Tanpopo Pharmacy Co., Ltd. Representative Director Eiko Matsuno

2022.06.30

A pharmacy for the community, for society, and above all, for you

Representative Director of Tanpopo Pharmacy Co., Ltd. 　Eiko Matsuno(Matsuno Eiko)

■ Profile

Born in Ehime Prefecture. After graduating from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, she worked as a pharmacist at hospitals and other institutions. In 1996, she joined Tanpopo Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Gifu City) and became Representative Director in June 2017. She oversees stores in the Tokai region, as well as Hokuriku, Kansai, and Shikoku. She also serves as a member of the Gifu Prefecture Women's Empowerment Promotion Committee and the Board of Education's Evaluation and Inspection Committee. Her hobbies include walking with her golden retriever, Momotaro, gardening, and golf.

Hideko Matsuno, president of Tanpopo Pharmacy Co., Ltd., runs her company with the primary goal of being a pharmacy rooted in the local community. She achieved her current position after going through the experiences of employment, marriage (living overseas), and re-employment. We spoke to her about her lifestyle and philosophy.

■ During my student days, I was engrossed in laboratory training, such as preclinical trials

I chose the Faculty of Pharmacy because my mother's friend was a pharmacist and I would often visit her pharmacy. I preferred science subjects at school and applied to other faculties, but I ended up entering the Faculty of Pharmacy. I remember the Faculty of Pharmacy I attended had a lot of classes and was busy every day. I wanted to try sports, so I joined the table tennis club with a friend, and I worked part-time as a private tutor and at a cafe during the summer holidays. But I spent a lot of time in the lab. The practical training with the seniors in the lab was fresh and interesting, and I wasted no time immersed in it. However, I remember not thinking about my future or life plans at all, and now I regret that.

■ To become a pharmacist who is thanked, I started working at Tanpopo Pharmacy

Because I found research fascinating, I initially planned to stay at university after graduation and not seek employment. However, since my parents live in my hometown of Shikoku, I returned to find work. After that, I moved to Shizuoka after getting married and continued working at several pharmacies and hospitals. However, I began to question whether pharmacists truly contribute to patients. Living abroad for three years significantly changed my outlook on life. I spent a long time pondering what kind of work would suit me. In the medical field, it's often doctors and nurses who say "thank you." I even considered restudying to become a nurse. However, I still wanted to put my experience to good use, so I decided to find work on my own. At the time, jobs in the pharmacist industry were often found through referrals, often based solely on personal connections. Tanpopo Pharmacy was the first place I chose to work.

■ He took the job himself and became president of "Tanpopo Pharmacy"

Since joining Tanpopo Pharmacy, the days have flown by. As the industry was still underdeveloped, it was great to be able to take on new challenges one after another. Time passed without me realizing it as we discussed the nature of dispensing pharmacies and thought up better ways to deliver medicines to patients.

Furthermore, as I continued to work hard, patients naturally began to say "thank you" to me. This was my greatest motivation. As I interacted with more people than before, I also began to enjoy working with my colleagues.

However, at the same time, the challenges have also increased. I often make mistakes because I'm busy, or get scolded by patients, which can make me feel down. Medicines affect people's lives, so I still feel the weight of that responsibility when I work.

Not only has my job content changed, but my position within the company has also changed. I now have more opportunities to communicate my thoughts and opinions to others, so every day I'm constantly trying to figure out how to accurately convey my ideas. I also learned how difficult it is to be the president after becoming president (laughs). However, even with my busy days and position, I try not to lose sight of what's important and the importance of consideration.

■Our goal is to create a company where everyone can work comfortably

I believe that all women should have opportunities in the workplace. Everyone has different circumstances, such as family environment and child-rearing. While systems like reduced working hours and parental leave exist to accommodate this, the reality is that other systems are not yet fully in place. For example, the workload and burden increase when you reach a managerial position, but there is still no support for female managers. In reality, many of the company's systems are geared toward men. To make the company better, I strongly believe we need to increase productivity within limited time, regardless of gender, and I want to create a corporate environment where anyone can thrive.

■ What we would like to focus on in the future is online medication guidance

Currently, attention is being focused on online medication counseling, which was launched as a national policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. If online medication counseling becomes widespread, patients will be able to receive their medication from any pharmacy, regardless of its location, without having to travel to the pharmacy. Some pharmacies have even set up consultation desks dedicated to online medication counseling. At Tanpopo Pharmacy, we have patients who have received their medication from a pharmacy in Gifu, or from Tokyo, from a pharmacy in Aichi. Pharmacies are also becoming more diverse. I believe that expanding the scope of services to patients across the country will expand the possibilities for the pharmaceutical industry.

■What I would like to say to students aiming to become pharmacists

I believe that the job of a pharmacist is to contribute to the health of patients and the local community through medicine. I hope that as you study, you will understand that everyone has a different perspective on health, and appreciate the importance of putting yourself in the patient's shoes. Some people want to be healthy enough to be an active athlete, while others hope to take that first step. Furthermore, better medical care is born from collaboration with doctors, nurses, and other professionals. To achieve this, speaking skills are important, and I hope that you will have opportunities to interact with many different people on a regular basis.

■Message

Today's students have strong communication skills and drive, and their potential is far greater than mine. However, in this information society, while they have a lot of knowledge and understanding, they still lack experience as working adults. Do your best, knowing that you grow by accumulating experience and making mistakes. The future is long. It's important to think about the future, but even more important, it's important to carefully address the challenges in front of you. If you work hard, you'll eventually be recognized. Don't get that wrong, and keep working hard.

Student Newspaper Online, May 30, 2022, Interview by Ryotaro Nakatsuji, 4th year student at Osaka University