FACES

1. Tell me about your background and career thus far and your current job.

I majored in polymer science in university. After working at a printing company, I was engaged in the development of plastic parts at an automobile company for around 10 years. In 2018, I changed jobs and joined Sekisui Chemical as I wanted to adopt a broad viewpoint at a company that was close to the upstream processes for materials and processing, and play a role in the global arena. Since joining the company, I was put in charge of planning and promoting new products, focusing on mobility, to further expand the activities of my previous job. A wide range of specialized knowledge and industry knowledge is required for new planning, and internal and external connections are also extremely important. The hurdles are high as you need to decide in which direction to proceed to launch a business from zero. This work is dynamic as you need to think and hammer out products that do not yet exist in the world. This makes the job very rewarding. I have been involved I plastics and design thus far. This includes my previous job. In light of this, I find this field interesting.

2. What technological innovation do you feel is the most amazing thus far?

As expected, this is the smartphone. I have been interested in Apple products since I was young. From early on I used a MacBook. I purchased the first iPhone immeidately after it came on the market. I was surpised and impressed the first time I acquired Apple products, and at the same time I had a premonition that these would change the world. The iPhone actually did transform our lives. I did not believe there would be an innovation that would change people’s lifestyles to this extent for some time. I personally think it is fantastic that the company was able to create a platform. I hope that from the plans I am proceeding with I can launch a new business that will become like a big trunk that serves as some type platform.

3. Discuss the challenges you are undertaking to achieve innovation.

I think that most of the operations I am in charge of contributes to innovation. The word innovation sounds amazing but there are many jobs that require blood and sweat that are behind this. Even if you have a revolutionary idea, it does not mean anything if it is not put into practice. It is necessary to have knowledge, personal connections and experience so that the idea does not end up being an armchair theory.  I believe this ultimately rests on “people.” I particular, in the industry that I am in charge of (I am mainly involved in automobiles), I appear in various places so that people will talk to be, regardless of whether inside or outside the company. Depending on the situation, I am consciously active while holding seminars. On a minor note, I think it is important to actively provide support if there are projects where there is a problem. Consequently, I believe innovations come from these small efforts.

4. What is your on off switch?

My hobby is watching soccer. Gamba Osaka’s home stadium is close to both my parent’s home and my own home. I have been a supporter of Gamba Osaka since J-League was first launched. My children have grown to the point where we can go to watch soccer together. So this is a good way for me to relieve my stress. In addition, I also have an interest in Japanese rice wine (sake). Originally, I was not very strong and could not drink sake at all. There is a stylish liquor store in my neighborhood. I went in there with the objective of buying a gift. Owing to this, I had the opportunity to learn about sake from the owner. Now, I take my car to go buy various different brands of sake. In light of this, my refrigerator at home is now filled with sake (LOL).