STRICTLY BUSINESS: AKIYAMA FAMILIAR NAME IN CAPE AREA BUSINESS

Cape Girardeau's loss is Tokyo's gain. Satoru Akiyama is returning to Tokyo after five years.

Akiyama, who has headed operations at Biokyowa Inc. in Cape Girardeau the past five years, will assume a new assignment at Kyowa Engineering Co., LTD in Tokyo.

The name, Satoru Akiyama, is a respected one in Cape Girardeau business circles.

Although his job has been one of tending to business, Akiyama has always done that with a winning and sincere smile.

In 1994, Akiyama, president of Biokyowa Inc., presented a $1,000 check to the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The funds were to be used for a portion of the medical expenses for an officer who had been injured in an accident.

In 1995, he presented a $1,000 check to the annual Toy Box campaign, which provides toys and clothing to youngsters at Christmas.

Akiyama was also on hand when Biokyowa presented a $2,500 check to John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, for the chamber's building fund of a new office on Mount Auburn Road, and when the company provided a $2,000 check to Alma Schrader Elementary School to expand resources for students who are learning English as a second language.

On another occasion, Biokyowa donated more than 350 tickets for staff and employees of VIP Industries to attend the St. Louis Ballet performance of "The Nutcracker," held at the Show Me Center.

Last year, during Biokyowa's 15th anniversary celebration, the company presented a check for $25,000 to the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School to help equip the new school with special-training facilities. Many of Biokyowa workers receive valuable training at the vo-tech school.

Biokyowa and Akiyama have been active in community affairs. The firm supports the Area Wide United Way and Southeast Missouri University Foundation. Akiyama has been a liaison between the Cape Girardeau business world and that of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., LTD, of Tokyo, the parent company of Biokyowa Inc.

Biokyowa is also a member of the Southeast Missouri Regional Training Group, a project designed to provide more skilled workers. More than a dozen employers in the Cape Girardeau area are involved in the program, including some of the area's largest employers, such as Procter & Gamble Paper Products, Lone Star Industries, Dana Corp., M&W Packaging and Lee-Rowan Co.

Biokyowa is the first producer of L-Lysine monohydrochloride feed supplement for swine and poultry in the United States.

Akiyama has served as president of Biokyowa here since July 12, 1993, when he succeeded Sumio Kurihara, who was the plant's first president.

"It's been a good five years here," said Akiyama. "In January of this year we announced a $35 million expansion for Biokyowa. Last month, we announced a new facility to be built adjoining the Biokyowa site."

This all translates into an investment of more than $90 million and 90 new employees, said Akiyama.

The latest announcement was that of a newly formed company, Kyowa Food Inc., which will build a $50 million plant in the Nash Road industrial area and initially employ 50 workers.

The company, said Akiyama, will produce food seasonings and will be built near its sister company, Biokyowa Inc.

Plant construction is to start this summer with completion anticipated in the summer 2000. The plant will be about 32,000 square feet, including processing space and warehouses.

Akiyama also announced at the May meeting that he would be returning to Tokyo. I was reminded of this last week after receiving a note from Akiyama expressing his appreciation for the friendship and support he has received during his tenure in Cape Girardeau.

"It has been a great pleasure," said Akiyama. "I hope our paths will cross again in the future."

Kota Fujiwara is the new president of Biokyowa Inc. and will be president of the new Kyowa Foods Inc.

Fujiwara, who previously served as general manager of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd.'s international operations division in Tokyo, will assume his new duties later this month.

Fujiwara is only the third Biokyowa president and the first for the new Kyowa Foods.

"This is a dream come true," said Fujiwara. "It has long been my dream to run a Kyowa Hakko Kogyo company in the states." Fujiwara lived in Minnesota a year as a student.

"I attended high school one year in the States," he said. "I'm looking forward to the Cape Girardeau area."

Akiyama added in his note;

"I would appreciate your supporting Kota Fujiwara in the future, as you have supported me in the past."

Consider it done, Mr. Saturo Akiyama.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.