Today, we have invited two administrative scriveners, Mr. Tajima from
Hiroshima and Mr. Shiota from Tokyo to discuss their work in terms of their
respective environments. We hope to gain insight into their activities and
survival strategies as administrative scriveners in a regional city and in a
metropolitan area.
Let me start the discussion by asking what made you decide to become an
administrative scrivener?
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Tajima
When I was twenty-three, I became a marine procedure commission agent.
Nonetheless, when I considered my future prospects, I decided to become an
administrative scrivener since it offered a wider spectrum of opportunities
which could also fulfill the needs of society. Of course, it also made
sense to become an administrative scrivener as a business strategy.
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What type of jobs do you handle?
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Tajima
Primarily, I specialize in judicial affairs. Although most people think
that administrative scriveners working in metropolitan areas only handle
permits or authorizations, as you know, there are also matters involving
rights and obligations to be addressed. My objective is to serve as a
community-based lawyer since there is a shortage of attorneys and other
legal professionals in the countryside.
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Mr. Shiota, I understand that although you presently have your own
office, when you first started you shared office space with another
administrative scrivener?
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Shiota
At first, I shared an office with a senior administrative scrivener.
Currently, I operate an office jointly with a classmate from high school who
is a public accountant. We had discussed the possibility of joining forces
for a long time, so I guess you can say we have finally fulfilled our dream.
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What are you currently working on, Mr. Shiota?
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Shiota
Most of my work pertains to assisting travel agencies open for business.
We advise travel agencies on various topics until they get underway and
after they have acquired their license. Our job is to establish the
company, acquire the license from the Ministry of Transport, introduce
people from related corporations who can be of assistance and prepare the
company to issue tickets.
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The competition among administrative scriveners in Tokyo is very fierce,
but what's it like in Kure City?
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Tajima
In the countryside, the number of practicing attorneys is insufficient.
Even in Kure City, which has a population around 200,000, we have perhaps
ten or fewer practicing attorneys. Thus, judicial and administrative
scriveners handle a wide variety of problems, including those involving
human rights. Although many individuals are registered as administrative
scriveners, the reality is that only 50% or slightly more are actually
working in this profession. Many work as relators, certified agents for
labor affairs and social security or as licensed tax accountants.
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