TOKYOApril 30 (News On Japan) – Starting May 1, a new president will take the helm at the company that franchises “Curry House CoCo Ichibanya” in Gunma and eight other prefectures. Remarkably, the appointee is a 22-year-old woman who currently works there as a part-time employee, making this a highly unusual promotion.
Rino Morozawa, known for her beaming smile while serving customers, will soon head ‘Skyscraper’, the company that operates 25 CoCo Ichibanya locations in nine regions. Two years ago, the current president first approached her with an unexpected offer.
Morozawa recalls, โHe asked me if I wanted to be president, if I wanted to take the position.โ
Since then, Morozawa, who started working at a local CoCo Ichibanya at the age of 15, has delved deeply into the work. Her passion for the job led her to the national finals of a customer service competition during her senior year of high school.
Morozawa continued her volunteer work and part-time job after graduating, saying, “This is the first thing I’ve stuck with for so long. I was always the type to quit after three days. I want to keep improving.”
At the age of 19, she became one of only fifteen customer service specialists in the national CoCo Ichibanya chain. The offer to become president came during the celebration of this achievement.
โI thought it was a joke at first,โ she says. “I was very happy, simply put. If I’m good enough, why not?”
Current president Daisuke Nishimaki, 53, emphasized that the decision was not based on age or experience. “We don’t limit opportunities based on age or career length. If a 15-year-old says he wants to run a store, we say go for it. Everyone deserves a chance.”
Morozawa has spent the past two years preparing to lead the company, which employs 41 employees and 372 part-time and temporary workers and has annual revenue of about 2 billion yen. She has faced challenges, especially managing older employees.
As she takes on her role as president, Morozawa wants to be a hands-on leader. “I want to be a president who is not distant, but close; who works with everyone, works up a sweat during the lunch rush and then says, ‘We did great today. Let’s go have some ramen.'”
In addition to Morozawa, other young talents are also emerging within Skyscraper. The report also involved Yuie Kamashi, a 17-year-old high school student and current store manager.
Nishimaki, who will soon support the new president as chairman, advocates creating environments that nurture young ambitions. “Experience is not necessary to become president. What is needed is an environment that is supportive and nurturing, and that is the role of the veteran to fulfill the dreams of the youth who are willing to try.”
Source: ANN
