Building trust as an advocate for clients. Construction managers support Nomura's space creation.

Kazuhiko Komuro, who transitioned from his time at the local prefectural government and an architectural design firm to NOMURA Co.,Ltd., is now active in the Construction Management Department. He has established a new role while building trust as a liaison among project stakeholders, and has received an internal company award. This article explores Komuro's journey from the rigid world of construction to the glamorous world of space creation, and his future prospects.

The key to project success is "communication skills." Supporting the project with technology and trust

The Construction Management Department, to which Komuro belongs, is responsible for project management of interiors spaces and providing support to businesses on large-scale and specialized projects. They are involved from the project planning stage and provide comprehensive technical support on behalf of the client.
Within that role, Komuro is primarily responsible for construction management (CM) related to interiors design.

Komuro: "My main job is to provide technical management for new construction and renovations of buildings. Specifically, I act as a representative for our clients, handling schedule management, quality control, and risk management for interiors and displays work. I also act as a liaison between clients, project stakeholders, and internal members to ensure the smooth progress of the entire project."

We are involved in projects for a wide range of clients, not limited to specific fields such as commercial facilities or hotels."

As a CM and project manager (PM), Komuro believes that communication is the most important factor in leading a project to success.

Komuro: "I try to take a bird's-eye view of the entire project and carefully understand the positions and opinions of each person involved. If necessary, I communicate with the people involved before meetings, acting as a kind of lubricant."

More than just a coordinating role, we also act as a bridge between the client and the people involved, building relationships of trust with both internal and external parties, and delivering technical recommendations and decisions to the field.

Komuro: "In terms of technical content, we represent points that are difficult for customers to say, and frankly convey their opinions on the pros and cons of construction and the process to designers and construction. However, before communicating this, we make adjustments in advance and try to respond politely.
Although he is a "spokesperson", he does not just convey it, but carefully conveys what needs to be said while being considerate of everyone involved. I really value that kind of "quality of coordination"."

This ability to coordinate and adapt stems from Komuro's diverse experience and the expertise in space design that NOMURA Co.,Ltd. has cultivated over many years.

Komuro: "We prioritize finding the best solution for our clients through dialogue with various stakeholders. We leverage the extensive know-how that NOMURA Co.,Ltd. has cultivated in space design to address the different challenges of each project, such as whether to prioritize cost or schedule."

From a rigid workplace to a glamorous stage: A turning point led by a challenge

▲ KANDA SQUARE

Komuro, who studied architectural history at graduate school, began his career at the Fukushima Prefectural Government Office in his hometown, where he was responsible for the maintenance and management of public facilities, and was also involved in the construction of new government buildings and the reconstruction of the tsunami-damaged Joint Government Building.

Komuro: "At the prefectural office, I was involved in the construction of the new building and the renovation of the existing one as a supervisor. Over the course of three years, I was able to gain experience in building maintenance and earthquake-resistance construction, and when the building I was in charge of was completed, I decided to move on to the next step."

After that, I changed jobs to a local architectural design firm. While handling a wide range of tasks from design to construction management on my own, a certain encounter became a turning point.

Komuro: "When I was working at an architectural design firm, I was in charge of designing an antenna shop for a famous confectionery manufacturer. At the same time, the construction of Head Office was underway, so I had the opportunity to be involved in the interiors construction. That's when I first learned about the display industry, and I felt it was a glamorous and interesting job."
I learned about NOMURA Co.,Ltd. during my job search and was drawn to their entertainment-related work, such as creating spaces for amusement parks. I felt a desire to challenge myself in the world of display design, which I had no prior experience in, and that's why I decided to join the company."

After joining the company, I was assigned to the KANDA SQUARE project in the Kanda area while working in the design department. This was a 21-story office building constructed by Sumitomo Corporation in Kanda, and I was in charge of working drawings of the commercial floors.

Komuro: "This was a challenging project to fuse the history and culture of Kanda with modern concept design and traditional craftsmanship, aiming to create an innovative yet accessible space for everyone. We used traditional methods such as brick and plastering for the walls, but we had to meet high seismic standards, and the heavy materials used in construction compared to paint presented a major challenge."
Sumitomo Corporation, designers, and craftsmen worked together to advance the project through a 'guild' approach, where they communicated directly and solved technical problems one by one."

