Hiroyuki Oho, President and CEO of HJ Holdings Co., Ltd.

We will continue to move forward without stopping in order to create something that will last into the future.

■ Profile

After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University in 1985, he joined Nippon Television Network Corporation. After working in the Sales Department, he was in charge of producing sports programs such as golf broadcasts in the Sports Department in 1994. He then moved to the Personnel Department of the Personnel Department in 2001, returned to the Sales Department in 2004, and moved to the Production Promotion Department of the Programming Department in 2007. From 2011, he worked in the Planning Department of the President's Office, where he was in charge of the acquisition of Hulu's Japanese business, and has been working for HJ Holdings since 2014, when negotiations were concluded.

Hulu has been in the spotlight for making some of its streaming content available for free during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. Having gained a wide range of experience as an employee of Nippon Television, Hulu's president, Oho shares his thoughts on what a president should be like. We spoke to him about his journey so far, his thoughts, and his plans for the future. 

　During my student days, I was busy with part-time work. When I was working in the cheese section of a supermarket, I even considered working at a cheese shop. However, while working part-time, I happened to meet someone from Nippon Television, and I started working part-time at the TV station. That's how I got started working in this industry.
　Initially, I wasn't interested in the television industry, but while working as an assistant for sports broadcasts, I became aware of the fascinating impact television has on people, and so I decided to work for Nippon Television.
　However, when I started working, I was first assigned to the sales department. I joined the company because I wanted to work in sports broadcasting, so I wasn't completely dissatisfied. However, I still remember someone from the human resources department telling me, "If you work part-time in the sports department and then become responsible for sports as a new employee, it will just be an extension of your part-time job. It would be better if you gained experience in other jobs before taking on that role." Looking back on it now, I think that was very good advice. 
　After nine years of hard work in the sales department, I was put in charge of sports. I really enjoyed those seven years working in my long-cherished role as sports manager. After that, I gained experience in various departments, including the HR department, sales department, administration department, and president's office, and then, together with the department that sells broadcast programs to external parties, I was tasked with negotiating the transfer of the Japanese business with Hulu, which was then an American company. After the negotiations were successfully concluded, President Okubo (current chairman) encouraged me, saying, "Since you were involved in the negotiations," and before I knew it, I, who had no management experience, was addressing employees as president. 

■ I want to be someone who will be appreciated even after I'm gone.

　My fundamental desire is to "leave something behind." To achieve this, I believe that instead of choosing what's best for the moment in the short term, you should think about the future and make the best choice in the long run. I always keep this in mind and act in a way that will leave something behind in the future. I feel happiest when I see results from that.
　For example, when I was in charge of sports, I had the opportunity to manage a golf tournament. Because most of the visitors were adults playing golf, I wanted the children who came with them to have fun and increase the number of golfers in the future, so I made the putting experience game on the practice green just for children. Everyone around me was strongly opposed, but I went ahead with it, thinking, "Maybe one of the children who participates will discover the fun of golf and become a professional player; this is sowing the seeds for the future."
　Because I am acting with a view to the future, it may not lead to immediate evaluations. I believe that employees' evaluation of me as president will be known several years after I am gone, and I hope that this will be the case. I would like to be a president that employees will look back on and say, "I see that what I did back then has led to where I am today, and I am grateful for that."

■The goal is "Hulu for now"

　My current goal is to grow Hulu as a company and make the Hulu service a necessary, indispensable part of people's lives. Just like how kids in the past would turn on the TV as soon as they got home and adults would order a beer, I want everyone to think of Hulu as their first choice.
　What we offer is an intangible product: an "internet video distribution service," so it doesn't end once we sell it. It's something that can be improved forever, so we need to keep moving forward and making improvements without stopping. That's why I want the people I work with to never be satisfied with the status quo, but always have a desire to improve, and have a spirit of innovation and the ability to change. I like people who are persistent and passionate!
　Going forward, we will aim to differentiate ourselves from other services by increasing the number of original content, and we hope to make Hulu a service that those who sign up will feel is worth paying the monthly fee of 933 yen (excluding tax), and that will make them happy when they use it.
　And when I have grandchildren someday, I'd love to be able to brag to them that "Hulu is a company that grandpa built."

■Message

　Some people may feel like they can't find what they want to do, but I think that's fine for now. On the contrary, I would like people to think of it as an opportunity to try a wide range of things and try a wide range of challenges.
　We are no longer in an age where employment determines the rest of your life, and you can try many different things. Take advantage of this opportunity. The challenges you take on will be a valuable learning experience that will lead to your next goal, and will become your own assets.

Student newspaper October 2020 issue Honoka Hama, 1st year student at Toyo University