일·영 이중언어 프로젝트 매니저 마야 커민즈님의 바이링구얼과 이중문화 배경, 그리고 일본에서 쌓아온 커리어 여정을 나눕니다. 일본 대학 진학, 일본 기업에서의 도전, 번아웃 이후의 프리랜서 전환까지. 두 문화 속에서 “어떻게 일하고, 어떤 삶을 선택할 것인가”를 고민해 온 진솔한 이야기를 담았습니다.

* This episode is in Japanese. In this episode, we speak with Maya Kominz, a bilingual IT project manager leading global projects for major Japanese manufacturers. She shares how her multicultural background shaped her career, why she transitioned from corporate roles to freelancing during the pandemic, and what she learned through that shift. Maya also offers practical advice for bilingual professionals considering independent work—understanding project markets, using networks and agents, and creating a clear roadmap.

今回のゲストは、日系大手メーカーのグローバルITプロジェクトを担当する マヤ・コミンズさん。多文化環境での経験がキャリアにどのように影響したのか、パンデミックを機に正社員からフリーランスへ転身した背景、そして独立を考える人への実践的なアドバイスを伺いました。

This episode features Maya Cumins, a bilingual Japanese–English professional who studied and built her career in Japan.

She shares the challenges of adapting to Japan’s exam-based university system, navigating workplace culture, and finding her voice as a young professional. Maya also explains why she left the corporate world to pursue freelance project management and how being bicultural shaped her choices.

今回のエピソードは、弟キュテとの会話から生まれた「子どもに多言語をどこまで求めるべき？」というテーマの振り返りです。

ホームの言葉があることで、子どもは安心して“自分らしく”いられる。
そして、言語の数よりも、文化を深く理解し、人とのつながりを築く力の方が、ずっと大切かもしれない。

そんな視点から、

• アイデンティティ
• 文化理解
• 言語を学びたいと思うタイミング

についてお話ししています。

AIが完璧に翻訳する未来では、「人や文化を理解する力」がより大きな価値を持つのではないでしょうか。

This episode looks back on a conversation with my brother, Kyutae, exploring the question: How much multilingual ability should we realistically expect from children?

Having a “home language” gives children a sense of security and allows them to be fully themselves. Perhaps what matters more than the number of languages they speak is their ability to understand a culture deeply and build meaningful connections with people.

From this perspective, we talk about:

• Identity
• Cultural understanding
• When children naturally feel the desire to learn a language

As we move into a future where AI can translate instantly and perfectly, the true value may lie not in speaking many languages, but in our ability to understand people and cultures on a deeper level.

This episode is a reflection on my recent conversation with my younger brother, Kyutae Kim. It’s an English summary of our discussion from last week about language, identity, and belonging.

Though we grew up together across four countries and speak three languages, we have both come to believe that for our children growing up in the U.S., having one true home language—English—matters more than speaking many.

three reasons why:

1. Identity and expression come from deep fluency in one language.
2. Cultural understanding creates true connection beyond words.
3. Belonging grows when children feel at home in their community.

We often assume that being fluent in a language means belonging to its society,
but in reality, knowing a language doesn’t necessarily mean being able to live in or feel a true sense of belonging within that community.

*This episode is the 2nd half of the conversation with Kyutae Kim, continuing from the previous episode. The summaries in Japanese and English will be posted next week.

[KOR]

언어를 할 수 있다는 것은 곧 그 언어의 세계에 속한다는 뜻일까요?
실제로는, 언어를 안다고 해서 그 사회의 일원으로 살아갈 수 있는 것은 아닙니다.

* 이번 에피소드는 지난 회에 이어지는 김규태 님과의 두 번째 이야기입니다.
일본어와 영어 요약본은 다음 주에 업로드될 예정이에요.

English:
In this episode, we explore how language shapes identity and belonging. Language is more than communication. It connects us to emotion and culture. Together with Kyutae Kim, we talk about raising multilingual children and the role of language in an AI-driven world. Ultimately, it’s not how many languages we know, but how deeply we can express ourselves in one.

Korean:
이번 에피소드에서는 언어가 정체성과 소속감을 어떻게 형성하는지에 대해 이야기합니다.
언어는 단순한 의사소통의 수단이 아니라, 감정과 문화를 이어주는 다리이기도 하죠.
김규태 씨와 함께 다언어 환경에서 자녀를 키우는 경험과 AI 시대 속 언어의 변화하는 역할에 대해 나눕니다. 결국 중요한 것은 언어의 개수가 아니라, 자신을 진정으로 표현할 수 있는 언어 하나를 찾는 것입니다.

** New episode of Voices Across Borders
Designer Ayumi Ostrowski shares her journey from Tokyo to San Francisco — crossing cultures, languages, and creative boundaries.
We talk about studying design in the U.S., the contrasts between Japanese and American work culture, and how she blends her love for design and food through Gomashio Kitchen.

Listen now and explore how creativity connects across borders.

新エピソード公開

デザイナーの アユミ・オストロウスキー さんが、東京からサンフランシスコへ。
文化・言語・クリエイティビティの境界を越えた旅について語ります。
アメリカでのデザイン留学、日米の企業文化の違い、そして デザインと料理 を融合させた Gomashio Kitchen への想い。

グローバルに生きるクリエイターのストーリーをぜひお聴きください。