I love clothes, but I also love people, so I work in this field.

Q.Why did you decide to join BEAMS?

A.I'm from Yokosuka, and when I was a high school student and started to get interested in clothes, I would go to Yokohama almost every week. I would visit various stores, but because I didn't have much money, I would just look around and not buy anything. It was BEAMS that spoke to me frankly, even though I was a high school student, and taught me about clothes. After that, when I became a university student, I started working part-time at BEAMS Yokohama East Exit, and then joined the company as a new graduate. I started working part-time because I love clothes, but what made me want to work there was because the people were so attractive. I had planned to continue working part-time if I didn't get accepted as a new graduate.

Q.What has your work been like since you joined the company?

A.I'm currently in my eighth year with the company and am the shop manager of BEAMS Kichijoji. I was first assigned to BEAMS Kitasenju, where I worked as a salesperson for five and a half years. I then transferred to BEAMS Kichijoji as a sub-shop manager, and became a manager within a year and a half. Currently, I work in the store, not only selling products, but also primarily train people and manage sales. We have a staff of 22, including part-timers, so creating a team atmosphere is also an important part of my job. I often emphasize that if we, the sellers, don't enjoy our work, our customers won't either. This doesn't mean that we should only do fun things; I try to enjoy my work the most, while also thinking about what I want to leave behind as a result of my work, so that I can enjoy the work itself.

Q.What do you do to build a team?

A.I make sure to set aside plenty of time to communicate with my staff. The only day off at BEAMS Kichijoji, other than the New Year, is the 1st of February, and on that day, all the staff go on an overnight trip. It was so well received that they wanted to do it again in the summer, so we decided to split the members into two groups, although not all together. Until now, we've used the company's recreation facility, but next time we'll have each team plan where they'll stay and what they'll do. The members are already close, but this trip has created a sense of unity, which motivates them at work and provides a great opportunity for communication.

Q.What do you value in internal communication?

A.Recently, there has been a tendency to focus on "praising and encouraging others to grow," but I also think it's important to tell people where they have room to grow. When you think about what is necessary for the person in front of you to grow, sometimes praising them alone isn't enough. I don't scold them, and I'm not the type of person who can speak harshly, so I don't speak harshly, but I would be happy if letting them know where they have room to grow leads to their growth.

Q.What is the appeal of working at BEAMS?

A.Simply put, it's the fact that our work is about having fun. And it's not just me; everyone is good at having fun. There are times when we're incredibly busy, like during sales, but we don't forget to be hospitable to our customers, and I've heard staff members say to each other, "We have to enjoy being busy!", so I thought it was a great environment. Even if we're doing the same work, our performance is completely different when we're working in a tense atmosphere versus when we're having fun. I think it's a strength of our staff that they can lead the work in a fun direction without me having to say anything.

Q.What kind of person do you think is suited to working at BEAMS?

A.People who honestly pursue what they "like" and what they "enjoy." I think this is something that not only I feel, but everyone feels in common. I think it's fine to either pursue one thing thoroughly or dabble in many different things and gain experience, but I have the image that people who are honest about what they like and what's fun and can immerse themselves in it are actually successful.

Q.What are some essential items for your job?

A.Glasses are a way to avoid looking young (lol). As a store manager, I sometimes look younger when I talk to customers, so I wear non-prescription glasses when I'm at the store. Navajo pearls are the only accessory I wear these days. I've been using CARAN d'ACHE ballpoint pens ever since I was a part-timer, because I learned that it's good to use a good quality ballpoint pen at work. I think I'm on my fourth generation now. As a left-handed person, they're easy to use and have become like a good luck charm for me. As I tend to forget things easily, my rule for bags is to use one bag until it's worn out so I don't have to take things in and out, and then buy a new one when it wears out.

Q.What is your favorite clothing style?

A.Currently, I like a casual outfit that mainly consists of shirts with a handmade feel. When I was a student, I was conscious of the total coordination I would create when I wore clothes, and I enjoyed incorporating trends and matching colors. However, as I worked surrounded by clothes, I gradually began to like clothes that were made with the maker's heart and began to appreciate the beauty of the clothes themselves. As I am in a position to convey this to customers, I try to incorporate special items even in simple outfits.

Q.What do you do on your days off?

A.My hobbies are camping and Iekei ramen. I'm generally a chatterbox and love talking with people, but when I go camping, I just sit there drinking by myself. I used to go camping solo a lot, but recently I've been able to install a wooden deck at home, so I've been able to spend time just relaxing at home. I've loved Iekei ramen since I was a student, and I eat it two to three times a week, and on my days off I'll even travel quite far to eat it. I live that lifestyle for 11 months out of the year, and in the remaining month I do strength training and restrict my diet to lose 3 to 4 kg. I've been living this stoic lifestyle for the past few years (laughs).

Q.Please tell us your future goals.

A.It's only been a year and a half since I became a shop manager, which was my goal since joining the company. Right now, I'm learning from the good points of the previous managers and exploring my own way of creating a store and building relationships with customers and staff. I would like to continue working in a job that involves communicating with people and developing them. In that sense, I'd be happy to stay in the store, or perhaps work in human resources. To be honest, I don't care what type of job I'm in as long as it allows me to be with fascinating people and grow as a person. With that in mind, I've been talking to the seniors at the company about doing something together in the future. Since I work at a company with so many great seniors, I want to connect with them, talk a lot with the people I like, and maintain relationships where we can have a positive influence on each other.

Q.A message to those aiming to work at BEAMS!

A.In my case, I focused my job hunting on BEAMS when I was a new graduate, but looking back now, I realize that job hunting was a truly valuable experience. It's not often that you get to go to a variety of companies, listen to what they have to say, and have others listen to you. It's also a time to reexamine yourself, and you may feel discouraged if things don't go well, but first and foremost, enjoy this rare experience of job hunting!

A place where you can have fun as your job!