日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Sep 26, 2023 (Tue)

‌【Interview】MOL’s Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business Management Division focuses on “people“

Tsunemichi Mukai, Managing Executive Officer, General Manager of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business Management Division at MOL

　In April, MOL established a new division called “Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business Management Division ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80In+April%2C+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+established+a+new+division+called+%E2%80%9CWellbeing+%26+Lifestyle+Business+Management+Division%E2%80%9D.+The+division+mainly+develops+businesses+that+focus+on+%E2%80%9Cpeople%E2%80%9D%2C+such+as+real+estate+and+ferries+and+cruises.+It+cites+%E2%80%9Ccoexistence%E2%80%9D+with+the+local+community+as+a+keyword.+We+asked+Managing+Executive+Officer+Tsunemichi+Mukai%2C+who+has+been+appointed+as+General+Manager%2C+about+the+business+strategy.+%28Interviewer%3A+Takehiko+Hatano%2C+Yuri+Kajiyama%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+aspirations+as+the+head+of+the+division%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+our+division%2C+we+focus+on+%E2%80%99people%E2%80%99.+Up+until+now%2C+we+have+been+developing+community-based+businesses+that+are+positioned+as+related+businesses+or+group+businesses.+However%2C+perhaps+for+the+first+time+in+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+140-year+history%2C+we+have+launched+a+division+centered+on+business+focusing+on+%E2%80%98people%E2%80%99.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+in+the+real+estate+segment%2C+DAIBIRU+CORPORATION+has+been+providing+a+better+environment+for+people+working+in+offices%2C+helping+them+feel+%E2%80%98eager+to+go+to+work+tomorrow%E2%80%99.+Now%2C+we+would+like+to+focus+on+the+%E2%80%99people%E2%80%99+who+work+there+as+well.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Are+you+going+to+focus+primarily+on+BtoC+%28business-to-consumer%29+business+from+now+on%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+focus+not+only+on+BtoC+but+also+on+BtoBtoC.+For+example%2C+passengers+on+ferries+can+be+BtoC%2C+such+as+personal+travel%2C+as+well+as+BtoBtoC%2C+when+companies+and+local+governments+use+ferries+as+part+of+their+training+programs.+%E2%80%98%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Sunflower%E2%80%99%2C+a+new+company+that+is+emerged+from+the+merger+of+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Ferry+and+Ferry+Sunflower%2C+will+begin+operations+on+October+1.+We+will+develop+a+community-based+business+that+advances+a+step+or+two+further+than+before.+We+look+forward+to+your+continued+patronage.+I+also+want+to+make+sure+that+the+business+itself+is+profitable.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+scope+of+jurisdiction+of+this+division%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+three+core+businesses+are+cruises%2C+ferries%2C+and+real+estate.+In+addition+to+these%2C+we+operate+travel+agencies+such+as+%E2%80%98M.O.+TOURIST%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%98Sunflower+Travel%E2%80%99%2C+as+well+as+%E2%80%98%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Kosan%E2%80%99+that+offers+building+maintenance+services.+From+a+slightly+different+angle%2C+we+are+also+creating+new+businesses%2C+including+%E2%80%98%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+PLUS%E2%80%99%2C+a+corporate+venture+capital+firm+that+invests+in+a+wide+range+of+businesses%2C+mainly+startups.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Focus+on+cruise+business+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+the+challenges+of+the+3+core+businesses%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+cruise+business+has+a+negative+image+due+to+the+coronavirus+pandemic%2C+and+how+to+dispel+that+was+one+of+the+challenges.+Now%2C+demand+has+returned+greatly%2C+and+the+situation+is+improving.+In+August%2C+Mitsui+O.S.K.+Passenger+Line+changed+its+name+to+%E2%80%98%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Cruises%E2%80%99%2C+and+we+are+preparing+to+launch+a+new+ship+in+order+to+revamp+the+%E2%80%9CNIPPON+MARU%E2%80%9D+brand.+In+addition+to+Japanese+customers%2C+we+will+expand+our+overseas+customer+base+with+a+focus+on+inbound+tourists.