Tachibana Takami started her working life as the only new employee at the branch.
Despite the anxiety, I looked forward and grew little by little with the support of my colleagues at the branch.
For the past three years, she has continued to challenge herself with the motto of "thorough preparation" -- the smiles of her customers are what motivate her.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when a state of emergency was declared, Kikkataka was assigned to the Hiroshima branch as the only new employee. He was determined to do his best and worked hard at sales every day, but he didn't have his peers by his side to chat about trivial things or compete with.

Meanwhile, several of his classmates had been assigned to nearby branches, and some had already secured orders. "I felt a sense of security knowing I wasn't alone, and there was a sense of scale that only a city center can offer. I was truly envious of that," he recalls.
The branch members supported Kikka-san. "Someone was always there to help me."

He says his seniors were always there for him, teaching him things he didn't understand without a hint of displeasure, encouraging him when he failed, teaching him the importance of accumulating small projects, and even listening to him talk for over 30 minutes when he was feeling down.

"Honestly, I felt a bit lonely. But what made it even more special was the warmth of my seniors."

Driven by the support of those around him, Tachibana continued to move forward. He says he got motivated by looking at the estimates his classmates had prepared, and cold-called every major company in Hiroshima. "I guess I'm just competitive (laughs). It was hard, but it really helped me develop," he says with a laugh.

The efforts I put into sales activities when I first joined the company bore fruit in my third year.
We participated in a competition to renovate a client's building and were awarded the contract. What's more, the client was a company that we had previously visited during cold calling.

"I was determined not to lose. I was so happy when the customer chose Itoki. And what I remember most is that the customer remembered me."

One thing that Kikkataka always keeps in mind is thorough preparation. "I prepare materials and other things so that I'm ready for anything that might happen. I can use them when the time comes," he says.

These methods were all learned from his seniors. As the only new employee at the branch, he was able to accompany many seniors, and it is the result of his experience. Armed with the knowledge and ingenuity he gained on the job, as well as his natural friendliness, Kitsutaka is able to give shape to customer feedback.

"No matter how difficult the process has been, or how much work it has taken, it all becomes worth it the moment our proposal is accepted and the customer is satisfied."

Customer satisfaction and the trust that leads to orders... To achieve these, the power of the production department is essential. "I believe that the core of Itoki is high-quality products and advanced technical capabilities. It is truly thanks to everyone in the manufacturing department that we are able to do business with confidence."

Kitsuka also never forgets to express his gratitude to the branch members who helped him grow. "Just as everyone stopped what they were doing and listened to what I had to say, I want to become a senior who can sincerely interact with my juniors. That's my goal right now."

He started his working life alone, but now he is supported by many colleagues and seniors, and responds to the needs of each customer. However, Tachibana's growth has only just begun.

We will continue to grow, turning our gratitude to all those who have supported us into strength.