Employee Introduction
Delivering Japan-made medicines to patients around the world—
driving our company’s global business forward.
Staff position (overseas business)
2018—Entered the Company after graduating from the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
The focus of my job search came down to two elements: “pharmaceuticals” and “global.”
To bring that vision to life, I joined Tanabe Pharma.
In my job search, I wanted to build a career that combined pharmaceuticals with a global focus. I was interested in working in a global environment, since I was studying pharmacy at university and had some opportunities to interact with people from overseas when I was young. At the time, Tanabe Pharma stood out to me as one of the Japanese pharmaceutical companies that was actively pursuing global expansion. I felt that at Tanabe Pharma, I would be able to deliver medicines developed in Japan to patients around the world, and this belief led me to join the company.
After joining the company, I was assigned to the Tokyo Branch, where I gained about four years of experience as a medical representative. In my final year, I was responsible for university hospitals and key hospitals. The process of delivering medicine to patients is essentially the same in Japan and overseas and having firsthand experience with this business model on the front lines has been extremely valuable in my current role. At the same time, my aspiration to work abroad never faded, and I communicated with my manager through regular one-on-one meetings to convey this aspiration. My manager was very supportive, intentionally assigning me tasks like negotiations that would be useful for my future global career. Furthermore, the company has an internal program that allows employees to pursue new career paths within the company. I applied for this program, and after going through document screening and interviews, I was transferred to my current department in my fifth year with the company.
To meet the high expectations of local patients and doctors, I worked on the launch of the first therapeutic agent of its kind in Taiwan.
The Asia and Europe Business Department oversees our operations across both regions. After being assigned to this department, I was put in charge of business in China and Taiwan. One project that left a lasting impression on me was the launch of VAFSEO® Tablets (generic name: vadadustat), a therapeutic agent for renal anemia, in Taiwan in October 2024. This product was licensed by our company in Japan and certain parts of Asia, and it became the first oral treatment for renal anemia available in Taiwan, leading to high expectations from both patients and physicians.
To ensure a smooth launch, I worked closely with our manufacturing department to establish a stable supply system. Coordinating with the legal department was also a critical mission to conclude contracts related to supply and quality assurance in Taiwan. In addition, I collaborated with our group company in Taiwan to develop marketing plans. The project brought a range of complex challenges, requiring extensive knowledge across regulatory affairs, manufacturing, legal matters, and marketing, all while working across different languages and cultures. During this process, issues arose within the manufacturing system, and the possibility of postponing the launch was considered. However, thinking about the patients in Taiwan who were suffering from the disease, postponement was not an easy option. Moreover, achieving the first launch of its kind in Taiwan would represent a significant business advantage. I therefore engaged in further discussions with the manufacturing department and ultimately succeeded in delivering the product to market according to the original schedule. At a symposium held after the launch, a Taiwanese doctor said to me, “With this drug, we can give hope to patients who previously had no treatment options.” Those words left a lasting impression on me.
My next career goal is to pursue an overseas assignment.
Our company has a culture that values positivity and initiative.
I recently transferred within the department and am now involved in the overall management of our business across Asia and Europe. I analyze performance data and reports from our group companies in each region and work on formulating budgets and medium-term management plans. Asia is experiencing rapid market growth and is a critical region for our future business. Europe is also a mature market with significant scale, making it essential for our global strategy. It is highly rewarding to be responsible for driving business in these two key markets.
Our department has many members who are stationed in various countries, including those seconded to local group companies. I also aspire to gain experience through an overseas assignment. Along this career path, my goal is to grow into a person capable of managing our overseas group companies in the future. As my career path illustrates, our company has a positive culture where self-motivated action is sure to lead to new opportunities. I will continue to take on new challenges in my own way to deliver our distinctive pharmaceutical products to patients across the globe.
- Career step
- 2018 Entered the company and assigned to the Tokyo Branch and worked as a medical representative for medical practitioners
2021 Transferred to another sales office and became responsible for university hospitals and key hospitals
2022 Applied for an internal transfer program and moved to the current department, where I became involved in the China and Taiwan business
2025 Transferred within the department to be responsible for budget and performance management for the overall Asia and Europe business
* The affiliation and description in the article are those at the time of interview.
