe the value of a 'Personal Editor®' lies in “insights that can only be gained from a living, breathing human being.”

When I have her look at my project proposals or notes, I can tell her reaction from the changes in Mikannu-san's expressions. While AI can support information verification and creative work, I truly feel that receiving feedback in real-time, including emotional nuances, is something only a human can provide.

── Mikannu-san, what do you keep in mind to build relationships with your students?

Mikannu: I want to be a partner to my students. While we go through trial and error together, there are times when I tell them straight out, 'That might be a bit off,' but I hope they accept that as “something I can only say because we are partners.”

Murai: I look forward to our monthly online session “like a child before a field trip.”

It is quite rare to find someone like Mikannu-san, from whom I can get so much energy and laughter just by talking for an hour! I didn't hesitate to renew because I wanted to continue working with her.

Don't let it end with just an insight. The ability to output is the appeal of a 'Personal Editor®'

── I think there are many commonalities between coaching and the 'Personal Editor®' service. As someone who holds a coaching certification, how do you perceive the differences and features of both?

Murai: I feel that both coaching and 'Personal Editor®' are similar in that they draw out what the other person 'really wants to do.' However, the big difference with 'Personal Editor®' is that you can take that and further turn it into writing as an output.

Coaching often ends at the point of gaining an insight, but I believe there is great value in putting those insights into words and leaving them behind as a work.

Furthermore, what is amazing about 'Personal Editor®' is the perspective used when writing. While she captures my subjective thoughts and intentions, she also provides feedback without forgetting the reader's perspective.

Having support that combines both of those axes is very comforting. I feel this is a charm that coaching does not have.

── Mikannu-san, you hold a national qualification in career consulting. Do you feel there is a benefit for coaches and career consultants to take this course?

Mikannu: When working as a coach or career consultant, you need to know what you can do and what your selling points are. I think some people struggle with how to communicate the differences between themselves and other coaches or career consultants, and how to connect that to their services after acquiring the skills.

I think it's quite difficult to figure out those differences on your own. That is exactly why putting it into words with a Personal Editor and connecting it to service promotion is a recommended way to utilize the service.

── 'Personal Editor®' has a system where you can take THE COACH course with the support of the presiding company, goodbuff inc. How do you think coaching skills will be utilized in sessions?

Mikannu: I feel that coaching is based on active listening and empathy, and beyond that, there is an attitude of proactive questioning.

I am scheduled to take the course, and I want to learn what 'high-quality questions' are like at THE COACH. And as a Personal Editor, I want to be able to support the students' creativity and thinking.

I want them to expand their range of activities as a group of editing professionals with a coaching mindset.

── Mr. Murai, please tell us what you expect from a 'Personal Editor®' in the future, or if you have any requests.

Murai: Moving forward, I expect that you will become a presence that can broadly support various forms of communication, not just on note.

I hope that opportunities for Japanese people to succeed overseas will increase, so I would be happy if 'Personal Editor®' could demonstrate its power when Japanese influencers and YouTubers expand abroad. I look forward to your further success as a group of professional editors with a wealth of coaching mindset!

── Could you please share a message from Mr. Murai to Mikannu-san, and from Mikannu-san to Mr. Murai?

Murai: First of all, I receive a lot of energy from Mikannu-san, and I am very grateful for that. And I believe that with Mikannu-san and me, good chemical reactions will continue to occur and new things will be born.

I believe that my success will also be good for Mikannu-san, so I would be happy if our win-win relationship continues. When I write a book, I will definitely write 'Special thanks to Mikannu-san' at the end!

Mikannu: The learning method you are thinking of, Satoshi-san, which combines English and coaching, is very unique as it can broaden one's perspective on shifting thoughts and grasping values.

I would be happy to continue supporting your wish, Satoshi-san, to 'help more Japanese people succeed overseas.'

✒️ ✒️

How to use a 'Personal Editor®' varies depending on the student. This conversation showed that it can be utilized in diverse ways toward one's own goals.

With the support of Personal Editor Mikannu-san, Mr. Murai's unique 'English x Coaching' service was born, and I look forward to it becoming a presence that encourages Japanese people who want to use English to succeed overseas.

Production: Futari Koho (Writing/Photography: Eri Miura / Editing: Miho Kanai )