Grasping the essence and transcending one's own limitations. The real challenges of salespeople who explore uncharted territories and continuously create new spaces.

Yuji Kato has led numerous challenging projects at the forefront of space creation. From spring 2026, he will be transferred to Tokyo, where he will be showcasing his skills in a department that handles major developers. Starting his career with a gap between his initial assignment and his current role, how did he establish his unique style? We delve into his breakthrough power to challenge uncharted territory and his strong vision for shaping the future of space.

Thoroughly consider the optimal solution. Eliminate unnecessary conditions and adopt an approach that discerns the customer's "essence."

Kato, who belongs to the Urban Retail Promotion Division and is in charge of project advancement as a team leader, speaks about his role as he deals with high-level projects on a daily basis.

Kato: "I'm involved in various projects, taking on two roles: as the client's sales representative and as the project manager. I'm not only managing the progress of projects that have already been awarded, but also conducting sales promotion to develop future work. My current department is small but highly skilled, and we are in an environment where a high level of both quantity and quality is required. That's why I myself must take the lead in embodying added value."

Furthermore, I believe it is also an important role of mine to share the knowledge I gained from working with many developers during my time in Osaka with the team and to support members who are busy with their work."

When working on projects for the largest developers, which demand high standards in both quantity and quality, Kato has certain values that underpin his work.

Kato: "What I always keep in mind is the ability to discern the essence of things. I try to think about the true feelings behind the words the other person is saying, and where their explicit and implicit needs lie. In the business world, the direction of proposals is often determined by conditions such as profit, cost, and effort, so I value a complex thinking process where I first remove all those conditions, think through 'what is truly best,' and then add the conditions to find a solution."

Furthermore, this value system is also reflected in Kato's sales style, which involves proactively expanding the scope of his work.

Kato: "I value the attitude of not limiting my scope of work and always expanding my field. Even in areas I have no experience in, I can work in a way that suits me by asking questions, proactively proposing ideas that lead to new value, and driving them forward on my own initiative."

That's why we don't get caught up in short-term profits, but instead broaden our communication horizons with a forward-looking curiosity. We truly believe that such proactive actions ultimately lead to providing value that exceeds our customers' expectations."

Taking on a new challenge. Overcoming the gap between expectations and reality, young people take on new challenges based on fundamental knowledge and skills.

▲ "Hankai Tramway Hanadaguchi Station Shelter Renovation Work" (Photo courtesy of Hankai Tramway)

Kato says that during his student days, he aspired to work in a field that would have an impact on society and aimed to work for an advertising agency or similar company. He reflects on how he decided to join NOMURA Co.,Ltd. during his job search as follows:

Kato: "Actually, during my job search, there were times when I hesitated about accepting the job offer I received. However, when I honestly explained my situation and thoughts, they listened to me with sincerity. Their humanity and high expectations of me were the deciding factors in my joining the company."

At the time, I applied with the understanding that it was an event company, but after joining the company, I was exposed to the unexpected depth of the display industry, specifically spatial production, and I realized the excitement of taking on challenges in a new environment."

Kato's work location and assigned market were different from what he had initially hoped for. However, even in that environment, he maintained his motivation with his unique perspective.

Kato: "Although I started in an environment different from what I had initially hoped for, I had the mindset to find and create enjoyment wherever I was. First, I thought I would do my best wherever I was given. I played soccer when I was little, but because my father's job required us to move around a lot, I had the experience of joining new soccer teams wherever we went."

From that experience, I learned that in any community, it's essential to have a solid foundation and a basic understanding of the fundamentals before relying on any outstanding abilities. The same applies to work; I considered the first 10 years as a period of training to build a solid foundation that would be applicable anywhere, and I focused on gaining more practical experience than anyone else."

While building a solid foundation, he also explored new projects with his inherent curiosity. Kato recalls that within his first few years at the company, he volunteered for an unprecedented project to renovate a streetcar station.

Kato: "The project came to us through a consultation with the government, and the budget for the planning aspects, such as the concept and concept design, was limited. However, I was strongly drawn to it because I wanted to take on a new challenge with no precedent. It was a large-scale construction project that involved digging up roads and rebuilding the station, so there were concerns within the company that it was 'not the kind of work a spatial display company should be taking on, but rather in the realm of the construction and civil engineering industry.' But that's precisely why I felt it was worth taking on."

Despite internal concerns and tight budget constraints, Kato forged a path forward with unwavering passion.

