FEC (The International Friendship and Economic Exchange Council) Secretariat Prioritizing "personal relationships" leads to successful overseas partnerships.
A global health solutions company with over 400 years of history.
Chairman Ken Matsuzawa Today, we will be speaking with Mr. Kenichi Matsumoto, Vice Chairman and Standing Director of the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy, and Chairman and Representative Director of Sakura Global Holdings Co., Ltd. I have accompanied Chairman Matsumoto on various delegations to different countries. First, could you tell us about your company?
Chairman Kenichi Matsumoto Sakura Global Holdings is a medical device manufacturer and global health solutions company that contributes to infection prevention in medical settings through its cleaning and sterilization business, and to the rapid and efficient diagnosis of cancer through its pathology diagnostic business. In infection control, our technology is utilized not only in medical institutions but also in life science fields such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and processing and water treatment equipment. Furthermore, in our pathology diagnostic business, we are promoting the "complete automation of pathology," which is key to solving challenges.
Currently, the Sakura Group operates globally in over 150 countries through its bases in Sakura Finetech USA, Sakura Finetech Europe (Netherlands, with subsidiaries in 14 countries), and Sakura Medical Technology (Taizhou) Co., Ltd. (China).
Matsuzawa I understand your company has a long history.
Matsumoto Our company was founded in 1871 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Its origins trace back even further, to a pharmaceutical merchant in Sakai, Senshu, more than 400 years ago, and it moved to Nihonbashi, Edo, with the establishment of the shogunate. I am the 17th generation descendant of the founder, Matsumoto Kyuzaemon. Following the sudden death of my father, Zenjiro, in 1973, I became president at the age of 36. Although I am the 17th head of the family, I value "continuity over bloodline" and believe that the eldest son does not necessarily have to inherit the family business, thus setting myself apart from so-called family businesses.
The challenges and strategies of pioneering expansion into Europe and the Americas
Matsuzawa I can only imagine how challenging it must have been to take on the top position at such a young age and lead from the front for over 50 years. Could you tell me about your company's overseas expansion?
Matsumoto In 1963, we participated in the "International Hospital Equipment and Medical Devices Exhibition" held in London at the time, exhibiting our main products. From there, we visited Europe, America, and Canada, achieving great success and marking the first step in our overseas expansion. Global expansion is not simply about increasing scale. Even with the same 50 billion yen in sales, market share differs greatly depending on whether the market size is 100 billion yen or 1 trillion yen. That is why we specialized in two areas: infection control and pathology diagnosis, and pursued a global niche strategy.
Matsuzawa I see. I was also involved in overseas business from the 60s, and I understand how difficult it was to expand overseas back then, given Japan's economic strength. Could you tell me about the turning point in your company's overseas expansion?
Matsumoto One example is the partnership with American Sterilizer Corporation (AMSCO), a world-leading manufacturer in the medical device field for 70 years. By absorbing AMSCO's advanced technology, the Sakura Group laid the foundation for its entry into the global market.
Furthermore, the following year, we entered into a sales partnership with Miles Sankyo (headquartered in Tokyo), an importer and distributor of clinical testing reagents and medical devices. This partnership with Miles went beyond mere product sales; by providing products to Miles on an OEM basis, we were able to widely promote Sakura's high level of technological expertise to the world.
I believe that building relationships, or "interpersonal skills," is essential for successfully establishing partnerships with overseas companies.
Subsequently, in 1986, they established a local subsidiary, "Sakura Finetech USA," in Torrance, California, and in 1998, they built their own 10,000-tsubo (approximately 33,000 square meters) building there. This was not merely a sales base, but a demonstration of their determination to establish themselves in the U.S. market and aim for long-term sales growth.
Matsuzawa It was over 20 years ago, but I remember being impressed when I saw your company's magnificent building alongside those of Toyota, Honda, and Panasonic during a business trip to Torrance.
Matsumoto Thank you. Similarly, we are also expanding our business in Europe and China.
