- What led you to choose ASICS?
I resonated to the company's founding philosophy: 'A Sound Mind In A Sound Body.' During the job hunting, I was searching companies whose corporate philosophy I can resonate with. During the process of applying for ASICS and continuing my job hunting, I got the impression that the company's philosophy and its vision for the future were deeply embedded within the organization. Additionally, since I was born and raised in Kobe, I also had the desire to work for a local company.
What were you passionate about during your student life?
I was involved in activities with a student NPO. We connected Japanese students who wanted to intern abroad with foreign students seeking internships in Japan, working with companies and organizations. My mission was to facilitate internships that would be mutually beneficial by first conducting outreach to potential host companies and organizations, and then gathering information about the type of students they were looking for, while also listening to the students' preferences. I was also responsible for making flight arrangements and attending to students arriving in Japan. Through this experience, I gained a global perspective by managing various tasks.
Through this NPO, I learned the importance of thinking before taking action. Then, based on feedback from seniors and colleagues, I would refine my thoughts and move forward. Gaining so many experiences like this has been incredibly valuable for my current work.
Can you describe your current job responsibilities?
I’ve only recently transferred to the finance department, so it's still a relatively new role for me. Previously, I was in the corporate planning department, where I was involved in operating management meetings and board of directors' meetings. In the summer of 2022, a major project started in the corporate planning department to create ASICS' Mid-Term Plan, and since I was the oldest team member excluding the manager, I was appointed as a main role.
At ASICS, it is common to have the first job rotation after 3-4 years, and when the Mid-Term Plan project was completed, I was transferred to the finance department. Currently, my responsibilities are mainly basic tasks, but with the support of my seniors, I am involved in creating financial reports and the annual integrated report published in June, as well as running the announcement of the financial results meetings. Recently, I have also been joining IR meetings with shareholders and investors.
What do you find satisfying about your current work?
Although I’ve only recently transferred, I am still able to make use of my experience of corporate planning, which I find satisfying. In particular, in IR, it is important to communicate management plans and financial information to external stakeholders
I was deeply involved in creating the Mid-Term Plan in the past, but now I am in a position where I can directly hear how external stakeholders evaluate it and how much they are expecting from ASICS in the future. Being able to gain these experiences through job rotation is very encouraging for me.
Can you share a story about challenging at work and how you overcame it?
I faced two challenges while working on the Mid-Term Plan. One was that when the project started, only a younger colleague and myself was in the team except for the manager. Naturally, I had to take the lead on the project, but I was only in my third year at the company. The situation was such that if I stopped, the project would stop. So, I constantly thought about what I should do and checked with my manager to get feedback, and kept moving forward with the tasks. At first, it was trial and error, but I managed to get the plan completed thanks to the support of members around me. I think my experience from the student NPO, where I learned to think for myself and take action, was helpful here.
The second challenge was the schedule. The presentation date for the Mid-Term Plan was moved three months earlier than initially planned. Fortunately, my superior kicked off the planning process early, and by having close discussions with the team and planning the schedule backward from the presentation date, we were able to meet the deadline.
What is the work environment like at ASICS?
Everyone I work with, whether they're in my team or elsewhere in the company, is really nice. The communication within the company is lively, and there is an atmosphere where you can consult with seniors without hesitation. I joined the company during the COVID-19 pandemic, so most of my work was done remotely, but I still get along very well with my peers and we continue to meet up for meals.
The company has a good work environment, and perhaps due to the open culture, seniors and supervisors actively offer opportunities for younger employees to take on challenges. There are even some of my peers who have been heavily involved in creating and designing products that have been released to the market. ASICS is a company that gives significant decision-making power and opportunities to employees regardless of age or tenure, and I think that is one of its characteristics.
How would you describe ASICS to someone considering applying for a job?
As I mentioned earlier, it’s a company where young employees have opportunities. However, this doesn’t mean that you’re left to figure things out on your own. The company always looks out for you, providing appropriate feedback and advice from your supervisors and colleagues. Ideally, it would be smoother for more experienced employees to lead the work, but by giving young employees time and authority, ASICS ensures steady and solid growth for them as employees.
I would also mention that ASICS offers a very flexible and easy-to-work environment. We have a flex-time system, so you're not tied to a rigid schedule. You can decide your work time based on your workload and schedule, which is very helpful.
What kind of person do you think is suited for ASICS?
People who can take on responsibilities with significant decision-making power and those who can think and act independently would do well at ASICS. We also have many colleagues who are fluent in English, as well as other languages. ASICS is a global company with branches around the world, so having English and other language skills can be a significant advantage.
What would you like to challenge in the future at ASICS?
I personally find joy in steadily completing the tasks in front of me. I don’t have big goals or ambitions, but after four years at ASICS, I’ve become more interested in how ASICS is viewed from the outside. This is one of the reasons I started working in IR, as it provides me with the opportunity to directly hear external evaluations.
Due to my university studies, I am also interested in the company’s social contributions and its connection to the local community. Eventually, I hope to play a role in improving ASICS' value from these perspectives, which are different from sales and profit.
Note: The profile and interview content reflect the information at the time of the interview.
