FACES

1.Please tell us about your background and current work.

I joined Sekisui Chemical as a new graduate and was assigned to the development department for adhesive tape products at the factory. During that time, I experienced both product planning, development, and marketing, as well as subsequent technical services. Currently, I am with the planning group of the Industrial Materials Development Center, working on product planning for housing and infrastructure structures.

2.What is the most amazing innovation you have ever seen?

It is a flick input function of the smartphone. It may be a small thing, but I think it's a great feature that eliminates the hassle that many people feel. I think that innovation is not only high functionality, but also a set of "spreading", so I feel innovation in terms of solving the frustration of everyone. Imagine the user's feelings from the user's point of view, create a function, and bring it to the point of dissemination.
I think that innovation is not just the smartphone itself, but the detailed software that takes the other person's point of view as a component.

3.Please tell us what you are challenging to innovate.

There is a tendency to think that the quality of innovation is equal to the quality of the idea, but the realization of an idea is the only way to innovate, and to that end, it is important to create a story that connects the idea with reality, such as how the business model and actual manufacturing should be done.
When creating a story, you can't get down to earth if you're complacent. We make it while exchanging discussions with many people, both inside and outside the company. "How can we deepen the discussion?" I think it is important to communicate while considering the other person's position.

4.What is your ON/OFF switch?

Climbing on my day off. On weekends, I leave early in the morning to climb mountains, and I love it so much that I spend the entire weekend in the mountains. Of all the mountains I climbed recently, the best was the Kuju mountain range in Oita prefecture. It's easy to climb, the scenery is amazing, and the hot springs are the best. If you are a climber, you should try this mountain range at least once.