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Founded 60 years ago in Fuji City, the paper-making capital, the company's primary business is designing and manufacturing paper machinery, and it has developed expertise as a maker of anti-meandering devices known as "Auto Guides." Handling everything from design to manufacturing in-house, he spends much of his time at a computer handling design and administrative work, but when visited he happily gave a tour of the factory and enthusiastically introduced the company's products.[/caption]
Please tell us how you came to your current line of work.
Having watched my father — the second-generation owner — since I was old enough to understand, working at our company had been my dream from a very young age. I felt that our products were used in key parts of various machines and played an important role in society, and with the intention of taking over the business I went on to study mechanical engineering. After graduating, I spent several years training in design and manufacturing at an industrial machinery company in Fuji City, and five years ago I was finally able to join our company.
You say it was a dream from childhood — both you and your father must have felt deeply moved by that. Joining the company five years ago means you joined JCI shortly afterward as well, right?
Ever since I joined the company, my father had been encouraging me to belong to organizations like JCI. As I came to be involved not only in design but also in company management, I had the technical knowledge related to design but lacked knowledge about running a business, and I was troubled by that. When I was wondering if there was a way to find peers in a similar position, someone who had graduated from JCI at one of our business partners introduced me to JCI. It happened to be right before my wedding, but I thought that if I let this moment of interest pass I would regret it, so I joined immediately after the wedding reception. (laughs)
Your father and your business partner — it sounds like you had many people around you who cared about your growth. What was it actually like after you joined?
Until then, all my interactions had been with people far older than me, whether in my own industry or outside it, so I was genuinely happy to be able to talk about work and personal life with people of the same generation and find that we understood each other. I was surprised to find so many people close to my age who were already running companies as representatives or directors. Being able to gather information from them — like "you can use this kind of system" — and to get business advice and share concerns was truly a plus.
Speaking of personal life, your second child was born last year.
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After joining, the community expanded beyond fellow members to families as well. "When I was helping set up JCI projects, my wife and the spouses of Fuji JCI members came to help too. They seem to be getting together personally apart from JCI, so I imagine the wives are talking about JCI among themselves as well." (laughs)[/caption]
Beyond work talk, I love being able to bond and get excited over conversations about our kids. JCI members and their children are often the same generation, so some members' kids attend the same daycare or live nearby, and we socialize as whole families. Since joining, not just I but my wife and children have formed new communities too. Since we socialize as families, it's natural to talk about JCI with my wife at home — things like what kind of people are in the group, what's happening now, or the background and purpose of an upcoming project. My wife is a teacher, so she sometimes offers unexpectedly sharp insights. (laughs)
Sharing topics with family can bring hints you would never notice from inside JCI alone. While cherishing that family, you were actively involved last year in the operation of the JCI Youth Ship "Tokaigo," among other activities. What drives you?
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With fellow Fuji JCI members who worked on the setup of the JCI Youth Ship "Tokaigo." "I was just giving everything I had to support the committee chair. I was desperate to go all in and give it my absolute best."[/caption]
From a young age I've always had a strong desire to "do something for someone." In last year's JCI Youth Ship "Tokaigo," a committee chair was sent from Fuji JCI, and the biggest driving force for me was the feeling that I wanted to support this person. In JCI there are people who work earnestly and push hard everywhere you look, and when I sense that someone is doing their best and that I am needed, I feel compelled to engage with everything I have.
From what you've shared, it is clear that by making full use of JCI your work and family life have become even more fulfilling. If you have any aspirations for the future, please share them.
I tend to be better at playing the supporting role rather than leading, so I can't really picture myself as the leader. However, watching each year's committee chairs, I see that people like me — more the supporting type — can lead brilliantly too. It's somewhat hard to bring that side of yourself forward in a company setting, but I think JCI gives me the opportunity to practice, so I'd like to find my own style of leadership. Also, I'd like to take on challenges in activities outside the prefecture again, like the "Tokaigo." During last year's "Tokaigo" setup, I met someone from a company related to our products, and that connection gave me the chance to learn how our products are being used outside the prefecture. Our company has many out-of-prefecture clients, but when confidentiality agreements are in place with customers, we often have no way of knowing where our products are being used — so I was surprised to find them in unexpected places. Interacting with people from outside the prefecture was an experience that broadened my horizons more than ever, so I'd like to actively participate in JCI activities outside the prefecture whenever the opportunity arises.
Not only excelling in JCI but also not letting business opportunities pass you by. What do you keep in mind on the work front?
Right now the impact of the novel coronavirus is not small. In that context, I draw encouragement from a phrase by Shuzo Matsuoka, a favorite of mine: "Think. Don't think." It means: don't spend energy on things that can't be solved by thinking — instead, think about what you can do right now. In times like these it's easy to feel anxious and disheartened, but I see it as a good opportunity to take a positive outlook and review the company's systems. Our company is still a very small enterprise, and our systems haven't changed since the Showa era. With the current systems we cannot keep up with our ever-growing out-of-prefecture client base, so we need to overhaul our systems by incorporating IT technology. To build a richer workplace environment and atmosphere, I want to continue drawing inspiration from JCI members and exchanging advice to keep improving.
Tetsuya Sano
Born: 1988 (age 31)
Years in JCI: 2 (joined 2017)
Employer:
Sano Machinery Co., Ltd. — Director
Industry: Metal fabrication
Hobbies: Illustration, manga
Favorite manga artists: Hirohiko Araki, Tite Kubo
Family: Wife, eldest daughter (age 2), eldest son (age 0)
Motto: Don't worry! Be happy!
Founded 60 years ago in Fuji City, the paper-making capital, the company's primary business is designing and manufacturing paper machinery, and it has developed expertise as a maker of anti-meandering devices known as "Auto Guides." Handling everything from design to manufacturing in-house, he spends much of his time at a computer handling design and administrative work, but when visited he happily gave a tour of the factory and enthusiastically introduced the company's products.[/caption]
After joining, the community expanded beyond fellow members to families as well. "When I was helping set up JCI projects, my wife and the spouses of Fuji JCI members came to help too. They seem to be getting together personally apart from JCI, so I imagine the wives are talking about JCI among themselves as well." (laughs)[/caption]
Beyond work talk, I love being able to bond and get excited over conversations about our kids. JCI members and their children are often the same generation, so some members' kids attend the same daycare or live nearby, and we socialize as whole families. Since joining, not just I but my wife and children have formed new communities too. Since we socialize as families, it's natural to talk about JCI with my wife at home — things like what kind of people are in the group, what's happening now, or the background and purpose of an upcoming project. My wife is a teacher, so she sometimes offers unexpectedly sharp insights. (laughs)
With fellow Fuji JCI members who worked on the setup of the JCI Youth Ship "Tokaigo." "I was just giving everything I had to support the committee chair. I was desperate to go all in and give it my absolute best."[/caption]
From a young age I've always had a strong desire to "do something for someone." In last year's JCI Youth Ship "Tokaigo," a committee chair was sent from Fuji JCI, and the biggest driving force for me was the feeling that I wanted to support this person. In JCI there are people who work earnestly and push hard everywhere you look, and when I sense that someone is doing their best and that I am needed, I feel compelled to engage with everything I have.
Tetsuya Sano
Born: 1988 (age 31)
Years in JCI: 2 (joined 2017)
Employer: Sano Machinery Co., Ltd. — Director
Industry: Metal fabrication
Hobbies: Illustration, manga
Favorite manga artists: Hirohiko Araki, Tite Kubo
Family: Wife, eldest daughter (age 2), eldest son (age 0)
Motto: Don't worry! Be happy!