Shota Kaneko, Product Development Department, Marketing Division, Nippon Co., Ltd.

2026.01.23

"Passion" to rewrite common sense about food and create something from nothing

■ Profile
Joined Nippun in 2021. He started his career in production management at the Ryugasaki Plant, which manufactures premixes.
He joined the Product Development Department in 2024 and is responsible for developing products such as "Oh'my Rich Pasta Sauce," "Oh'my Pasta Sauce for Japanese Pasta Lovers," and "Nippun Legendary Fried Chicken Powder."

Kaneko-san has been a big fan of pasta sauce since his student days. After working in production management at a factory, he now works with many departments to create a number of new products. We spoke to him about the behind-the-scenes story of the development of the new product, "Oh'my Egg Peperoncino for Pasta Lovers," the difficulties and joys of creating something from scratch, and his passionate message to university students who will be the leaders of the future.

■ "Enthusiasm" as a fan and "ability to realize" cultivated on the ground

When I was a student, I was a big fan of our frozen pasta series. For students who were particularly short on money, our products were affordable, filling, and above all, delicious, making them like an "ally" that supported their daily lives. My own experiences of feeling happy through food strengthened my desire to be involved in food and deliver happy moments to many people, and this became the focus of my job search.
After joining the company, I was first assigned to a position called "production management" at the factory. At the factory, I manage the system to steadily produce a set quantity by a set date without any compromise. At first glance, this may seem like a world far removed from the creative image of the creative product development I'm currently in charge of, but in fact it's not. My experience in production management has given me an understanding of how difficult it is to make products from scratch on-site, which is why I'm able to create highly feasible schedules in my current job and propose reasonable system schedules that prioritize quality. I feel that my strength in knowing the on-site environment is a great asset in development.

■ Creating the basis for "sellable deliciousness" through data and intuition

Currently, my work in the Product Development Department involves being deeply involved in every process, from market research, to materializing ideas, creating flavors, scaling up at factories, and even developing packaging, right up to the product's release. Of these, the most important process is determining how to judge and shape flavor and quality.
The feeling of "delicious" is very subjective and qualitative. However, rather than simply commercializing it, we have many customers try it, quantify their evaluations, and analyze them as "quantitative data." Even if we think something is delicious, if it is not accepted by the target customers, it will not become a viable product. We analyze the survey results in detail, sometimes digging into "potential that is not visible on the surface," and we recognize that the "responsibility for quality" that pursues quality until we are satisfied is a heavy job.

■ The golden ratio of "Egg Peperoncino" realized through uncompromising prototyping

The "Egg Peperoncino" that I was in charge of this time is the culmination of uncompromising pursuit. As the popularity of simple sauces that can be eaten by simply mixing them with pasta is increasing, development began to further strengthen the strengths of the Japanese pasta series, such as "the fun of choosing" and "original taste."
While researching restaurant trends, we arrived at the combination of "eggs and peperoncino." However, creating this flavor was extremely challenging. We had to balance the mellowness of the eggs, the addictive garlic flavor unique to peperoncino, and the pungent heat of the chili peppers. Despite repeated trial and error, we found that if the eggs were too strong, the sharp garlic flavor that is characteristic of peperoncino was lost, and if the garlic was too strong, the delicate flavor of the eggs was lost. Despite the limited schedule, we were determined to "never compromise," and we communicated repeatedly with the R&D staff, making repeated fine adjustments. When we finally achieved a quality that fully embodied both flavors, we felt a great sense of accomplishment.

■ The role of a "conductor" who brings together professionals from various fields and leads them to the goal

The core of product development work is not actually working alone, but acting as a "conductor" to complete a project. I don't draw the packaging design myself, and I don't do all the research myself. It's only with the cooperation of a variety of professionals that a product takes shape.
My role as leader is to clarify the "vision" for this product and provide guidance to each professional. "What value will it provide?" "What is the context for its release?" If there is a lack of consistency in this will, no matter how well each individual person does, the product will end up being disjointed. I work backwards from the immovable goal of the release date, devising arrangements that allow everyone to perform at their best, and facilitating collaboration. The ability to mediate between busy departments and smoothly move a project forward is perhaps the most important quality a developer needs.

■ Changing existing perceptions and bringing surprises to people's lives

The work that our predecessors have accomplished so far includes many products that have completely changed people's perceptions, such as "Oh'my Premium Chewy and Delicious Spaghetti," which brought a new texture to pasta.
I too would like to one day present new value that will pleasantly surprise customers' perceptions of a category. To do this, I need the ability to uncover the "true desires of customers" hidden in data and to uncover casual everyday complaints. I would like to maintain a medium- to long-term perspective and continue to hone my senses every day.

■Message to university students

Once you enter the workforce, there are very few jobs that can be completed by one person. That's why I want you to cherish the experience of working together with others to accomplish something while you're a student. It can be any experience, such as a seminar, club, or part-time job. The experience of overcoming difficulties through collaboration will definitely come in handy once you enter the workforce.
Enjoy your student life and value daily communication. This accumulation will surely lead to a fulfilling job in the future where you can make someone smile.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on April 19, 2026 by Toyo University fourth-year student, Ota Fuuka