在職中、会社手配のアパート・ホテルを除き13回の引っ越しと30台のHONDA車乗り換えをしました。
Except Apartment or Hotel arranged by company, 13 moves in my HONDA life and 30 HONDA cars to drive —I've kept things interesting.
そして仕事の3/4以上は海外関連業務でした。
My job related to foreign countries is more than 3/4 of HONDA life.
1985年に入社して2輪車組の工場実習を経て
8月から鈴鹿四輪エンジン品質課に配属になりました。
I joined HONDA in 1985 and after training of 2AF (Bike Assembly) at Suzuka plant ,
started working in 4EQ Suzuka since August in the year.
その年北米初の4輪エンジン現調の支援メンバーとなりました。
ファイやリング設備の導入とその検査作業指導。
ほとんど仕事も知らず英語もできないのに現地メンバーに対して。
1985年にAEPは2輪エンジン生産で稼働開始し、自分と同期です。
1986年にはエンジンのファイやリング設備導入でアメリカに初出張。
何とその時のAEPのファイやリング新人アソシエートが1996年1回目のアメリカ駐在時に赴任先の部門長でパートナーでした。
In 1985-1986 I was assigned support of AEP for CIVIC as first 4-W engine localization in USA.
My first trip to USA was for Engine firing machine installation and the training at AEP,
even I could not talk in English at the time and first to go abroad.
AEP started mass production of motorcycle engine in 1985, that is same time of my Honda history started.
A member of new AEP associate woriking for firing became my pertner in 1996
as "SQ department head" at my first assignment in AEP.
1985 - 1986 AEP ENG LOCALIZATION
北米エンジン現調が始まり、支援終了後は内作品質からKD部品の外作品質担当に。
1988年には総務支援でELPの立ち上げプロジェクトで再度北米へ。
ホテルやアパートの手配、車の手配、飛行機の手配、出張者用備品の管理などが仕事。
この時HONDAはF1黄金時代で工場の駐車場でF1のデモ走行も披露する企画があり
総務担当で中嶋選手やネルソンピケ選手のホテルの手配やデモ走行段取りもしました。
After launching CIVIC engine in USA, the support was done.
After engine firing job, my job was changed to KD parts quality.
In 1988 I was assigned "ELP support" for new plant launching as administration
At the time, HONDA F1 had been good time ,
and F1 drivers visited HAM and had demonstration driving with F1 machine at plant parking.
1990 Kumamoto support for Kei 4-W engine launch
1990年の2月から3か月ほど熊本に4輪エンジン立ち上げ支援で長滞しました。
九州で雪が降るとは！なのに入った寮の部屋には家具一切なし。
暖房もなく、2か月間は隣の部屋のこたつにお世話になりました。
車は会社、バイクは自腹で熊本に送って、支援先の人たちと九州一周のツーリングができました。
長滞終わりは、5月連休前日でバイクで鈴鹿まで自走しました。
From February 1990, I stayed in Kumamoto for about three months to support the launch of a four-wheel engine.
Who would have thought it would snow in Kyushu! And yet the dorm room I was in had absolutely no furniture.
There was no heating, so for two months I had to use the kotatsu in the room next door.
Honda sent my car and my motorcycle to Kumamoto at my own expense,
so I was able to go on a tour around Kyushu with the people I was supporting.
I rode my motorcycle to Suzuka on my own from Kumamoto after last day work.
It was just because next day of last work was entering "Golden week".
1992-1993 Belgium Honda support for IN-MANI Assy localization
1992年からはベルギーでインマニというエンジン部品の現調内作化の仕事をします。
日本では取引先2社に渡り生産する部品にAEでさらにASSYとする3社分の内作現調です。
ローカルの新プロジェクトリーダーは自分より4歳若い新入社員でした。
この支援中に彼は結婚し、結婚式に呼んでくれました。
支援中は車でベルギーだけでなく、オランダやドイツ、フランスなど足を延ばしてドライブ。
通勤途中でオランダ人のトレーラーにバックされて車をつぶされたり、
フランスの国境付近の公衆電話に5000ドル入った財布を忘れたりいろんな経験をしました。
Since 1992, I had been working in Belgium on the localization of Inmani as in-house production .
In Japan, two suppliers manufactured the component, and AE made final assembled product.
The new local project leader was a newly hired employee, four years younger than me.
During my support period, he got married and invited me to his wedding.
While providing support, I took the opportunity to drive not only around Belgium
but also extended my trips to the Netherlands, Germany, and France.
I had various experiences, including having my car crushed
when a Dutch trailer backed into me on my commute ,
and forgetting my wallet—with $5,000 inside—at a public phone booth near the French border.
