What is the strong feeling of the founder behind the establishment of Japan's first special subsidiary "Sharp Specialty Industry"?
The company name is a joint-stock company " Special Metal Factory (currently Sharp Special Industry) ".
Currently, we are a company engaged in repair, processing, and repair of precision parts of digital devices such as electronic devices, displays, and multifunction devices, as well as business card creation and printing, digitization of documents, cleaning, and career education support.
The company was founded by Tokuji Hayakawa, who is also known as the founder of the major home appliance maker "Sharp", but the background to its launch was a strong desire to "give back to the visually impaired grandmother."
I want to return to the world the benefits I got from my visually impaired grandmother.Roots of Japan's first special subsidiary
This time, we were interviewed by President Hayakawa, who is the representative director of Sharp Specialty Industries, and Chief Takahashi, Office Solutions Division, Business Solutions Department.
President Hayakawa, the grandson of Mr. Tokuji Hayakawa, the founder of Sharp, revealed the roots of Japan's first special subsidiary.
Born in 1893, Tokuji, who was adopted at the age of 1 year and 11 months because his parents were ill, was forced to quit elementary school in less than two years and was forced to work in the office until midnight. rice field.
In 1901, it was Mr. Inoue, a visually impaired grandmother who lived in the neighborhood, who felt pity for such a Tokuji boy and helped him.
Mr. Inoue kissed her adoptive parents, "If you want to work at home without going to school, let me remember your job." is. * Starting to work as a subordinate at a store from a young age
Tokuji worked as a metalworker for about 10 years at the indentured servitude, and in 1912 invented the "Tokuo Lock" belt buckle that does not require holes. Taking this opportunity, he became independent and started the metal processing industry, and in 1915 he devised a mechanical pencil (Hayakawa type drawing pencil), which is the foundation of the current Sharp. |
After that, due to the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred in 1923, Mr. Tokuji revived in Osaka with an employee who wanted to accompany him in the sadness of losing his beloved family and the mechanical pencil business that was smooth sailing.
In 1925, just one year after the resumption of business, we succeeded in developing Japan's first crystal radio receiver, and began to move forward as an electronics company with the motto of "early sales, product warranty and reasonable price".
About 20 years later. One day, I received a letter from Takeo Iwahashi, the founder of the social welfare corporation Japan Lighthouse. "I want the blind soldiers to give lectures and on-the-job training on electricity." Mr. Tokuji seems to have agreed with two replies.
He wanted to give back to Mr. Inoue, who introduced him to the apprentice service destination, but he was lost due to the Great Kanto Earthquake. It seems that the request from Mr. Iwahashi triggered the idea of "returning the benefits received from Mr. Inoue to the world." |
In 1944, he started hiring blind soldiers who lost their eyes in the war, and opened a metal stamping factory where they work under the name of "Hayakawa Electric Branch Factory". This is the beginning of Sharp's employment of people with disabilities.
The Hayakawa Electric Branch Factory was completely independent from Hayakawa Electric Industry (currently Sharp) in 1950, and was newly established as a joint-stock company "Special Metal Factory (currently Sharp Special Industry)" run by eight former blind soldiers. rice field. Since then, he has been in charge of manufacturing parts for Sharp products that symbolize Japan's postwar reconstruction.
The idea that "creating an environment where people with disabilities can work and become self-help and self-reliant leads to welfare rather than charity to do something" is because Tokuji himself has survived by getting a job in his hand. It is nothing but. |
With the enactment of the "Act on Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities" in 1960, it became a designated factory for adaptive training for persons with disabilities and provided a place for vocational training from an early stage.
Then, in 1976, when the "special subsidiary system" was started under the "Act on Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities," it was certified as Japan's first special subsidiary in 1977.
Thanks to Mr. Inoue, who is visually impaired.
Never forgetting that, the track record of hiring many people with disabilities was socially recognized.
Ingenuity born from the spirit of "what feces".An environment where everyone can work comfortably takes root
President Hayakawa says that Mr. Tokuji's strong desire for the welfare of people with disabilities has been passed down to this day.
