Junichi Kamei, Soymilk Master, Kikkoman Soyfoods Corporation

2026.01.22

I want more and more people to know about the benefits of soy milk.

Kikkoman Soyfoods Corporation　
Marketing Headquarters Marketing Promotion Department Manager Marketing Headquarters Product Planning Department Manager
Soy milk master Junichi Kamei

■ Profile
In 2004, he joined Kikkoman Corporation, where he worked in the Research and Development Department, researching and developing functional foods.
From 2009 to 2015, he was in charge of product planning and promotion in the vegetable drink marketing department.
From 2016 to 2018, he worked in sales for e-commerce companies.
Since 2018, he has been working at Kikkoman Soyfoods Corporation, where he is involved in everything from product development to promotion and activities to popularize soy milk.

Founded in 1917, Kikkoman is now an indispensable part of our lives as a manufacturer of soy sauce and soy milk. Behind its central role in the food industry lies its commitment to always putting customers first and continuing to create products that meet their needs. Starting with a love of food, Junichi Kamei of the Marketing Division is spreading the appeal of soy milk at Kikkoman Soyfoods. We spoke to him about the importance of continuing to create customer-oriented products, the importance of team management, and how the company continues to provide a "rich diet" using the bounty of nature through beverage production and sales.

■ The origin of "I love eating"

It's been more than 20 years since I joined Kikkoman. I've always loved food and studied science at university, so when I was job hunting I was mainly looking at research and development positions. I also liked Kikkoman as a company, and the fact that I could make things, interact with customers, and have a solid research system was a big attraction for me.
To be honest, the reason I ultimately decided to join this company was because of a "feeling" and "connections." Even during the interview, the atmosphere of the company and its employees was really good. At the time, I had a strong impression that "Kikkoman = soy sauce company," but I was surprised to learn that it is more than that; it is a company that develops a variety of food products globally. Even after joining the company, whenever you mention the name Kikkoman overseas, people immediately understand it. I really felt that it is a company that is recognized all over the world.

■ Cherish "gratitude and respect"

At first, I worked in research, developing functional materials such as hyaluronic acid. I was extremely happy when a material I was involved in developing became an actual product or was patented. Now, I mainly work in management at the Marketing Headquarters. As a department, I am responsible for everything from product planning to promotion. We often collaborate with package design companies, factories, and advertising agencies, and once a product is released, we even negotiate with retailers.
The most important thing for me in management is to create an environment where everyone can enjoy their work. There are very few jobs in the world that can be completed by one person, so I always tell my employees to value "gratitude and respect." Regardless of age or position, everyone has something they are better at than you, and I think it's very important to recognize that. So, of course, I treat my subordinates with gratitude and respect as well.
I also try to be conscious of not only focusing on work, but also making the most of my private time. When you live a proper life, you can take in information from your surroundings. I value the sense of being a person who lives their daily life, so that I can always put myself in the customer's shoes.

■We want to convey the appeal of soy milk

The most rewarding aspect of my current job is "making more people aware of the appeal of soy milk." I personally believe that soy milk is a food with great potential. It's also a good source of protein. However, there are still many people who don't drink it. That's why I think every day about how to communicate the benefits of soy milk.
I believe there are many hints for product planning ideas in everyday life. I conduct interviews, analyze data, and look at what's selling around the world. Before COVID-19, people liked "interesting products," but now I feel that people tend to choose "products that are easy to imagine the taste of" and "products that are safe." That's why I don't try to differentiate myself by going in a direction that's different from other companies. When I proceed with development while thinking about the customer, the result is a product that's different from other companies, a product with good qualities. So rather than consciously trying to differentiate myself, I feel like it's a natural progression.
It usually takes one to two years to launch a single product. After going through a long process of meetings with the development department, factories, and design companies, going through quality inspections, negotiating with retailers, and promotions, it's truly satisfying to see the product finally hit the shelves in stores.
My next challenge is to double the number of people who drink soy milk. Currently, only about one in four people drink it, but I would like to increase that to one in two. With health awareness on the rise, I think soy milk deserves more recognition. I would like to promote it as a drink that allows people to easily get protein in their daily lives.
Our soy milk business is currently focused on the domestic market, but expanding overseas is also an issue. We would like to expand little by little while searching for flavors and styles that will be accepted overseas.
The "Soy Milk Festival," which began in 2024, is also part of our PR efforts and was started to liven up Soy Milk Day on October 12th. We hope it will become an opportunity for people to feel closer to soy milk and enjoy it more.

■Message to university students

I would like university students and young people to try a variety of things. Whether it's a part-time job or traveling, anything is fine, so please try to have a variety of experiences. I think enthusiasm is important. Product development also faces many obstacles before it even begins. At that point, if you don't have the enthusiasm and energy to "bring this product to market," you won't be able to see it through to the end. So I hope you will find something that you are passionate about.
Also, the job you want to do and the job you can do can sometimes be different. I think your world will broaden if you look at a variety of jobs without being too prejudiced about whether this job is right for you. Even a job that looks glamorous may have many difficult behind-the-scenes challenges, or the job may be different from what you expected. If there are other options at that time, you may be able to find a different job.

Student Newspaper Online August 7, 2025 Interview by Senshu University sophomore Hoshi Moeka