What Lifts Me Up

ISOWA’s supporters association.

It consists of 38 suppliers of ISOWA.

And they had a party for my 60^th birthday at a hotel in the city.

One of the hotel server came talk to me,

“I’ve never seen suppliers throw a party for a buyer like this.

I’ve never seen them serve this gorgeous dinner either.”

I never thought my 60^th birthday party would be so great.

Especially, I couldn’t thank Mr. T enough who has organized all of it.

At the end of the party, they even brought out a fancy cake.

It was perfect dessert for someone who has a sweet tooth like I do.

There was one thing that I wanted to do.

I wanted to take a picture with every single person who was there.

And I wanted the pictures to look nice.

That’s why I asked Mr. K who is particular about photographs to come with me.

I want you to know I wasn’t making him take photos the whole time.

I wanted him in a picture, too.

We are all born good but weak. So am I.

And it’s ISOWA’s supporters association who always pulls me through.

To show how thankful I am, I picked the appreciation gift myself.

1.8 kg a person. 80kg in total.

That’s how grateful I am. I hope they will like it.

You want to know what it was?

That’s a secret between us.

I would like to say thank you again for a wonderful night and always being supportive.

Turning to a New Chapter of the Industry

Today was a historic day for us.

Realizing the concept of “i Machine” is what we have been working on for four years.

And now the time has come to launch the 2^nd machine into the market, as the first one has been successfully operated for more than one year.

The customers who have ordered the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th machine came for acceptance inspection.

While we were showing them the machine in action, they all took out their smartphones and kept taking a video with excitement.

It’s like when a celebrity shows up in front of his huge fans.

“This is going to be the new trend in the industry.”

“I like the concept.”

“It absolutely meets our high expectations.”

“The quality is perfect.”

We got so many good feedbacks.

It made me happy they wouldn’t stop praising the machine.

That reminds me of a saying,

“Functional things are beautiful.”

I promise we will keep creating new value in the corrugated industry.

Appreciation for the pioneers

We had anzen-kigan-sai (ceremony held to pray for the safety) ahead of the demolition of the plant 1 and 2.

I thought of my grandfather who built these plants 55 years ago, my father and all of the ISOWA workers who have gone before us.

Every time I saw the floor, the roof and each column, I could feel tears and happiness they had in this place.

ISOWA wouldn’t exist without all those efforts they made.

While I was in the plant, they all kept asking me one thing.

“Have you read that message yet?”

This is that message.

“Thank you for letting me use this place as a welding shop for a long time.”

It was written by one of the plant workers.

The priest seemed really impressed with the message.

“You have a wonderful employee. That is what’s special about ISOWA.“

I think we should always be thankful like he is.

I was standing in the middle of the plant after everyone was gone.

Then I saw a ray of beautiful light coming into the plant.

It was such a spectacular view.

I wondered what was beyond the light.

Then I found our guardian beyond the gate.

It must be a sign of good luck!

It felt like the guardian and the pioneers are leading the way for us towards the safe construction and success of the new plant.

Let’s make that happen!