Art Aquarium Museum GINZA Owner Interview
(Han Yu, Representative Director and President of East Japan Company, Maruhan Co., Ltd.)

　Cherishing our vision and becoming a company that is loved by the local community

Han Yu, Representative Director and President of East Japan Company, Maruhan Co., Ltd.

■ Profile

Born in 1963 in Mineyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture. After attending Kyoto Commercial High School, he participated in the Koshien tournament in the summer of his third year, where he came in second place. After graduating from Hosei University, he worked for a company that developed hotels, golf courses, and real estate businesses before joining Maruhan in 1990. As head of the sales division, he has been instrumental in steering the company to achieve sales of 1 trillion yen. He became executive vice president in 2006, representative director in 2008, and president of the East Japan Company in 2021.

AQUA ART RELATIONS Co., Ltd. (operated by Maruhan East Japan Company), a new company of Maruhan Co., Ltd., which operates a comprehensive entertainment business centered on pachinko parlors, is hosting the Art Aquarium Museum GINZA at Ginza Mitsukoshi. We asked AQUA ART RELATIONS Co., Ltd. about how they came to open the Art Aquarium Museum, their thoughts on its opening, and the highlights of the museum.

■Background to the establishment of the new company, AQUA ART RELATIONS Inc.

I had the opportunity to visit the Art Aquarium Museum in Nihonbashi. During the visit, I was personally guided by Chairman Kamei of the Art Aquarium Museum's operating company, who spoke not only about the artworks but also about the museum's history and business. The museum, which opened in 2007, operates on two axes: a permanent exhibition and an event business. As of the pre-COVID-19 period, the museum had attracted a total of 10.8 million visitors. However, in recent years, the impact of COVID-19 has led to a challenging situation with low attendance. The museum considered selling the permanent exhibition to another company, leaving only the event business. The permanent exhibition was relocated to Ginza Mitsukoshi, but was in need of restructuring. At the time, the impact of COVID-19 had led to sluggish performance in pachinko parlors, an indoor entertainment facility, and the need for business diversification was beginning to be emphasized within the company. Given this timing, I decided to take over the rights to the permanent exhibition, also as a means of expanding the entertainment business.

■The opening of the Art Aquarium Museum Ginza

The COVID-19 pandemic has damaged many businesses, leaving Ginza deserted and the department store industry facing difficult times. Amidst this, there has been a movement to revitalize Ginza and department stores once again, and to use the Art Aquarium Museum as a catalyst to once again stimulate the economy. Maruhan East Japan Company decided to open the museum with the hope that its new business would be recognized, that people would experience an extraordinary space, and with the expectation that it would be a success.

As our company name "RELATIONS" suggests, we also hope to build connections between people through art. Maruhan East Japan Company has a relationship strategy in place as part of its 10-year vision. It aims to deepen and expand relationships with four areas: 1) employees, 2) customers, 3) partners (business partners), and 4) society. Maruhan East Japan Company's strengths lie in the strong bonds and trust between the company and its employees, and consistently high engagement. We believe it is important to strengthen this relationship with customers, business partners, and society in the same way, creating synergy and revitalizing the company. In that sense, I believe this approach is what led us to form a relationship with Mitsukoshi, a company with which we had no prior contact. Regarding relationships with society, we have taken the lead in initiatives such as having our employees clean up local trash and sponsoring and participating in local festivals. When it comes to relationships with our partners (business partners), we tend to think of them as just using us, so we are conscious of maintaining an equal relationship and making sure to call the person in charge by name, rather than just calling them a contractor, to build a relationship. In this way, we build relationships centered around these four areas, and we value our desire to become a company that is loved. Our motto is to share our vision of what we want to be as a company and do what we can. In fact, I feel that these small things multiply and become the driving force behind the company, even on the ground.

■Highlights and How to Enjoy the Art Aquarium Museum Ginza

The difference between Nihonbashi and Ginza is that, because the exhibit is located inside a department store, the space is a little more compact and the ceiling height is limited. This makes it easier to navigate the exhibit and creates a sense of storytelling. Goldfish are said to have originated from Chinese crucian carp and were introduced to Japan 400 to 500 years ago, and many varieties have been developed for ornamental purposes. Goldfish are familiar to us, but they look different depending on your viewing position—up, down, left, right, front, back—and are fascinating to see, with their vivid colors, hues, body shapes, and various expressions. In this Japanese-style space, we hope to offer a different experience from an aquarium. We are considering collaborations with artists and companies to maintain buzz and create a space that inspires people to post and share their work.

■About future initiatives

We had many customers visit us during the Golden Week holidays. I believe that our perspectives change over time, and that the way we feel and perceive things changes depending on the people we visit with. I believe that the passion of each and every person involved here, including these factors, will make this extraordinary space a place that many customers can enjoy and love for a long time.

■Message to university students

Young people will always shape the world. Don't be discouraged by negative messages like "young people are like this," but instead, move forward with a vision and worldview. It's up to you to create a new path. When I used to play baseball, I was forced to do more than half the time. However, that doesn't benefit you at all. Even if others tell you to "do it!" or "do it!", you won't find the energy to do it unless you have the desire to do it. It's very important to find what you want to be or do. Find that and challenge yourself with hope. Even if you can't find what you want to do, it's important to try to find it first. People can only become what they imagine. The next important thing is to take action. Nothing will come of it unless you take action. Imagine the person you want to be with excitement, and move forward without hesitation.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on May 9, 2022 by Koji Ishida, a third-year student at Nihon University