Haruyoshi Sakita, Representative Director and Chairman, Sukesan Co., Ltd.

2026.05.12

"Achieving success through repeated trial and error": A mindset that doesn't set limits.

■ Profile
Born in 1966 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from Kyushu Sangyo University High School in 1985. After joining For You in 1999, he served as president of Tomato & Associates and executive officer of Skylark, among other positions. At Skylark, he served as managing director of the sales, marketing, construction, and product development divisions, and was responsible for a wide range of areas including store operations, product development, planning and development of multiple new brands, and location development. In 2024, he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sukesan. He assumed his current position in April 2026. He is leveraging the synergies of the group to accelerate nationwide expansion and lead the next stage of growth.

"Sukesan Udon," a soul food originating in Kitakyushu, is expanding nationwide thanks to the efforts of Haruyoshi Sakita. Starting from his part-time job experience as a student, he has built his business skills to this day. In recent years, the number of stores has exceeded 100, and even as the number of stores expands rapidly, he continues to pursue the unique character of the brand. We spoke with him about his management philosophy.

During my student years, my father ran a business, so I grew up believing that I would inherit the company.
However, when I was in the second year of junior high school, my father died in an accident, and my life changed completely. Our income stopped, my mother had to go out to work, and the everyday life that I had taken for granted changed drastically. It was a very big event for me, and it left a gaping hole in my heart, and for a while I couldn't even remember what I was doing.
After entering high school, I started working part-time to cover tuition and living expenses. While immersing myself in various jobs, I gradually began to envision my future. The goal I set for myself was to "become a company president by the time I'm 30." I think the desire to start my own business, like my father, remained within me.

■ How to find the answer that generates profit

I've had various part-time jobs, but my experience at a greengrocer's has formed the foundation of my current way of thinking. I sold the purchased goods within a set time, always thinking about how to maximize profit. I had to identify the best selling times, adjust prices, and ultimately avoid losses. It was a place where I learned how to maximize profits.
Back then, I wasn't thinking about business management. I was simply thinking about "how to make things better" and thoroughly researching customer behavior patterns. This attitude hasn't changed even now. I didn't know the answers from the beginning, but I do know "how to find the answers."
Many people tend to look for reasons why they can't do something and set limits for themselves. However, listing the negatives won't change anything. Instead, it's important to think about "how can I do it?" and take one step ahead of others.
To achieve this, it's crucial to repeatedly ask "why." Instead of pretending to know things you don't, honestly asking questions ensures that knowledge truly becomes yours. Combining these pieces of information as needed is what leads to the ability to find answers. I believe that "rapidly repeating trial and error to find ways to maximize profits" will ultimately lead to great results.

■ The "Suke-san style" and the reasons for its continued growth

Currently, our company is expanding nationwide while significantly increasing the number of stores. However, we don't believe that simply expanding is enough. What we value most is how to preserve the "Suke-san style" that we have carefully passed down since our founding.
Sukesan Udon is essentially an "udon restaurant" with over 150 menu items, affordable prices, and long operating hours that can meet customers' needs at any time of day. In addition, we believe that the "warmth of people," such as "comfortable and reassuring service" and "pleasant greetings from staff," is also a defining characteristic and one of Sukesan's strengths.
As the entire food and beverage industry moves towards automation and self-service through digital transformation, pursuing efficiency to its limits will ultimately lead to a comparison based solely on "taste and price."
"Eating out just to fill your stomach." I don't want that to be the case. In a future where automation is the norm, if a restaurant like Sukesan Udon is a place where you can feel "human warmth"—being greeted with a human voice and a smile, and having your bowl of udon carefully served—then that will be its greatest differentiator.

Of course, I'm not against DX. In today's rapidly changing world, DX is indispensable, and at "Suke-san Udon," we've been using an automated guidance system for several years now. The system used to handle everything from when customers entered the restaurant until they were seated, all through machine guidance. However, recently we've deliberately reverted to having employees guide customers to their seats.
Our approach to digital transformation (DX) at Sukesan is to automate certain parts of the process that can be handled by machines, and then use the resources freed up to focus on customer interaction.
Of course, it incurs costs and may seem inefficient, but if it brings in customers, then it's not a problem. What's important is not short-term efficiency, but creating value that will keep customers choosing us in the long run.

■The growth of people creates the future of the company.

Human resource development is essential for a company to continue growing. Because human time is limited, we believe it is necessary to pass on the know-how we possess to as many people as possible and pass it on to the next generation. In order for Sukesan Udon to continue growing forever, we want many employees to take on challenges and gain experience. It's okay to make small mistakes many times. What's important is to think, "Okay, what do I do next?" after that and put it into action. If you fail again, think of the next course of action. It's a continuous cycle. As the number of stores increases, new positions will be created, and opportunities for employees to grow will expand. We believe that such individuals will eventually support the company and create new value.
Furthermore, Sukesan Udon is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Continuing for 50 years is by no means something to be taken for granted. It is because we have been loved by the local community that we are where we are today.
That's why what we need to do is protect the values that have been built up over the past 50 years and spread them throughout the country. Sukesan doesn't want to be something special. Rather, we want to be a presence that blends into everyday life, something people will say, "Shall we go to Sukesan?" We want to build up stores one by one that continue to be a natural part of our customers' lives.

■Message to university students

What I want to convey to everyone is that "human growth is limitless."
Maintaining a commitment to continuous learning, even after starting your career, will undoubtedly contribute to your personal growth. I myself have consistently read three business books a month since entering the workforce, accumulating knowledge over time. This accumulated knowledge has proven invaluable in making sound decisions when it matters most.
Instead of looking for reasons why you can't do something and setting limits for yourself, keep thinking about "how you can do it." Repeated small challenges will surely make a big difference in your future.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on July 10, 2026 by Musashino University third-year student Akira Yoshimatsu