Komuro recalls that the smooth progress of this special project, which had to be completed within the limited time frame of two years, gave him confidence.

Komuro: "By collaborating with talented designers and guild members, we were able to successfully overcome difficult technical challenges. Our clients were very pleased, and there was no damage to the walls during the subsequent earthquake, which made us feel that the project was a success."
Furthermore, I believe my strength lies in my ability to understand the perspectives of the business operator, construction, and designer, based on my experience as a client in my previous job, and to coordinate various aspects of their work."

Flexibility and adaptability to overcome difficulties

▲Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka Vignette Collection

In November 2023, Komuro took a month of childcare leave after the birth of his second child, which coincided with the start of a guest room renovation project at the Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka.

Komuro: "With my first child, I was able to balance work and child-rearing because I was working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with my second child, I will need to commute back and forth to Osaka due to the project.

So I took a month of parental leave to focus on raising my child. After returning to work, I continued to travel to Osaka two to three times a week for a year and a half, and with the support of my family, I was able to see the project through to completion."

This project is a large-scale renovation of the guest rooms that will take approximately a year and a half and involve over 40 people from various professions within the company alone. Komuro will be taking on this new challenge.

Komuro: "Conventionally, project progress management was handled by the sales department, but Rihga Royal was a large-scale project involving over 40 internal members, so more specialized management was required.

Therefore, our Construction Management Department has decided to take on the new role of 'in-house PM', which involves acting as the liaison with the client, managing the progress of the project, and coordinating with each department."

This system unifies the work that was previously handled separately by each department. By having the in-house PM handle everything from answering customer questions to adjusting schedules and considering design changes, we have achieved efficient project management.

Komuro: "By introducing this new system, we were able to prevent the same questions from being asked multiple times by multiple departments, and we were able to centralize schedule changes and cost management, which significantly reduced waste throughout the project.

Furthermore, by having our in-house PM participate in all major meetings, information sharing among the parties involved has become much smoother, and we feel that this has improved the transparency of the entire project."

This initiative also led to an internal award in fiscal 2024.

Komuro: "Having received an internal award, there has been increased attention being paid to in-house PMs. However, the same method cannot be applied to all projects.

Going forward, we plan to flexibly adapt this approach to the specific characteristics of each project and expand it to a wider range of projects. By extending this new role of in-house project manager throughout NOMURA Co.,Ltd., we hope to contribute to improving project management capabilities."

Behind the scenes, we have a strong sense of trust and professionalism

What kind of presence does the Construction Management Department aim to have in the future? Komuro talks about the department's outlook.

Komuro: "We aim to be a department that customers recognize as one where 'if you leave it to NOMURA Co.,Ltd., the project will proceed smoothly.' To achieve that, we want to increase the number of members who can drive projects forward as CMs."

Also, personally, I don't have any particular preference for a particular genre, but I would like to take on a project like an amusement park someday."

As we gain trust and experience day by day, there are many rewarding moments.

Komuro: "Any project has its ups and downs, but each time you overcome one, you feel a sense of accomplishment. The joy you feel when the project is complete, as well as the sense of accomplishment you feel at key stages of the project, are what make this job so appealing."

Komuro speaks about the appeal of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. from his own unique perspective.

Komuro: "I think it's a company that creates spaces that move people's emotions, such as exhilaration, excitement, and thrills. Not only can you be directly involved in concept design and production, but you can also be involved in a role that brings the entire project together, and the appeal is that you can participate in space creation through diverse approaches."

I'm always involved in buildings that become popular, so it's a stimulating environment and I feel a sense of pride in being able to tell my children, 'Dad built this.'"

Regardless of the scale or nature of the project, Komuro listens carefully to the voice of each and every person involved and makes meticulous adjustments. Leveraging this attitude and his extensive experience, Komuro will continue to strongly support NOMURA Co.,Ltd. 's space creation from behind the scenes.

*The information provided is current as of May 2025.