When he’s not out meeting new business partners, Keiji, our business development manager can be seen discussing ideas with other Gengons to make the workflow better for his valued customers. His goal-oriented mindset and enthusiasm to uphold the Japanese philosophy of ‘kaizen’ (continuous improvement) are just a few strengths that make him an invaluable part of the team.

Nationality: Japanese
Hometown:  Tokyo, Japan (born in New Jersey)
Languages: Japanese & English
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Administration Engineering, Keio University/Environmental Economics, UCLA

Where have you lived before, and what were your previous roles?

Aside from Japan, I lived in the U.S. for six and a half years and studied in Spain for two months. I did online marketing and business development then sales for Recruit before deciding to travel for seven months. When I returned to Tokyo, I joined Gengo’s sales and marketing team.

How would you describe living and working in Tokyo?

Tokyo is very safe, busy, and exciting. I have lived here for 20 years but there’s always something new to discover and places to explore. It’s a globalized city but you can also find beautiful nature and quieter towns near Tokyo, such as Kamakura and Gotemba.

How long have you worked at Gengo and what drew you to the company?

I joined one year ago when I was looking for an international startup. I was interested in business development for crowdsourcing services and Gengo’s business model appealed to me. The fact that it’s headquartered in Tokyo is also a plus.

At Macchu Picchu, Peru in May 2016

What kinds of customers have you worked with and how would you describe working with them?

I’ve worked with clients from ecommerce, travel, media and publishing industries.  My customers range from local family businesses to huge international companies in Japan. We treat them as our partners and help them make the workflow better. We also act as consultants by giving business solutions and advising them on how their businesses can go global.

What have been some of your customers’ challenges, and how have you helped them?

Some customers want good quality for a cheap price. Sometimes, they also don’t know the best way to do translations and which languages to choose, and they also want to be able to check and measure the effectivity of translated content. I have helped them by explaining our processes, learning more about their business goals, and providing the right solutions and strategies.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I enjoy thinking of strategies and solutions for our customers. Meeting big names in the industry and learning about huge companies are also some job perks. Some of the people I meet are so motivated and inspiring!

Working at Gengo also gives me more independence to decide what’s best for the customers. I also like discussing ideas with the engineering team to improve our internal systems and other processes.

How has Gengo changed since you started working here?

Translation memory has been created and the sales and project management teams have started using project management tools. The invoicing system is partially automated now, too. I believe creating more automated services and technology would be good for the company’s growth.

What do you think makes Gengo a great place to work?

Gengo’s business model is unique and I believe crowdsourcing has a bright future. It’s a diverse company and it’s great to work with and learn from co-workers from different countries and backgrounds.

Selfie with a friendly llama in Peru

What do you do in your spare time?

I love traveling, I try to go overseas at least once a year. I like staying active and enjoy sports such as basketball, kickboxing, running and horseback riding. On weekends, I sometimes go for BBQ with friends or watch movies.

Want to work at Gengo?

Join us