My Career Since Joining Akebono

After entering the company, I was working in the Administration Section at a manufacturing facility in Saitama. My job involved a wide range of duties from HR to general affairs to support people in the plants.

After four years, I moved to join a new project team tasked with building a new Akebono training facility. In this project, I was able to experience working in areas such as planning and design, construction management and facility management. Using this experience, I am not only continuing to work on projects for new facilities, but also redesigning plants and workplaces to improve the environment associates work in every day.

My Current Role and Why I Chose to Work at Akebono

In my position within the Facility Management team, I am currently involved in three projects. These projects often lead me to working with a wide range of people from different departments as well as individuals from outside of the company. Working together with people of diverse backgrounds and different values is not always straight forward, but this is also an interesting aspect of my job. Recently, I was involved in a project to construct a child-care facility at Ai-City. The process of carefully listening to each stakeholder including nursery teachers, planners, architects, builders and akebono associates, each with their own ideas, and then realizing these visions into an actual building is what I believe is at the core of Monozukuri (manufacturing with a human touch). After completing the project, hearing the sounds of children laughing and playing in a facility I helped create was one of the most rewarding feelings.

My Future Career and Aspirations

Although my career has been quite unusual, even when compared to other associates within Akebono; I have regularly been exposed to new things every day regardless of the field of specialty. I look forward to taking on new challenges more than ever, and being able to create value for the company and greater society. As my career progresses, I have started taking on new responsibilities and moving onto managerial roles. While developing my leadership and active listening skills, I hope to become a leader of integrity that others can look up to.

A Message to Students

“Look for new horizons!”

It is not worth worrying about whether you can or can’t do something; just give it a go! I realized recently that I have moved far beyond of my comfort zone and allowed myself to have completely new experiences just by always giving things a go. Akebono provides a supportive environment where this is possible.

Although there have been times where you may have to work hard or feel tired, you will always be recognized for your efforts and supported by your colleagues.

Don’t let small challenges dishearten you from reaching your goals. Just try your best and you will reap the rewards.