Completion ceremony and Two-night Summer Festival

 

With not only material prices increasing but also the supply of materials themselves remaining unstable, ISOWA’s No. 5 Logistics Plant was completed on schedule. We held a small ceremony officiated by Mr. Uehara of the Ryosha-gu Shrine near ISOWA.

 

If you look toward the back of the ceremony venue, you can see rows and rows of tables and chairs. I’ll tell that story later, so stay tuned!

 

The No. 5 Logistics Plant is quite a large building which is 80 meters wide, 15 meters deep, and two stories high. Everyone in the photo fits comfortably into the frame, but somehow, I look unusually small. (;^_^A

 

I guess I really am a “small” person after all! (LOL)

 

 

 

Until now, we had simply called this facility a “warehouse.” However, when we decided to rebuild it, we wanted it to be much more than just a place to store things.

 

Our vision was to create a smooth flow of goods and information from deliveries and storage of items supplied by our TASUKE-bito partners, to the movement of materials within ISOWA’s plants, and finally to shipments from ISOWA to our customers.

 

In other words, rather than treating the warehouse simply as a cost center, we set out to transform it into a logistics plant that creates new value as a profit center.

 

Just like the machines we deliver to our customers, delivery itself is not the finish line. It is the starting line.

 

Our goal is to make full use of this new facility so that it will contribute to our profitability for the next 10 or 20 years.

 

Following the relocation of our Tokyo Sales Office to its new premises, this marks another major capital investment for ISOWA.

 

Let’s make the most of it and use it to help reduce our customers’ opportunity loss!

 

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who was involved in the construction of this new facility.

 

*”KIKAI” is homonym in Japanese, meaning “Machine” and “Opportunity” :)

 

 

 

After the completion ceremony...

 

We invited ISOWA’s TASUKE-bito partners to join us for a Summer Festival Open House to celebrate the completion of our No. 5 Logistics Plant.

 

In addition to 250 TASUKE-bito partners, we were joined by children who became ISOWA fans through our Dream Kitchen activities, the Dream Kitchen staff, and our neighbors, whom we had inconvenienced during the construction of the new plant.

 

Altogether, around 300 people joined us for the celebration!

People, people, and more people...

First, Hikaru gave a few words of welcome to everyone, but with so many people gathered, it was almost impossible to tell where he was speaking from!

 

After that, our guests had the opportunity to see ISOWA’s machines in operation.

Among all the TASUKE-bito partners, the members of Dream Kitchen were also watching the machines with great interest.

Mr. Y, President of Company S and Chairman of the ISOWA Friendship Association, gave the closing remarks. Company S is located so close to us that you could almost say we are neighbors, and as many as 43 of their employees joined us for the event. Thank you very much!

ISOWA’s strategy is centered on the value we provide to our customers: “Contributing to the reduction of opportunity loss in corrugated board plants.”

 

One of the key ideas supporting this strategy may sound irrational at first, but we believe it is actually essential to making the entire strategy work: being “fair, open, and aboveboard” with our customers.

 

In a sense, being truly fair and transparent is extremely difficult in business. However, within ISOWA’s overall strategic story, we want to turn what may seem “irrational” into something that makes sound business sense.

 

In the same way, with our TASUKE-bito partners, we want to achieve “mutual prosperity”—to grow and prosper together.

 

That, too, is difficult in business. In fact, we still have a long way to go, even more so than with our efforts to be fair and transparent with our customers.

 

But just as we have worked on transforming our corporate culture for more than 25 years, we believe that if we take a long-term approach and turn what may initially seem irrational into something rational, we can build a truly resilient supply chain.

 

I promised our TASUKE-bito partners that we will continue working toward that goal.

 

We sincerely appreciate your continued support, partnership, and guidance.

 

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came and made the event such a wonderful gathering!

Following the event for our TASUKE-bito partners and neighbors, we wrapped up the day with the ISOWA Family Summer Festival for our employees and their families.

