Country Manager, Thailand  Tetsuya Asada

“I believe Musashi Paint is a company where you can turn your aspirations into reality.”

Musashi Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. is looking for colleagues to grow together with us.

Please Introduce Yourself

I am originally from Aichi Prefecture. I joined Musashi Paint in 2006 as a mid-career hire after graduating from university.

I worked in the Technical Department for two years, followed by 16 years in the Sales Department. This year marks my 18th year with the company.

Since 2020, I have been stationed in Thailand together with my wife and three children.

What Kind of Work Do You Do at Musashi Paint?

I currently serve as the head of our Thailand site, which has approximately 80 employees.

Thailand has many Japanese companies, and as a result, many of our customers are Japanese. For that reason, I continue to be involved in sales activities, much as I was when working in Japan. As Thailand is also a manufacturing site, there are many departments and a wide range of responsibilities. There are times when I face challenges in areas outside my previous experience, but I try not to limit the scope of my work and instead take on as many different challenges as possible.

Why Did You Choose Musashi Paint?

I graduated from an art university, so “color” has always been something very familiar to me.

After graduating, I initially worked in a different field, but I eventually felt a strong desire to work in a profession related to color. That led me to choose Musashi Paint. Another reason was that Musashi Paint has locations around the world, which I felt would allow me to expand my own possibilities.

What Do You Find Appealing About Musashi Paint?

One of the biggest attractions is that you are given opportunities to challenge yourself regardless of age.

I opened the Nagoya Sales Office at the age of 30, was later assigned to Thailand, and became a site manager in my early 40s. Compared to many other companies, I feel I have been given opportunities to take on challenges about ten years earlier. I truly believe Musashi Paint is a company where you can turn your aspirations into reality.

What Is Appealing About Working on an Overseas Location?

When working overseas, everything is different—from the cityscape and language you hear, to the culture and customs.

At times, completely unexpected things happen. However, before you know it, you develop resilience and become less shaken by minor issues.

You encounter many different situations, and the amount of experience you gain is one of the greatest attractions of working overseas. Another major appeal is the joy of learning a completely unfamiliar language and eventually being able to communicate directly with local people.

When Do You Feel a Sense of Fulfillment at Work?

As a site manager, I now have a great deal of decision-making authority.

I find tremendous fulfillment in knowing that my decisions can significantly influence outcomes, for better or worse.

The more proactively I involve myself in various matters, the more decisions I must make. However, because I have a broad understanding of the situation, I believe I can make the best possible decisions. At first, I felt hesitation and fear, but now I am able to make decisions with confidence.

What Do You Look for in Your Work?

Only a very small number of people are able to turn what they truly love into their profession. Most people work by fulfilling the roles assigned to them within their organization. Because work is work, there are many difficult and challenging moments. However, I believe that by finding even small moments of enjoyment or satisfaction within those challenges, you can gradually come to enjoy your work.

What Kind of Colleagues Would You Like to Work With?

I would like to work with colleagues who are considerate of others and able to respect one another.

A Message to Our Readers

Even though perspectives and values toward work may differ by generation, I believe the desire to work at a company with a good culture and good people remains the same for everyone.

The reason I have been able to work at Musashi Paint for so many years is because of the wonderful colleagues around me.

There are many people here who celebrate together when things go well, and who offer genuine support and guidance when things are difficult.

I sincerely look forward to the day when we can work together as colleagues. Thank you very much for reading until the end.

Comments from Senior Colleagues and Coworkers

What Kind of Person Is Mr. Asada?

• Mr. Asada is currently active at Musashi Paint Thailand, but before that, we worked together in the Sales Department at Musashi Paint Japan, where he was based at the Nagoya Sales Office. When we worked together in Japan, we were promoted to management positions at the same time. As first-time managers, we often discussed how to interact with our team members and shared both the struggles and joys of being caught between senior management and staff.

• He is usually calm and gentle in nature, yet he has a strong core and is able to clearly express his opinions. As a result, he is highly trusted by both employees and customers, and many people rely on him. He also loves fried chicken—if we forget to order it when dining together, he gets upset. It must be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

What We Respect About Mr. Asada

• What stands out most is his contribution to expanding sales at the Nagoya Sales Office. As the office grew and the proportion of automotive business increased at Musashi Paint, he played a key role in leading the company into large-scale automotive customers—an area that required logical thinking and persistence. His efforts laid the foundation for our current success, and this is something I truly respect！

• He is always thoroughly prepared for internal meetings and customer visits, and I admire how smoothly and professionally he conducts his work. I have never seen him look unprepared or unprofessional—in fact, I’m a bit envious.

A Message to Mr. Asada

• We don’t have many opportunities to speak for work these days, but I know you are working hard every day as a site manager in your own way. There must be many challenges, so please take good care of your health. When you return to Japan, let’s catch up and talk again.

• Thank you always for your accurate advice. Let’s continue working together with the team in Thailand!

• From launching the Nagoya site, to developing new customer segments, to being assigned to Thailand, Mr. Asada has continuously taken on new challenges while maintaining close cooperation with those around him and striving for customer satisfaction. As a pioneer, please continue expanding new possibilities and realizing your aspirations.