Kato: "I conveyed my passion and vision to overcome budget constraints and persuaded my superiors that I wanted to gain new experience together with younger members. As a result, I teamed up with new employees and diligently completed the project. Even without a budget or precedent, I conveyed my passion and involved those around me to make it happen. This experience of stepping into uncharted territory is a major starting point for me today, and it directly leads to my current work style of expanding my scope of work and proposing new value."

Bringing together complex interests. The dynamism of space creation born from honest negotiation and passion.

▲ "Nakaza Kuidaore Building"

Having diligently accumulated experience through numerous projects, Kato eventually came to lead massive projects. He talks about his feelings at the time regarding the renovation project of the Nakaza Kuidaore Building, which he volunteered to take on in his fourth year at the company.

Kato: "This project symbolizes my 20s and 30s, and it's the work that helped me grow the most, both within the company and with our clients. At the time, I was very happy and excited to be entrusted with such a large-scale project as a young person. When it restarted after the COVID-19 pandemic, our clients told us, 'We want to continue entrusting this to you, Kato,' so I approached it with a strong sense of responsibility."

Kato says that while the long-term project sometimes involved complete changes to the plan, the client placed complete trust in the direction of concept design and entrusted the project to our creativity.

Kato: "I think a major factor was that the entire team, including our own designers, worked on the project while carefully considering the client's needs and responsibilities."

Furthermore, the experience of taking on a coordinating role in bringing together a total of 40 people from various companies, both inside and outside the company, and finding common ground while respecting each other's opinions, has contributed significantly to my personal growth."

Furthermore, in the "Nichirakuza Sumo Hall" project, which began in 2023, I was required to act as an intermediary between the facility management and the vendors, navigating complex situations and negotiating between them.

Kato: "This project involved a lot of high-level demands, including schedules and facility requirements. I focused on organizing all the conditions, visualizing the pros and cons, and creating a process that would allow all stakeholders to make informed decisions. I believe that carefully understanding the intentions of each department and supporting internal coordination within the client, such as finding the optimal solution in a general meeting, was key to the smooth progress of the project."

In this project, Kato's unique and flexible thinking was put to good use in addressing the challenge of how to secure the necessary budget.

Kato: "I proposed the idea of using celebratory flowers from the opening as decorations to create 'celebratory lanterns,' and they accepted it. If you make a proposal that you have thought through with sincerity, it will surely be accepted even in difficult situations. The greatest reward of this job is being able to improve the situation through your own actions and increase the number of people you work with."

When in doubt, choose the harder path. Expand your boundaries into unprecedented territory and lead the future of space.

Kato goes beyond his sales role, taking on a wide range of responsibilities. To achieve this, collaboration and building relationships within the company are essential.

Kato: "If you clearly convey your thoughts and passion, people around you will definitely listen. That's why I make a point of building relationships not only with project members, but also with people on the same floor or in the same building. I also value communication outside of work and try to be proactive and show up at various events."

And above all, in order to give credibility to my words, I am committed to achieving solid results. I believe that only with a proven track record can I have the influence to take on new challenges."

Having built a track record and earned trust both inside and outside the company, Kato spoke about the goals he wants to take on in the future.

Kato: "Until now, our focus has been primarily on creating spaces, but going forward, we want to create a new business model that is like 'consulting consultants,' where we can propose overall optimization while considering branding and operations, incorporating architectural expertise."

Furthermore, as a team, I want us to be a group that always looks ahead and takes the lead in 'leading the ship.' I want to create time for us to think for ourselves and use that time to provide more essential value, and I want to expand this kind of organization starting from my own team."

Kato, who continues to lead the future of space design, looks ahead to co-creating with the colleagues he will meet in the future, drawing on the allure of working at NOMURA Co.,Ltd. and his own business philosophy.

Kato: "This industry is an environment where you are constantly facing unknown challenges, but for those who find that interesting, it's the perfect company. First, steadily master the 'basics and fundamentals,' and then build upon that foundation by taking on your own challenges."

Also, if you are presented with two options, try choosing the one that is "more difficult" for you. By making such choices without fear of risk, you will find that it will eventually become a great asset.

The spaces we create can directly bring joy to end users and have a significant impact on the world. We look forward to working with people who share this vision and are willing to take on this challenge together."

Kato never confines himself to conventional boundaries, and continues to engage with others with sincerity. His passion for stepping into unprecedented territory without fear of risk will continue to draw out the knowledge and enthusiasm of the professionals around him, powerfully leading the way in exploring new possibilities in new spaces.

* The information provided is current as of April 2026.