For Japan Tobacco CEO, Behaving Responsibly Is Key; Regulation as Opportunity
Jump to full article: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, 2009-07-20
Intro: Hiroshi Kimura, Japan Tobacco Inc.'s president and chief executive, had to start last year's annual report with an apology. It wasn't about the sale of tobacco-related products but rather for pesticide-laced gyoza, or dumplings, imported from China and sold by the group's JT Foods subsidiary.
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in 1999 JT took an international turn when it acquired RJR International, the non-U.S. operations of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., and renamed the unit JT International. Mr. Kimura was then vice president of JT's corporate-planning division and subsequently became JTI's executive vice president.
Tor Ching Li spoke with Mr. Kimura at his office in Tokyo. The interview has been translated from Japanese and edited.
WSJ: What did you learn from your first job?
Mr. Kimura: After graduation I joined Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation, at a product-development unit where I was involved in conceptualizing brands, naming, choosing package design and test-marketing. I was lucky to have been involved in the launch of a couple of products that are still core products of the company, such as the Mild Seven and Cabin labels.
When I first joined I learned from a senior the [French] phrase noblesse oblige, which I understood to mean not shirking the responsibilities of your position. . . .
WSJ: What are the challenges facing your industry?
Mr. Kimura: There is a universal trend toward stricter restrictions on smoking. While we recognize that tobacco is a controversial product and regulation is necessary, we oppose over-regulation, and believe that rules need to be tailored to the situation in order to be enforceable. We also see regulation as an opportunity. Through consultation with the relevant authorities, we give our feedback and suggestions, such as the creation of smoking booths for areas where smoking on the street is banned.
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