First of all, please tell us about the content of your work. What kind of work do you do?

The store's products are original clothing and some miscellaneous goods, and the rest is purchased, and I'm in charge of the purchasing part, such as miscellaneous goods. The other thing I have to do is create the sales area, but I don't do this alone; this store is a flagship store, so the staff and the president work together to plan the fixtures and layout.

How did you come to join your current company?

After graduating from university, I first joined an apparel manufacturer and worked there for about 16 years. I was in charge of purchasing from overseas in the Import Division, dealing with brands mainly for women, but when I had a child, I started thinking, ``I want to work in children's clothing,'' so I changed jobs and joined my current company.

From my current company's point of view, the ideal person came to join us, saying, ``I'm involved in purchasing apparel overseas, and I'm interested in children's clothing.''

I don't know...LOL I joined as a replacement just as the previous buyer was leaving, but since I've been here, I think the product lineup has probably become a little boyish (LOL).
Originally, there were a lot of girlish, fairy-tale-like lines, but in my case, I wanted my child to wear something like this, so I gradually started leaning more towards that (lol).
At the time, there were no cool boys' clothes, so I had a new brand created.

Amazing (lol). That being said, there are many items that are easy to use for both men and women, and I thought they would be great for your own children or as gifts for other children. Please tell us about the products you currently recommend or the products that are popular.

This series of animal chairs has always been popular. Kojika is also the store's image character. Actually, this series was designed by the store's sales staff.

picture! ? How did this story come about?

I had originally heard that the staff members were interested in manufacturing, so I took the plan to the department in charge, thinking it would be a good idea to involve store staff in product development. Then it was approved... and that's what it feels like. I think this is a flexible company.

This is necessary to stay motivated and continue working. What do you keep in mind as a buyer, and what are your happiest moments?

It's difficult to find something new, but I'm still looking for meaningful things that we do and want everyone to know about them. I would be happy if both the customer and the manufacturer were happy with what I discovered. Personally, I like products that have a solid background, such as being particular about the materials used and consideration given to safety, so I would like to convey this clearly.

Next, please tell us about your children. You are 18 years old now, will you be taking the exam this year?

I am currently working hard to become a member of a college baseball team in the United States by studying baseball abroad.

That's amazing. Are you aiming to become a professional?

No, I wish I could become a professional (laughs). I learned that there was a system called ``Selection'' (*Editor's Note: A test in which players visit American universities, have coaches and scouts from each school watch their plays, and decide whether to let them join the team.) Since I was originally aiming to attend an American university, I thought that if I was going to go anyway, I might as well play baseball. I just went to San Diego to receive the selection in August.

While I think sending your child overseas is an ideal choice when considering the future, I think some parents around the world may be too anxious or reluctant to take the decision. Are you particularly worried about that?

Of course I'm worried, but I also want to be able to speak English from now on.
Also, I personally have some regrets about not choosing to live overseas. I grew up in an environment where my parents loved Hawaii and bought a house there, so they lived there for about half the year, so when I was in junior high school, there was a discussion about whether we should all move there. At that time, like a child, I said, ``I don't want to be separated from my friends,'' and there was no talk of moving.
In the end, I ended up going to Hawaii from time to time, but my English was still half-baked, so I wanted my children to learn it properly.

Do you still have a house in Hawaii?

I sold it a long time ago after my father passed away, but I have some acquaintances there, so I feel safer than going to a country I don't know at all.

How did you spend time with your children when they were small?

When I look back, I realize that I really have been playing baseball for a long time (lol). We always go to practice together every Saturday and Sunday. We had team outings and training camps, and elementary school and junior high school were like that all the time, and I can't remember what else I did (lol).

Every week is amazing. Do you also like baseball?

No, that's not the case at all. Even when baseball was on on the TV, I was like, ``What's so funny about this?'' And before I knew it, it was happening.

It's really amazing that I was able to do so much even though I didn't even like baseball. I'm a useless parent, so I end up thinking, ``This is a chance for me to have some free time'' (lol).

Some people say things like that, but on the other hand, I sometimes think, ``Was it really a good thing that I was accompanying them like that?''

Why?

After practice, I end up saying things like, ``You should do this more often.'' I think from my son's perspective, he probably didn't like being told a lot of things by amateurs.

Previously, in this interview, someone said something like ``Creating common topics and sharing time with children is important for getting along well.'' It seems like they are spending that kind of time together, so I think the relationship between parent and child is good. What do you think?

Well, I've never had any abusive language used against me, and I've never had too much trouble. Even when I had meals with my family and relatives, they didn't mind coming along. Even when I was like, ``Grandma and I are going to eat dinner today,'' I didn't complain at all. I'm an only child, and I sometimes feel like I've become an insufferable, selfish child (lol).

No, no, you're a very solid and good kid, aren't you? I think you are close to becoming independent, but what do you want your future to be like?

It's a basic thing, but I want my child to be considerate and think about others. I also hope that you will be patient and be able to read the future.