Ryoko Tasaki
Mar 12, 2019

New industry body aims to raise marketers’ status in Japan

The Marketer Career Association is positioned as a way for marketers to market themselves.

From left: Shinichi Ono; Toshihisa Aikawa; Masaru Akiyama; Takeshi Suzuki; Junya Tanaka; Tomonobu Tominaga; Ayumi Fujimoto
From left: Shinichi Ono; Toshihisa Aikawa; Masaru Akiyama; Takeshi Suzuki; Junya Tanaka; Tomonobu Tominaga; Ayumi Fujimoto

The business of marketing has become increasingly complicated and sophisticated in recent years. Yet the career development path for people in the sector remains unclear, especially in Japan, where the role does not have a long history.

The Marketer Career Association aims to improve this situation. It outlines its goals as being to define the value of marketing as a profession; to demonstrate the ability of marketing to move business; to support professional marketers’ career development; and to “market people’s marketing thinking”.

The outfit’s representative director, Shinichi Ono, said his experience working in recruitment in the sector has left him feeling that “there are many people who do not know the value of their own career”. Through the association, he hopes to open up opportunities for marketers that he has not had the benefit of in his career.

Six marketers with experience in Japan and internationally join Ono as directors. They include Toshihisa Aikawa of eplus; Masaru Akiyama of basic; Takeshi Suzuki of New Balance; Junya Tanaka of Infobahn; Tomonobu Tominaga of Ito-Yokado; and Ayumi Fujimoto of Plug and Play Japan.

In a panel discussion held at the launch of the association, Suzuki said he wanted to make “the marketer’s identity socially appreciated”.

Tominaga added that marketing is lonely work in which it can be challenging to get other stakeholders on-side. He said it had occurred to him in the past that an organisation offering support would make life easier and more enjoyable.

The association will offer free membership and conduct mentorship programmes, seminars and surveys.

Source:
Campaign Japan

Related Articles

Just Published

9 hours ago

Why music still matters in modern branding

In a world obsessed with visual-first content, brands often forget their most powerful trigger is sound, argues Quantum’s Rahina Renanggalih.

9 hours ago

Women to Watch 2024: Patra Patrasuwan, Yum ...

Patrasuwan’s marketing philosophy of delivering high-quality food at affordable prices and always keeping the customer at the heart of every decision has led KFC to become the number-one brand in Thailand’s QSR industry.

10 hours ago

Arthur Sadoun on secrets of Publicis’ pitch ...

'Stop always being negative about our industry,' CEO says, after strong Q1 growth.

11 hours ago

Spikes Asia Awards 2025: Campaign picks its ...

Do we have what it takes to be Spikes Asia judges? We’ll find out next week. Until then, the Campaign APAC team shares our favourite picks from this year’s shortlist.