Introduction

I’m currently in my second year with the company and work at the LIFT Sales Department. While I sometimes find it challenging to work alongside our overseas partners, I also feel a strong sense of fulfillment, as I’m realizing my long-held goal of “working globally,” which I aspired to since my student days. I’m originally from Aichi Prefecture and moved to Yokohama when I started this job. Although I never expected to leave my hometown—which I truly love—I’ve found Yokohama to be a very comfortable and enjoyable place to live. My hobby is exploring great places to eat. As someone from Aichi, I’m also a big fan of morning service (the local breakfast set culture)

What made you decide to join the company?

I joined the company because we have overseas subsidiaries and I thought I could work globally. I joined the company because I wanted to make use of my English skills, which I had improved during university, and my Korean language skills, which I had developed during my study abroad experience. I was also attracted by the fact that I could do discretionary work from a young age and that I was close to the president and my superiors. At the final interview, the president created an atmosphere in which it was easy to talk with him, and I felt that it would be easy to work there, which was also a deciding factor.

Are there any gaps you felt when you joined the company?

The thing is that I am entrusted with ‘more and more’ discretionary projects. Friends around me often say, “You’ve only been here two years and you’re already doing that?”
However, with the support of my seniors and superiors, I learn from them every day and feel that I am growing at a very fast pace.
Another gap, in a positive way, is that there is a lot of interaction across departments within the company. In some situations I was able to carry out my work smoothly because of this atmosphere. Working in an environment where you can communicate well has a positive effect on you.

What is your current job description? (Please also tell us what you find rewarding about that job)

My current work includes Korean projects, consulting and relocation projects from Malaysia to Vietnam. Japanese machinery and products are popular worldwide, and I work with the feeling that this is Japan’s strength. Within Asia, where we are in charge, there are many customers who wish to move their production bases in line with global conditions, so we handle everything from set-down, packaging, transportation, local restoration and set-up in line with the customer’s wishes, allowing the customer to focus on their existing business. It is rewarding to be able to utilise our strengths in this way to support our customers’ manufacturing.

What do you value in your work?

What I value in my job is to be proactive in communication and to challenge myself.
In terms of communication, I try to communicate directly with people when I am in the office, even if I can chat with them about something. This makes it easier to build a relationship of trust with the other person and enables smoother communication, as information can be obtained from small talk and facial expressions.
I feel that this kind of proactive face-to-face communication helps to create a team atmosphere and strengthen cooperation, which in turn has a positive impact on work efficiency and results.
As for ‘challenges’, even if a project is difficult and complicated, I take it upon myself to tackle it as much as I can. Of course, it is with the support of those around me and the cooperation of my team that I have the courage to take the first step.
I would like to continue to challenge unknown areas and new challenges without fear, and to develop my flexible thinking and ability to take action in the future.

What jobs would you like to do in the future?

I would like to work on trilateral and long-term projects that I can offer as topics of discussion to customers.
At present, I am particularly involved in projects in Asia, so I would be happy to be involved in projects in Europe and the US. By being exposed to different markets and values, I would like to gain a broader perspective and improve my global responsiveness. I believe that by working on European and US projects, I will be able to further develop the skills I have developed so far and link this to my own personal growth.

How do you spend your holidays?

My friends from my home prefecture of Aichi frequently visit me in Yokohama. Every time they do, I am happy to be able to enjoy the sightseeing atmosphere myself. There is no shortage of places to show them around, such as Chinatown, of course, but also the Red Brick Warehouse with its cute stores and clothing shops (I once went sightseeing in Chinatown for three weeks in a row!) Sightseeing Yokohama with its many tourist attractions, always feels fresh as the atmosphere of the city changes with each season.