Alumni Career Success Story #1
Tokyo Organic - When one door closes, another opens
Pramo's aspect
During our time at IUJ, we had an assignment where we had to create a company and give a presentation. Zunita and I were on the same team, and we created a fictional company called Tokyo. We developed a full business plan for organic cosmetics, covering the supply chain, operations, and marketing strategy. The presentation went very well, and we often talked about how it would be great to do something like this together in Japan one day.
At IUJ, group work is a big part of the curriculum, so it is common for students to talk about doing something meaningful together before graduation. At that time, we did not seriously think that this idea would actually become a real company. Time passed, and we each went our separate ways after graduation.
Similar conversations had also happened between Zunita and Yuka. Yuka already had relevant experience even before coming to IUJ, and when she and Zunita met, they casually talked about doing something together. After graduation, however, we were all focused on different paths—working in different countries and pursuing individual goals.
Over time, various circumstances brought us back together. Looking back, the way IUJ teaches is not only about academic knowledge, but about connecting with people and building strong relationships. Studying and working with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds through group projects and research became the foundation of our business venture.
By the time we decided to start a business together, we already understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That shared experience at IUJ made it possible for us to turn a classroom idea into the reality of Tokyo Organic.
Zunita's aspect
When I first came to Japan, I became very conscious about cleanliness and daily care. At the same time, I faced a difficulty I had never really thought about before. In my home country, it was easy to find skin-friendly skincare products that I could use with peace of mind. But in Japan, I did not know the language, I did not understand the ingredients, and I constantly found myself asking,“Can I use this product? Is this safe for me?” That uncertainty made me anxious.
When I talked to my friends, I realized this was not only my problem. Many people felt the same way. That was when I thought, this needs to change. From that experience, the idea of Tokyo Organic was born.
Tokyo Organic started as a vision for skincare that is transparent and trustworthy—products made with carefully researched, high-quality ingredients, including vegan ingredients. It is organic, vegan, and Muslim-friendly skincare that people can use with confidence. From there, I began searching for companies and OEM factories that could actually produce products that met all of these requirements.
The process was far from easy. Managing a company is difficult, and managing one across countries is even more challenging. I first established the company in Malaysia, and after moving to Japan, I struggled to manage the business from abroad. I faced many obstacles and moments of frustration, and there were times when I seriously thought about giving up—whether I should stop the business altogether and choose a more peaceful life.
But I did not want to give up easily. I kept going. One day, I remembered my time at IUJ with Pramo and Yuka. That was when I realized I had found the solution. I reached out to them, and we met, sat down together, and discussed everything—how we wanted to start, how we would plan, and how we could use everything we had learned at IUJ. That moment became the true starting point of turning Tokyo Organic from an idea into a real business.
Yuca's aspect
We started our business with so much hope. However, we soon realized that the legal procedures took far more time than we had expected. Although we launched our business in August 2024, we still did not have full registration by December. Every step of the process became a barrier for us as foreigners.
Even something as basic as creating a bank account in the name of Zunita, our CEO, was extremely difficult. Each time, I prepared a thick file filled with IDs and certificates for both Zunita and Pramo, and brought them to offices and government counters, explaining everything again and again. Through this process, I truly came to understand how much foreigners struggle when trying to start a business in Japan—something I had never fully realized before, as a Japanese person.
We have solved these issues one by one. At the same time, we strongly feel that if we can find solutions through our own experience, we want to share them with IUJ students. Turning these challenges into shared knowledge is something we genuinely hope to do.
Our message
Tokyo Organic is expanding its operations within Japan, with a focus on Tokyo, Osaka, and Niigata. At the same time, we are preparing to export our products to the global market, including the United States, Canada, and Europe.
We also plan to actively use the IUJ Alumni Network to connect with new markets. Through these connections, we hope to expand into regions such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and beyond, taking Tokyo Organic to an even wider international stage.
