Acting as a bridge between customers and creators—Aiming for production that maximizes individual charm

Yukako Ninomiya is in charge of project development in new areas at the newly established Business Produce Headquarters. We support ambitious clients in creating new spaces in various industries. Let's take a look at her commitment to her work and what she aims to be as a "bridge" that connects customers and creators.

My own sensibilities and opinions are also products of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. They are irreplaceable.

The role expected of the Business Produce Division is to promote the sustainable business prosperity of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Group through activities that take a medium- to long-term perspective. In particular, the New Business Development Department, to which Ninomiya belongs, is a team that creates new businesses together with clients and supports business development when clients enter new fields. Clients are diverse, including those in finance, manufacturing, and medical institutions.

Ninomiya: For example, in a project in the beverage industry, I was in charge of producing a facility operated by a company.As of January 2023, three years after the facility opened, we have identified operational and brand strategy issues. , We provide long-term support, such as being involved in renewal planning, including how to sell products and how to serve customers.

Furthermore, one hospital requested our services, saying they wanted to transform their hospital into a more open community hub, something they could call a "health theme park." We are leveraging the expertise NOMURA Co.,Ltd. has cultivated through producing commercial facilities, theme parks, and cultural facilities to support them from the planning stage."

A team is formed for each project, but Ninomiya, as the project leader, assigns the most suitable planners and designers for the project and strives to build the team. I am in charge of management.

Ninomiya: One of my roles is to think about what to do in order to build relationships with customers and get new job opportunities.

Also, I'm always thinking about how to sell designers and planners, saying, 'I want you to play this role in this project. That's why I want you to keep this kind of performance in mind."

Ninomiya acts as a mediator between clients and team members. In particular, when it comes to clients, he says that he tries to communicate person-to-person rather than the relationship between the orderer/contractor.

Ninomiya: There are cases where clients make clear requests, cases where they consult with us about necessary internal adjustments and response methods before requesting our company for planning and design, and cases where we develop a new business together from scratch. Even if there is already a given situation, instead of being a yes man, I try to pick up issues that customers are not aware of, and to explore the needs of the world and the subconscious of customers and end users. ”

Ninomiya says that he always puts his antenna up high and strives to collect information in order to catch the trend of the world. There is one more important thing.

Ninomiya: I always ask myself what I want to do and what kind of society I want to be, and I try to convey my opinions to my clients. because it cannot be built.

I consider myself a product of NOMURA Co.,Ltd., so conveying my own sensibilities and feelings is also part of my job. I believe that by doing so, I can have a "true dialogue" with our customers."

Upon learning that I could also work on public projects, I decided to join NOMURA Co.,Ltd.

During his student years, Ninomiya studied architecture and concept design at a university in Italy. After returning to Japan, he worked for a lighting design company, displays curation company, and a foreign-owned interior concept design company before joining NOMURA Co.,Ltd. in 2014.

The reason I joined the company was because my third client recommended it, saying, "I think Nomura Kogeisha would be a good fit for you, Ninomiya-NOMURA Co.,Ltd.." However, I recall that at first, I was worried about whether I could do what I wanted to do at NOMURA Co.,Ltd..

Ninomiya “Originally, I wanted to be involved in public work such as urban development, so when I was working for a lighting design company, I was in charge of lighting plans for exterior structures such as urban landscapes and parks. I was fascinated by the kind of work I could do.”

Ninomiya, who had perceived NOMURA Co.,Ltd. as a company specializing in interiors concept design for commercial spaces, said he wasn't sure if it was truly the right workplace for him.

Eventually, Ninomiya learned that NOMURA Co.,Ltd. handles many projects related to interiors of public facilities such as museums, art galleries, schools, and hospitals, as well as urban development. Convinced that NOMURA Co.,Ltd. provided the environment where he could realize his aspirations, he decided to join the company.

Ninomiya: "My first assignment was in the Expo Preparation Office. I was stationed in Milan for an extended period and participated in the project for the Japan Pavilion at the Milan Expo. After returning to Japan, I was part of a team that produced various exhibitions, and I was involved in planning and supporting Japanese companies when they exhibited at overseas displays shows."