Redevelopment through exchanges with Cuba and ODA
Matsuzawa Speaking of overseas travel, 10 years ago I visited Cuba with Chairman Matsumoto and exchanged views with government officials. Could you tell me about your company's involvement with Cuba?
Matsumoto Our involvement with Cuba began in 70 when we exported products there. I had always believed that "globalization" meant "earthening" rather than "Westernization," and I kept my eyes on the world, but I think a major factor was meeting the late Chairman Fidel Castro at an exhibition in Havana and being deeply impressed by his attitude.
In Cuba, we cooperated in the knockdown production of sterilization equipment, but due to the deterioration of Cuba's foreign exchange situation, we were forced to close the factory in 92.
However, in 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to Cuba, and the "Plan for the Improvement of Medical Equipment in Major Hospitals" (ODA) was put into motion. As a result, Sakura's sterilization equipment was introduced not only in Cuba but also in hospitals in Central and South America and Africa. I believe this is also a result of our past efforts. I have visited many countries, but Cuba is one of the most memorable.
Matsuzawa I was incredibly happy to hear about the developments that followed our visit to Cuba together, as if they were my own success. Could you tell me about your philosophy as a business leader?
= 1978, Cuba
= 2015, Uzbekistan
"I take responsibility, you get the credit," without considering personal gain or loss.
My beliefs as a business leader and "three core principles" and "four important values"
Matsumoto What I always value when running a company is,"Three 'Hearts'"The importance of.
The first principle is "altruism." We believe that the development of the entire industry comes first, and that our own company's growth follows from that.
The second is a "spirit of collaboration." Recent technological advancements have been remarkable, and it would take too much time and money to handle everything in-house. Open innovation is especially important in the high-tech and DX fields, and "collaboration" with other companies is essential.
The third is a "sense of humor." In other words, this means having "peace of mind." My way of life is to approach everything in a fun way while involving others. When I'm having a discussion with someone, I try to speak in a "Yes, but..." style, first nodding to their point of view and then expressing my own opinion, rather than immediately dismissing them. By doing so, we can have a pleasant exchange of opinions, deepen mutual understanding, and expand our connections with people.
Also, recently,"Four Important Things"I really feel that.
① The importance of thinking and acting by looking at the "micro" from a "macro" perspective.
② The importance of distinguishing between the "near future" and the "distant future" when talking about the future.
③ The importance of experiencing, feeling, thinking, and acting on the "front lines."
④ The importance of gathering accurate information and taking action.
These days, it's easy to hold online meetings with people overseas, but I still believe it's important to go to the location and meet the other party in person.
Matsuzawa I see. I also realize that there are things you can only understand by having a multifaceted perspective, meeting people, and seeing things firsthand. By the way, I've heard that Chairman Matsumoto is close to many politicians, including former Prime Minister Koizumi.
Matsumoto Through my many years of experience, I have been fortunate enough to meet many VIPs, including former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The words I have received from them have deeply touched my heart, and I have come to realize the importance of personal connections.
In response to the question, "What is necessary to lead others?", I received the following words:
"Some people are born with talent and luck, but no one is born with 'experience,' such as successes and failures. What's important is how much rich experience you accumulate."
I deeply resonated with these words.
For the prosperity of the entire industry
Matsuzawa I understand that the chairman considers not only his own company's interests but also those of the entire industry. Could you tell us about the current challenges facing the medical device industry?
Matsumoto When we look at the medical device industry as a whole, I believe there are three challenges.
The first one"Stable supply of products"Yes, there are various difficulties, such as shortages of materials and manpower.
The first one"Medical DX (Digital Transformation)"Yes. We are actively promoting DX at our company, but we believe that the entire industry needs to push it even further.
The first one"International expansion"Therefore, with the aim of helping to solve these challenges, we established the Matsumoto Memorial Foundation, a general incorporated foundation, with the goal of training international medical professionals who will lead the next generation of "healthcare."
