Kazuyuki Shimada, Representative Director, President and CEO, FANCL Corporation

Cherishing our bonds with our customers, we bring more joy and smiles to the world

■ Profile

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1955. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Doshisha University in 1979. Joined Daiei, Inc. From 1993, he served as secretary to the company's founder, Isao Nakauchi (deceased), for eight years. After that, he worked at Maruetsu, Inc., before joining FANCL Corporation in 2003. In 2007, he became a director. In 2015, he became a director and senior managing executive officer, and in April 2017, he became Representative Director, President, Executive Officer and CEO.

Since its founding, FANCL has been developing unique products with a focus on safety and security, and has earned the support of many customers for its additive-free cosmetics, supplements, and other products. President Shimada says that despite being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, he has made new discoveries. We spoke to him about FANCL's unique strengths and what he hopes to achieve in the future.

　During my university days, I was a member of a mixed choir and sang nonstop for years. Even now, when I have free time, I enjoy watching videos of the student choir. I didn't study much, but the only thing I studied hard was a language, which I studied hard for years. I generally enjoyed club activities, so I remember feeling anxious about job hunting in my senior year. I frantically thought about what I wanted to do and what kind of work would suit me. However, at the time, Japan was in the midst of rapid economic growth, and the distribution industry was leading the way. As I explored various industries, I began to believe that I wanted to contribute to the prosperity of Japan through this industry. As a result, after graduation, I joined Daiei, Inc., a top retailer.

■ Experience in the chain store industry

　After joining Daiei, I served as the company president's secretary for eight years.
The man in question was Isao Nakauchi (deceased), the company's founder and then-president. Nakauchi was, in a word, truly intimidating. And incredibly amazing. He learned about the growth of chain stores in America after the war, and with a desire to create a prosperous world in Japan where everyone could eat as much as they wanted, he was a pioneer in establishing chain stores. As I was merely his secretary, I didn't have a deep relationship with Nakauchi, but watching him work from up close, I felt a sense of awe, something other than respect. And what I felt most about being in that industry was the rapidity of change in the industrial structure. Daiei, which had surpassed the Mitsukoshi department store in sales to become the top retailer and become Japan's largest distribution group, saw its performance plummet in the late 1990s. It was a time of ups and downs, but the passage of time is far faster than we can imagine, and I realized the future is unpredictable.

■What I realized after the COVID-19 pandemic

　After these experiences, I joined FANCL Corporation in 2003. When the company's founder, Ikemori, recommended that I become president, I was prepared to a certain extent, but the pressure was still great. However, I believe that people find their work rewarding because they have work to do for the company, employees, and customers, and they have responsibilities to fulfill.
　Our company has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales, which had been steadily increasing since I became president, plummeted last year. However, this situation has not been all negative. One positive is that it has strengthened our relationships with our employees, encouraging them to work harder, especially in times like these. After all, if our employees aren't healthy, we can't develop good products, and it's impossible to please our customers. That's why our motto is to get along with everyone. It may sound cliché, but last year I felt even more cherishing my colleagues who were working hard toward the same goal. Another positive is the messages we received from our customers. When each of us was feeling down, we received words of gratitude from our customers, some even expressing concern for our health. Each message was a source of emotional support. Thanks to these messages, we were able to persevere through this COVID-19 pandemic with a positive attitude, determined to persevere.

■The starting point is to solve the customer's problems

　There are many companies that handle products similar to ours, but our values ​​are different from others. When we were founded, our company was established to solve the major social problem of cosmetic pollution, and we have always been committed to "safety and security." We also focus on product development, and our strength lies in the numerous products we offer, such as additive-free cosmetics and supplements, that are made with the utmost care to ensure ingredients and freshness. No matter how much the world changes, we will continue to solve new challenges by sticking to our founding principle of eliminating customer problems. It is important to always think about how to make our customers happy and continue to take on new challenges.
　This COVID-19 pandemic has been a good opportunity for both the company and individuals to take a closer look at where we are. It has also made me realize the importance of continuing to deepen our bonds with our customers. Going forward, we plan to further advance digitalization to connect with our customers even more than we do now, and to continue developing highly unique products. We also hope to increase sales overseas, focusing on China. We will expand our field from Japan to the world and contribute to eliminating the "negativity" of many people.

■Message

　In the past, retirement was at 60, but now we are living in an age where it is no longer possible to survive without working until 70. This is why it is certain that it is impossible to live your entire life with just one career. Students, please continue to learn at all times.

Student Newspaper April 2021 Edition Keio University First-Year Student Miyu Ito