Contributed by Mr Nick Cheesman, Director of Rooms, M Social Singapore.

Nick joined the hotel in January 2018. As Director of Rooms, he is responsible for the Housekeeping and Front Office departments, which translates to looking after guests’ arrival and departure experiences, comfort while staying at the hotel, and services provided by the staff throughout their stay. On a day-to-day basis, he starts his morning with a good cup of coffee and by going through daily reports, before walking through the lobby, restaurant and public areas to make sure all is in order. His typical day can include meetings with vendors and suppliers, interviewing candidates for open positions, following up on guest or staff issues, and meeting guests.

The 38-year-old is from the UK and has been based in Singapore for the past eight years. Though he has always been in the hospitality and travel industry, he actually studied Japanese when studying at Cambridge University! He shares with us about his interest in the language and culture, and how he earned a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Shorinji Kempo.

I knew I wanted to study languages when I entered university, but I also wanted a new challenge instead of continuing the European languages that I studied in school, such as French and German.

I had always been interested in Japan since I was young, so I decided to give studying Japanese a go! My plan was to study it for a year, and if I didn’t enjoy it, to then switch to another major. However, I ended up loving the language. It was hard work but ultimately worth the effort. As part of the course, I also learnt about Japanese history, literature, film, culture and society which was very enjoyable.

I spent a year in Tokyo while I was a student, as part of my university course. After graduating, I decided to move to Japan, and spent two years working in a small town called Yonezawa, in Yamagata Prefecture. After that, I moved to Tokyo and lived there for another three years.  

While I was in Yonezawa, I was the presenter of a TV show on a small cable TV channel, before I entered the hotel industry. On that TV show, we went around the local area to introduce community groups, classes, experiences, and tourist attractions. One day, we filmed at a local Shorinji Kempo dojo, introducing the Japanese martial art. It is a martial arts form which focuses on self-defense techniques, known as hokei. I had the opportunity to try it and I really enjoyed the experience. Hence, the following week, I went back on my own to the dojo to ask if I could learn with the group.

It took me three years of hard work to achieve a black belt and I’m very proud of that achievement. It was not easy, as it required consistent practice twice a week.

It’s been 12 years since I last practiced Shorinji Kempo on a regular basis, so unfortunately, I’m now quite rusty! I really appreciate my time and experience in Japan, as it allowed me have a first-hand experience of the culture and society that I studied about as a student.