Tomei Corporation President and CEO Fumihiko Yamamoto

I will never forget the stance of continuing to do anything until it takes shape.

■ Profile

to April 22, 1969
April 1993: Joined Hikari Tsushin Co., Ltd.
December 1997: Founded Tomei Mie Co., Ltd. (now Tomei Co., Ltd.) and became Representative Director and President
April 2019: Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market and the Nagoya Stock Exchange Centrex Market
July 2020: Changed to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the First Section of the Nagoya Stock Exchange

President Yamamoto says that when he joined the company as a new graduate, he learned the importance of chasing and achieving numbers, as well as the importance of having a positive mindset. After that experience, he now places importance on "continuing to capture the hearts of customers." We spoke to him about his thoughts on work and the type of person he is looking for as a company.

■ The world can change just by saying the first word yourself

I had a ton of part-time jobs during my student days. The vast majority of my experience was in restaurants, such as udon shops, hamburger joints, and ramen shops, because they offered free meals. However, I did have one unusual part-time job. It was doing regular repairs at a petrochemical complex, a place unique to my hometown of Yokkaichi. I started because I was attracted by the daily pay of 10,000 yen, but I began to think that if I was going to do it, I might as well do it efficiently, so I got into the habit of asking the craftsmen in charge, "What will we be doing today?" Asking about the work details wasn't anything unusual—in retrospect, it seems like a given. However, since no one around me was asking, I ended up standing out a bit. Unlike part-time jobs where you just wait for instructions, my initiative was appreciated. Craftsmen requested that I work with them, and my salary increased. Taking the initiative and taking action is normal, but it also takes a lot of courage. However, through this part-time job, I personally experienced how when you do, the environment around you changes. Looking back on it now, it remains a valuable experience.

■ As a new employee, I was praised as much as I was scolded

During my university days, I spent my days working part-time jobs and riding my motorcycle, but I had no vision for the future or any job I wanted to try. It might be more accurate to say I had no idea what I was suited to. Still, I knew I had to work after graduating, so I started job hunting in December of my senior year and joined Hikari Tsushin Co., Ltd. In my first year, I was in sales, where I was meticulously monitored daily, weekly, and bimonthly to make sure I met my sales targets. I was usually scolded when I didn't meet them, but even though I knew there was no job without a quota, it was still tough sometimes. However, I was scolded because I didn't do it well, and conversely, I was praised when I did. There was no harsh criticism. Because everyone around me believed, "You can definitely do it," I began to stop and think about how to approach success and what I was lacking compared to those who were. Up until then, I had lived an ordinary life without any outstanding qualities, so I wasn't the type to be particularly confident in myself. However, thanks to my experience here, I was able to develop a positive way of thinking and speaking, which I still treasure to this day. It is no exaggeration to say that this was a turning point in my life.

■Our goal was to become a company that can solve all the problems of all our customers.

I spent two full years at Hikari Tsushin Co., Ltd., mentioned above. While vertically structured work is fine, I gradually began to feel that I wanted to solve problems with a broader perspective. There are many companies dealing in the same products—copiers, telephones, internet lines—so unless you build strong relationships and trust with your customers, you'll lose them to companies with better conditions. After thinking about how to prevent this, I decided to go independent, first by building a solid foundation in the local community and being able to handle everything from small everyday problems to large equipment purchases. Since the company's founding, I've kept in mind the following: "Explain our differences to our clients until they understand, and then let them make a choice" and "Always respond to customer requests in some way, never turn them down." I believe that Tomei Co., Ltd. is what it is today because of these values. Our strengths lie in the extensive database we've accumulated over the years and the one-year job rotation system we offer to new employees, which also serves as an aptitude test.

■ Communication skills are the root of everything

As a company, we are looking for the following types of human resources: "people who like to make others happy," "honest people," "people who are willing to make things their own," "people who are committed to results," and "people who can effectively express their strengths." We use the term "human resources" because we consider people to be our assets. With this in mind, I personally feel that communication skills are essential to working at a company. With this ability, you will be able to see through what others are saying and the essence of things, and you will also be able to view things objectively. I believe this ability is your greatest ally.

■Message

I believe that continuing for a long time is the basis for enjoying work. I would encourage all students to try to stick with whatever they do for 2-3 years until they feel a bit more confident. Good developments are sure to await. I also hope that you will actively interact with people while you are still a student, and cultivate your communication skills for the future.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on August 5, 2021 by Rien Kanda, a third-year student at Japan Women's University