Yusuke Fukugami, President and CEO of Alfresa Corporation　

"You only understand the appeal of the job once you've become able to do it completely on your own."

■ Profile

1999年3月 慶應義塾大学法学部法律学科卒業、2000年4月 アルフレッサ(株)に入社。2016年6月より特殊医薬品流通の専門子会社であるエス・エム・ディ(株)の代表取締役に就任、2019年4月からアルフレッサ(株)ロジスティクス本部長、2020年6月にアルフレッサ(株)代表取締役に就任、現在に至る。

Alfresa operates its business based on the corporate philosophy of "creating and delivering a vibrant lifestyle for everyone." It mainly engages in the wholesale sale of prescription pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, medical testing reagents, and other products. We spoke with President Fukujin about his thoughts on running the business in these times of an aging society, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing focus on health and medicine.

　Because my elementary, middle, and high school years were internally advanced, I focused on my studies. I also wore a uniform throughout high school, as I was a member of the cheerleading squad. I started waterskiing seriously when I entered university. I had briefly tried it when I was a child in the United States, and my seniors flattered me, telling me I was good. As a result, I became Japan's top individual and team champions in my second year of college. However, since it was a minor sport, it only took two or three wins to win. (laughs) Since I've excelled in both the niche field of waterskiing and the niche industry of medical logistics at my current company, perhaps that foundation was already there from my student days. After retiring due to injury, I worked part-time as a director at auto shows and other events. This allowed me to gain experience leading others and giving instructions even during my student days. After graduating from university, I considered going on to graduate school, but instead decided to study abroad in Florida, USA.

■What made you start your current job?

　I joined the company founded by my grandfather. I was planning to go back to school in the United States and get my MBA when my father told me, "The company is going public, so come back to Japan. The experience of going public is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a company, so if you miss this chance, you'll never experience it again." So I returned to Japan. Immediately after returning to Japan, I began preparing for the IPO by documenting everything from the company's financial movements, accounting, financial statements, and the mechanisms behind why the company was profitable. I then considered returning to the United States, where I had studied abroad, but my father told me, "Sales is something you can only do when you're young, so you should get some experience now." So I spent about two and a half years working in sales. During that time, the company merged, and I was at the newly established Alfresa Holdings Corporation, where I was responsible for the overseas business and the business restructuring and revitalization of group companies. After that, I served as Representative Director and General Manager of the Logistics Division of a subsidiary specializing in specialty pharmaceutical distribution, before becoming Representative Director in 2020. My experience in various departments has allowed me to constantly maintain a calm and objective perspective on myself and those around me.

■Please tell us about the appeal of your company and how it differentiates itself from other companies.

　What's appealing about our company is its long history and overwhelming scale. In April, we sell approximately 20 billion yen worth of medicines in a single day. Working at a company of this scale allows us to multiply small innovations into much larger-scale projects. Because we're a wholesaler, you might imagine we only do deliveries, but in fact, we have a diverse background in IT. For example, some vaccines must be delivered at a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius. We have our own temperature control technology laboratory, where we conduct daily research, verification, and validation. We also manage all the data on the routes and quantities of medicines delivered to each medical institution. While it may seem like we're simply delivering medicines from the outside, a vast amount of IT and data is working behind the scenes. Going forward, I hope to share this behind-the-scenes work and communicate how much we support Japan's vital services.
　What differentiates us from other companies is our adoption of the latest digital tools. We were earlier than other companies in introducing iPads and other devices to our employees. We are also faster than other companies in our business of connecting multiple professions, such as rehabilitation, medical care, and nursing care, to create a community-based network, and supplying medicines to meet consumer demand.

■What kind of person would you like to work with?

　It's a complex and challenging job with many stakeholders, but it's also incredibly rewarding. While delivery is all we see on the surface, it's a logical process with huge amounts of data and IT behind it. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, there aren't many jobs that offer such large, responsible tasks like delivering vaccines and collecting defective products. Our work is essential to social infrastructure. We also help save the lives of many people, all around us. The service of delivering medicines touches the lives of patients. There aren't many jobs where you can receive such gratitude for the daily work you do that impacts people's lives. That's why I want to work with people who approach this work with a sense of mission.

■Message to university students

　I want you to try things that only students can do, such as traveling abroad, studying abroad, and studying, which require a long period of time. As you look for work and enter the workforce, you will gather information from various people and narrow down your industry, but I think it's important to be confident at the beginning. Any job should be full of opportunities for growth and experience. I want you to keep challenging yourself in places that seem interesting or that interest you, rather than focusing on conditions such as high salary or easy time off. Even if the place isn't a good fit for you, it will definitely lead to growth. The fun begins once you understand the essence of the job and are able to complete the work on your own, so I want you to not be shy and take the plunge and enter society.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on December 1, 2021 by Ohashi Seinan, a third-year student at Nihon University