1994-1996 AEP EQ/PQ/PE support for Parts localization
ベルギーのインマニはHUMに納入で、HUMの工場長による工程検証を受けました。
HUMの工場長はHONDA入社時の鈴鹿EQで海外支援をしていた人でした。
The intake manifold from Belgium was for HUM engine products, so Belgium Honda had QAV by HUM plant manager.
The HUM plant manager had previously been Suzuka EQ member supporting oversea site when I came to Suzuka EQ.
ベルギーのインマニ立ち上げた後は、アメリカのエンジン部品現調品質支援になりました。
EQ,PQ,PEDの3部門を一人で支援したのでエンジンはいろいろわかるようになりました。
After launching Intake manifold in Belgium, I became support member of engine parts localization.
I was supported EQ,PQ,PE 3 department , so I learned engine much.
1996年にアメリカのAEP-SQという部門に駐在になりました。
当時の工場長の指名だったようですが、ビザ取得に1年かかり、
赴任した時にはその工場長は別の拠点に異動していました。
渡米時は白子駅のホームの中にまで数人見送りにきてくれました。
アメリカのAEP(Anna Engine Plant) は田舎で当時は駐在者が住む借家がなく、
赴任時は秋で人の動きがないため売り家もありませんでした。
In 1996, I was assigned to the AEP-SQ division in the United States.
It seems the assignment was at the request of the plant manager at the time,
but it took a year to obtain my visa, and by the time I arrived,
that plant manager had already been transferred to another location.
When I left Japan, several people came to see me off—even onto the platform at Shiroko Station.
The AEP (Anna Engine Plant) in the U.S. was in a rural area, and at the time, there were no rental houses available for expatriates.
Since it was autumn and people weren’t moving, there were no houses for sale either.
結局宅地開発中の森の中に柱だけ立ててる状態の建設中の家を買いました。
2階の部屋をつぶしてジャグジーを入れたり、
間接照明ではなく日本のような照明に設計変更しました。
借家のうちに家族を呼び寄せ、新築の家に引っ越しました。
In the end, I bought a house that was still under construction—just pillars standing in the middle of a forest being developed into a residential area.
I had the design changed to include a jacuzzi by removing one of the upstairs rooms, and replaced the indirect lighting with Japanese-style lighting.
While we were still living in a rental house, I brought my family over, and we later moved into the newly built home.
新築の家は水漏れ、エアコン不効、配線ショートで発火など不具合盛りだくさんで
建てた大工は引っ越していなくなり、DIY技術が身に着きました。
1997年にはあったWorld Trade Center に上りました。
The newly built house had all sorts of problems—water leaks,
a malfunctioning air conditioner, and even an electrical short that caused a fire.
The builder had moved away after construction, leaving us to deal with everything ourselves,
so I ended up developing some solid DIY skills.
In 1997, I went up to the top of the World Trade Center, which still stood at the time.
メキシコでは今は転落事故多発で登れなくなったチチェンイッツアに登りました。
In Mexico, I climbed Chichén Itzá, which is now closed to climbers due to frequent falling accidents.
アメリカは狭い？グランドテトンの近くの駐車場で自宅近所の日本人にあいました。
Is the U.S. really that small?
I ran into a Japanese person from my neighborhood back home at a parking lot near Grand Teton.
息子のスキーデビューのカナダのウィスラーでは
ゴンドラ頂上からほとんど抱っこで下りましたが、
My son's first ski experience was in Whistler, Canada,
and I pretty much had to carry him all the way down from the top of the gondola.
2年経ったユタ・コロラドではひとりでスイスイ滑れるようになりました。
2 years later in Utah and Colorado, he was skiing smoothly all by himself.
アメリカでは家族でハワイを残して49州をドライブして制覇。
任期中サス製造工程の現調メーカーへの移管があり、AEP-SQは消滅しましたが、
帰国せずにそのままAEP-EQという部門に異動しました。
帰国の直前に911のテロがあり、運動会も送別会も中止。
引っ越しのトラックも当日来ないなど厳戒体制の中2001年10月に帰国。
During my time in the U.S., my family drove through all 49 states except Hawaii.
During my assignment, the suspension manufacturing process was transferred to a local supplier.
And AEP-SQ division was dissolved. However, instead of returning to Japan, I was reassigned to a new division called AEP-EQ.
Just before our return to Japan, the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred,
leading to the cancellation of both the school sports day and my farewell party.
Even the moving truck didn’t arrive on the scheduled day due to heightened security.
We finally returned to Japan in October 2001 under strict security conditions.
20010909 アメリカの家売却 Home for sale
2001-2005 Sss EQ-PTQ-PQ
日本に本帰国した後は、海外生産部品が激増してその部品の検証に出張に行くようになります。
ドイツやスロバキア、そして鈴鹿初の受入全検をしていたベルトのオランダの会社には3回も行く羽目に。
After returning to Japan , the number of overseas-produced parts surged, and I began traveling for inspections.
