Former alpine skiing Japan national team member Minagawa Kentaro (皆川賢太郎) was appointed executive vice president of the company operating JAM Fukui Katsuyama Mountain Resort. The company has stated its policy of aiming to make it the leading resort in western Japan.
Katsuyama Kogen Development of Katsuyama City announced on 8 October that it had appointed former alpine skiing Japan national team member Minagawa Kentaro (皆川賢太郎), 49, executive vice president of JAM Fukui Katsuyama Mountain Resort, which it operates. Minagawa will also serve as executive head of the resort business and be involved in the operation of the ski area and hotel.
After retiring from competition, Minagawa was involved in reforms at the Ski Association of Japan. He also has experience directing resort management as head of the ski area at Appi Kogen in Iwate Prefecture, and this experience is expected to be used in transforming JAM Fukui Katsuyama.
In April this year, JAM Fukui Katsuyama began rebuilding its brand under its current name, formerly Ski Jam Katsuyama, with the aim of establishing a year-round resort. In an interview, Minagawa expressed his desire to develop the ski area, one of the largest in western Japan, into the leading resort in western Japan.
The resort is expected to strengthen its competitiveness and expand its communications in Japan and overseas through brand rebuilding and the appointment of new personnel.