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+future+challenge+is+%E2%80%99workers%E2%80%99.+This+includes+not+only+the+crew+and+other+workers+on+the+ship+itself%2C+but+also+the+reception+of+the+ship+at+the+port+of+call.+For+example%2C+worker+shortages+are+becoming+evident+everywhere%2C+including+restaurants+at+ports+of+call+and+buses+and+taxis+used+for+sightseeing.+We+need+to+work+with+local+governments+while+taking+care+to+avoid+overtourism+at+ports+of+call.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+would+like+to+take+steps+to+boost+the+cruise+business+by+utilizing+the+foreign+human+resources+business+we+have+launched+as+a+new+business+and+introducing+foreign+workers+who+can+work+at+hotels%2C+suppliers%2C+and+other+places.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+March+this+year%2C+we+purchased+a+luxury+class+cruise+ship+from+Seabourn+Cruise+Line+%28USA%29.+The+ship%E2%80%99s+selling+point+is+%E2%80%98Japanese+hospitality%E2%80%99%2C+and+we+want+to+create+products+that+can+be+enjoyed+by+middle-aged+adults+to+seniors+on+short-term+cruises%2C+not+just+by+seniors%2C+who+are+currently+the+main+target+of+cruises%2C+on+long-term+cruises.+The+ship+is+scheduled+to+begin+full-scale+operation+by+the+end+of+2025+after+changing+its+flag+to+Japan+and+undergoing+renovations.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Response+to+%E2%80%9C2024+problem%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+the+ferry+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+challenge+for+ferries+is+to+respond+to+the+%E2%80%982024+problem%E2%80%99+of+logistics.+We+must+address+this+problem+without+delay.+Major+land+transportation+companies%2C+which+are+our+customers%2C+have+requested+to+us%2C+asking+for+%E2%80%98one+more+vehicle+every+day+next+year%2C%E2%80%99+in+addition+to+the+current+ferry+transportation+space.+In+any+case%2C+we+must+respond+appropriately+to+such+demand.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTransportation+space+for+Japan%E2%80%99s+first+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29-fueled+ferries+%E2%80%98Sunflower+Kurenai%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%98Sunflower+Murasaki%E2%80%99%2C+which+entered+service+on+the+Osaka-Beppu+%28Oita%29+route+in+January+and+April+of+this+year%2C+is+50%25+more+than+before+the+replacement+%28replacement+construction%29%2C+but+it+is+already+quite+full.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+think+the+trucking+situation+will+become+more+serious+in+2025-2026+or+later.+The+working+population+is+shrinking+and+the+active+drivers+are+getting+older.+What+is+important+is+how+to+respond+to+the+demand+at+that+time.+As+a+solution%2C+we+are+considering+increasing+the+size+of+%E2%80%98Sunflower+Gold%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%98Sunflower+Pearl%E2%80%99%2C+which+are+sailing+on+the+Oita-Kobe+route.+The+new+ship+with+increased+transport+capacity+will+be+the+first+major+investment+for+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Sunflower.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition%2C+the+RORO+ships+on+the+Kanto-Kitakyushu+route+are+also+old%2C+so+there+is+a+possibility+that+we+will+build+new+ones+with+an+increased+size.+I+think+it+would+be+natural+to+use+dual-fuel+engines+when+that+time+comes.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Challenges+including+environmental+response+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+the+real+estate+segment+centered+on+DAIBIRU+CORPORATION%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+received+many+inquiries+about+building+construction%2C+but+we+are+worried+about+the+rising+construction+costs.+Until+now%2C+we+have+invested+in+areas+where+demand+is+high%2C+but+the+challenge+is+how+much+we+can+respond+as+construction+costs+rise.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COther+than+this%2C+the+challenge+is+how+to+respond+to+demand+for+%E2%80%98environmentally+friendly+offices%E2%80%99.+Tenants+have+requested+to+us+that+they+%E2%80%98want+to+be+able+to+use+renewable+energy%E2%80%99%2C+but+it+is+difficult+to+renovate+to+meet+their+request+as+delivery+dates+may+be+delayed+due+to+a+labor+shortage.+We+are+facing+the+problems+from+different+angles.