I gave the opening remarks wearing my favorite Roadster T-shirt, but there were people, people, and more people! Even standing on the stage, I couldn’t see everyone’s faces.

The newly completed No. 5 Logistics Plant, which had been completely empty just moments before, was now packed with people, with barely any room to move!

We invited a total of 10 food trucks to the festival.

 

These photos were sent to me by Mr. I, our photographer, and I didn’t even realize that there was a food truck serving “1-Pound Steak” until I saw it in the photos.

 

What a surprise!

There was also a wide variety of drinks to choose from, including alcoholic beverages.

And as you can see, the festival was a huge hit! This time, we introduced a brand-new attraction. And that was...

What could it be???

Huh?

Who is this suspicious-looking person?

Perhaps…

Oh, it’s an Art Car!

The man in the center is the artist, Mr.Daichi Mori. Ever since I first saw his Art Car project at Cafe Plus α, which is run by my younger brother, I had been hoping that someday we could do something like this at ISOWA, too.

And we finally made it happen! Here is what it was like before the painting began...

Oh, and the man in the photo with the car is my younger brother, Takashi, the owner of the café. In addition to helping with the Art Car, he was also in charge of serving sweets at the festival.

And then, with the help of the children...

It was transformed into this amazingly colorful and cheerful service car!

We removed the license plates for the painting, but make no mistake. This is a genuine ISOWA service car. We’ll put the finishing touches on it, and soon our service team will be visiting domestic customers in this one-of-a-kind vehicle. If you see it coming your way, please give it a warm welcome!

And from there, the story naturally led into a demonstration run of an ISOWA printing machine.

A large crowd gathered in one corner of the plant, waiting for the demonstration to begin.

Then Mr. K, who was running the show, started giving some instructions to one of the children.

Actually, our engineers had prepared something special just for this day. A start button designed especially for our little operators!

When the child touched the “SPEED UP” icon...

The machine started running at full production speed!

And then...

A huge round of applause erupted from all the families watching.

What a wonderful sight, so very ISOWA!

Everyone had a fantastic time, enjoying all the delicious food from the various food trucks. What a great atmosphere, it was simply the best!

And then, the party was over.

But just when it was coming to an end, I witnessed yet another wonderful moment.

Many of the participants spontaneously began wiping down the tables with the wipes that had been provided. It reminded me of soccer fans cleaning up the stadium after a match.

That’s the ISOWA-bito spirit!

Supported by such wonderful people, our two-night summer festival—the 2026 ISOWA Friendship Association Summer Festival and the ISOWA Family Summer Festival—came to a very successful close.

To everyone on the organizing team, thank you so much for all your hard work, right up until the very end.

It was so much fun. Thank you all!!

Rock Music is Fun

Looking good! This is so much fun. Don’t I look pretty cool? I started playing the drums in my first year of junior high school, and continued until I graduated from high school. But look at this…

 

Wait, if you look closely at the guitar… you can see corrugated flutes! Yes, it’s made of corrugated board. Pretty playful, isn’t it? This is a picture that one of my former customers, Mr. N, gave me as a birthday gift. Just to be clear, he didn’t give me the guitar itself, he gave me this picture. Just what you’d expect from a former corrugated professional! But when and where did he take such a photo? I asked him (well, I didn’t actually ask him, haha.)

 

The answer was, “I created it.”

 

???

 

“With AI.” Haha!

 

Sooo coooool!!

 

So, I decided to create a version of my actual original role, a drummer! The top picture is the one I made, trying to make it look as realistic as possible. Awesome!! I gotta say, I did a pretty good job! Mr. N, thank you very much for your wonderful gift and inspiration.

Two Interns from HUST

 

HUST stands for Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

 

Last November, four professors from HUST visited ISOWA. When it comes to HUST, it goes without saying that it is the most selective university in Vietnam — a prestigious institution boasting top-tier recognition and academic rigor across Asia.

