[Fiction] The Story of Kuroda Manufacturing, Episode 15 (Final Episode): Legacy

It is said that a tiger dies and leaves its skin, and a person dies and leaves their name.

What did Koichi Kuroda leave behind?
Born from the rubble of the post-war era, Kuroda Manufacturing now boasts a site area of 8,000 square meters in the Koriyama Central Industrial Park, with two magnificent factory buildings, each exceeding 1,000 square meters. Inside each factory, there are facilities capable of producing large-scale structures and heavy steel fabrication, as well as dedicated manufacturing lines for stainless steel products that meet the needs of medical equipment and sanitary applications.
It is not just the facilities; the high quality of their work has earned them a reputation as 'Kuroda of Technology,' a leader in the steel and welding industries.
Are these factories and this fame what Koichi left behind? While these are certainly part of his legacy, perhaps his greatest legacy is the phrase he often repeated in his later years:

There is no end to technology.

Is it not the spirit of a proud craftsman?
This spirit has been passed down to the craftsmen of Kuroda Manufacturing who carry the present and open up the next generation, and it continues to shine.

Better products for the customer. What is created from this uncompromising spirit may be more of a work of art than a mere product.
It is similar to how medieval European craftsmen set up workshops and created everything from daily necessities to works of art. It is also similar to the scene today where companies known as luxury brands create high-end goods that circulate the world; perhaps the products of Kuroda Manufacturing should be described as works of art infused with the heart of a first-class craftsman.
Refusing to compromise, everyone sweats, racks their brains, and works together to deliver better things to their customers.

When the Reiwa era arrived, the merciless heavens dealt a trial to Kuroda Manufacturing in the form of Typhoon Hagibis in 2019, causing over 100 million yen in damage and imposing over two months of restoration work. However, with the cooperation of not only the Kuroda Manufacturing employees but also the partner companies that carry on the lineage of Koichi's disciples, various business partners, and financial institutions, they overcame the crisis, continued to grow their business, and contributed to the region.

Even today, in the factory with the words 'Japan's cleanest stainless steel factory' painted in large letters, a diverse group of craftsmen, with serious expressions and occasionally exchanging smiles, are pouring their magical technology and craftsman spirit into their work without reservation.

Inside the factory, the dreams and goals of each employee are posted. Some cherish their families, some improve their skills, some serve the community; it is overflowing with various dreams.
Even as time moves forward, the social environment changes, and they face various hardships in the future, Kuroda Manufacturing will likely continue to exist in the land of Koriyama.

There is no end to technology. And there is no end to human dreams.

Together with the spirit of Koichi Kuroda, and together with human dreams, Kuroda Manufacturing will continue to walk the path of welding.

(The Story of Kuroda Manufacturing, End)

Episode 1

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