STORIES2021/03/26
Work seriously. Live life with humor.
Fujitsu UT
Hitoshi Yanagida
PROFILE
Hitoshi began computer programming as a fun activity when he was around nine. After graduating from a technical school, he started his career as an engineer, and since then he has been involved in development and launch of numerous big projects. He is now 52 years old, enjoying motorcycle riding as hobby.
Introduction
40 years ago Hitoshi encountered programming. At one time he decided to manage the family business but after that decided to return to work as an engineer. What has he been mindful of in his job as he was engaged in numerous big projects for client companies?
I think the job of an engineer was my true calling.
When I was an elementary school student 40 years ago, the world was just at the time of the dawn of computers. Every day I played with a PC that was given to me by my father who liked new things. I was really into creating a game that would clear when the player was able to make a person escape from the square of the screen. I believe I was already writing programs as my future dream job back then.
Since then, it’s been quite a long time that I have been engaged in work directly related to computers. My numerous experiences, at several companies, include the launch of the first e-commerce site in Japan, a project worth \10 billion yen, to build an administrative search system, and the development of a certification system for cigarette vending machines nationwide using a network of mobile companies. Looking back, I can talk for hours on each of these projects I was entrusted with.
In fact, when I was 23, my father got ill and I took over my family’s construction company for about four years as representative director. I had no knowledge of civil engineering and it was so painful. I thought long and hard, and asked the real number two person in the company to manage it. I then returned to the world of programming. I think that was the right decision and I am pleased that the family company is still managed solidly.
You cannot move projects nor people, by being serious all the time.
Having good colleagues also had a positive impact on my career. Before joining UT, I worked at another company for about 20 years. It was a good company where people reported and discussed things when something went wrong. You will give work your 100% only when you have a reliable good relationship with co-workers. I was perplexed when I heard that I would be part of the UT Group, but soon I found through work that UT values communication with people, and that I can have a lot of regular conversations with my manager, with whom I built a good, frank relationship. When I was chasing new business from a client, he sat with me at a presentation even though I didn’t ask him to (laughs).
In my view, ability at adjustment and coordination is most important even in this job, which emphasizes expertise. My bitter experience as a young executive might have been useful. Since many system engineers are serious, I try to build a relationship by clearly separating work and play: we give work full attention but leave it behind when we sometimes go out drinking in off time. You should not be serious all the time. Humor and kindness help you get familiar with people. That is and will be my way to get involved in work and people.