Running one of Japan's largest electronics firms, Minoru Usui, president of Seiko Epson Corp. 6724.TO +0.58% Seiko Epson Corp. Japan: Tokyo ¥4335 +25 +0.58% July 11, 2014 3:00 pm Volume (Delayed 20m) : 851,700 P/E Ratio 9.27 Market Cap ¥880.20 Billion Dividend Yield 1.61% Rev. per Employee ¥13,715,900 06/23/14 Seiko Epson President Bets on ... More quote details and news » , incorporates both high-tech gadgets and the stunning mountain scenery of the Nagano region, where his company is based, into his fitness regimen. "We're blessed with nature, particularly the mountains," says Mr. Usui, who takes in the local landscape while skiing, golfing and running.

Minoru Usui, president of Seiko Epson, at the Fujifilm Senior Championship in 2011. M. Momose

The slopes are less than an hour's drive from the 57-year-old's home in Shiojiri, about 16 miles from the company's headquarters in Suwa. He takes his children—two teenage sons and a 12-year-old daughter—on frequent ski trips. The family's favorite destination is the Happo-one ski resort, in the nearby town of Hakuba. Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998 and a point of pride for Mr. Usui is that he skied a course used for the giant slalom. "In very different conditions," he says. "I went a lot slower."

Mr. Usui exercises to unwind and spend time with friends and family. His children's enthusiasm for soccer got him to switch from his longtime love of baseball, which he played at the university level. He referees junior-league soccer matches and says he has learned valuable lessons for running the company from his love of soccer. "Baseball is a team game, but it's the pitcher versus the batter. In soccer, everyone has a role," Mr. Usui says, speaking through a translator.

The Workout

Mr. Usui goes skiing at least once a month and plays golf two or three times a month, usually with business partners. He practices every week with a motion-detecting swing analyzer to improve his swing. While he is coy about his handicap, saying he'll admit it when it improves, it usually takes him around 4½ hours to play 18 holes. "I just love to hit the ball as hard as I can," he says.

He goes running at least once a week for about 40 minutes, switching between running and walking. Another advantage of jogging: He gets to go through Shinshu Sky Park, which houses the stadium of his favorite soccer team, Matsumoto Yamaga FC, sponsored by his company. "Unlike Tokyo, which has no space, we have lots of parks," he says, adding that on his days off he'll often go to the park to kick around the soccer ball with his children.

Gear & Cost

Mr. Usui, of course, makes devices using his company's technology a part of his exercise routine. He has a swing analyzer called Body Fit Golf by Mizuno, which looks like a small golf club and has a component designed by his company that detects how the wearer's muscles or joints are moving. Mr. Usui says it's more effective than analyzing a video of his swing. Prices range from about $160 for an iron to about $420 for a driver. He also has experimented with the WristableGPS, a Seiko Epson wrist monitor that tracks the wearer's route by GPS and has a battery life of up to 14 hours. Prices range from $260 to $370.

He likes to use a pulse monitor wristwatch, which has a cartoon face to tell the wearer when to put in more effort, depending on their optimal heart rate. These are commonly distributed by corporate health unions in Japan.

On the non-tech side, he uses Salomon skis and prefers Red Phenix skiwear. His top piece of golf equipment is a Bridgestone driver head (prices vary), with a Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, which costs about $300.


Mr. Usui is a creature of habit and keeps to a simple, healthy diet of traditional Japanese food built around rice, miso and two or three other items. He has a traditional Japanese lunchbox, known as a bento, every day. As his job involves eating out a lot, he tries to keep his portions modest.

He travels extensively for business and always enjoys eating local food—particularly in India, Germany and Spain. He also stays healthy by keeping his alcohol intake modest—beer is his favorite tipple, but he says he never has more than a glass or two.