Setouchi
sewing machine concerto

I'm quick to decide on anything.

It was the same when I decided to work at Fukusuke.
When I saw people in the factory silently concentrating on sewing machines, I immediately told my high school teacher that I would work here.

I honestly didn't know anything about Fukusuke.
When I talked to my grandpa at home, he said, "Oh, I know," and it was a big company.
I even wore tabi at festivals when I was little.

Actually, I always wanted to get a job in Osaka.

I didn't have a specific dream, but I felt like if I could get out of Kagawa and meet new things, I would find something.

However, the job hunting has become difficult due to Corona.

So I went to Fukusuke, who was recommended by my teacher.
For someone like me, who is not good at talking to people, Fukusuke's work is ideal.
In high school, I was in the clothing department, so I had confidence in sewing machines.

However, the sewing machine for work was completely different.

How far should I step in, the speed adjustment is not going well.
I passed through the places where I couldn't stop, and sewed the places where I couldn't stop.

Then one day, my senior told me, ``It's easier to adjust by raising your heel rather than stepping on it.''

I didn't ask for advice myself, but I think he was probably watching me all the time.

There is a great sense of security that you are being watched over.
Not just Fukusuke, but the whole town.
I know most of the people at Kanonji.

So now, I'm glad I chose the local Fukusuke.

Even my friends tell me that it's a good place.
Everyone didn't know about Fukusuke, but when I showed off the tabi with my name on it that I wore at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, they said, "Wow, this is sewn!"

Fukusuke's tradition is to sew his own tabi for the coming-of-age ceremony.
I take measurements, decide the color of the name embroidery, and when it comes to the process I'm in charge of, I'm handed over, saying, 'This is my job.'
I was happy.

My goal now is to be able to sew a lot.
The people around me are really fast, and when I hear the sound of the sewing machine, I want to be like that too.

I'm sure the numbers will go up.
It's too early for me to decide.

Ever since I was little, I didn't have a "dream for the future" in particular, and my life progressed as I was told.
I joined Fukusuke because my high school teacher recommended it.
I wasn't good at sewing (laughs).

I like doing things by myself, so the job itself suited me.
But at first, I couldn't sew well at all.

Sew and untie with a practice sewing machine next to the line, sew and untie, and repeat.
Honestly, it broke my heart.

It was a friend of the same period who came to the rescue.
Encourage each other on the way home every day, and relax together on holidays.

She was in charge of the next process after the one I was in charge of, so I thought, "I'm really sorry if something went wrong," and I trusted her to connect the socks.

By the way, I am in charge of the process of sewing the toe part called "Sakitsuke".
It is particularly difficult to make tabi, and it takes three years to become a full-fledged person.
In order to preserve the tradition, I take time to teach young people properly.

It wasn't until I started sewing stretch fabrics that I became confident.

When I was using calico (cotton fabric), I wasn't sure if I was sewing well, and it took too long to check the finished product.
However, it works surprisingly well with stretch fabrics, and I can now sew without worrying too much.

9th year since joining the company. I still can't say I'm good at it, but I've found my own tricks and I'm passing them on to my juniors.

Recently, I can clearly feel that I have a "challenging spirit" that I didn't have before.
This is the influence of my husband who got married last year.

It was a long-distance relationship, but my husband decided to come to Kagawa in response to my desire to continue working as Fukusuke.

I was inspired by his flexible way of thinking, and because of the responsibility and gratitude I felt for coming to Kagawa, I decided to work harder than ever before.

I want to be useful to everyone by increasing the number of stitches I can sew, and I want to be able to use my time wisely by doing my work and housework more efficiently.

I began to think about not only Fukusuke's work, but also his future life.

With the support of my colleagues and husband, I will continue to take on challenges in my own way.

"If anything happens, I'll help you."

That's what the manager said to me, and I decided to become a leader.
It was two years ago, ten years after I joined the company.

Captain of the basketball team in high school.
But I didn't think I had the leadership, just because there was no one else to do it.

I didn't even imagine being a leader at work, and all I had was anxiety.

I am the leader of the first part of tabi making, called the "head process."

The leader's job is to think about the next day's arrangements and take over vacancies while doing the work of the process in charge.

All my team members are older than me.
There are many technically advanced people, and sometimes they are severely pointed out.
So all the more, I was feeling the pressure.

Even so, when I was worried or had to deal with it by myself, the manager would always ask me, "Did something happen?"

Just remembering it brings tears to my eyes.
It's not like I've ever had a hard time, but... I mean, he's watching over me, and he's always on my side.

Because I had a section chief, I thought I would do my best.
A goal I respect.

I am a leader at Fukusuke, and I am also a mother of four when I leave the company.
I took maternity leave and childcare leave four times.

Every day, I feed the children breakfast, send them to nursery school, pick them up after work, have dinner, and put them to bed.

What keeps us going these days?
Is it the smile of a child?
He doesn't listen to me at all (laughs).

I haven't talked to my kids about work yet, but I'd like to talk to them about making tabi someday.

Fukusuke also has tabi for children, so I sew while thinking, "It's cute. It's about the size of my child."

There was a time when I wanted to quit here and concentrate on raising my children, but now that I am a leader, that is irresponsible.
Just like the section chief found me, this time I want to find someone who will become the next leader.

I gave birth to a child when I was 16.
Fukusuke was the only one to become a full-time employee, although he worked as a cashier at several supermarkets.
I was surprised at the difference in the amount of bonus I received in my first year as a part-time worker compared to a full-time employee.

The manager said,
"I'll give you a chance. It's up to you to make it happen."

Once you become a full-time employee, the sewing process becomes more difficult.
When I was in elementary school, I was so clumsy that I couldn't even sew a dust cloth, but I immediately answered, "I can."

Anyway, I hate to lose.

During my trial period as a full-time employee, I was assigned to the important process of stitching together the upper part of the body called the "standing armor".
When I saw the work of the veterans, I was astonished, thinking, "Wow! There's a wizard!"

Among the veterans, there was one person who was particularly amazing.
I thought that I would definitely beat this person, so I became a rival in my heart.

After that, I practiced hard every day.
It was really difficult to sew four pieces of cloth together without any gaps. When I went to a coffee shop, I would put four towels on top of each other.

My manager at the time was very helpful.
She asked me, "Why don't you try this?" and "Let's fix it together."
It is thanks to this person that I became able to sew the standing armor.

Sewing 700 pairs in a day is enough for a job.
But still for me.
Not even 800. Finally satisfied with 900. When I got over 1000 pairs, I finally thought, "Okay, I won!"

After that, I experienced other processes and mastered most of the work.
Among them, I have more confidence than anyone else when it comes to standing armor.

Now, I am the first female manager of the factory.
I couldn't believe it when I became a leader, but a year later I became an assistant manager, and before I knew it, I was a section chief.

Not at all!
I'm always lamenting to the manager, "I'm going to sew 1000 pairs every day, so please let me stop being the section manager."

But since I'm in a position to bring everyone together, I can't help but worry about people other than myself.
In the past, I was only thinking about increasing my number.

When I see someone whose arms are not up in the morning radio exercises, even though I think they are meddling, I ask them, "Are you feeling a little better?"
There are many young children who cannot speak for themselves.

I want everyone to enjoy working.
If you're going to do the same job anyway, shouldn't it be fun?
My co-workers still tell me that.
"I really enjoy sewing," he said.

Maybe you have confidence.
I think it's because I was able to overcome all the hardships of not being able to sew and the pain of failure and make it my own.