RECRUIT

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, in addition to earthquake recovery work at the Sendai Management Office, I was also in charge of work to reopen the entire Joban Expressway. The effects of radiation were still lingering, and national highways were passable only with a permit, and the railways were also out of service, so I felt that we had to do our best for the people in the affected areas. For Joban Expressway in particular, everyone, including our group companies and partner companies, came together to work toward reopening it as soon as possible for those waiting for it to reopen. I was truly happy when the entire line was reopened. I had seen the disaster-stricken areas with my own eyes immediately after the earthquake, and I also had relatives who had been affected, so I was truly happy to be able to contribute to the recovery. I have never felt a more rewarding job than at that time.

I was born and raised in Niigata, and studied architecture at university and graduate school in Niigata. I started job hunting in Tokyo hoping to find a job in the architecture field that would help many people. However, I gradually became interested in things other than architecture, and began to think that a Expressway company that handles a wide range of businesses might be a good fit for me. I also applied because I thought that joining our company would allow me to contribute to my hometown.

I was familiar with the organization because I had just been researching architectural acoustics with people from the Expressway Technical Research Institute (NEXCO Research Institute) in graduate school. It was also a time when the Japan Highway Public Corporation had just been split up and privatized, and NEXCO EAST had just been established, so I was excited to be able to do something new.

Many things can happen on Expressway. Major natural disasters can cut off roads, and unexpected accidents can occur. While I was working in the management office, there was a large-scale slope collapse. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the interchange was closed to traffic for an extended period of time. Many people around me remained calm in such situations, always thinking about how to do the best they could, so I was able to respond naturally in the same way. Of course, restoration work cannot be done alone. Working together as a team with employees, group companies, and partner companies, I learned to value connections between people, and I feel that this is an area in which I have grown through my work.

Our company has the ability to vigorously advance a single business and to work together as one to respond quickly when something happens. That's what I like about our company. Last year, a slope collapsed near the Zushi Interchange, causing Expressway to be closed. Because the road was near a residential area, we worked with incredible force to restore the area, getting permission from residents to carry out restoration work and finding out where the water pipes and electricity were located. Everyone started working at once, even without instructions, saying things like, "I'll go this way," or "Then I'll start preparing this side." It was a moment when I felt the unity of our company.

Also, because there are currently few people to clear snow in snowy areas, they are working on technological innovations to make snowplows self-driving. I like the fact that they are proactively adopting new technologies like this and are at the forefront of road management.

Since joining the company, I have been working in Expressway maintenance and management. Next, I would like to work in a position where I can provide even more exciting experiences for customers. In addition to service areas and parking areas, I could plan things like the ETC flat-rate discount plan "Dorawari" and help customers create memories. I think it would be fun to work in a department like that.

Also, since having children, I feel even more strongly than before that Expressway should be safe and secure. Comfort is also important, and nowadays men's restrooms in service areas and parking areas are equipped with cribs so that fathers can change their children's diapers. Either way, I feel like Expressway will continue to change in the future!