I admired my father's career and longed to work in the same public relations department as he did.

What sparked my interest in the field of media was the sight of my father at work. I had watched my father working in public relations and event-related companies since I was a small child, and I thought it sounded like a fun job. This was what led me to become interested in and to study media-related fields.

There were not many schools where I could study media, but the sociology department of the university I attended allowed me to study the field media from a sociological perspective. I completed my credits by my third year, and during my fourth year, I traveled all over Japan. On my graduation trip, I took a road trip around the Shikoku-Area of Japan with my friend.

When job-hunting, I mainly considered positions in public relations for manufacturers and event-related companies. I first became interested in Sega Sammy when I was a student and had the opportunity to work as a part-timer. I was attracted by the pleasant atmosphere and the way my colleagues all seemed to enjoy working together.

I was first assigned to the brand communications department in the public relations office. I was in charge of a wide range of tasks, from corporate public relations work that involved disseminating information about Sega Sammy Holdings and promoting brand value enhancement, to event management; hosting the Sega Sammy Cup, a men's professional golf tournament; and managing professional dance and mahjong sports teams. During my first six months with the company, I worked on a variety of tasks, so I could get to know the company, such as updating and changing its website, checking logos, and responding to inquiries.

Accumulating and absorbing "firsts”

For about a year, my senior and I oversaw everything from the management of Sega Sammy Lux, a team in a professional dance league (commonly known as the D-League), to the overseeing of the company’s social media. I spent my days at the team's games, like a club manager, and talked to the members and posted the games on social media, feeling as if I were one of them. When there were no ongoing matches, I went to the practice field to meet with officials, took pictures of the practice sessions, and checked the perfection of the dance routines with the members. I also worked with vendors to order the team’s competition costumes. Through this job, I learned to think actively and act decisively.

From around the summer of my second year, I was in charge of the Sega Sammy Phoenix, a team that belongs to the professional mahjong league "M League." The Professional Mahjong League (commonly known as the M-League) has nine teams that compete in league matches throughout the year. I was in charge of team-sponsored events such as fan meetings and public appearances in cooperation with an outside partner company. When I first assumed this role, I had no knowledge of mahjong, so I had to learn from senior members and professionals familiar with the game so that I could communicate with fans on social media and through other PR efforts.

I‘m not afraid of failure, continue to take on challenges.

In April 2023, I was transferred to Sunrockers Inc., a group company, to take charge of the Sun Rockers Shibuya, which is part of the men's professional basketball league (commonly known as B-League). I am mainly involved in merchandise production; I oversee how the products are sold and am in charge of the sales strategy for the E-Commerce section (online commercial transactions of goods and services). We produce uniforms, towels, mascot goods, etc. and plan which items to introduce for each game. As this was my first time creating plans based on sales strategies, I had no prior knowledge to rely on, so it has been a bit difficult. We worked our way through the process by researching the lineups of other teams and collaborating with outside parties, such as production and design companies.

I am currently preparing for the opening of the B-League’s fall season. This is the first time I have been involved for the entire season since being named the merchandising manager (MD). I am looking forward to seeing many players, such as Josh Hawkinson, a member of the Japanese national team who played in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, who is joining the team this year. In addition to merchandise, we are also discussing measures internally to attract new customers.

As the MD, I think what I learned in my first year is now being put to good use as I consider how to promote and present merchandise. In the past, I often played a supportive role, but now, I have a lot of responsibility and am working toward my goals. Because of this, I have acquired the ability to manage my schedule, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to work on my own.

Sega Sammy has a corporate culture that encourages people to "take on challenges and do things to the best of their ability without fear of failure," as well as a free atmosphere that allows people to take on a variety of challenges. We also have a culture of not singling people out based on their age or gender. In the future, I would like to get to know more people, absorb knowledge, and use it to my advantage while doing things that other teams are not still doing and new things that are unique to Sega Sammy.

Message to students and those who want to join our company

I know job hunting is tough, but don't waver in pursuing what you want. For me, it was finding a job in public relations. If you have your own dreams, I think you will do your best and enjoy working, even when you face difficulties and feel a bit down. Some people think that PR job is a glamorous job, perhaps because it often appears in the public eye at events and on social media, but it is mostly behind-the-scenes work to make the front page more glamorous. I hope you will go about your job-hunting activities after carefully determining whether a company will allow you to do what truly interests you and whether it provides an environment in which you can do it.