We have a system in place to subsidize part of the costs for nurses to present at international academic conferences, support for English conversation lessons and foreign language education for nurses and pharmacists, make donations to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN" program, and also provide support to organizations such as the NPO Rocinantes.
Dr. Naoyuki Kawahara, who is also the chairman of Rocinantes, has been providing medical assistance in Africa, including Sudan and Zambia, for over 20 years. When you hear him speak, you really feel the weight of his field experience. I believe it is important to have opportunities to get to know people like him.
Matsuzawa I understand that the chairman is also actively involved in environmental issues.
Matsumoto Yes. Our company is committed to promoting the remanufacturing of used, single-use medical devices. This is part of our social contribution activities aimed at reducing our environmental impact. We have also established the "Japan Society for the Promotion of Remanufacturing of Single-Use Medical Devices (JRSA)" at the industry level, with the Matsumoto Memorial Foundation serving as its secretariat.
In the EU, the remanufacturing of single-use medical devices is promoted under the concept of "Green Surgery" with the aim of ensuring medical safety and efficient use of resources. A similar system was established in Japan in July 2017. Moving forward, we will contribute to the realization of sustainable healthcare by effectively utilizing limited medical resources and reducing environmental impact.
Matsuzawa The Osaka-Kansai World Expo is being held this year. Has your industry held any related events?
Matsumoto One notable event in the medical device industry was "Japan Health." This international trade fair, specializing in the medical and healthcare fields, was first held at Intex Osaka in June 2025. It was also held in conjunction with "Health and Wellbeing Week" as an official related event of EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo. This trade fair brought together medical device manufacturers, startups, research institutions, government agencies, and healthcare professionals from both Japan and abroad.
Matsuzawa Could you tell us why the chairman is so dedicated to industry activities?
Matsumoto My reason for engaging in industry activities is not for my own personal gain, but because I wish for the development of the industry as a whole. However, coordinating and uniting with fellow industry professionals, who are also my competitors, is by no means easy. Even in such situations, if you approach the situation with the attitude of "I'll take responsibility, and you can take the credit," people will naturally cooperate.
I will be 90 years old this year. To continue my social contribution activities, good health is paramount. Therefore, I make it a daily routine to do 15 minutes of stretching and 110 push-ups every morning, and for breakfast I eat a healthy meal that I prepare myself for the week in advance. Even now, I still travel domestically and internationally twice a month.
Matsuzawa The spirit of service is very important. I, too, am involved in the activities of the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy with the feeling that I am doing it for my country. Finally, could you please say a few words about what you expect from the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy?
Expectations for the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy
Matsumoto I have participated in numerous overseas delegations organized by the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy. What I have always strongly felt is that the greatest strength of these delegations is the opportunity to meet with high-ranking government officials in the host country and engage in concrete discussions.
I think it's wonderful that they've been able to leverage high-level interactions to translate their activities down to the local level in the visited countries, and develop effective activities "from macro to micro" based on national strategies.
I sincerely hope that the Association for the Promotion of Private Diplomacy will continue to send delegations to various countries in this manner, contributing to the further development of private diplomacy.
Matsuzawa: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule today. I sincerely wish your group continued success and continued contributions to our association.
松本謙一 Born in Tokyo in 1936. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Keio University. Completed a training program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Keio University. Joined Sakura Seiki Co., Ltd. in 61. After serving as a director and president, became chairman in 90. Currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Sakura Global Holdings Co., Ltd., Honorary Chairman of Sakura Finetech Japan Co., Ltd., and director of various group companies. He has served as an officer of industry organizations, including the Japan Society for Medical Devices, and currently serves as Chairman of the Japan Medical Devices Manufacturers Association and Vice Chairman of the Japan Federation of Medical Devices Manufacturers Associations. In 2013, he established the Matsumoto Foundation (later renamed the Matsumoto Memorial Foundation). He has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor's Award, the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, the Blue Ribbon Medal, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.