I ended up going to Germany, Slovakia, and even to the Dutch company that supplied the belt for the first full inspection in Suzuka—three times, no less.
その頃これまで鈴鹿サーキットで行われていた夏祭りが工場での開催に変わり、
Around that time, the summer festival that had previously been held at the Suzuka Circuit was moved to the factory,
その年に希望者はヘリで鈴鹿上空を遊覧するアトラクションがありました。
and that year, there was an attraction where participants could take a scenic helicopter ride over Suzuka.
2005-2010 AEP PQ
2005年に急遽AEPに再度駐在になりました。
渡米時は船で空港に向かいましたが、
早朝なのに多くの人が見送りにきてくれました。
In 2005, I was suddenly reassigned to AEP for another overseas posting.
On the day I left for the U.S., I traveled to the airport by boat,
and even though it was early in the morning, many people came to see me off
以前売却した家を借りようとしたら、すでに日本人に貸していたので、
そこからそう遠くない家を借りました。
When I tried to rent the house I had previously sold,
I found out it had already been rented to a Japanese tenant.
So instead, I rented other house not too far from there.
アメリカからはアメリカ人と一緒に中国やタイに出張しました。
日本はその経由地で寄りましたが、自分は三重の自宅に泊まって中部国際空港集合。
アメリカ人は名古屋のホテルマリオットから集合時刻に来ず、確認したら小牧空港に行ってました。
From the U.S., I went on business trips to China and Thailand with American colleagues.
We stopped in Japan en route, and I stayed at my home in Mie Prefecture.
We were supposed to meet at Chubu Centrair International Airport.
However, the American colleagues, who were staying at the Marriott Hotel in Nagoya, didn’t show up at the scheduled time.
When I checked, I found out they had gone to Komaki Airport instead.
2回目のAEPは単身赴任で、毎週金曜夜9時から深夜までテニスをしていました。
During my second assignment at AEP, I lived alone and played tennis every Friday night from 9 p.m. until late.
テニスで半月板を損傷した後、リハビリでMTBを始めました。
Trailでは鹿に会ったり、結構高い橋を渡ったりと楽しんでましたが、
急登坂で自転車ごとバク転して右腕を骨折しました。
After injuring my meniscus while playing tennis, I started mountain biking as part of my rehabilitation. On the trails,
I enjoyed encounters with deer and crossing some fairly high bridges. But during a steep uphill climb,
I flipped backward with the bike and ended up breaking my right arm.
骨折2か月後に一時帰国中も痛いので日本の病院で診てもらったら、
「アメリカの医者を訴えたら？」と言われレントゲン写真をくれました。
骨折中は左手で食事や字を書くことはできるようになりましたが、
自分のMT車の運転時の変速操作が一番面倒でした。
それでも動けるようになったのでMTBやテニスを再開、
MTBでは本帰国直前に日本人組で大会に出場しました。
Two months after the fracture, I was still in pain during a temporary visit back to Japan, so I went to a local hospital.
After reviewing my X-rays, the doctor said,
'Why not sue the American doctor?' and handed me the radiographs.
During the recovery, I learned to eat and write with my left hand,
but shifting gears while driving my manual transmission car was the biggest hassle.
Still, once I regained mobility, I resumed mountain biking and tennis.
Just before returning to Japan for good, I even joined a race with a group of Japanese riders.
2010年の帰国前の引継ぎはニューヨークで。
The handover before my return to Japan in 2010 was conducted in New York.
2回目の駐在帰り時はアメリカ人が公園でBBQパーティを開いてくれました。
アメリカ在住中に次のHUM支援が決まりイギリスのビザを取得しました。
When I returned from my second overseas assignment, some American friends hosted a BBQ party for me at a park.
While I was still living in the U.S., my next assignment supporting HUM was confirmed, and I obtained a visa for the U.K.
2010-2013 Sss PQ
日本に本帰国した月末にはヨーロッパを回っていました。
この出張中にアメリカからの引っ越し荷物が届く最悪の展開。
By the end of the month I officially returned to Japan, I was already traveling around Europe.
Unfortunately, my shipment from the U.S. arrived during that business trip—terrible timing.
帰国して買った車は新発売のCR-Z 6MT。
After returning to Japan, I bought a newly released CR-Z 6MT.
ところがほとんど海外出張で車に乗る暇がなく、
ハイブリッドの電池を充電しろという自動警告メールが頻繁に入り
家族はMT運転できないってことで結局1年弱で新発売のNBOXに乗替えました。
買ったNBOXは右側手動スライドドアの低グレードなのに差額なしで...
