Kazukazu Shimada, Representative Director of MIRARTH Holdings Co., Ltd. and Representative Director of Takara Leben Co., Ltd.

"For myself" becomes "for the company" and "for the company's growth."

Representative Director, Group CEO, Group COO and President & CEO of MIRARTH Holdings Co., Ltd. / Representative Director, CEO and President & CEO of Takara Leben Co., Ltd.　Kazuichi Shimada(Kazuichi Shimada)

■ Profile
He joined the company in 1987. He became Director and General Manager of Development in 1998, Managing Director and General Manager of Development Division, Headquarters Development Department and Construction Department in 2000, Representative Director and Executive Vice President and General Manager of Development Division in 2006, Representative Director and Executive Vice President, COO, CFO and General Manager of Corporate Planning Division in 2012, and was appointed Representative Director, President and CEO in 2014. From October 2022, he will concurrently serve as Representative Director, Group CEO, Group COO and President and Executive Officer of MIRARTH Holdings, and Representative Director, CEO and President and Executive Officer of Takara Leben.

Takara Leben Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive real estate developer whose core business is newly built condominiums. Last September, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary, and in October, it transitioned to a holding company structure, changed its name to MIRARTH Holdings Co., Ltd., and continues to grow.

■ The dream home is still the key

I was interested in the real estate industry for three reasons: "Large amounts of money are involved," "I can help people buy and sell their dream homes," and "I felt it was an easy way to make money." I joined the company with such ambitious ambitions, but I honestly sometimes wondered when I would quit, and at first I wasn't confident I could stay there long-term. The real estate industry at the time was a rough and tumble world where sales were everything, and I couldn't get used to the aggressive, aggressive salesmen. But then, after visiting a real estate agency near the station many times, they remembered my name, and I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a property. That made me think, "Let's give it a little more, let's give it a little more." These small experiences piled up, and I gradually rose through the ranks, and thankfully, I'm now in my current position.

■Recognize changes in values

The real estate industry is linked to economic conditions and is directly affected by changes in the world. As a result, we have faced many difficult times. In the past few decades, the first was the collapse of the bubble economy, and the second was the Lehman Shock. My own position and responsibilities changed significantly between the first and second times, so I carefully determined what my role was and was conscious of preventing the company from going under, and we overcame the crisis. There were times when I felt discouraged and thought, "It's all over," or "We have to prepare for the company to go under," but I feel that the company is still in business today because we never gave up and did everything we could together with the management team, and that's why it continues to exist today.
I believe the reason our company has been able to continue growing up to the present day is because we have been unwavering in our commitment to "providing homes that meet the actual needs of those who will actually live there." We have always placed importance on providing homes to as many people as possible, with the belief that people should be able to purchase homes at rents that are about the same as, or slightly higher than, the rents of rental condominiums, apartments, and housing complexes. We also believe that our commitment to in-house sales, our commitment to customer service, and our steady growth over the years have led to our current level of recognition.

■ Talent desired in the real estate industry

I want fresh young talent to come into the world with avidity. I want them to be determined to make the transition from student to working member of society and work hard. Also, in sales, there are many opportunities to speak face-to-face with customers, so I think the appeal of this industry is that it gives you the joy of meeting people, leads to new realizations and discoveries, and helps shape your personality. I think the ideal candidate is someone who values ​​humility and honesty, and is grateful for the people they meet.

■Message to university students

I think it's important to try a variety of things. We have to create that kind of environment, but I think it's important not to just leave it to the environment, but to have the conviction to stick to it. My belief has remained unchanged since I first joined the company: "I want to be able to provide the ideal home to people who want to buy it." The times are changing due to the state of the world, but I think it's good to find your own axis that will become a strong core while you're still a student. That may change once you get a job, but I think it's good to decide on your axis and move forward.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on December 1, 2022 by Maho Wada, a third-year student at Nihon University