On April 1, we held our welcome ceremony for the 2026 fiscal year. This year, we welcomed a total of 12 new members to Kyokuyo Shipyard — nine new graduates and three mid-career hires.

Our new graduate cohort includes one university graduate from the National Fisheries University and eight high school graduates from local schools in the Shimonoseki area. Together with our mid-career colleagues, they now begin their journey onboard Team Kyokuyo.

During the ceremony, each new employee received their official appointment and shared their aspirations for their careers ahead. Listening to their heartfelt words was both inspiring and grounding. As someone who recently joined Kyokuyo mid-career from a different industry and is now part of the General Affairs Department, I found myself reflecting on their determination and renewing my own sense of purpose.

In a world of constant change, it is more important than ever to stay focused on a clear vision for the future. President Ochi also delivered a message of encouragement to the new employees, speaking about our journey toward becoming a centennial company and sharing that our renewed MMV (Mission, Vision, Value) will be announced in the near future.

Looking ahead, the university graduate will undergo approximately one month of internal training before being formally assigned after the Golden Week holidays. Meanwhile, the eight high school graduates, who will join the Production Headquarters, will participate in a three-month residential training program at the Oita Regional Shipbuilding Training Center. There, they will work toward acquiring the essential certifications needed for shipyard operations. On April 6, they attended the opening ceremony in Saiki City, Oita Prefecture — their expressions a mix of nervousness and determination.

Once again, congratulations to all our new colleagues.
Team Kyokuyo is proud to welcome you — let’s take on new challenges together and bring fresh energy to the team!

[2026/04/23]