Exclusive Interview with
SCAO Group Lifestyle BU GM Mr Masato Konishi
“Everything happens for the best.”
Mr Masato Konishi
SCAO Group Lifestyle BU GM
Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania Pte Ltd
You head a business unit that people can easily relate to – Lifestyle. What are the main focused areas of SCAO Lifestyle BU these few years? Are there any new and interesting businesses that will make a significant impact on people’s lives in the future?
Lifestyle Business Unit has 3 focused areas, Food, Healthcare and Retail. All of them are directly and closely linked to daily life. Making quality of life higher and daily life more cheerful and healthier is our mission.
Food business is rather traditional among the 3 areas in Asia & Oceana, i.e. exporting food materials to Japan, such as frozen processed chicken (eg. fried chicken), wheat flour mix, fruits & vegetable juice, frozen vegetables, etc. In recent years, we have been diversifying our business by distributing those products locally in Asia. Seeking business opportunities in FoodTech segment is our new challenge too.
In Healthcare, since 2019, we have been building healthcare platforms in Malaysia and Vietnam. By providing healthcare services of higher quality in a convenient and accessible manner, we aim to meet growing needs of local communities for healthier life. We are confident that our activities will contribute to the control of medical expenses nationwide in the future.
In Retail business, in 2018, we started supermarket “Fuji MART” in Vietnam.
Modern store concept and knowhow of Summit (Supermarket chain with 118 outlets in Tokyo metropolitan area, 100% owned by Sumitomo Corporation) were brought into Fuji MART operation. Fuji MART offers a new way of shopping with joy every day.
In the U.S, with Food Group members of
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
In Brazil, visited a sugarcane field
You have a vast experience working in the western part of the globe, particularly in the Americas (Mexico, Chile, Brazil, New York). How are you drawing from this experience to bring forth fresh ideas and opportunities in Asia & Oceania?
New business models and innovations are created constantly in healthcare and retail segments in Americas. This trend has been accelerated especially after people’s behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic (the New Normal). I think we can assimilate some of them into developing businesses in our growing market, Asia & Oceania.
In food segment, I hope we can find new technologies (Food tech) in Americas, which will contribute to the food industry in Asia & Oceania.
We can be a bridge between Asia & Oceania and Americas in Lifestyle segment.
In your introduction as new SCAO management member in 2022, you mentioned that you love jogging, watching rugby games and travelling. Could you please share with us more about your hobbies? What were some of the fond memories you had doing these hobbies?
Travelling from the northern end to the southern end of Americas was great experience that has given me unforgettable memories. Northern lights in Alaska and huge glaciers in Patagonia (the southern end of America continent) were breathtaking beauty of nature. Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina was incomparably powerful (Niagara Falls looks small… this may be partly because of my preference for South America…).
I started my morning run for my weight control and have continued for more than 20 years. Singapore is a great place for running as there are beautiful running courses island-wide.
In Thailand, with business partners and Sumitomo members
In New Zealand, fun time with JPNZ and Sumitomo members
In Argentina, with Perito Moreno Glacier
In Guatemala, with Ancient Mayan Pyramid
In Alaska, with harsh temperature of minus 33 degree celsius
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… effort will not betray
I spend most of my time.. reading, exploring restaurants and watching rugby matches (on TV and YouTube etc… Do hope at stadiums in Singapore someday)
The food I crave most often is… weekend Dim Sum!
One personal rule that I never break is… never skip breakfast
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… planning travels to unknown countries
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… to have a country house and ranch in US
If I could go back in time, I would… go back to my school days, play rugby again and win back the defeated matches in those days
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… travel around the world with a suitcase full of historical novels
