After working part-time at Marugen Ramen for about two and a half years, I joined the company as a full-time employee. Even after joining, I was assigned to Marugen Ramen, where I learned a great deal about store operations, personnel development, and numerical management. After 1 year and 8 months, at the age of 19, I was promoted to store manager.

Sunpark offers an environment where you can challenge yourself regardless of age or years of experience. I believe I was given this opportunity because the company truly values ​​the desire to challenge oneself and the daily efforts put in.

What I find particularly rewarding as a store manager is the moment when the entire team achieves a goal. The sense of accomplishment on days when we break store records or overcome unexpectedly busy periods together is special, no matter how many times I experience it. I feel that sharing this joy with all my colleagues, not alone, is a major appeal of this job.

Furthermore, what makes me happiest is the growth of my staff. When part-time staff members increase their capabilities and gain confidence, or when my subordinates challenge themselves with new things and achieve results, I feel even happier than if it were my own success.

Because I love people, I genuinely dedicate myself to the growth of each and every staff member. We constantly consider “how to help them succeed,” “how to help them stand on the front lines with more confidence,” and “how to turn ‘cannot do’ into ‘can do’,” and we implement goal setting and reflection tailored to each individual.

The growth of our staff is my own growth, and the growth of our store. I believe that the accumulation of each individual’s growth leads to creating a better store.

Going forward, I will continue to cherish my love for Sunpark and Marugen Ramen, and my enjoyment of my work, striving to create a store that is loved by our customers and an environment where the entire team can grow.

My Next Challenge: Area Manager

I joined the company as a new graduate in April 2007 and transferred to the Finance and Accounting Department about a year later.

At that time, Sunpark’s business was primarily focused on being a mega-franchisee of restaurants in Japan. However, since expanding into Singapore in 2011, its overseas expansion has accelerated, and currently, in addition to Singapore, it operates directly managed stores in Thailand, the United States, and India. With this overseas expansion, I had opportunities to travel abroad for meetings with local accounting firms and to provide training to local staff.

Through these experiences, I came to a realization:

That is, “bookkeeping” is a universally understood set of rules.

Even if countries, languages, and cultures differ, the essence of understanding a company’s condition through numbers and supporting its management remains the same. When I first joined the company, I never imagined I would be involved in overseas business. However, through my daily work and challenges in new environments, I came to feel that “with bookkeeping skills, I might be able to work all over the world.”

This was a moment when I truly felt Sunpark’s mission:
“To be a company where each employee acquires high management skills, awakens to their own limitless potential that they hadn’t realized before, and discovers the wonder of life.”

As a working adult, there are moments when you encounter potential you didn’t even know you had. Sunpark provides an environment where you can broaden your horizons not only domestically but also globally, expanding your own potential. I sincerely hope that you will also discover your own “limitless potential” through new challenges.

I grew up in a tourist area with a thriving tourism and hospitality industry, and from an early age, I dreamed of starting a small business, particularly in hospitality.

I have always wanted to deliver the best hospitality through high-quality, safe, and reliable products that meet the needs and preferences of our customers. To achieve this, I sought to acquire the knowledge necessary, which is one of the main reasons I chose to join Sunpark.

I believe that the role of a store manager goes beyond managing people, resources, and finances—it is about making customers happy through food and service. That is why we dedicate ourselves every day to providing safe, secure, high-quality products and exceptional hospitality.

Specifically, I am responsible for the overall operation of the store, including purchasing and inventory management, setting ordering standards, creating staff schedules, hiring and training personnel, and inspecting equipment and requesting repairs.

To ensure staff can work comfortably, we maintain clearly defined house rules covering appearance and work procedures, and we actively provide guidance and support.

Another crucial part of my role is maintaining the store environment—inspecting and maintaining equipment, performing daily cleaning, and coordinating repairs when needed. Ensuring these basics are done correctly also contributes to increased sales and profits.

Above all, I believe that by establishing these foundations, we can provide safe, reliable, high-quality products and outstanding hospitality, ultimately making our customers happy.

During my four years at university, I worked part-time at Châteraisé.

Through my interactions with the employees, I was deeply impressed by the feeling that “this is a company that values ​​each and every employee.”

