Biographical summary

Yuya Yanagisawa began his career as a programmer in April 2001, at an SI company in Tokyo’s Jiyugaoka district.
After four and a half years there, he made the move to independence as a freelancer.
Later he moved overseas, spending two years doing work for local customers.
Upon his return to Japan, Yanagisawa was responsible for developing smartphone apps for an IT major in Tokyo’s Shibuya district;
for development of new businesses in ad tech (as a development manager); and for the launch of overseas projects (as a project manager).
In overseas work he was principally engaged in opening projects in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Later, in the process of pursuing his dreams as a freelancer, Yanagisawa learned about the IT Pro Partners business, launched by Naoto Kimura.
Recognizing that the orientation of the services offered by IT Pro Partners dovetailed with his own dreams, Yanagisawa became a participant.

What is your area of responsibility?

Inside the Company I’m involved generally in in-house service technologies. In external projects, I provide engineering support.
I also write code sometimes.
Assessment and introduction of technology in-house is delegated to the engineering leaders of each Division.
They don’t need my approval to introduce or use new technologies.
My job is to decide policy to a certain degree and to provide follow-up and assume responsibility when problems occur.
I live for the moments when I see team members become able to do something that they previously could not do.
Seeing kids with no experience grow up to become engineers gives me strength.
That was my own formative experience, so I have a strong desire to assist as many people as possible to take control of their lives through
our services and support them through that process.

What kind of company is Hajimari?

Hajimari is a company that attracts people who want to be self-reliant.
It’s an organization of people who share the Hajimari vision and are working toward it with simple honesty.
As we aim to be self-reliant ourselves, we take action to help our colleagues do the same.
At Hajimari we set aside every Wednesday as a day when we each decide freely what work we will do that day.
The purpose is to encourage our growth as an organization and as individuals.
Basically it’s fine to take that to mean we’re free to use the time as we choose,
but ensuring that the time is used in a meaningful way is up to each person.
Everyone uses the time to accomplish certain results.
It makes work more fun than previously and it accentuates the feeling of tackling challenges.
In short, it helps us to grow as self-reliant personnel.
As an organization, we’re drawing closer to our ideal of self-reliant personnel, which is the vision of Hajimari, and creating a new work culture
in-house. I think we are really a company that is working frankly and openly toward fulfilling its vision.

What is your vision going forward?

I want to rise to the challenge of creating services so influential that they change the work culture of Japan.
I want as many people as possible to use our services and be glad they did so.
My vision for Hajimari is of a Company in which many people find fulfillment both spiritually and economically.
When I retire a few years (decades?) from now, I’d like to buy a camper-van and go on a road trip!
Work is important, but so is life. I think it’s important to look around us always to increase our own happiness and that of others.