Shogo Sanmai, President and CEO of Bathclin Co., Ltd.

Building on 90 years of history, we are making all of Japan healthy.

■ Profile

Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1963, he grew up in Chiba Prefecture. As a student, he was passionate about soccer, reaching the top eight in the Inter-High School Championships. After graduating from Nihon University's College of Literature and Science, he joined Earth Chemical Co., Ltd. In 2014, he was appointed General Manager of the Corporate Planning Department of the Executive Compensation Management Division, and later served as Director and General Manager of the Corporate Management Department and an Outside Director of Bathclin. In February 2020, he was appointed Representative Director and President of Bathclin.

Bathclin Co., Ltd.'s corporate philosophy is to provide a healthy and comfortable lifestyle. Over its long history dating back to the Meiji era, the company has succeeded in popularizing the use of bath salts. With the rise of work-from-home jobs and the growing demand for bath salts, what further heights will Bathclin aim for? We spoke with President Sanmaido.

　During my time at university, I devoted myself to soccer, a sport I had been playing since elementary school. I lived in a dormitory and focused my time on dorm life and soccer club activities. Soccer club practice overlapped with classes, so I couldn't attend classes and had to desperately try to get credits in my second year. I had to wake up at 4:30 to make breakfast, and there was a certain tension because four years of students lived together in the dormitory. I still keep in touch with the friends I made back then, and they are important friends I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life. They are a source of emotional support.
　At the time, I was heavily influenced by the teachers I met in elementary and high school, and wanted to become a soccer coach. Because of this, I aimed to become a teacher and didn't do much job hunting. However, when I went on my teaching internship, I began to wonder, "Do I really want to continue being a teacher for the rest of my life?" I realized that in reality, I wanted to be a "coach," not an educator, so I gave up on my dream of becoming a teacher and joined Earth Corporation mid-career.

The joy of connecting with people

　After joining Earth Corporation, I first worked in sales, then helped prepare the company for its IPO. This experience has given me the confidence I have today. Since then, I have been transferred and have been with my current company for three years.
　I think the joy of this job is meeting people. I've always wanted to handle products that are closely related to people's daily lives, so I find my current work very rewarding. As a manufacturer, we also have the opportunity to make people happy when they purchase our products. We sometimes hear people express their gratitude, saying, "I'm glad I use this product," and when I think about the many people involved in getting to that point, I realize that they are doing their job because they want to hear those words. I've also learned a lot since joining the company, met people, and grown, and I think that's how I've come this far, and I'm really enjoying my job right now. Another thing I remember about running a company is not to get too worked up. If I'm not good enough, there's always someone else. I don't overlook change, I challenge myself, and just do my best with what I can do now. And if I fail, I'll reflect on it then. I try to cherish those feelings.

■ We handle products with a history that cannot be beaten anywhere else

　Our company is made up of many earnest, hard-working people. Bathclin has been around for over 90 years. Building a legacy like that is no easy feat, and we can truly say we're a pioneer in the bath additive industry. I don't think there's any other product that has so firmly established the habit of health and relaxation. We're also confident in the data and evidence we've accumulated over the years. We have a high level of expertise, and I believe we have more knowledge than anyone else. I think it's important to provide this information in an easy-to-understand way.
　As the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of people staying at home, demand for bath additives has also grown. With people often spending time at home with others, bath time is a precious time to relax. We hope to help make bath time more fulfilling by allowing people to enjoy the fragrance during their bath or by helping them sleep better by bathing before bed.
　We also have a popular product called the "Famous Japanese Hot Springs Series." This series is a tie-up with hot springs around Japan, and allows you to experience the feeling of visiting hot springs all over the country from the comfort of your own home. Starting this fall, we have been donating a portion of our sales to these hot springs. As a result, after the Atami earthquake, some customers supported this support and purchased our products. We believe this is also something that has been well received by our customers. We would like to continue developing products from various angles, such as beauty products for women and products that make it more enjoyable for parents and children to spend time together.
　The custom of bathing every day to cleanse and warm the body is a uniquely Japanese culture. I would like to spread this bathing culture to the younger generation and convey that it is a good habit. Currently, it is said that only about 10% of people in Japan soak in hot water. Of those, the number of people who use bath salts is even more limited. For this reason, I would like to continue making efforts to increase the use of bath salts in Japan, and even further, I would like to expand the field so that bath salts can be used by people all over the world. When foreigners come to Japan, they take a bath in hot springs, right? I would like to export this bathing culture to the world and spread Bathclin all over the world.

■Message

　I believe that the time spent as a university student is a very enjoyable part of life. It is truly heartbreaking that this time is now restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I believe that people of all generations are more resourceful than ever before in finding creative ways to cope with these restrictions. There are things you can do within these restrictions, ways to have fun, ways to spend time at home, and so on. I hope that you will cherish this valuable experience, never be pessimistic, and think of it as building new ground, and enjoy it to the fullest. I don't want to say "do your best," but I hope that you will do your best to find creative ways to "have fun."

Student Newspaper April 2022 Issue Aki Kawanami, 4th year student at Tsuda University