RECRUIT

I graduated from the only (at the time) Faculty of Mining in the country and joined the Japan Highway Public Corporation. In my first year, I was assigned to a department at the Test Research Institute that was conducting research on reducing air pollution and traffic noise. High-performance pavement was developed to absorb water from the road surface and prevent slip accidents, but it was also expected to have the effect of reducing traffic noise, and I was conducting research to verify that effect. I felt a sense of accomplishment when I asked my superiors to let me go to the field and conduct the research myself, and I was very proud to think that the results of those research would be useful in creating roads that take into consideration the people living around Expressway.

Eight years after joining the company, I was assigned to a management office for the first time. The environment was very different from when I was in the testing laboratory. Working in a department closer to the field, I was able to feel the energy of the field and was involved in a wide range of tasks. Since the negotiations and scheduling for construction work were with external parties, I was nervous at first. Budget management was also done carefully because the amounts were large. Whenever I didn't understand something, senior employees and people from group companies guided me, and I think I grew by learning new things. Eventually, I was able to proceed with my work little by little.

I had a child in my tenth year of my career, so I took maternity and childcare leave and returned to work. As it was my first pregnancy, I was anxious about balancing childcare and work, so I often consulted with senior female colleagues. Contrary to my anxieties, I was able to continue working thanks to the strong support of my superiors and colleagues. In the past, I often worked at my own pace, but having a child increased the time constraints I could dedicate to work, so I started to constantly think about how to proceed with my work efficiently. I tried to balance childcare and work by not taking on too much work, delegating tasks to junior colleagues where possible, and finding ways to create time for myself.

I was transferred to the Furukawa Management Office (Miyagi Prefecture) of the same Tohoku Regional Head Office, where I was in charge of improvements, including pavement and bridge repair work, and the installation of bridge collapse prevention devices.

In my last year in Furukawa, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, and I immediately began working on restoring the collapsed slopes of Sendai-Hokubu Road. Employees, as well as group companies, worked together to lift the road closure. Given the circumstances, we decided to do what we could, using soil from nearby road construction sites and coordinating with partner companies to procure equipment from Yamagata Prefecture. With both local roads and railways damaged, and virtually no means of transportation to the heavily tsunami-affected coastal areas, when the road closure for emergency vehicles was lifted, the Expressway functioned as a "lifeline," and a tremendous number of emergency vehicles traveled along Expressway. I've never felt more strongly than at that moment how essential Expressway are to society.

In my 19th year at the company, I became an assistant manager and now have subordinates. I was the first female engineer in the company to achieve this position, and I received many congratulatory messages from those around me. In addition to my work as an engineer, I also became involved in human resource development, taking on a role in guiding and educating younger employees. As part of human resource development, I supported employees studying for the Class 1 Civil Engineering Construction Management Engineer examination and provided advice on their essays. I made sure to thoroughly review what I had done up to that point and solidify my own knowledge before teaching others.

Furthermore, inspired by my colleagues' dedication to studying for the exam, I myself decided to pursue a certification. I concentrated on studying in between childcare and work, and passed the exam. This experience gave me the confidence that "even while raising children, you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it!" and I believe it has been invaluable in my subsequent coaching.

In my 22nd year, I became the section chief in charge of improvements, overseeing pavement repair work and disaster recovery work. Having employees of various ages under my supervision honed my management skills. Furthermore, seeing the damaged Expressway pavement and disaster-damaged slopes transformed alongside my teammates gave me a strong sense of fulfillment in teamwork.

On the other hand, I was reminded of how challenging it is to manage roads that are "alive" and have traffic 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Construction must proceed while vehicles are passing by, requiring a multifaceted approach that includes not only construction planning but also measures to mitigate traffic congestion and ensure safety. In my role as project manager, I worked every day considering how to minimize the impact of construction on customers by determining appropriate traffic restrictions and construction methods.

Then, in 2021, my 26th year in the industry, I became the manager of the Technical Planning Section in the Technical Department of the Tohoku Regional Head Office. I am dedicated to further human resource development and technological advancement.