- What led you to choose ASICS?
The reason I chose ASICS is that it embodies two key elements I was looking for during my job search: "manufacturing" and my passion for "sports."
When I was job hunting, the field of digital innovation, such as smartphone apps, was rapidly growing. However, having majored in architecture during my undergraduate and graduate studies, I was more drawn to the tangible value that physical products bring, rather than abstract, invisible ones. This led me to apply to manufacturing companies.
Additionally, I had been involved in table tennis since middle school through to university. I experienced the joy of physical activity and, through sports, the ability to connect with people regardless of age, gender, or nationality. I strongly felt the power sports have in enriching lives, and I wanted to contribute to that. Of course, ASICS being a global brand with its headquarters in Japan and its ability to compete internationally was also a major factor in my decision to join the company.
Can you describe your current job responsibilities?
I am part of the strategy team in the Sportstyle division, which handles everyday sneakers and apparel. Recently, I’ve also been involved in a skateboarding project. While "strategy" might sound vague, I understand it as the process of identifying the gap between goals and the current state, then developing and executing action plans to achieve the desired outcomes.
A clear example of a goal would be the revenue and profit targets that are publicly announced during fiscal reporting. As a corporation, achieving these goals is a top priority, and within the Sports Style division, we must meet the allocated budget and further break it down into regional goals.
My main responsibilities include managing the budget for regions such as the U.S., Korea, and Japan, monitoring and supporting business conditions, analyzing sales and production data related to products, and developing strategies based on these analyses. In short, I track the financial situation, including expenses by region, and identify any gaps compared to the target budget. Additionally, I work closely with our overseas offices to understand which products are selling well and why, using data analysis and communication to decide on future actions.
Effective communication with overseas teams is crucial for this role, and to do so, it’s essential to conduct thorough analysis from various perspectives. The outcome of this work is used by other teams in design, development, marketing, and more, making it a highly rewarding job.
What would you like to challenge in the future at ASICS?
I have two main goals. First, I aim to further improve the data analysis framework. Although we have vast amounts of data within the company, it’s not being fully utilized. I also believe there are more ways to make better use of data from our partners and consumer insights that we receive from resellers.
As such, I want to identify valuable data and create a structure that allows for the swift and accurate analysis of broader information. To do this, I plan to improve my skills in data analysis tools such as Excel, Power BI, and Python. I also want to focus on simplifying processes to avoid overly dependent, manual work and look for ways to automate analysis tasks.
The second challenge I want to pursue is the opportunity to work abroad. I’ve spent five years in product development at the headquarters and two years in strategy, and now I feel that gaining experience on the ground in the business world will help me better understand ASICS from a practical, firsthand perspective.
Since ASICS has a high proportion of overseas sales, experiencing the different business practices and cultures abroad is essential for my career development. While my language skills aren't perfect, I see overseas deployment as an opportunity to challenge myself and improve my English proficiency.
Note: The profile and interview content reflect the information at the time of the interview.