Our connection with them began thanks to Ms. D, (the woman on the left) a brilliant Vietnamese engineer who has been working with us as a full-time resident supporter ("TASUKE-bito") since last June.

All the members working with her agreed that Ms. D is incredibly talented, and when I looked into it I found out she’s a graduate of Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

This led us to invite her former professors to visit our factory in Kasugai, which resulted in a very passionate and deeply connected exchange.

Following a visit to ISOWA by four professors, we decided to accept the two interns they selected, Nam and Hui have arrived in Japan.

 

Under the “strict” (haha) guidance of their senior, Ms. D, they will be working on their assignments for the entire week. Right at the start of the afternoon, they came by together to say hello.

 

 

Over the years, I have given lectures to Vietnamese business executives four times.

Remembering that JICA, the organization that hosted those lectures, had previously translated my presentation slides into Vietnamese, I gave those materials to the two interns as a gift.

Along with this, I shared this message with them: "Everyone works for their own happiness and that of their family, but your colleagues around you feel the same way. If you try to pursue your own happiness at the expense of others, you won’t be happy yourself in the end. When you respect and cooperate with your colleagues, they will do the same for you. At ISOWA, we work as a team, not alone. I hope you will experience this philosophy during your internship, while keeping safety as your top priority.”

They both looked so nervous, so to break the ice, I asked them about their hobbies. They answered "Basketball" and "Video games." Hobbies truly are universal! (haha)

Since they traveled all the way to Japan, I thought it would be a great opportunity for them to learn about Japanese culture and business etiquette, so I gave them a little advice on how to handle business cards.

We wrapped up our talk with a handshake, and then Ms. D chimed in, "Me too, please!"

I told her, "I was holding back because I worry about being accused of harassment if I ask—but I'm so happy!" We then shared a firm handshake.

If you have any questions about the materials I gave you, feel free to ask me anytime. I’d be happy to talk about them. Enjoy your internship at ISOWA to the fullest and learn as much as you can.

 

Let’s Make Great Family Companies!

Company L. has been one of our valued customers since Jack’s grandfather purchased an ISOWA FFG back in 1973.

On April 29th, Jack, his wife, Josie, and his daughter, Amy, visited our company while they were on vacation in Japan.

They stayed in Kyoto, left there at noon to visit ISOWA, and returned to Kyoto that night.

 *The distance from Kyoto to Aichi, where ISOWA is located, is about 115 km(75 miles).

I last met Jack three years ago in the fall.

 

After they arrived, Darz from the Overseas Department gave them a company introduction. At the end of her presentation, she was talking about ISOWA’s philosophy, then suddenly lost her words and started crying.

 

That was a big surprise for both Jack’s family and me. However, seeing someone cry while talking about the company is something that makes the company president truly happy. I was deeply moved by her presentation.

 

After that, Mr. A took them on a tour of our factory, and at the end of the tour, Mr. S, a leader from the Engineering Department, spoke in English about his passion for development. I could really feel his extraordinary passion for development. Great job, Mr. S!

 

After the factory tour, all three of them told us, “The factory is very clean!”

Jack, who owns a family business as I do, also said, “I deeply understand that we and ISOWA are heading toward the same destination.” He also asked, “How do you keep 300 employees united?”

The conversation about local communities and charitable donations became very lively.

Until now, we have mainly considered donations from ISOWA Japan's perspective. However, this conversation inspired us to think about how ISOWA America might also contribute through charitable activities within its capabilities, especially in the United States, where a culture of philanthropy is deeply rooted.

 

After that, we went to dinner together. Since Jack visited us with his family, I decided to treat them together with my family.

The most impressive dish was this Chateaubriand served with egg yolk and grated daikon radish. The beef was quite thick, yet it was so tender that it could easily be cut with chopsticks. That showed just how excellent the beef was.

 

We also prepared some special gifts.

