INTERVIEW | Cynthia Usui: How a Stay-at-Home Mom Gap Helped Build a Successful Career After 47

After years as a stay-at-home mother, Cynthia Usui rejoined the workforce at 47, starting as a cafeteria worker. She then moved on to a receptionist role and eventually rose to become Deputy Sales Development Manager at a major international hotel chain, later working at a five-star hotel and a global corporation. She fought to carve out a new life for herself after raising her daughter.

Now, with her sights set on her 70s, she is once again embarking on a new path. Usui shared her remarkable journey with The Sankei Shimbun and JAPAN Forward in a candid interview.

Excerpts follow.

Shaping a New Path

What are your current projects?

Currently, I work in event support at a global IT company while volunteering as an advisor for the NPO Single Mothers Forum. In late August, I organized an event to help address the disparity in summer vacation experiences faced by many single-parent families.

We invited about 20 single-parent families to the luxury Tokyo Station Hotel for a special tour and lunch. Over 200 families applied, and I hope to expand the event next year [2025].

How did your upbringing shape your outlook?

I grew up in a Chinese-Filipino family where women were expected to obey their fathers, marry, and follow their husbands. No one was going to offer me a different path — I had to create my own opportunities if I wanted to prove my worth. I even went against my family's wishes to study in Japan, fully prepared not to return.

*"I've always challenged myself. The confidence that was born from that cannot be taken away by anyone," said Cynthia Usui in Chiyoda, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Yoshinori Saito)*

Seizing Every Opportunity

How did having a child impact your career?

Before my daughter was born, I was fully committed to my career and never considered leaving it. But after she arrived, my priorities changed — I wanted to spend my time with her. From a young age, I've always reflected on my values, set priorities, and taken action based on them.

When my daughter became more independent, returning to work felt like a natural progression. My first job was managing the cafeteria meals at the international school she attended in Bangkok, Thailand.

As a full-time housewife, I ran the household like a business. Likewise, through my work with the PTA, I implemented improvements and built a solid track record. Someone who noticed my efforts later offered me the [cafeteria] job.

How did you enter the hospitality industry?

In Japan, I was frequently turned away because of my age. Eventually, I landed a job answering phones at a members-only club, earning ¥1,300 per hour. Within a year, I was responsible for generating a quarter of the club's revenue.

Around that time, someone familiar with my work in Bangkok became the General Manager of the ANA InterContinental Tokyo and reached out to offer me a new opportunity.

I had no prior experience in hotels, but as the wife of a diplomat, I was well-versed in staying at hotels in various countries. I believed that anything I didn't know, I could learn — so I took the chance.

How did you advance your career?

You have to seize opportunities when they come your way. Sales is about delivering results, and after three years, I was promoted to Deputy Sales Development Manager.

I was a contract employee. At my age, I figured that even if I became a full-time employee, career advancement would be slow. Being a contract worker allowed me to negotiate with the company annually, which helped me achieve strong results.

I changed jobs to grow my career and boost my income. People are often surprised by how far I've come after being a full-time housewife, but running a household builds important skills when done well.

Work is similar — you begin by mastering the basics, laying a strong foundation, and then meeting customer needs. It's much like managing a home.

Energized for a New Purpose

Where do you find your energy?

Many people who have been pushing themselves hard reach 60 and start thinking, "I just want to retire." But what will you do with the rest of your life? By that age, society tends to expect less from you, and if you want to pursue something, it's up to you to make it happen.

The problem is, a lot of people feel drained and don't have the energy to take on new challenges. In my case, taking a break from work to raise my child allowed me to recharge, so I still have plenty of energy left.

What is your vision for the future?

I made a decision to live for others. At 65, when I transitioned to a contract position, I reduced my workweek to three days and began working with an NPO. Using my network and skills, I proposed the event mentioned earlier and made it happen within just two months. By dedicating myself to helping others, I plan to enter my 70s with energy and a renewed sense of purpose.

About Cynthia Usui

Cynthia Usui was born in the Philippines in 1959. In 1980, she came to Japan as a Monbusho scholar and graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. After marrying a Japanese diplomat, she continued to work but became a stay-at-home mother after the birth of her daughter.

At 47, she resumed her career in Bangkok. Upon returning to Japan, she faced challenges finding a job but has since steadily advanced her career. Her notable works include Sengyo Shufu ga Shushoku suru made ni Yatte Oku Beki 8-tsu no Koto (Eight Things Full-Time Housewives Should Do Before Returning to Work).