Future Outlook
Japan possesses remarkable services and technologies. However, the current economic environment does not fully leverage them.
No matter how advanced the technology or service, Japan is facing a declining population, resulting in fewer people to utilize these offerings domestically. However, there are numerous countries around the world that require such content.
What I feel when I travel abroad is that there are still many countries in need of Japanese content. In the Philippines, where Tenfields Factory has a local subsidiary, there may not be abundant financial resources or content. However, there are many individuals with strong determination to accomplish tasks. By introducing Japanese technology and content, we can assist them.
However, there is a language barrier. As long as this barrier exists, it is not easy for Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand overseas or for foreign companies to enter the Japanese market. While major companies may overcome this barrier, SMEs struggle to spread their wings globally. I wanted to change this situation.
10 fields Factory has expanded various businesses in the past, but this time, we aim to become a bridge between Japan and overseas, spreading high-quality Japanese content.
Furthermore, excellent services and technologies of SMEs are on the decline due to lack of sales knowledge or selling techniques.
Therefore, I plan to nurture entrepreneurs and support SMEs.
By dispatching managers who have grown as leaders in each business department, we will promote the services of SMEs worldwide.
Building a bridge between Japan and overseas. This is our vision for the future.
Background of Establishing Multiple Business Departments
Since the beginning of our entrepreneurial journey, we have aimed to contribute to society in various fields. Over 18 years in the same industry, various relationships and entanglements naturally arise. However, moving into different markets allows us to create services from scratch with a customer-centric approach. We can undertake various tasks that others may want to do but cannot. This freedom comes from not having anything to protect. Additionally, transferring knowledge and techniques cultivated in one field to other areas enables us to differentiate our services from competitors. These are some of the reasons why we expanded our businesses.
Initially, our business model aimed to support other small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners. It seemed wasteful that despite creating excellent products or services, they struggled to deliver them due to a lack of sales knowledge. Hence, we attempted to act as sales representatives for them. While we received many inquiries due to our expertise in sales, we faced the problem of not being able to handle everything ourselves.
To address this, we attempted to conduct sales representation through our website, which led to increased demand. From there, our web business department was established, gradually leading to the company's expansion.
Another reason for expanding our business departments was our staff. During a company gathering at the end of one year, where we invited staff members and their families, we realized that there were more family members present than employees. This made us contemplate whether they would lead prosperous lives in five or ten years. We realized that the issue lay with their salaries.
We understood that the company needed to grow for us to pay higher salaries. It was the first time we realized this.
To ensure that staff members could achieve similar sales results as me and lead prosperous lives, we decided to create new departments under each staff member and let them lead these departments.
This led to the establishment of new business departments one after another, ultimately contributing to the significant growth of the company. The growth of Tenfields Factory was not solely due to my efforts. It was essential to have staff members who believed in me, shared the same principles, and supported me as colleagues.
Continuing to meet customer expectations alongside our staff members is, I believe, the key to our growth.
Towards Listing
Tenfields Factory is currently focusing on growth and aims to list overseas. In Japan, there are many excellent companies, and the stock market is highly competitive as it trades high-quality stocks. Therefore, venture companies must continue to pursue unprecedented challenges.
However, looking overseas, such intense competition is not observed, and there are numerous foreign companies. The market is merely an exchange for trading stocks.
Furthermore, there are no precedents for venture companies to expand overseas. Because there have been no precedents, we choose to lead the way ourselves. By doing so, other companies will naturally follow suit, leading to an improvement in Japan's economy.
Through our business, we aim to bring happiness to our staff, contribute to the Japanese economy, and enrich the lives of people worldwide.
With these values at the core, Tenfields Factory will continue to grow in the future.
10 fields Factory Co., Ltd.
CEO: HIROSHI ICHIKAWA
PROFILE
HIROSHI ICHIKAWA
10 fields Factory Co., Ltd.
President and CEO
Born on February 22, 1973.
From Hiroshima.
Graduated from Hiroshima University, Faculty of Economics.
Joined Ajinomoto Co., Inc. in 1995.
Decided to start a business after experiencing the excitement of business planning and management in university circles.
Initially aimed to learn about organizational structures and systems in major corporations before starting his own business, hence joined Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Worked in sales positions and resigned in May 2002.
Started a sole proprietorship providing sales agency services the following month, and ventured into rental server, food and beverage, and darts businesses, incorporating as a company in 2007.
Continued to expand into various other business domains thereafter.
Book
“Abandon Your Main Business Now: Multifaceted Management for Surviving Post-COVID” (PHP Publishing) 2021
