CEO’s Message
With a spirit of “Quality First,” sincerely and flexibly
Sakamoto was founded in 1978, the year the Osaka Central Wholesale Market opened, as a wholesaler of salted and dried seafood. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and guidance we have received from so many over the years.
We believe that the fisheries industry is entering a period of great transformation, driven by challenges such as resource depletion and demographic shifts.
In facing this new era, we reaffirm the unchanging spirit that has guided Sakamoto since its founding:
“To grasp the essence of things and deliver truly good and valuable products.”
and “To engage with our customers sincerely, with professionalism and pride.”
We express this spirit through the phrase “Quality First” and will continue to put it into practice throughout our entire company.
Our products are created by people, starting with the fishermen and local producers, continuing through market professionals, and including our own employees.
That is why we believe the word “Quality” should not only refer to the product itself. It also represents the trust and satisfaction of everyone involved in our work, and the value that Sakamoto provides to our customers.
To that end, we will continue to protect and support authentic production sites and the dedicated producers behind them. At the same time, we will maintain a bold and forward-looking approach to management without fear of change. Through this, we aim to embody the true meaning of “Quality First” and deliver delicious happiness to our customers’ tables.
President & CEO
Profile
Born in 1982.
Graduated from the Department of Agricultural Engineering for Food Production and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University. Completed a Master's program at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University.
Joined Nippon Life Insurance Company in 2007, where he worked in corporate planning.
Joined Sakamoto Co., Ltd. in 2011. After serving as Executive Director, he was appointed President and CEO in 2017.
The CEO’s Personal Philosophy
“Only source ingredients I’ve personally inspected.”
The bulk of our procurement takes place at wholesale market auctions, which start as early as 5 a.m.
Even though the early mornings can be tough, I insist on personally inspecting the products every day and only sourcing those that meet my quality standards.
This daily dedication is what enables Sakamoto to detect even the subtlest differences in quality — and that’s a core source of our pride.
“Close communication with the production floor.”
Working with our on-site teams is a daily, serious endeavor.
Our products are created by people — and that’s precisely why employee motivation, health, and overall working conditions are critical indicators that directly affect product quality.
Through daily communication with our team members — during new product development, quality inspections, and other key processes — I strive to maintain an accurate understanding of the company’s status.
This helps us to quickly detect issues and work toward effective solutions.
“Operate with positivity and joy.”
Meeting customer expectations and achieving company goals — if we’re going to do it, we should do it with joy and positivity. Work demands energy and time. Without a positive mindset, it’s hard to truly enjoy what we do. That’s why I make a conscious effort to set the tone with my own actions — to create a culture that’s open, free, and transparent, where communication flows naturally.
“A future we can all get excited about!”
The fisheries industry tends to face a lot of negative news.
But at Sakamoto, we’re turning things around. Armed with our unique know-how and persistent efforts, we aim to create new value and products that anticipate the changing needs of the times.
Most importantly, we’re building a future that we ourselves can get excited about — setting bold goals and growing as a team with enthusiasm and confidence.
Photo by Keiichiro Waguri
Company Profile
COMPANY INFO
| Company Name | Sakamoto Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Representative | President & CEO Tsutomu Sakamoto |
| Executives | President & CEO Tsutomu Sakamoto Executive Vice President Koichiro Fukui Senior Managing Director Osamu Sakamoto |
| Business Type | Wholesale of Salted and Dried Seafood / Food Manufacturing and Processing |
| Main Products | Chirimen-jako (dried baby sardines), dried shrimp, a variety of other salted and dried seafood, simmered products such as kugini and tsukudani, and processed seafood including salmon and seasoned cod roe (mentaiko). |
| Capital | ¥20,000,000 |
| Employees | 90 |
| Main Clients | Supermarkets, consumer co-ops, mass retailers, restaurant chains, traditional Japanese restaurants (ryotei), inns (ryokan), trading companies, and food manufacturers throughout Japan. |