InterviewPower of People

I’ve always loved creating things, even as a child. In college, I studied sculpture at an art school, I was planning to pursue a career as an artist. But when I got married and had children, I decided it was time to find a stable job. That’s when I found my way to KOGEISHA. I’ve always been passionate about architecture, and one of my habits was exploring and observing buildings, so I was naturally drawn to work that involves creating shapes and atmosphere. As a salesperson, my job involves working with clients and staff to move projects forward, ensuring they are completed with responsibility. Whether it’s planning, design, construction, production, or management, we handle everything related to Spatial design. Our clients come from diverse industries—semiconductors, food, solar panels, bicycles, printing machines, and more. On average, I manage about five projects a month, which is around 50 to 60 projects a year. Project timelines vary. Typically they last two to three months, but larger projects can take six months to a year, sometimes even longer.” At KOGEISHA, sales drive all aspects of the project We assign one staff to each client. For larger projects, we might have a two- or three-person team, but the norm is one-on-one. This approach helps us be the best partner and build closer relationships with our clients. When it’s just one person communicating with a client, you naturally develop a deeper connection. By “deepening the relationship,” I mean that we work together to solve strategic challenges and tackle ongoing difficulties so we can understand customers’ perspectives and share ideas. After all, if you can’t see things from your client’s point of view, you can never truly be their partner.

Just adopting the client’s perspective isn’t enough if all we do is think exactly the same way they do. If we do that, there’s no reason for us to be involved. As professionals in spatial design, we must search for new approaches and present high-quality solutions. It goes without saying, but if the quality isn’t high, it won’t sell. That’s why we think things through to the very end and are uncompromising when it comes to quality.

To put it another way, I would never deliver something that doesn’t satisfy me. If I’m not satisfied, there is no way that the client is satisfied. It’s also dangerous to fall into the trap of self-satisfaction, so I always make an effort to gather and incorporate everyone’s opinions, including, of course, constant communication with the client. We spare no time or effort when it comes to improving quality. If, in the end, the result isn’t satisfactory, it’s easy to blame it on the budget or time constraints. There are always excuses to be made. But that’s not something I want to do, and above all, I never want to have regrets, thinking, “I should have thought harder” or “I should have done more.”

"It’s not exactly because of this, but I do feel a strong attachment to every project I work on. "I can still clearly remember the first job I won when I started in sales as a young professional. It was for a liquid crystal display manufacturer at the "CEATEC" IT and electronics exhibition.I began with cold calling and made the contract after winning a design competition, making it the first case where I took something from nothing to a tangible result.

I was absolutely thrilled at that time. The senior designer I worked with was a very busy person, but I was so eager to win that I convinced him to help. In the end, he agreed, saying, “I’ll do it for Akasaka.” I was incredibly fortunate and lucky. Another memorable experience was designing the space for a kitchen manufacturer’s showroom.A photo of the design was featured in a housing magazine, which was such an honor and deeply moving for me. These experiences taught me that when you give your best, the results will follow.

The most rewarding part of the job is when the client is happy with our work. Whether it’s completing a project to our satisfaction, attracting a large number of visitors, seeing actual results in the numbers, or winning a new contract for the first time—there are so many reasons to finish project through to the end. I believe that you only feel a true sense of accomplishment when you’ve done everything you can. KOGEISHA is a company made up of people who prioritize the client and are dedicated to pursuing quality to ensure the client’s satisfaction. We are a select team of top-tier professionals. In that sense, I believe our company’s strength lies in its people. You can feel that everyone loves what they do. Everyone is highly motivated. During my first year, I was scolded by my superiors almost every day, but as I had to become a mentor to younger colleagues, I started to develop a sense of responsibility, and my mindset gradually changed. My competitive spirit wasn’t directed at other companies but toward my colleagues in the company. In my twenties, I worked hard because I didn’t want to lose to my peers. Now, I believe that no one can beat me when it comes to attention to detail. Everyone probably thinks they’re the best in their own way, though. (laughs) The great thing about KOGEISHA co., Ltd. is that it fosters a naturally competitive, motivating environment. To improve my skills, I still study by reading industry magazines and books, but I believe the real learning happens on-site. When I see something created by another company, I often think, “Oh, that’s an interesting approach.” It can be challenging to stay open-minded, but I always try to absorb any new insights or discoveries. I used to be quite introverted and shy, the type of person who would retreat into my own world, but this job has changed me. (laughs) Now, I look forward to meeting more people in the future. If new rivals come along, that’ll be exciting.