One was “Kohen,” a sake from Kintora Brewery, a Nagoya-based sake brewery run by relatives on my mother’s side. I hope they chilled it and enjoyed it at their hotel.

 

Another gift was a piece of calligraphy featuring the Japanese kanji character for “Liberty,” written by my wife on colored paper made with MILDAN using recycled milk-carton paper, experimentally provided by T Company, another valued ISOWA customer.

They could not read the kanji and did not understand its meaning at first. However, when I explained the meaning to them, they were very surprised and excited! It turned out to be a really great gift idea.

 

In return, when they visited Tokyo, they also brought us special good-luck charms from Sensō-ji, a temple in Asakusa, including a talisman for business prosperity.

 

With the “Liberty” calligraphy and the good-luck charms from Sensō-ji, we will continue striving to build great family companies together!

Hone Their Skills

 

One day, our company-wide morning meeting began with an award ceremony for two employees born in the 21st century who had passed the Level 2 Skills Certification Exam: Mr. K (far right) and Mr. I (second from the right).

 

Mr. K had been in Saudi Arabia until recently to install a Falcon machine and had just returned safely shortly before the current conflict began. Of course, he hadn’t anticipated that such an event would occur, so he was quite shocked when it actually happened.　Besides Mr. K, there were two others who had gone on the business trip with him. They returned even later than Mr. K, and the conflict began the very moment they got back. It was truly a relief that they were able to return safely. Great job, and welcome back!

 

The other successful candidate, Mr. I, isn’t very good at speaking in front of people. He was more nervous than anyone else—before he spoke, while he was speaking, and even after he finished. He gave it his all and expressed his gratitude to the seniors and colleagues who supported him leading up to the exam. Every time he stumbled over his words, I’m sure everyone at ISOWA-BITO was cheering for him in their hearts. After it was over, Mr. H, who was sitting next to me, seemed to be clapping from the bottom of his heart. I’m sure I’s feelings were clearly conveyed to everyone who attended the morning assembly. I think you’ll be able to do even better next time, Mr. I.

 

I look forward to seeing them continue to hone their technical skills and communication abilities. Congratulations, Mr. K and Mr. I.

 

And in this photo, besides Mr. K and Mr. I—the two on the right who passed the skills certification exam—and me (as a bonus), there’s one more person in the picture. It’s our new employee, Rudy.

 

It’s a bit unusual to have a new employee at this time of year, and he looks a little older than the typical new hire, doesn’t he?

 

Actually, he is the husband of Dharz, who joined our company last September. After obtaining a family stay visa, he finally arrived in Japan from the Philippines in mid-February.

 

At the company-wide morning meeting, following the presentation of the vocational skills certification awards, Rudy gave a self-introduction in Japanese. He said, “Work is fun, but self-introductions make me really nervous,” so he must have been quite nervous, but he managed to deliver a self-introduction in Japanese that was perfectly understandable. Bravo! Even though his wife, Dharz, had been introducing him to me as “Rudy” even before he arrived in Japan, apparently he himself says, “It’s not ‘Rudy.’ Please call me ‘Rody.’” I wonder if they’re having marital problems? (lol)

But when Rudy’s entry permit was approved, they apparently cried tears of joy together during a video call, and they seem so in love that there’s probably no need to worry about that.

 

He started working at ISOWA this week, but unfortunately, because he’s on a family stay visa, there are restrictions on his working hours, so he only works in the mornings. But he’s incredibly enthusiastic. Apparently, he asked, “I have time in the afternoons, so I’d like to go home and study. Would it be okay if I took the blueprints home with me?” Good for him! With guidance from such a wonderful colleague and by using translation software, let’s hope he masters the skills quickly.　I hear he’s enjoying his breaks with his colleagues. Study Japanese hard, get your official work visa, and do your best so that the day when you can live in Japan with your three children—your ultimate goal—comes as soon as possible! We’re all rooting for you. Go, go, Rudy!!

