[No. 59] Kenjiro Tabuchi

My grandfather, during his lifetime, ran a small local factory out of his home that made precision parts for home appliances. I spent my childhood surrounded by the sounds of presses, lathes, and milling machines, and the smell of metal dust and oil. The factory was generally off-limits, but I remember often sneaking in when it wasn't in operation to play with the tools and gauges as if they were toys.

I also loved making things, buying various materials and paints to build models of cars and airplanes, fishing lures, and more. So, it was natural for me to choose a science track in high school and then the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Technology for university.

The most memorable class in the Department of Mechanical Engineering was making our own vise. I was able to experience the entire process myself—design, sand mold making, casting, machining, and painting. Although I made many mistakes, for someone like me who has always had trouble sitting still and listening to people talk and loves to be physically active, it was one of the classes where I truly felt I "learned with great enjoyment." In fact, this experience proved to be invaluable and is extremely useful in my current job.

After that, I proceeded to the master's program and joined the Nakagome Laboratory, often called the "Nejiken" (Screw Lab). Most of our work involved basic experiments on the fatigue strength of screws. The lab had a strong atmosphere that valued student freedom and autonomy. I had colleagues with diverse personalities who have since gone on to careers in the television industry, banking, automotive manufacturing, medicine, trading companies, and academic research.

Although I entered university because of my love for machines, one of the "disciplines" I poured my passion into during my university years was tennis. I belonged to the Tennis Club of the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association. In my second year, we won the first division of the Kanto Intercollegiate Science and Engineering League, and I served as captain in my third year. I enjoyed the process of improving my skills through daily practice, and with the support of my teammates, I spent four fulfilling years (and then some).

Another great thing about being in the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association was the opportunity to deepen my interactions with people outside the university through various intercollegiate matches, friendly games, and official tournaments. Even now, when I participate in tennis tournaments, I sometimes run into old opponents, and we have a great time reminiscing about the old days.

At a training camp for the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association Tennis Club

During my job search, I was still unsure about my future direction. However, after starting my search, I learned that Minebea manufactured screws and, feeling it was some kind of fate, I decided to join the company. After joining, I gained experience in the manufacturing and engineering departments of a factory that produces aircraft screws. While there, I was able to achieve a result in a project to improve the fatigue strength of screws, which led to an offer to obtain a Level 3 certification in nondestructive testing. Although related, this was a challenge in a completely different field of expertise. With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, I ended up on an overseas assignment for about three and a half years at a Minebea Group company factory in Peterborough, New Hampshire, with the main goal of obtaining this certification.

I had little experience of diving into different environments to learn on my own. This, combined with being on assignment with my family and the circumstances of having and raising our first child in a foreign country, meant that my life abroad was filled with constant struggles with language, customs (both at work and in daily life), and personal relationships. However, for that very reason, it was a fulfilling time.

Tennis, which I was so passionate about in my student days, is also a popular social sport in the United States. I was able to participate in tournaments in Peterborough and various other regional matches, gaining diverse interactions and experiences. Now, I am enjoying my own challenge with the goal of competing in the Senior Tennis World Championships.

I would also like to briefly introduce the work of nondestructive testing (NDT), which is my current specialty. In today's society, NDT is used in various fields for defect detection. However, because manual work and human judgment are crucial elements, the procedures for managing inspector skills and operating certification systems are specified in great detail, especially in fields like aerospace and nuclear equipment.

To briefly explain the duties of a Level 3, a Level 2 certified individual can perform NDT tasks, from inspection to pass/fail judgment, based on their own abilities. A Level 3 is in the position to certify those individuals. This means being the technical authority for NDT, with responsibilities that include educating and training inspectors, interpreting and reflecting customer specifications, and issuing and approving inspection procedures.

I obtained my ASNT (American Society for Nondestructive Testing) Level 3 certification in Magnetic Particle Testing in December 2005 and in Penetrant Testing in January 2007, and I currently hold that responsibility. The business unit I belong to is actively promoting projects with a greater focus on the global market, and as a member of that team, I am enjoying various challenges while making use of my qualifications.

Looking back like this, I am reminded once again how the past and present reality—my childhood experiences, my student days, and my current work and life—are all connected in a chain of events. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone involved for giving me this opportunity to write.