However, I was constantly traveling overseas and barely had time to drive the car.
I kept receiving automatic warning emails telling me to recharge the hybrid battery.
Since my family couldn’t drive a manual transmission, we ended up switching to a newly released N-BOX in less than a year.
Surprisingly, even though the N-BOX we bought was a lower-grade model with a manually sliding door on the right side,
we got it without paying any price difference.
テニスは日本でも仕事帰りにプレーするグループができました。
Back in Japan, I became part of a group that played tennis after work.
HUM支援でヨーロッパ出張中は、朝4時起きで散歩後に仕事。
ほぼ週末だけUK滞在で平日は欧州を転々としました。
HUM産のディーゼルエンジンのソーシング開発と部品品熟をしていました。
While supporting HUM on business trips across Europe, my routine started at 4 a.m. with a morning walk followed by work.
I was based in the U.K. on weekends, but during the week I moved from country to country across Europe.
My focus was on sourcing and developing HUM-made diesel engines and evaluating the quality of their components.
このHUM支援期間に勤続25周年特典を使いました。
息子が未踏の最後のアメリカの州、ハワイに行きました。
この旅行で会社の保養所に1週間泊まりました。
During my time supporting HUM, I used my 25th work anniversary benefit.
We traveled to Hawaii—the last U.S. state my son hadn’t visited yet.
For this trip, we stayed at the company’s resort facility for a week.
会社の保養所でオアフ島満喫 Honda Condo in Oafu
支援先の駐在者が急遽日本に帰ることになり、引継ぎなくHUM駐在になりました。
ちょうどHUM支援で3年経ったタイミングでした。
Just as I completed three years of supporting HUM, I was suddenly appointed as the HUM expatriate
due to the previous assignee’s unexpected return to Japan—without any handover.
イギリス駐在も単身なのですぐに家を見つけました。
ご近所はいい人で、自宅と隣の2件だけ1週間ほど停電した際に
2件隣の無事だったご近所さんがその間電気を延長ケーブルで供給してくれました。
もぐらにインターネットの通信ケーブルをかじられた時は、復旧に2か月近くかかりましたが、
その時は格安のデータSIMを買って携帯でテザリングしてオンラインゲームをしていました。
My assignment in the UK was also solo, so I quickly found a place to live.
The neighbors were kind—when only our house and the one next door lost power for about a week,
a neighbor two doors down who still had electricity gave us power through an extension cable.
Later, when a mole chewed through our internet cable, it took nearly two months to get it fixed.
During that time, I bought a cheap data SIM and used tethering on my phone to play online games.
HUMでもテニスをするメンバーを募り、毎水曜の仕事帰りにプレーをしていました。
At HUM, I also gathered members who enjoyed tennis, and we played every Wednesday after work.
入社からUK駐在後の日本帰任までに訪れた国は40か国を超えました。
訪問した国々でのブログ抜粋は下記リンクから。
From the time I joined the company until my return to Japan after my UK assignment, I visited over 40 countries.
Selected blog excerpts from those travels can be found at the link below.
元々5年の任期でしたが1年延長の要請があり受けました。
帰任のタイミングでHUMを閉じることが明らかになりました。
HUMを閉じるまであと1年強の任期延長の依頼がありましたが、
Originally, my assignment was for five years, but I accepted a one-year extension upon request.
Around the time of my return, it became clear that HUM would be shut down.
I was asked to extend my term by another year to oversee the closure,
but I declined and returned to Japan in November 2019—just before the COVID-19 outbreak escalated dramatically.
ほぼ生産のないHUMの任期なら延長したらよかったのに日本に戻って残念。
日本に戻って活動のなくなってたテニスのグループを復活しました。
が、日本でのテニスはメンバーがなかなか集まらず開催率は激減でした。
Looking back, I regret not extending my term at HUM, especially since production had nearly stopped.
After returning to Japan, I revived the tennis group that had become inactive.
However, it was difficult to gather members, and the frequency of matches dropped significantly.
帰国後４か月ほど車体の電装カテゴリをやり、
その後エンジンに戻りました。
が1年後に全KD部品の新機種窓口になり最終日をを迎えました。
After returning to Japan, I worked in the ｆrame electric category for about 4 months, then returned to the engine category.
However, a year later, I became the window of all new model KD parts and eventually reached my final day.
みなさまのおかげで山や谷を越え、新しい景色を見続けることができました。
たいへんお世話になりました。
Thanks to all of you, I was able to overcome both peaks and valleys and continue discovering new horizons.
I am truly grateful for all your support and kindness.
長文におつきあいいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for going through the entire text.
Home page - Trails somewhere (xrea.com)
