The Inaugural Cohort of WILL Recruits Reflect on Their First Six Months

Nishihara Let’s start right away. Could you tell me why each of you decided to apply through the WILL recruitment process?

Fujimori I've dreamed of clean energy since I was in elementary school. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I felt strongly that I wanted to help expand the use of clean energy. Over time, I realized that I wanted to take on business no one had attempted before, and I began to envision a dream of building the entire hydrogen value chain, to produce, transport, and use hydrogen. To establish this value chain, it's essential to launch both supply and demand simultaneously, and I was convinced that an integrated trading and business investment company was uniquely positioned to do just that. Discovering the WILL recruitment process was the biggest reason I chose Sumitomo Corporation – without it, I might not be here today.

Ichikawa I studied fisheries science at university in Hokkaido for six years, focusing on aquaculture research, so I've always wanted to work in the food sector. While other integrated trading and business investment companies that offer initial assignment assurance were limited to certain departments, such as resources or IT, Sumitomo Corporation offered openings in the food division, which was a deciding factor for me. I felt that at Sumitomo Corporation, I could contribute to the future of food through new business development leveraging the strengths of an integrated trading and business investment company, as well as through partnerships with other companies. That's why I applied.

By the way, I love eating, watching and catching fish. I simply want everyone to enjoy delicious fish. That's my driving force.

Nishihara It seems you both had a strong desire to work in fields where you could utilize your expertise. Did having an initial assignment guarantee bring any apprehension along with the expectations?

Ichikawa The anticipation was far stronger than any worries I may have had. Since my placement in the food division was guaranteed, I knew my work would involve food in some form. That was very reassuring.

Nishihara Following the WILL recruitment process, the two of you were assigned to the Food and EII SBUs, respectively. Could you tell us about your current roles?

Ichikawa My main responsibility is overseeing operations at SC Foods, which is one of our operating companies. SC Foods handles a wide range of food products, and my role is to support the expansion of these business transactions.

Fujimori I'm involved in developing the hydrogen and ammonia value chain, based out of Sarawak, Malaysia. Since this is a complex field, I'm constantly reminded of how much I still need to learn: market research, finance, English skills, reading contracts – there's always something new.

Nishihara Six months in, is the work and style of working what you expected?

Ichikawa In a good way, it's been surprising. I thought that as a first-year employee I would mostly be carrying out tasks given to me. But about three months in, I started hearing, "Please think for yourself and proceed accordingly." Just the other day, in a project at the operating company, I was asked to take on schedule management and coordination with stakeholders, almost in a project manager role. We're always expected to stay one step ahead, so there are plenty of opportunities to feel real growth.

Fujimori I largely agree. My first task after the training period was hosting officials from the Malaysian government. After carefully preparing with a senior colleague and completing the meeting, I felt a real sense of accomplishment when the local expatriate staff thanked me. I also facilitated an English meeting despite never having studied abroad, and thanks to the support from senior colleagues, I managed to get through it. Next month, I have a week-long business trip to Malaysia. It's exciting to have the chance to share my own ideas and gradually be entrusted with more responsibilities.

Nishihara That's a lot in just six months! It sounds very rewarding.

Nishihara Have you been able to put the skills and knowledge you’ve gained so far to good use in your work?

Ichikawa Quite a lot, I think. Recently, a neighboring unit that’s considering a new land-based aquaculture project asked me for help, and I joined a meeting with a venture company involved in land-based aquaculture. My strength is having a full grasp of the overall picture, so I was able to discuss detailed points like, "For this species of fish, if you maintain the water temperature and quality at this level, the fish will reach this size in so many months." Since this is a field I’m passionate about, I got quite carried away talking about it.

Nishihara Listening to your stories, it’s clear that you have confidence in keeping your will – your own intentions – firm. Lastly, do you have a message to students considering the WILL recruitment process?

Ichikawa Compared to the standard OPEN recruitment process, WILL recruitment gives you the opportunity to think for yourself about your future and make proactive choices. Setting specific goals, like "I want to achieve X by Y," isn’t easy, but for me, putting my aspirations into words and having a single guiding axis has been a great opportunity to reflect on myself from a broader perspective. Even if you feel a disconnect after joining, a strong inner drive – something that gives you a reason to keep going – will empower you to move ahead confidently.

Fujimori I think the greatest value of the WILL recruitment process is how it allows you to gauge your compatibility with the company before joining. During the recruitment process, I encourage applicants to express their own will honestly and directly – to say clearly, "This is what I want to do!" – while still showing respect for the interviewer. I also went through the selection process as my true self. Sumitomo Corporation is a company that has the breadth and openness to embrace that.

Nishihara Hearing your stories, I can see once again that WILL recruitment is a process that allows employees to start their careers based on what they really want to do. I joined through OPEN recruitment, but seeing your growth up close has been very inspiring as a peer. Thank you very much for your time today!

Sumitomo Corporation also has recruitment pages, an Instagram page and a platform for employee visits. We encourage you to explore the actual work content and consider applying through our WILL recruitment process.