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Expansion+to+Asia+and+its+challenges+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Which+areas+are+you+keeping+an+eye+on+for+real+estate%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COf+course%2C+overseas%2C+especially+growing+regions+such+as+India+and+Southeast+Asia.+Cities+like+Delhi%2C+Mumbai%2C+and+Singapore.+We+are+considering+investing+in+regions+where+many+of+our+company%E2%80%99s+bases+and+group+companies+are+located.+The+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+is+expanding+into+the+overseas+real+estate+segment+with+DAIBIRU+CORPORATION+at+its+core%2C+but+instead+of+starting+things+at+random%2C+we+want+to+have+highly+functional+office+buildings.+The+conditions+are+that+they+have+environmental+certification+and+occupational+safety+and+health+%28HSE%29+certification%2C+and+that+construction+and+architecture+technology+is+in+place.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+overseas+real+estate+segment+is+protected+by+the+laws+of+each+country%2C+and+regulations+regarding+foreign+capital+are+very+strict.+There+are+local+rules+in+each+country%2C+such+as+whether+leasing+or+ownership+is+allowed%2C+rules+for+depreciation%2C+and+whether+there+are+restrictions+on+the+number+of+foreign+employees.+Therefore%2C+we+will+use+DAIBIRU+CORPORATION%E2%80%99s+discerning+eye+to+focus+on+the+appropriate+areas.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Medium-+and+long-term+profit+plan+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+medium-+to+long-term+profit+plans+for+the+wellbeing+%26+lifestyle+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCurrently%2C+we+are+aiming+for+profits+of+19+billion+yen+in+2025%2C+29+billion+yen+in+2030%2C+and+45+billion+yen+in+2035.+Of+the+19+billion+yen+in+2025%2C+half+will+be+from+the+real+estate+segment.+For+the+rest%2C+expectations+are+high+for+the+ferry+business.+Since+the+Kitakyushu-Kansai+route+of+Meimon+Taiyo+Ferry%2C+a+group+company%2C+is+tight%2C+it+will+be+possible+to+capture+more+demand.+Similarly%2C+for+RORO+ships%2C+we+would+like+to+make+use+of+existing+ships+and+plan+to+provide+services+on+a+more+frequent+basis+where+there+is+demand.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--If+you+have+high+expectations+for+the+ferry+business%2C+are+you+thinking+about+adding+services+by+opening+new+routes%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CYes.+In+terms+of+timing%2C+we+would+like+to+aim+to+do+so+by+2030+with+a+profit+of+29+billion+yen.+As+a+preliminary+step%2C+we+will+consider+adjustments+such+as+changing+ports+of+call+or+reducing+the+frequency+of+unfilled+routes%2C+depending+on+demand.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Strengthening+travel+agency+business+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+you+working+on+in+areas+other+than+your+three+businesses%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTravel+agency+business.+M.O.+TOURIST+mainly+focuses+on+business+travel%2C+and+is+working+on+DX+%28Digital+Transformation%29+this+fiscal+year.+We+have+created+a+system+that+streamlines+the+input+process%2C+even+for+trips+like+inspection+group+tours+with+complex+itineraries%2C+so+that+they+can+be+completed+on+one+platform.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSunflower+Travel%2C+which+handles+ferry-related+travel%2C+is+refining+its+strategy+in+line+with+the+recovery+in+inbound+%28foreign+visitors+to+Japan%29+demand.+In+addition+to+women%E2%80%99s+trips+and+travel+products+for+young+people%2C+we+would+like+to+refocus+our+efforts+on+school+trips%2C+expeditions+for+student+sports+groups%2C+and+group+tours+for+seniors.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Tsunemichi+Mukai+graduated+from+Sophia+University+in+1992+and+joined+Mitsui+O.S.K.+Lines+%28currently+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%29.+In+2018%2C+he+became+the+general+manager+of+the+ferry+business+division+and+the+new+and+environmental+business+promotion+division.+In+2020%2C+he+became+the+general+manager+of+the+Ferry+and+Associated+Business+Division.+In+2022%2C+he+became+the+Executive+Officer.+He+holds+his+current+position+from+April+2023.+Born+in+Tokyo%2C+54+years+old.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【新本部長に聞く】商船三井常務執行役員・ウェルビーイングライフ営業本部長・向井恒道氏。「人」に照準 地域と「共生」

2023/09/26(火)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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