BioKyowa president takes position in Japan

The president of the BioKyowa Inc. industrial plant in Cape Girardeau is saying farewell.

Terumi Okada announced last month his resignation from the amino acid production facility on Nash Road, effective March 24, when he leaves Missouri. He has accepted a position in Hofu, Japan, as a plant manager for Kyowa Hakko, the parent company of BioKyowa, where he worked for more than 26 years before coming to the United States.

"My wife and I shared much small happiness during our six-year stay," Okada said. "I saw a lot of events in Cape Girardeau: the new bridge, the new conservation center, the development of downtown Cape, many new restaurants and exciting Major League Baseball games. It's all so interesting for me."

Okada served as president of BioKyowa since 2005, when he succeeded Kohta Fujiwara.

Okada's successor is Toshihiko Hirao, who worked at BioKyowa in Cape Girardeau from 1989 to 1997, the last five years as vice president. He was most recently a plant manager in Ube, Japan.

Terumi Okada president of Biokyowa inside his office, will be going back to Japan (Diane L. Wilson)

"Any management cannot promise eternal prosperity, but I believe BioKyowa could stand a long time from now," said Okada, pointing out that the message is for both the community and the company's new president.

BioKyowa began as a L-Lysine feed grain plant in Cape Girardeau 25 years ago come October. In 2002, the company stopped producing the chemical completely after a decision was made to enter a more profitable area when major competitors from China and Japan lowered their prices.

Today BioKyowa produces higher-grade amino acids used for fat burning in health supplements such as energy drinks and power bars. The amino acid also has industrial use as the raw material for purification and synthesis of pharmaceutical products and vitamins.

Okada said his experiences in Cape Girardeau have been both challenging and rewarding, professionally and personally. Challenges Okada faced included having to lay off 25 percent of the plant's workforce last year to help lower prices and keep pace with global competitors.

As for personal rewards, he learned to fish in Cape Girardeau. He will take the skill back home, he said.

"He's been wonderful to work with," said human resources manager Kathy McLain, adding that Okada was a good fisherman.

He also picked up antiquing as a hobby in Southeast Missouri.

"In downtown there are so many good antique shops," Okada said. "I gathered a collection."

So large a collection that he had to sell half the antiques back to downtown Cape stores because in Japan he will not have enough space for all of them.

Okada said he will think fondly of his experiences in Southeast Missouri.

"I believe Cape Girardeau is American life. Not New York or San Francisco, East Coast or West Coast. It's not American life. This area is American life," Okada said.

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137