Asuka Sato<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After completing a graduate degree at Waseda University, she joined Accenture Japan Ltd. She was assigned to the Strategy Consulting Division and SCM Division, gaining extensive experience across IT and DX projects in a wide range of industries. She subsequently founded an IT solutions company, and after completing a business transfer, rejoined Accenture. In January 2020 she joined JDSC Inc., where she has been responsible for driving DX projects and joint development primarily with large enterprises in manufacturing and logistics. She was appointed Executive Officer in August 2022 and Managing Executive Officer & COO in July 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naoki Numakawa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After joining BayCurrent Consulting, Inc., he worked primarily as PM\/PdM on system implementation projects. He supported a wide range of industries (financial systems companies, trading companies, QR payment service companies, online delivery service companies, and others), gaining broad experience across the system development lifecycle from requirements definition through to implementation. After joining JDSC in 2023, he has been driving industry-wide DX starting from operational reform projects designed with data utilization in mind.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n We work collaboratively (Joint R&D) with leading companies in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, and healthcare in order to solve “social challenges” in those sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the initial phase, the work is close in nature to DX consulting \u2014 operational transformation and transformation of the business model itself. As a result of that work, however, we also actively step into the business domain ourselves \u2014 for example, through joint business launches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The use of AI and data science is an important weapon, but we see it not necessarily as an end in itself, but as a means to achieving transformation. Data-driven transformation rarely proceeds in a waterfall fashion, step-by-step as planned at the outset. For that reason, we operate with a “trinity” project structure in which business consultants, data scientists, and engineers work as a team \u2014 advancing projects in an agile manner, you might say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another characteristic is that each team member is able to step beyond their conventional scope of work and broaden their skill set. For example, a business consultant might learn data analysis using Python \u2014 the environment is one where people can acquire and apply skills without being constrained by job title. Smoother communication across roles improves the team’s output, and from the perspective of individual professionals, it also leads to an increase in market value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A further point is that we are aiming to become an organization that can influence industries directly, rather than being limited to the somewhat indirect form of engagement that consulting represents. Rather than simply advising clients or implementing things on their behalf, there are cases where we take a seat at the table as a co-business operator and actively lead part of the venture. Consulting firms that have as wide a range of value-creation mechanisms as we do \u2014 going beyond the labor-intensive provision of working hours to clients \u2014 are not all that common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are looking for people who love taking on challenges. Despite being listed, we are still a company of around 100 people. While the basic business model is in place, we still need discontinuous, non-linear growth. This means the ability to adapt constantly to change is required. People who can approach change positively and step up to meet it proactively are the kind of people who, I think, will find our work genuinely engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also have frequent discussions with people in different roles, so strong communication skills are indispensable. People who can collaborate with team members, recognize each other’s strengths, and draw them out as they work are also likely to thrive here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It varies depending on the nature and phase of the support. At the proposal stage, forming a team of two to three people is common. In terms of team composition, other firms might typically field three business consultants, but at our company we sometimes field a trio of one business consultant, one IT consultant, and one data scientist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a project becomes more concrete and moves into execution support, the team may expand to around seven to ten people. Contract units are typically around six months, and when you include peripheral derivative themes, it is common for engagements to extend over several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our company has a large number of staff with high levels of specialist expertise in specific industries. In some cases, JDSC also operates its own businesses in those domains \u2014 which means the depth of knowledge we bring can exceed that of a conventional consulting firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consultants normally handle one or two projects. Data scientists sometimes take on an advisory role across multiple projects, so it is not uncommon for them to be involved in more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We encourage people to come into the office as a general principle, with office attendance at around 60 percent. Some consultants are semi-resident at client sites. Data scientists and engineers tend to have a higher need for focused concentration, so remote working is not uncommon for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two main characteristics of employees who do well here. The first is people with deep specialist knowledge. Fundamentally changing how a business operates or how a business is structured requires deep understanding of that business. For that reason, even hands-on, ground-level experience that might not be fully utilized at another consulting firm can become a major asset here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second