 

AI ou IA?

We were delighted to welcome four representatives from Company T in Brazil for the pre-shipment inspection of their new FALCON FFG. Andre from ISOWA Brazil guided them. I first met two of their top executives two years ago during a dinner at an industry show in Orlando, Florida. 

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This new order follows a machine they have been using for 30 years. It was truly heartening to hear them say, “the machine from 30 years ago is still working hard for us today.”

When they visited ISOWA on Friday, I unfortunately missed them due to my annual health checkup. However, I was able to join them for breakfast the next morning. When I asked for their impressions of the visit, they were incredibly gracious: “The machinery was excellent. But more than that, we learned so much from the ‘ISOWA-bito,’ the culture, and the overall atmosphere. As a family business ourselves, there was much we wanted to emulate.” It’s the greatest joy for me to have a customer show interest not only in the machines, but also in the unseen “iceberg beneath the surface”—our values and culture, that makes them possible. Our breakfast was filled with insightful questions about ISOWA’s philosophy and my management style.

During our conversation, we stumbled upon a funny topic regarding the acronym “IA.” At ISOWA, “IA” stands for ISOWA America. However, in Brazil, “IA” refers to Artificial Intelligence! In Portuguese, it is Inteligência Artificial, so the initials are reversed compared to English (AI). They joked that they sometimes get ISOWA America and Artificial Intelligence mixed up. Well, perhaps that’s because ISOWA America is just as smart as AI! (laughs)

They kindly invited me to visit Brazil, and I gave them one condition: “It must be during the futbol season. Please don’t invite me during the off-season!” (laughs). If all goes well, I might be watching an authentic futbol match in Brazil for the first time in six years. I have a lot to look forward to!

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Talking with the young, new generation of leadership from Company T was truly stimulating. Whether in Japan or Brazil, I believe management that truly values people is the path to success.

Thank you so much for traveling from the other side of the world to visit us!

Let' work smarter!

Last week, three members from ISOWA America—Ron, Kaiser, and Andy—visited Japan to attend the annual meeting.

ISOWA America delivered very strong performance in the previous fiscal year (October 2024 to September 2025).

Repeat orders from existing customers increased, while new customers were acquired as a result of our strong market reputation. Furthermore, delivery records across North and South America expanded, and the parts and service business continued to grow.

Rather than resting on these achievements, we spent four days in intensive and productive discussions focused on driving cultural reform at ISOWA America, overcoming the impact of Trump-era tariffs, and achieving further growth. These discussions were extremely meaningful.

As this was Andy’s first visit to Japan, being able to directly experience ISOWA’s culture and corporate spirit will surely prove valuable in his future career at ISOWA. It is also very encouraging to see the growing number of members who have previously been stationed at ISOWA America, as they are contributing greatly to stronger communication between Japan and the U.S.

On the final evening, we held a dinner to thank everyone for their efforts.

Apparently, Kaiser’s daughter is very curious about what her father eats in Japan, so he took photos of every dish as it was served.

He usually avoids desserts for health reasons, but when he comes to Japan, he can’t resist the temptation. Wanting to keep this a secret from his family, I suggested, “Then why don’t you just take a photo of the last remaining strawberry?”

He happily did just that (laughs).

Kaiser—the George Clooney of ISOWA America—is a favorite with everyone.

 

At the end, we received some souvenirs: two kinds of organic tea.

Ron shared the story behind them.

“If you drink the one on the left, ‘Memory Magic,’ 99% of the time your mind will feel clear. Still worried about the remaining 1%? No problem—just drink the one on the right, ‘Worry Ease,’ and it will blow your anxiety away.”

I see! Just like strategy, a good story matters even for souvenirs. I’ll follow your advice and choose accordingly. Thank you!

 

Let’s work smart!

ISOWA keeps you going - always on the go to make folks happy in the corrugated world.