Shimano notes
Bicycle - riding on a dream
The first few days of the shimano tour feel like weeks. Flying over 30hours to get anywhere can almost dampen your enthusiasm, yet the group was all well spirited and excited to keep the journey going.
My father and myself, both overslept on the first morning in Japan. I knew I was in trouble as I lay half awake and the hotel phone started ringing. Yip, Nicola, asking me if we joining them as everybody waited on the bus. A short taxi ride behind them and forever we will be the two heads on the side of the photo,absent from the welcoming session.
Skipping past the introduction by Yozo Shimano, the current president of Shimano Inc and the oldest grandson of the founder. Past the inside scoop on the New Saint ad campaign, past the next step in ice-tech braking, past the french lunch and straight to the evening dinner with some of the top executives, a barrel of Japanese Saki and a buffet, we are eventually getting on the bullet train and arriving at the factory.
The fear of Japanese schedules puts us in a lecture room seat - early, waiting for the tour to start watching our safety helmets and gloves .
I have already been told, "ah, sorry, no photos"
The great thing about shimano seems to be the culture. They are a team, and they are all about manufacturing. Their philosophy's seem to be well founded out of actual engineering behind the products. Their motivations and driving passion is kept clean , simple and not sugar coated for marketing purposes.
They all seem as if they work hard, so that people in the rest of the world can enjoy nature, using their products with confidence. Exactly as you would expect.
Although we have travelled more hours than we have been here...
The cycle museum was interesting. The main thing I think we all learnt, Sakai was originally known for its knife industry, which itself grew out of tobacco knives being made or the workers building a tomb for one of the emperors.
That metal and the skill to work with it lead to Mr Shimano having the ability to produce his first freewheel cog.
If I bring one thing back to the market, it is this cable tester showing how much less friction there is with Shimano cables than others.
Shimano passion and perfectionism for outdoor living and experience shows through in all it's employees and we are lucky enough to coming in contact with so many of them here in Japan.
More on the factory itself in my next post, today we head to Kyoto for some sightseeing.
