Sales, despite a background in science? The craftsmanship and people at Tsuchiya Kaban that captivated me, an engineering graduate.

Imaeda works at the Tsuchiya Kaban flagship store in Nishiarai. When she introduces herself by saying, "I majored in chemistry in the faculty of engineering," she says many people are surprised and ask, "Why did you go from a science background into retail?"

In high school, Imaeda loved chemistry and vaguely considered a career in cosmetic product development. However, as she engaged in research and extracurricular activities in college, her interests gradually shifted toward "people."

In this article, we interviewed Imaeda about her first year at the company, covering why she—a science major—was drawn to Tsuchiya Kaban's mission and why she chose to work in a role that puts her in direct contact with customers at the store.