Joining Marubeni for its Commitment to Diverse Businesses

—You both joined Marubeni in the spring of 2024 and have been assigned to the Digital Innovation Department. Why did you want to work at Marubeni?

Itsuki Okimura: While at university, I was involved in research on natural language processing such as large language models (LLMs), but I wanted to be involved in implementing technology in society, not only deepen my research. As a student, I interned at an AI consulting company that developed solutions using advanced technology. I found it very rewarding, but I was also frustrated by not being able to take an active role in the business.

Around that time, a friend who works for Marubeni told me about the Digital Innovation Department. I got the impression that even though it was in a trading company, there was an organizational respect for technology. I decided to apply for the position because I thought that maybe I could gain experience here in stimulating fields that I hadn’t been exposed to yet.

Naoya Yatsu: I had originally expected to work for an IT company, but when I was a graduate student, I found a job posting for Marubeni on AtCoder, a competitive programming website. To be honest, I was motivated to apply because of the high hourly wage, but when I actually worked as an intern, I saw the appeal of being able to solve problems across the range of businesses that trading companies are involved in. Personally, I want to work in a wide range of fields in a very flexible environment, so the Digital Innovation Department felt like a good match for my personality.

Image: (Left)Naoya Yatsu(Right)Itsuki Okimura

—What was your original impression of the Digital Innovation Department?

Okimura: I had the impression that there was respect for technology and an open atmosphere within the trading company. That made it seem bit different from the digital transformation departments of typical large companies.

Yatsu: Unlike Okimura, I originally had some negative impressions of Marubeni. Marubeni is a large company in a traditional mold, and I thought there might be a rigid atmosphere that made it difficult to get things done.

Okimura: Since actually starting to work at Marubeni that hasn’t been the case at all. I have worked on several projects since joining, and in each project, I have been able to take initiative and have leeway. I’ve had opportunities to be involved in a wide range of businesses, such as improving operational efficiency using LLMs, digital transformation consulting for factories, and supporting new businesses as a data scientist.

Yatsu: Yes, my impression also changed a lot. I’ve also had opportunities to work on a wide range of projects, such as developing internal systems like Marubeni Chatbot as a software engineer, and data analysis for supply chain projects as a data scientist. Even though I have only been with the company for a few months, I’ve been involved in a broad range of work.

Even New Employees Deeply Involved in Business

—So the company gave you active roles in projects right after joining.

Okimura: I was surprised at the amount of discretion. I thought large companies were driven by top-down decision making, but in the Digital Innovation Department, the ball was quickly turned over to m. An environment where I can make decisions on my own while discussing with colleagues is very valuable.

Yatsu: Definitely. I thought there would be a phase where I would just do what I was told by my superiors, but that hasn’t been the case at all. I have a lot of discretion. Even when I was working as an intern before joining the company, I had opportunities to research cutting-edge technologies and advance projects on my own, instead of just following detailed instructions. I feel lucky to have that sort of environment at the start of my career.

Okimura: I also interned at a startup when I was a student, and I can honestly say that the flexibility and speed of the organization is comparable to that of a startup.

Yatsu: I actually think there aren’t that many venture companies that give this much discretionary power to young employees.

—Did your perspective on the trading company business change as you actually got involved in various projects?

Okimura:It did. Personally, I felt how aware people are of focusing on the numbers. When you have a strong sense of being an engineer, it’s easy to get fixated on cutting-edge technology, but it was stimulating to see that so many people are constantly thinking about what value they can provide and how much profit they can generate from the customer’s point of view.

Yatsu:I was impressed by how the mentality is very issue-driven. In general, IT companies are often technology-driven in how they approach solutions to problems, but people at Marubeni are open to any means as long as they can solve the problem. I think it is very rare for a digital organization to be able to choose a course of action that does not require digital technology, so long as it’s the right solution.

The Attraction of a Broad, Deep Approach

—So you’ve been exposed to different areas and approaches to solving problems.

Okimura: I would say that the breadth of Marubeni’s approach is one of its selling points. It’s an engaging environment where I can interact with a variety of projects on a daily basis, such as developing an in-house chatbot the day after working on a project in the forestry industry.

Yatsu: One attraction is definitely how our work is broad but also deep. Some members of the Digital Innovation Department are deeply involved in projects while working alongside colleagues in sales, and some transfer directly to operating companies to spearhead the use digital technology to advance their businesses. Depending on each individual’s desires, it’s possible to be involved in a wide range of projects or go deeper into a few. It’s this breadth and depth that make the Digital Innovation Department so interesting.

—Are there any projects or areas that you would like to work on personally?

Okimura: I’m an omnivore with an interest in all areas, but do want to get deeply involved in a single business and commit myself to growing it.

Looking towards the future, I want to think about how I can commit to business growth beyond just investment. Trading companies have leveraged the knowledge gained through their trading business for business investment, but I want to explore new possibilities for a trading company that uses digital technology to go further.

Yatsu: I have just started my career, so I still don’t have a clear vision for the future, but I would like to try my hand at some overseas projects, which is the bread and butter for a trading company. Working with people from different cultures is exciting in itself.

At the same time, I feel that I have to develop a domain in which I am particularly strong in order to more deeply commit to a business in the future. I have to not only enhance my technical skills, but also develop a strong grasp of the flow, environment, and challenges of particular industries, such as forestry and manufacturing.

Okimura: That’s true, though I have to admit that I really enjoy the freedom to get involved in various projects. I think it can be a really enjoyable environment not only for both of us, but for anyone with a strong sense of intellectual curiosity.

Yatsu: If you’re intellectually curious, Marubeni can be one of the most interesting places in the world. That also means it’s an environment where you could get buried if you are not curious or do not have something you’re passionate about. Because young people are given a lot of discretionary power, Marubeni might be an organization best for people with strong personalities.