While preparing and coordinating with overseas construction companies, and spending my days traveling to overseas displays venues whenever there was displays show, there was an incident that I still remember vividly.

Ninomiya: "This happened when a major Japanese airline participated in displays show in the United States with the aim of increasing its brand recognition overseas. I was involved in everything from booth concept design and display to operation and customer service, and a lot of people, from local children to adults, came to the booth and showed interest in Japan and the Japanese language. I was happy to be able to directly experience the reactions of end users, which is something I don't usually have the opportunity to know, and at the same time, I felt like I was able to play a role that was more than just corporate promotion, but like a spokesperson for Japanese culture."

Participated in projects in the healthcare and wellness area. Mental health support

▲In-house meeting with team members

Currently, Ninomiya is involved in many projects in the healthcare and wellness fields.

Ninomiya: "Around 2018, I was talking with my colleagues about how NOMURA Co.,Ltd. Ltd. should get more involved in healthcare projects, which are important for Japan going forward and have significant market growth potential. As we continued to have these kinds of casual conversations with our superiors and planners, it developed into regular meetings, and we started to have more concrete discussions about things like, 'In order to understand this area, we need to connect with these kinds of stakeholders,' and gradually we began to think about how to commercialize it."

Thus, a team of about 20 members, gathered from departments such as concept design, planning, and sales, was formed.

When you think of producing in the healthcare and wellness fields, you might get the impression of creating spaces for physical activity, such as fitness gyms and running stations. However, Ninomiya is exploring the possibility of how NOMURA Co.,Ltd., Ltd. can contribute to the healthcare and wellness fields from angles other than the physical.

Ninomiya: For health, it is essential to consider mental as well as physical health. In particular, it has been scientifically proven that the degree of satisfaction of intellectual curiosity has a large impact on mental health. Ever since I learned that people who are motivated to learn and who have strong intellectual curiosity live longer and healthier lives, I've come to want to focus on planning and creating spaces that nurture knowledge and education."

This idea was born in the senior residence development project that I am still involved in.

Ninomiya: A client who wants to create a house where residents can be healthy requested to create a place for a culture school and activities in the residence. I began to feel that the challenge was not to prepare a place for gymnastics, but to develop intellectual creativity through what kind of activities and lessons.”

Inquiries related to the healthcare field are increasing, and Ninomiya is currently working hard to realize "development of knowledge."

Ninomiya: “We received a request from the owner of an office building with a commercial facility that he wanted to create a health-themed building. I proposed to attract cultural facilities such as galleries.The client agreed with the idea that encountering art would broaden the lives of those who work in the building, which in turn would lead to better health. We are currently considering attracting an art gallery.”

Ninomiya says that since he started working on projects in the healthcare and wellness fields, he has started to pay more attention to his own health.

Ninomiya: Since I am in charge of the healthcare field, I think that I must be healthy, so from around 2020, I have been pursuing health in my daily life, such as properly managing my diet, exercise, and sleep. Everything I feel and learn in my life is reflected in my work, and what I learn at work is reflected in my private life, creating a virtuous cycle.”

Aiming to create an environment where planners and designers can maximize their individual strengths

Ninomiya, who has been in charge of spatial design for a wide range of projects, says that what he most wants to achieve at NOMURA Co.,Ltd. now is "to bring out the best in planners and designers."

Ninomiya: I want to be a producer who can act as a bridge between the client and the creator, assigning the right planners and designers that match the client's needs to the right place. We are striving to build a team build with this.I believe that realizing the best match will lead to a better understanding of the work of creators.”

And now, Ninomiya's gaze is fixed on the world. He envisions a future where the name of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. becomes widely known.

Ninomiya: "As the Asian economy develops, there are many things that NOMURA Co.,Ltd. can contribute on the world stage, but I feel that we still have a long way to go. NOMURA Co.,Ltd. 's creators are all different. They have unique ways of thinking and ideas, high creativity, and many have a clear will of 'this is what I want to do.' I want to promote the appeal of these people who have always captivated me, so that they can become even more active in Japan and around the world."