is people who, even as business consultants, have an understanding of data science and engineering and can work across multiple disciplines. Because we have many engagements involving joint launches of new businesses, we need to move in an agile manner, and the ability to adapt flexibly is essential. In terms of collaboration with other roles as well, people with a broad range of applicable skills tend to find it easier to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even business-side consultants can develop a solid level of skill in data science and engineering. For example, there are study sessions organized by members in technical roles, and internal broadcasts covering which projects are running in each industry-focused team \u2014 all open to every role \u2014 and many members catch up on technology and industry knowledge through these channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In particular, because we are so close to our data talent, you often see members learning data analysis skills directly from highly capable technical colleagues. By developing technical capabilities in IT and AI \u2014 on top of business development skills related to how to launch our own businesses \u2014 you can acquire a market value that goes well beyond the generalist consultant skillset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In graduate school I specialized in electrical engineering, and while most of my peers went into research and development roles at manufacturers, I was the only one who chose consulting \u2014 joining Accenture. I had vaguely imagined going to an electronics manufacturer myself, but in 2005, when I was job hunting, the performance of electronics manufacturers was remarkably poor, and I became concerned about blindly choosing a research and development role there. Even as a student, I started to think that for a company to achieve strong performance, excellent technological development alone wasn’t enough \u2014 what mattered was building a strong business. Out of that thinking, the path I chose as a way to learn about business was consulting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Accenture, I remember every day as one of running into difficulties, somehow finding a way through, and feeling genuine growth in the process \u2014 and I loved it so much I thought it might be my calling. At the same time, while others around me had an unusually high opinion of my abilities, my own self-assessment wasn’t as generous, and I felt that staying where I was wasn’t good enough. As a test of my own abilities, I decided to start a company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was difficult to strike the right balance between the “visionary work” I wanted to do, the work I was “capable of doing,” and the day-to-day work that would “put bread on the table.” In terms of revenue alone I was generating income, but there was no vision or sense of achievement behind it. Feeling the limits of my abilities, I returned to Accenture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I came back to the original purpose behind my choice to become a consultant, and felt a desire to be in a better environment for pursuing it. The reason I originally chose consulting was that I wanted to revitalize the Japanese manufacturing industry I had admired as a child, with my own hands \u2014 and change the world. When I returned to that starting point, I became skeptical about whether that dream could be realized at Accenture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was around that time that I had the opportunity to speak with JDSC’s Representative Director, Kato. After talking through the projects I had worked on at Accenture, he said simply: “Those are all large projects. But did the world actually change as a result?” I realized I couldn’t answer that question immediately \u2014 and that realization led me to join JDSC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To increase the impact we can have on the world \u2014 that is all there is to it. To achieve that, I want to strengthen the mechanisms for continuously growing our Joint R&D-style consulting projects with leading companies, the solution businesses we develop out of those projects, and ultimately JDSC’s own commercialized ventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A representative example of commercialization is the 2022 establishment of seawise Inc. \u2014 a joint venture in which JDSC, Mitsui & Co., and others invested, designed to solve business challenges in the maritime sector. Seawise operates a business supporting the development of a data platform for maritime vessels, and is driving the DX of the maritime industry as a whole. Going forward, I want to continue adding examples like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I joined BayCurrent Consulting as a new graduate in 2017 and worked in IT consulting. After about six years there, I moved to JDSC, where I am today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike Sato, I didn’t choose consulting with a specific clear purpose in mind. But as I was job hunting, I started thinking about the consulting industry because of a desire to work in a cross-cutting way across industries and companies, rather than specializing deeply in a single domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I made the move when I was 30, prompted by a sense that I had nothing concrete to show for my specialist expertise. Throughout my twenties I had worked hard as a versatile staff member who could roll up my sleeves across a spectrum from business consulting to programming depending on the project, but reaching this age means you’re expected to take on a manager role. I didn’t have the confidence to manage people without a clear specialization, and I decided to move in order to build an area of expertise where I could genuinely say “no one beats me at this.