Furthermore, while experiencing the joy of customer service, I began to think, “I want to do a job that makes people smile,” “I want to become someone who can lead others like a store manager,” and “I want to challenge myself overseas in the future.”

These aspirations, along with the president’s words, “Nurture those who stand out” and “Ignite people’s potential,” and the guiding principle, “Enjoy your work,” resonated deeply with me, and these were the deciding factors in my joining the company.

I feel that this is a place where I can maximize my potential in an environment that values ​​my individuality and uniqueness, and where I can grow not only with my strengths but also with my weaknesses.

Even during my part-time work, I was involved in store operations, and after graduating from university, I was assigned to Bikkuri Donki.

On the job, I rediscovered the joy of nurturing, managing, and leading people, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment watching the student part-timers grow right before my eyes.

I’m currently assigned to the Human Resources Department, where I’m mainly responsible for recruiting new graduates and speaking with job-seeking students at information sessions.
Sunpark aims to create a society where those who take on challenges are rewarded, and even though I was feeling anxious right after transferring, my superiors encouraged me by saying, “Just give it a try,” and “You can learn from your mistakes.”
I feel that this kind of culture is deeply ingrained in the company, which is one of its strengths.

Although I’ve only recently moved to the Human Resources Department, I’m very happy when job-seeking students tell me after information sessions things like, “My image of the food service industry has changed,” or “It seems surprisingly fun.”
I hope to continue sharing the joy of nurturing people and being involved in their growth with many more people.

With a strong desire to work overseas, Y.T. joined Sunpark in June 2016 and began with approximately six months of on-site training in Japan.

In February 2017, he was assigned to Singapore to gain experience in overseas operations. By August of the same year, he transferred to Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as a store manager, overseeing staff training and store operations.

In 2019, he was promoted to section manager, and in 2023, he became deputy manager, overseeing the entire Thai subsidiary. Under his leadership, the number of stores in Thailand has grown to roughly three times the number at the time of his initial assignment.

In 2024, he led the launch of Sunpark’s first stores in the Philippines, Cambodia, and India, and was promoted to General Manager of Asia.

After graduating from College, I joined Sunpark as a new graduate.

I wanted to work in a field unrelated to what I had studied, so I interviewed across various industries. But when I visited Sunpark for my final interview, I was struck by the unique atmosphere of the headquarters—with Native American feather headdresses on display and an interview room built from a converted shipping container.

Up to that point, I had no experience in customer service, but I thought, “If I’m going to try something completely new, it should be at a company with this much individuality,” and I decided to join without hesitation.

After joining, I worked at Bikkuri Donkey and Yomenya Pietro, where store managers and senior staff taught me every aspect of store operations from the ground up. Initially, I was nervous just about serving water, but with my seniors’ support, I gradually gained confidence, and before long, I found myself talking with customers naturally.

The appeal of Sunpark is that it provides an environment where you can grow step by step—even with no prior experience.

I am now part of the Human Resources Department, responsible for recruiting both new graduates and mid-career candidates. Hearing students I’ve met during interviews later say that they enjoy their jobs truly makes me happy, and it motivates me to work even harder.

Meeting colleagues who will help shape and grow the company together is one of the most rewarding aspects of my current role.

I joined Sunpark as a new graduate and first learned the fundamentals of store operations while working at Kangeki Tanuki and Marugen Ramen.

I then advanced to roles as store manager and later as manager at Marugen Ramen, where I oversaw multiple stores and contributed to staff development.

Currently, I have been assigned to Thailand and am involved in managing overseas stores. Compared to Japan, the responsibilities are broader and the challenges greater—but this makes the environment incredibly rewarding, as I am continually growing by overcoming new tasks every day.

The moments when customers smile and say, “It was delicious,” or “Thank you,” are the happiest moments for me—they are what drive me forward.

I also feel a deep sense of purpose when I see employees grow—from staff members to store managers and eventually to management positions. Knowing that I have contributed to someone else’s growth gives me great satisfaction.

Going forward, I will continue striving to create an environment that brings joy to both our customers and our colleagues—and I will always value that spirit.