Painting Dreams in the Sky Above: The Way Zhang from Seven-Eleven Japan Works

In China, there is a traditional style of communal housing called "siheyuan," in which dwellings are built around a central courtyard. The close proximity of residents fosters a warm, family-like community where people help one another in daily life. The siheyuan where Zhang grew up was no exception — the families were close, and she would often visit the neighbors’ homes on her own.

"I was an only child and often spent time alone at home, so I read constantly. Once I finished all the books we had at home, I’d borrow more from people living in the same siheyuan. Back then, Shanghai wasn’t as urbanized as it is today—there weren’t many high-rises or tower apartments."

It was a time when buildings were low and the city lights that now brighten the night were few. From the courtyard of the siheyuan, she could see a sky full of stars. On summer evenings, after sunset, everyone would gather in the garden to cool off, sharing freshly boiled seasonal peanuts. Those peaceful moments remain among Zhang’s fondest memories.

Surrounded by books and the kindness of her neighbors in the siheyuan, she grew up in a truly fortunate environment. Yet, when it came time to enter university, Zhang left Shanghai behind to begin a new chapter.

"My father is a bit old-fashioned—a hands-on type who likes to do everything himself. My mother, on the other hand, is the family-oriented one who supports him. I think they make a well-balanced couple. I take after my father more. Rather than being supported, I’m the type who wants to carve out my own path. That’s why I chose to attend the university farthest from home."

Zhang decided to study at Yunnan University, more than three hours by plane from Shanghai. The university is located in Kunming, a city in southwestern China known as the City of Eternal Spring for its mild climate year-round. There, she chose to major in Japanese.

"I had never studied Japanese before, but I thought it might be interesting to learn something entirely new. At first, I honestly wondered if I could ever really speak it. Even now, I still find it challenging to express myself naturally. If I speak too directly, it doesn’t always get across the way I intend, so I’m still learning how to convey things more indirectly."

Despite speaking so fluently now, after graduating from Yunnan University, Zhang chose to pursue graduate studies in Japan—an even greater distance from Shanghai. Guided by her desire for independence, she crossed the sea to begin a new chapter of her life abroad.

"A very serious country."
That was Zhang’s first impression of Japan.

"The sidewalk leading to the university was really wide, yet people walked neatly in two lines—one on the left, one on the right. I was so surprised! In China, people are more free-spirited; if the road is wide, everyone just walks wherever they like."

She also came to feel cultural differences through her part-time job, which she took to help pay for tuition—one of which was Japan’s unique sense of the seasons.

"I worked at a shop that made rice balls by hand every morning. I used to make them myself, and what amazed me was that the recipes changed every month. In spring, we’d use bamboo shoots; in autumn, mushrooms. It was so refreshing to see how the changing seasons were reflected in food—it even felt kind of stylish."

That sensitivity to the seasons, she realized, was also deeply connected to business—a discovery that sparked her growing interest in the retail industry.

Another thing that left a strong impression on her was the warmth of people. Zhang also worked part-time as a university professor’s assistant, but one day, exhaustion caught up with her, and she accidentally overslept.

"I meant to take just a five-minute nap before heading to my part-time job at the university. But I woke up to a call from my professor—and by then, it was far too late. In the end, he  did my work for me. I felt so guilty. But he laughed and forgave me, just like that. We still keep in touch from time to time."

After two busy years of balancing her studies and part-time work, Zhang completed her graduate program. Returning to China was never really an option—she decided to start her job search in Japan. Among the many companies she looked into, what ultimately guided her decision was a single song.

It was "Daydream Believer*" by THE TIMERS, the band led by Kiyoshiro Imawano — a song that was also used in a Seven-Eleven Japan commercial. At a large company information session attended by hundreds of people, when the song began to play, Zhang says she felt something almost fateful.
*The original song is "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees.

"My name includes the Chinese character for ‘dream’ (Meng), so I felt a special connection. At first, I was completely overwhelmed by the company’s size and presence, but when that song played, my heart suddenly felt lighter. I still remember that moment—it made me genuinely happy."

It’s said that "Daydream Believer" also carries the artist’s feelings of gratitude toward both the people who "gave birth to" and "raised" him.

Gratitude for the love received from one’s parents—holding on to that, while still daring to dream.

For Zhang, who had left her family behind and was beginning to build her life in Japan, the song’s message resonated deeply. Perhaps it wasn’t just coincidence—it was meant to be.

After her experiences in graduate school and her encounter with "Daydream Believer," a series of fortunate connections led Zhang to join Seven-Eleven Japan.

Though she sometimes struggled with communication in Japanese, her genuine desire to "make each store even better" helped her build strong relationships with franchise owners.

"I have two treasures. One is the words of a store owner I worked with for five years. They went through many hardships, and when we finally overcame them together, the owner praised me for my efforts. That meant so much to me."

Her second treasure is a message board filled with warm notes from store owners, sent to her while she was on maternity leave.

"It wasn’t just the store owner—the entire staff joined in to write messages for me. I was at home on maternity leave at the time, so it really surprised me, and I was incredibly touched. Even now, whenever I look at that message board, it gives me strength. It makes me realize how truly glad I am to be doing this job."

Through these connections, the bonds she’s built have only deepened since giving birth. Zhang says she now understands the feelings of store owners and their families even more profoundly than before.

"I’d heard stories about the owner’s wife working at the store right up until her final month of pregnancy, but back then, I didn’t really understand how incredible that was. Once I became pregnant myself, I realized just how hard it is to carry heavy lunchbox cases with a big belly.
At that time, everyone at the store supported me, and I was really grateful for their help. But the owner’s wife wasn’t just managing the store—she was also taking care of her household. I can’t help but deeply admire her."

Currently, Zhang is raising her 2-year-old daughter while balancing work and family life. She is especially dedicated to giving her daughter a variety of experiences, from language education to modeling for baby magazines.

"I feel that my own possibilities expanded through language education. That’s why I want to give my daughter the chance to broaden her own options."

From a traditional courtyard house in Shanghai to Seven-Eleven Japan, Zhang’s journey across the sea has borne fruit both in her career and her personal life.

Finally, we asked Zhang to express her way of working in terms of color.

"Sunflower-colored, definitely. I’ve had my share of tough times, but looking back over the long run, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. Above all, I’m a positive person — even when things get hard, I bounce back quickly. That’s why sunflower. Even if I feel down today, I know tomorrow I’ll stand up again and look up at the sky!"

Past and future alike, she continues to dream brightly. Zhang’s ‘sunflower-colored’ story will keep reaching toward the sun.

This text has been translated using an automatic translation tool.