There are things that people can and cannot do, but that is their individuality. While thinking about "how to make up for what you can't do" and "how to improve what you can do" according to the characteristics of each employee, we help each other with ingenuity and ingenuity in the way we work. |
A book that impressed me was displayed in the dining room and meeting room. The powerful word "what feces" in the forehead is written by Mr. Tokuji.
"What feces" expresses the spirit of confronting without running away when something goes wrong. I was taught to "keep a spirit of challenge for a happy life." |
Chief Takahashi, who has a hearing impairment, is also one of the people who is inspired by the “soul of shit”.
There is a great difference in the information available between the hearing impaired and the hearing impaired. I think there is a lot of information flying around in a world with sound, but it is difficult for me to detect it. I'm not dissatisfied with not knowing it, I can't know it. For me, "what feces" is a word that gives me the driving force to work like a person who hears. My goal is to be able to give hope to juniors with hearing impairments by working hard. |
Takahashi suggested to the company the need to introduce software that converts voice into characters in real time in order to cover the inaudible handicap. The proposal was accepted, but he seems to have kept in mind at this time.
When introducing the software, instead of prioritizing our inaudible requests, we will make it easier for everyone in the workplace to make sure that it is not difficult for hearing people who speak with a microphone and that wiring does not get in the way for employees who use wheelchairs. Also paid attention. |
In addition, we create procedure manuals and manual videos using easy-to-understand words, pictures, and photographs, which contributes to the efficiency of work. President Hayakawa also praises the quality.
What should be done so that both disabled and able-bodied people can work comfortably? Takahashi emphasizes that the ingenuity born from the spirit of "what feces" is a scene that can be seen as "natural" in Sharp Specialty Industries.
One of our management policies is the "idea of symbiosis," and that culture is rooted in our company. It is an environment where you can feel free to talk to your colleagues and come up with solutions together. Outsiders can say "great", but I would like to say "it's natural". I have a disability, but the environment of consideration is natural and commonplace, so I can work without feeling stress. |
Such a "natural" environment may have been nurtured by the accumulation of small improvements since the establishment of its predecessor, the Specialty Metal Factory.
Mr. Takahashi said that he moved the bookshelf to the center of the workplace to make it easier for wheelchair employees to use, and used a whiteboard for people with mental disabilities who tend to have difficulty organizing things in their heads. I have no time to list what I have proposed so far.
It's interesting to discover new things through trial and error, and it's rewarding when I can reduce the workload of my colleagues. |
Of course, the company also promotes the creation of a better workplace. We support skill development and stability of life through the "supporter system" that is watched by the manager, workplace leader, and personnel and labor personnel, and the establishment of a consultation desk.
"Everyone has a chance. With the same gratitude in mind, to a company where diverse personalities shine!
The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which aim to be achieved worldwide by 2030, also mention employment of people with disabilities, but Sharp Specialty Industries has been carrying out career education support activities with Sharp's internal control department since 2012. I did.
We visit special needs schools nationwide to attend classes (delivery classes), hold workplace tours and lectures, and convey the attitude and significance of working to our students. These activities are important things that must be continued. Currently, it is difficult to implement face-to-face with infectious disease countermeasures, but I would like to continue holding it online. |
In addition, President Hayakawa points out that "cooperation with welfare" is also important for raising the employment retention rate of people with disabilities, who are on a downward trend.
In order to promote the employment of people with disabilities, we believe that it is important to work together with governments, educational institutions, and companies to further expand the employment of people with disabilities, without being bound by the conventional framework. |
President Hayakawa concludes, "In an era of diversity, we will develop individuality and contribute to society."
To be a company where various personalities shine and working leads to joy. Mr. Tokuji's gratitude (contribution to society), which has not changed since 70 years ago, is contained in the corporate vision that he advocates.
Click here for details on Sharp Specialty Industries
Photo: photographer_eringi
[PR] Provided by: SHARP
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