On June 30, 2022, nine new employees of Kyokuyo returned to Shimonoseki City after completing three months of training in shipbuilding skills at the Oita Regional Shipbuilding Craftsmanship Center (ORSC, Saiki City, Oita Prefecture).

With support from Oita Prefecture, Saiki City, and Usuki City, the ORS Center provides vocational education and training for people working in shipbuilding and marine industries in the region and neighboring areas, with the aim of passing on skills, developing the industries, and contributing to local economic development.

The completion ceremony, held every June, is an occasion that attracts a lot of public attention, as it is broadcast on local TV every year. And this year (again?) our new colleagues played a big role in it! First, Teruki Hatazaki won the Excellence Award from among 21 participants. Then, Masaya Funatsu delivered a final speech, representing all the trainees.

After the ceremony, our boys said goodbye to the people at ORSC who had taken care of them, their training-mates from other shipyards, and 'Obachans' (= active and obliging middle-aged women) at Kaizanso Inn where they were staying before leaving Saiki.

Through this technical training, our nine new employees have acquired many qualifications, skills, and knowledge, and have grown significantly. They will now rotate through many sections in Manufacturing Division and be assigned to the position for which they are judged to be most qualified.

We look forward to seeing them gain more experience, grow stronger, and become the core of "Team Kyokuyo"!

[2022/07/08]