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resonating with the slogan “UPGRADE JAPAN” was what clinched it. While I worked as a consultant at my previous firm, I was thanked by clients \u2014 but I had a nagging sense that the work was something like “standing in for the client’s own staff.” I steeled myself to find work that was truly one-of-a-kind, capable of driving large-scale change in society, and joined JDSC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After joining, what struck me was that I was far closer to people with deep knowledge of the latest technology than I had expected, and the environment made it easy to collaborate even with other project teams. Because communication is open beyond your own domain, I have been reminded once again that the high degree of freedom to pursue what you want to do is one of the company’s defining attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the moment I am running projects together with my manager, but going forward I want to develop my own clients, build my own team, and take on a wide range of themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To that end, I am steadily building up a stock of ideas \u2014 for example, by deploying an AI chatbot outside of project work and exchanging views with the data scientists in-house, making use of the internal environment available to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JDSC has cultivated a culture where even junior employees find it easy to take on challenges. For people who are positive about challenge, this is a company where there are opportunities to get involved in a wide range of work. I would be delighted to work alongside people who find that kind of environment exciting, and who hold big ambitions to help change Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n COO Sato’s question \u2014 “But did the world actually change as a result?” \u2014 encapsulates the company’s sense of professional pride in a single line. For JDSC, consulting is “Joint R&D” for solving social challenges, and the company is a one-of-a-kind organization that elevates projects into its own businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For prospective applicants, the greatest appeal lies in the agile “trinity” environment \u2014 business, technology, and data working as one. A culture where business consultants learn Python and engineers speak the language of management, stepping beyond role boundaries to broaden their skills, dramatically increases market value. And as the joint venture establishment in maritime DX demonstrates, you can experience the tangible sense of moving industries forward as a participant \u2014 not just as an advisor. For professionals with the big ambition to use systems and structures to upgrade Japan \u2014 going beyond labor-intensive support \u2014 this is the finest stage on which to bring their specialist expertise fully to bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ConsulNext Senior Consultant<\/strong>Aiming to “UPGRADE JAPAN” \u2014 Going Beyond Consulting to Tackle Industry-Wide Challenge Resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/jdscph01.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2014 Could you tell us about the company’s business?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What sets you apart from other general consulting firms?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What kind of people are you looking for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Place Where You Can Challenge Yourself Across a Wide Range of Domains \u2014 Where Professionals Come Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/jdscph02.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2014 Mr. Numakawa, you work at JDSC day to day. Could you tell us about how client support is structured and how long it typically lasts?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What is the secret to generating results for clients across such diverse industries as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 How many projects does a single person typically handle, and how do people work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Could you tell us about the characteristics of people who thrive at your company?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What kinds of skills can someone develop by joining JDSC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Joining JDSC to Do Work That Changes the World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/jdscph03.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2014 I’d like to ask about each of your backgrounds. Ms. Sato, could you tell us about yours?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 How did that experience of starting a company go?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 You spent a total of about 13 years at Accenture before joining JDSC. What prompted the decision to make the move?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What is your vision for JDSC going forward?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Never Shying Away from Challenge \u2014 in Order to Do Work That Can Change Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/jdscph04.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2014 Mr. Numakawa, could you tell us about your career background?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What led you to leave the company you joined as a new graduate and move to JDSC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What was the deciding factor in choosing JDSC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 What is your vision for the future, and what kind of people would you like to work alongside?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\u3010Post-Interview Note\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img-tsukada.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Masahito Tsukada<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nJDSC Inc. \u2014 Company Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Company Name<\/strong><\/td> JDSC Inc.<\/td><\/tr> <\/span>Capital<\/strong><\/td> \u00a511,000,000<\/td><\/tr> <\/span>Representative Director<\/strong><\/td> Satoshi Kato Eltes<\/td><\/tr> <\/span>Employees<\/strong><\/td> 108 (as of November 2024)<\/td><\/tr> <\/span>Business Activities<\/strong><\/td> \u30fbDevelopment of algorithm modules utilizing machine learning and similar technologies, and licensing
\u30fbIT system development and operations
\u30fbAdvisory and consulting services related to data science<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nJDSC Inc. \u2014 Job Listings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4193,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"swell_btn_cv_data":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7936","industry","type-industry","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n