"That's cool!" "I think I could do that too." You can trust that intuition. [Job Opening for Young Forging Craftsmen in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture]
Hello, this is Watanabe from Howa Forging.
X Account: https://x.com/howatankou
Howa Forging Website: https://howa-forging.co.jp/
Currently, Howa Forging is heavily promoting our 2026 recruitment project. This time, I would like to talk about our flagship department, which is currently the most vibrant and energetic: the [Forging Department].
In our workplace, giant hammers ring out every day, and everyone works with overwhelming speed and teamwork amidst 1200-degree flames. From the outside, we might look like a "highly energetic, professional group."
But it's not like we were all gathered here as confident, strong individuals from the start.
The coolness of our current forging craftsmen comes from the growth they achieved step by step after visiting the company with a racing heart and deciding, "I'm going to do my best!"
We at Howa Forging value these "factory tours" very highly, and we ask people to join our company only if they have felt that pure admiration—thinking "I want to try this" or "That looks cool"—and resonate with our philosophy.
In this post, I will explain why we are looking for people who have that pure feeling of "I want to try it" or "That's cool." I will talk about my own embarrassing experience with failure and the importance of having "colleagues" at Howa Forging.
"I won't be satisfied unless I'm number one": Why I couldn't become a regular player
Let me tell you a little story from my past.
When I was a student, I was on the baseball team. I practiced harder than anyone else and chased the white ball with more passion than anyone.
However, for a certain reason, I couldn't become a regular player.
I received guidance from my seniors and managed to get selected as a member by the skin of my teeth, but when I became a third-year student, even though I thought, "I'm the one!", I wasn't chosen as captain, and I couldn't stand on the pitcher's mound, which had been my dream.
What was that certain reason?
I now understand that at the time, I was a lump of self-centered thinking, wanting to be "number one," and that didn't mesh well with the team's harmony. I still vividly remember the frustration of incomplete combustion, thinking, "Why am I not being called upon when I know I can do more?"
But one day, I let it go.
"I don't care about evaluations anymore. Let's just enjoy this moment. I'm going to enjoy the baseball I love from the bottom of my heart with this team." I thought.
After team practice, whenever I came up with a new game that would get everyone excited, I would suggest, "Let's try this!" and I enjoyed it to the fullest with my teammates.
Everyone followed along, too.
If the other players had been cold, saying, "Who does he think he is, trying to take charge when he's not even a regular?", I don't think I would have changed.
But luckily, I had the best teammates who found my suggestions interesting and accepted them, saying, "That's fun! Let's do it together!"
It was only because I had "colleagues who understood me" that I was able to cast aside my selfishness and take a full swing for the sake of the team. And in the very end, I was chosen as the team's "cleanup hitter."
At Howa Forging, there are people who have had experiences similar to this episode, either as students or after joining the company.
That has become a success story for them, and now they are key players, enjoying their work while everyone gets excited together.
"That looks cool," "I think I can do that too." That feeling alone is enough.
Among young people in their 20s and 30s today, are there some who feel like this?
"I wanted to achieve more in my student days, but it ended in a fizzle."
"I don't have any achievements to boast about, so I'm a little scared to take the first step."
Are there people who have somehow put a lid on their own potential like that?
It's okay. The forging field at Howa Tanko welcomes you with open arms.
The manufacturing floor is the ultimate team sport that runs on everyone's coordination.
It doesn't matter to us what kind of amazing achievements you've had in the past.
Seeing the heat of the factory and thinking, "Wow, that's incredibly cool!" or seeing the friendly nature of the seniors and feeling, "If I'm with these people, I think I can do it too!" As long as you have that intuitive, exciting feeling, we have a solid training system here where anyone can become a star player.
This is because Howa Tanko is full of the best colleagues who will never dampen your "I want to try it" spirit, but instead accept it by saying, "That's great, let's do it together!"
"Colleagues who understand you" are already waiting
Thankfully, in this year's recruitment project, 3 new colleagues have already decided to join us.
They weren't full of confidence from the start either. They are people who actually came to our "factory tour" and felt firsthand the "warm atmosphere of accepting and enjoying each other" that flows within the 1200-degree heat.
"I genuinely want to try this job"
"The teamwork unfolding right in front of me is simply incredibly cool"
"If these colleagues are there to help me, I think I can do it too!"
With various down-to-earth thoughts like that, they took their first step with excitement. That's why, for you who will join next, they will be the "reassuring peers" who understand your feelings the best.
This comfort cannot be fully conveyed through text and photos alone.
First, a light feeling of "I'd like to take a look" is fine. Please come and visit our factory tour at least once. I will personally guide you through our proud workplace and our proud colleagues.
We are looking forward to your intuition of "I want to try it."
We have released a simulation game for training forging craftsmen on our company website
Please, give it a try. Forging is the ultimate rhythm game.
Howa Forging Company Website: https://howa-forging.co.jp/
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