– First of all, please introduce yourself.

My name is Oue. Since graduating, I have been working for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd, a company that operates in ocean shipping. The company’s main business is the transportation of goods and merchandise using ships. After gaining experience as a sales representative, I have been in charge of the management department, including business planning and human resources for a long time.

– Why did you decide to apply to Shizenkan?

When I was in the corporate planning department, I had the opportunity to think deeply about our company and management. I wondered what kind of ships we should invest in to ensure the company’s continued growth. On the other hand, we have a mission to support social infrastructure through cargo transport. I kept thinking about questions with no answers, such as “Shouldn’t the company’s decision-making criteria be based on more than just profit-pursuit? At the time, I felt uncomfortable with the mainstream thinking of American-style shareholder capitalism. I wanted to find the answer to the question of “why companies exist”.

Furthermore in my day-to-day work, I have always been asking myself what kind of environment makes employees happier and feel more fulfilled, while fostering their growth and development. Since I am in charge of training, three years ago I designed an in-house training seminar that runs for seven weeks and is designed to cultivate the ability to think about improving corporate value. I wanted to create a space where they could discuss and think about what kind of business would improve corporate value from a non-financial perspective, while also objectively measuring corporate value from a financial perspective. I am proud that we have already observed eight cohorts go through this program.

However, as I continued with these activities, I realized that I did not possess the criteria, knowledge, nor perspective needed to evaluate and judge what kind of business to promote. When I observed my seminar participants thinking about new projects based on their own work, I reflected on myself and felt impatient, realizing that I was just going through the motions, with no new input, and that my own growth had come to a halt.

Coincidentally at that moment, I was contacted by Prof. Noro, a lecturer at Shizenkan who was in charge of our company’s employee training, and I learned about Shizenkan.

I was very attracted by the fact that Shizenkan was providing management education bridges the East and West, with the goal of finding a new way of doing business. I was aware of the problem that simply using figures would not be sufficient for successfully running a company. I believed that Shizenkan would help me deepen my understanding of the issues and equip me with the ability to increase the value of the company, so I applied.

– What was the biggest challenge when applying to Shizenkan?

To be honest, it was the tuition fees. However, Prof. Noro also informed me about a special scholarship program called the Kurishima Masakazu Scholarship, which is designed for candidates who wish to change management within their companies. The more I read about the application requirements, the more I doubt myself whether I was up to the task. However, this time, my desire to learn overweighed my reservations, so I decided to apply.

– How did you feel when you heard that you had been awarded the Kurishima Masakazu Scholarship?

I would like to deepen my studies with the support of those around me to carry on Mr. Kurishima’s wishes. The shipping industry is an established industry, so I think it will take time to bring about change, but I aspire to contribute to the sustainable development of society by transporting goods while incorporating sustainability and environmentally friendly business practices. Furthermore, I want to make sure that we create an environment within the company that encourages people to think about protecting our planet.

– Could you tell us about your aspirations for the next two years?

As I am currently in the human resources department, I have many opportunities to consider employee training and create training programs. Even before I graduate, I want to utilize what I have learned at Shizenkan in my work, and expand the opportunities within the company so that other staff can also observe things from the new perspectives and the new knowledge that I have gained at Shizenkan. In the future, I aspire to become someone who can positively impact the company through what I learn at Shizenkan.

I heard that a famous Japanese person who lived in the Meiji era said, “If I take a day off, Japan’s development will be delayed by a day,” while studying in France. While I may not have the same impact as that person yet, I feel that way now and I want to learn as much as possible at Shizenkan.

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my family and colleagues for supporting me in my studies at Shizenkan. I have been sharing with my family for some time that I would like to study business management in earnest if I had the chance. When I explained that Shizenkan was the place I had been looking for, my wife and children readily agreed to support my decision.

I informed my colleagues at work that I needed to study at Shizenkan for my personal growth, explaining that I would need to adjust my work schedule to attend classes, and asking for their cooperation. I have made the lecture schedule available to my colleagues, and they understand the challenges involved and have been supportive. Without the cooperation of those around me, I would not be able to complete my two years of study, so I cannot thank them enough.

Above all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the donors of the Kurishima Masakazu Scholarship for granting me the opportunity to study at Shizenkan.

(October 15, 2024)