I was born in 1950 as the son of a Zen priest in Kyoto. When I was young, my father was asked to become a spiritual leader for the South America migration of farmers from Numakuma, Hiroshima; therefore, my family went to Paraguay and stayed there for several years.
Education
BS from Tottori University, Faculty of Agriculture
Experience
Joined Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd. Dedicated to sales of agro-chemical and other chemical products. Branch Manager of Osaka and then Tokyo. CEO of a subsidiary of Otsuka Chemical then Vice President of Otsuka Chemical. Became President & CEO of OAT Agrio Co., Ltd. when the agro-chemical division of Otsuka Chemical was separated from the company by a MBO in 2010.
What have been the main lessons you have learned in your career and how do you implement them in your management?
Sincerity and honesty. I try to see the better side of colleagues, clients and people.
Mentors
Father: He showed me the way of life in accordance with the Zen spirit, which is “all things are essentially nothingness; all things come from nothingness; originally、there was nothing.”, although I am still not confident that I understand this.
Yujiro Otsuka: My former boss, who always told me to be honest and to not tell a lie. He insisted upon “building trust through technology and sincerity.”
Seniors of Otsuka Chemical: Never give up! Attempt any efforts to turn impossible things to possible.
Quotes
I always recall the Zen reminder “All things are essentially nothingness; all things come from nothingness; originally、there was nothing;”
