It's a job that gives me a sense of fulfillment every day.

In the Engineering Division where I work, our main responsibility is the design of mechanical equipment, but our department is involved in the entire process—from quoting to design, manufacturing, and commissioning. We listen to our customers’ requests—such as “We want equipment like this”—and then evaluate the specifications and performance requirements. Once the customer is satisfied with our proposal, we receive the order and proceed with the detailed design. Although being involved in every stage of the process can be challenging at times, I find it deeply rewarding.

I think the company atmosphere is quite good. Everyone gets along well across generations—from young employees in their 20s to veterans in their 50s and 60s—and there’s a close rapport between departments. While everyone stays focused during work hours, senior colleagues are always willing to answer even sudden questions politely. Also, at Tanabe, there are many business trips, so you get to visit various places all over the country. If the opportunity arises, you can even travel overseas. I do get nervous going on business trips with senior colleagues, but since they invite me out to dinner in the evenings, it’s a great opportunity to get to know them better. The relationships built during these trips continue even after we return to the office, making day-to-day collaboration and mutual support between departments run very smoothly. While frequent business trips are often seen as a drawback, I feel there are unique benefits that come precisely because of them.

The most memorable experience since joining the company was the equipment project for Malaysia that I was in charge of for the first time. At the time, it was my first time traveling overseas and my first time taking charge of a project, so I was filled with anxiety. During the trial run at the client’s factory in preparation for full-scale operations, unexpected problems arose that prevented us from proceeding according to schedule, causing inconvenience to the client. Since we were overseas, it wasn’t easy to request additional staff from headquarters, so we had no choice but to resolve the issues on our own. I still remember the words of gratitude from the client and the sense of accomplishment I felt when we completed the entire process and successfully handed over the equipment to them.

I think having some knowledge of machinery makes it easier to grasp the basics of the job, but since senior colleagues and supervisors will kindly teach you the knowledge actually needed for the job after you join the company, there’s no need to worry even if you didn’t major in engineering as a student. I believe what’s more important than knowledge is a spirit of inquiry to seek out new information and the communication skills to ask questions of those around you. While mechanical design involves spending a lot of time working alone at a computer, it’s also a department where you’ll interact with a wide variety of people—including colleagues, partner companies, and customers. Of course, discussing work is essential, but I believe it’s also important to build relationships strong enough to engage in casual conversation. That’s why I really hope people who enjoy interacting with others will join us!