Akihito Ki, Education and Recruitment Office, Human Resources Department, Administration Headquarters, Epoch Co., Ltd.

■ Profile

Joined the company in 2017. After two years of experience in corporate sales in the domestic sales department, he was transferred to the human resources department, where he is in charge of recruiting new graduates and training young employees. He joined the company because he was attracted by the fun aspects of the industry and the wide range of work that young employees can experience.

A toy manufacturer known for manufacturing and selling Sylvanian Families, Aquabeads, baseball boards, trading cards, jigsaw puzzles, etc. A global company operating in over 70 countries and regions around the world.

■Please tell us about the characteristics of the industry.

　First of all, the main target audience for our products is children. This is something that is not found in other industries. Toys are tools that help children develop love for their families and humanity, and they have the power to communicate what needs to be communicated. Many people work with the desire to "deliver exciting fun" to all generations. Another characteristic is that functionality and convenience are not the only things that matter; something extra is also important. Toys are not simply required to have high functionality, but also to have added value and ideas that can stir the emotions of users.

■What kind of people are you looking for?

　Our company operates on a global scale, with Sylvanian Families sold in over 70 countries and regions. We have overseas sales offices in major countries and tend to seek out highly globally-minded individuals with an eye toward overseas postings. While language skills are important, the most important trait is the ability to think logically, act, and reflect on one's own actions, which serves as the foundation for a broad perspective. It's also crucial to be able to approach toys as your own products and to be able to talk about their appeal as products. This is why I believe that people who can put into words what they find interesting will be well-suited to the toy industry.

■Please tell us what makes your company attractive.

　There are three main attractions to working here. First, because we are more globally spread than other companies in the same industry, it is a good challenge for those who want to experience global business. Every department has many opportunities to interact with people overseas, so even young employees can make use of their language skills and succeed. Second, there is a wide range of job types and tasks. We handle everything in-house, from planning to sales, so you can experience a variety of jobs. Third, you get to meet people who enjoy our products. It makes me really happy when I see customers picking up products and playing with them in the toy section.

■Please give us a message for university students

　Make time to seriously devote yourself to the things you are interested in and the things you love. I would like you to experience and accumulate experiences that interest you, such as exhibitions and movies that you would like to see.

Student Newspaper October 2021 Issue by Kokoro Sato, second-year student at Tsuda University