Title role for Japanese worker

A 55-year-old Japanese named Aki Kishi, who has worked in Beijing for five years, is one of the two expats who were honored with the title Beijing Model Worker this year, the first time foreigners have been given the title.

He first heard about model workers in February when his company proposed nominating him. Officials in the Yizhuang Economic Development Zone where the company he works for is located, told him he was named as model worker on April 16. However, he said that prior to attending the Commendation Meeting for Model Workers in Beijing on April 20, he did not really understand the title.

"I did not think it was a big thing at the beginning but when I attended the Commendation Meeting, I realized it was really an important honor," he said.