- What led you to choose ASICS?
Throughout my student years, I dedicated a significant part of my life to sports, not only as an individual athlete and a member of various sports clubs but also by volunteering at the Olympics. This experience made me realize my deep desire to work in a field related to sports. While sports is certainly captivating as a competition, I believe the memories, bonds, and friendships it creates are just as crucial. I wanted to share and spread these values.
Additionally, I had a strong interest in being involved in "product development" during my job search. ASICS stood out to me as the perfect company that embodied my goal of combining "sports" with "product creation." During my interview, the informal atmosphere created by the HR team and employees felt like a great fit for me, and that impression has not changed since joining the company.
Can you describe your current job responsibilities?
I am responsible for the system operations of ASICS’ e-commerce site as well as managing the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. My specific tasks include investigating issues when something goes wrong on the site. When I receive a report about a malfunction, I begin with an initial investigation. If I can solve the issue myself, I take immediate action; if the solution requires the involvement of another team, I ask their support.
In addition to troubleshooting, I am also involved in system development. When there’s a request like, "We want to add this feature to the e-commerce site," I propose and support how we can implement it from a digital perspective.
The core of my role —“clarifying business requirements and converting them into digital terms”— is similar to being an interpreter. For example, if we’re working on a project involving Chinese-speaking clients and Arabic-speaking developers, I’d act as the intermediary, helping to lead the team toward our goal. It may sound complicated due to the technical jargon, but essentially, I’m the "behind-the-scenes" supporter making sure everything runs smoothly.
A major feature of my work is collaborating on a global scale. I work with teams in Japan, Australia, the U.S., and the Netherlands, and this exposure to different perspectives and approaches has been incredibly stimulating. I’ve been fortunate to visit ASICS' digital hub in Boston in my second year, which has further enriched my experience.
Interestingly, more than half of my team members are from abroad, so communication is primarily in English. While I feel my Japanese skills may be deteriorating (laughs), I’m working in an environment where I can leverage my background of speaking three languages, and it’s been a fulfilling experience.
What would you like to challenge in the future at ASICS?
Currently, I’m working in a back-office role, but I eventually want to contribute on the business side. With the foundation of knowledge I’ve built in the digital and systems realm, I believe I can contribute to creating business strategies using that expertise.
Although I don’t have a clear vision just yet, I’m ready to seize any opportunities that come my way. My motto, "Work hard, Play hard," is something I want to apply in my work. In the future, I hope to lead projects and develop my leadership skills while contributing to the company’s growth.
Note: The profile and interview content reflect the information at the time of the interview.
