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Employee Interview

Planning and Development Department

We play a central role in products that support health. One day, we aim to create a popular product that everyone knows.

Product Development Group 1 /Joining

Please tell us your current job.

From formulation design to launch
I handle a wide range of tasks.

The Planning and Development Department is primarily responsible for the formulation design, which forms the core of the product. Based on the desired product and formulation concept, we determine the optimal form that suits the properties of the ingredients and the target audience, assemble the formulation, and calculate the product cost. Once feasibility is confirmed, we collaborate with the Manufacturing and Quality Control Department to conduct full-scale verification, such as prototype production and stability testing, and are involved in a wide range of aspects from product planning to launch, including adjusting the manufacturing schedule and preparing necessary documents.

What I find most rewarding is,
When did that happen?

Overcoming challenges,
When the products are safely displayed in the store.

Not every product goes as planned. It's a job that requires patience, as it involves repeatedly encountering challenges and solving problems. Evaluating the physical properties of a formulation takes a certain amount of time, and when something you thought would work hits a wall, you can honestly get discouraged. However, the sense of accomplishment and joy you feel when you solve each of those problems, the product finally makes it to market, and you find it on a store shelf is something you never get tired of.

Future goals and prospects
Please let us know.

Popular products that everyone knows
I want to create it.

Currently, I am involved in the design and development of various product categories, but one day I hope to create a popular product that will become widely known to customers, so that they'll say, "When it comes to [product name] supplements, it's Ito Kanpo." I work on development every day with the goal of one day seeing the products I've worked on gain recognition and spread throughout the world. In the process, I would be happy if I could be entrusted with playing even a small role in supporting the health of our customers.

Daily schedule

  1. get up
    After a brief battle with the alarm's snooze function, I got up. Breakfast included a vinegar and soy milk drink.
  2. Commuting
    I listen to music on the commuter train while checking the day's news.
  3. Going to work
    First, check your email.
  4. Morning assembly
    Within the group, we report our daily work schedules and share each other's tasks.
  5. Development meeting
    For new projects, the department confirms and shares the concept details and requests from both inside and outside the company.
  6. Formula design and cost estimation
    Based on the project details, we select the most suitable raw materials, create a formulation, and calculate the estimated cost.
  7. Table prototype
    The formulated product is prototyped and tested on a lab scale. The physical properties of the manufactured product are checked.
  8. Production meeting
    We discussed the production schedule and other details for the products that have been selected for production.
  9. Summary
    I will summarize the results of the prototype and the work I did today in a document, and then plan my tasks for tomorrow.
  10. Return to work
    On the way home, I listened to music on the commuter train while checking the day's news.
  11. Gym
    After returning home, I head to the local gym twice a week to train and achieve my ideal physique.
  12. Bath and dinner
    After relaxing in the bath, of course, it's time for a strong sparkling drink!
  13. fun time
    I spend my time relaxing, whether it's playing games, watching TV, or reading manga, depending on my mood that day.
  14. Going to bed
    I finished preparing for tomorrow and went to bed.
Message to those who want to join the company

The supplements I bought,
Actually, it was Ito Kampo.

What I prioritized most during my job search was "work related to people's health." When I first found this company among the job postings, I didn't pay much attention to it, but I decided to apply when I realized that the supplements I had been buying were actually products of Ito Kanpo Pharmaceutical. After attending information sessions and interviews, I felt that the company's policies aligned with my motivations, and my desire to work here gradually grew stronger, leading me to decide to join the company. I would love to work with others who share the same desire to "support people's health."

My favorite product

Vinepple Smile Apple Vinegar Drink

I love that I can easily and deliciously get the healthy benefits of vinegar. I drink it almost every day, depending on my mood: in the morning I mix it with milk or soy milk to make a slightly thick apple yogurt flavor, and in the evening I drink it mixed with sparkling water. Now my whole family drinks it, and I'm the number one heavy user at Ito Kampo! (laughs)

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Employee Interview