My History
Our company is headquartered in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, located in the northeastern region of Japan. We specialize in large-scale piping and plant construction, serving industries such as food production, chemical plants, and semiconductors. While our primary focus is on the Miyagi region, we also manage projects across the country.
I began working in this field at the age of 20. Throughout my career, I noticed that despite their hard work, many young professionals weren’t receiving the recognition they deserved. This motivated me to create a different environment. I wanted to establish a company where efforts are properly acknowledged. With this goal in mind, I gathered peers from my generation and started my own business at 25.
Our company started with seven committed members, all of us sharing the same vision. We used to tell each other, "With this group, we’re destined to build a great company." Back then, we were excited about the future, even though we often pushed ourselves to the limit.
As our team grew, new members quickly adapted to the positive and energetic atmosphere we had created. Over time, this dynamic environment became a core part of our culture. Today, our average age is 34, and young professionals are thriving in our company.
By continually addressing diverse customer needs, we've enhanced our performance and achieved significant growth. I firmly believe that none of this would have been possible on my own. Our shared dedication has allowed us to make "Sakura" a name that people recognize and respect.
Most of our new hires come from similar roles in the industry rather than from university graduates. After 12 years in business, we've built a strong reputation locally, which has helped us attract skilled professionals excited to join us. Many of our team members are in their 20s and 30s, bringing with them 5, 10, or even 15 years of experience, which has resulted in a highly capable team.
From the beginning, our core principle has been to ensure that our clients feel confident in choosing "Sakura." I believe that as long as our employees continue to deliver high-quality projects, we can achieve this. Furthermore, we strive to inspire our partner contractors to support and promote Sakura in the future.
The Present
One of our key focuses now is creating a work environment that supports employees who are raising children. The construction industry has evolved significantly in this regard, with more flexible working conditions and greater opportunities for women to succeed. Although it’s still uncommon to find companies with as many female workers as we have, I believe the industry’s overall working conditions have improved. In the past, some people took pride in never attending their children’s school events or sports days due to work. We’ve worked hard to change that mindset in our company, ensuring that such attitudes are no longer the norm. It was particularly challenging to shift the perspectives of senior management, who had built their careers in the industry’s tough working conditions. However, with time and effort, we’ve successfully introduced these changes. For the younger generation, the transition was easier and quicker to adopt.
We are also in the process of building a new facility in Sendai, which will include an on-site childcare center. We've already hired a licensed childcare provider, with the goal of becoming a company where employees can bring their children to work. Additionally, we are actively encouraging long-term paternity leave for male employees, making it easier for them to be involved in raising their children.
At our company, it's common to see employees’ children in the CEO's office on Saturdays when their parents are at work. While their parents are busy welding in the factory, the children might be in my office, drawing or playing. Parents also feel comfortable leaving to pick up their children when necessary, without fear of judgment. In many other companies, parents often feel pressure or guilt when they need to prioritize their children’s needs. At Sakura, we’re committed to creating an environment where balancing work and parenting is not a challenge. I also believe that more companies should adopt similar practices to better support working parents.
Thanks to our success, we’re now able to reinvest profits into improving employee benefits. After all, since our employees have chosen to work with us, I want them—and their families—to feel that they made the right decision in joining Sakura. Building a company that employees and their families can be proud of is key to strengthening our base of loyal supporters.
Balancing work and raising children is undoubtedly challenging. However, by fostering a supportive environment where the company actively assists with child-rearing, we’re committed to making life easier for our working parents.
For the Future
Recently, we acquired a tutoring business through an M&A, making it one of our subsidiaries. We’ve also launched the CEO Kids Academy, an educational initiative focused on nurturing future entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our goal is to develop leaders with strong business acumen. In Japan, over 99% of businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and CEOs play a pivotal role in their success or failure. To ensure more businesses succeed, we believe in cultivating leaders who understand the value of every team member and view no one as dispensable. When a CEO truly cares for and supports their employees, this mindset permeates the organization, creating a nurturing environment for younger, less experienced workers to grow and contribute to the company’s success.
One issue I often reflect on is the gap between what’s taught in Japanese schools and the skills required in the workplace. In many countries, students learn about finance and gain work experience while still in school, but in Japan, these subjects are rarely addressed. If public education can't provide this, I believe it’s up to the private sector to fill that gap.
Our company recently participated in a career experience event at an AEON mall, one of Japan's largest retail chains, where children had the opportunity to try pipe-fitting. The event was well-received, and it was incredibly rewarding to hear the children say how much they enjoyed it. I believe it's crucial for children to have a wide range of experiences from a young age. As they grow older, I hope they’ll make career choices based on the question, “What should I pursue?” rather than “What can I do?”
In Sendai, we continue to provide opportunities for children to participate in hands-on job experiences and hear from professional athletes about their careers and second lives after retirement. Moving forward, we aim to offer even more of these experiences, encouraging children to explore new interests. By nurturing their creativity and curiosity, we hope to help them lead fulfilling lives and contribute to the growth of our local community.