This is the second edition of the dialogue plan and the Part 2 of Mr.Kikuo Ibe.We heard about how to create products like G-SHOCK that are loved by people all over the world, how to maintain motivation for manufacturing, and how KAWASHIMA and Mr.Ibe has things in common.
In the ending, we will deliver a message that we want to convey to those who want to make things.

Two rules of “”G-SHOCK”””

Mr.Isosaka:Approximately 40 years have passed since the first model, and I think thousands of types of “”G-SHOCK”” are appearing in the world. Is there anything like a “”axis”” that should not be blurred?

Mr.Ibe:“”G-SHOCK”” is very simple.
One is impact resistance, that is, durability.It is often covered in the media, but the one-line I wrote at the time of my proposal, the theme of “”a durable watch that won’t break even if you drop it,”” has been consistently adhered.
The other is waterproof.It would be okay if basis could be cleared to withstand a water pressure of 200 meters.Other then these two points, no rules.

Isosaka:I’m surprised that there are only two.Very much free.While keeping these two axes in mind, you reflect the needs of the latest technologies and users?

Mr.Ibe:Yes.What’s interesting is that it looks free at first glance, but the ideas come out because there are constraints.”””The designers of “”G-SHOCK”” are really outstanding and handled by genius-class people, but when they are told, “”You can do it as you like,”” they seem to stop their hands.”They even say “”Please give us restrictions.””.
For example, there is a “”G-SHOCK”” with a built-in sensor, but the sensor must be structured to absorb shock.Needless to say, this part becomes large, and it is necessary to shave it to the extreme, but by making good use of it, it expresses a sophisticated design that features sensor parts.

Mr.Isosaka:I’m one of them, but I guess everyone is attracted to it’s meticulous “”attention to detail””.Not only the design, but also the beauty of the polishing finish, absence of burrs in metal processing.The atmosphere of the hairline and other aspects of commitment are being conveyed.
Manufacturing with sophisticated designs is a point that we are constantly aware of. Among the many “”G-SHOCK,”” what do you think are the products that will remain for a long time?

Mr.Ibe:I think the products that have reached to the essence will survive, not something that has followed fashion or trend.Though, “”It’s easy to say, it’s hard to make.””
Those which has no waste in function, performance, and design, is very likely to remain long.

Mr.Isosaka:(While looking at the “”G-SHOCK”” in the material), you just put it here and it tells the story of everything.
For example, there is no waste about animals and insects in nature.Human often dressed up and fake it, but what is really important is whether they can compete by sticking to the essence of the inside.

Mr.Ibe:That’s a wonderful point of view.When we developed G-SHOCK, our business partners told us, “”We cannot keep up with Casio’s commitment. It’s too much.However, the customer’s eyes are even more severe.
Under these circumstances, not only me, but all the colleagues who took part in “”G-SHOCK”” together did not compromise, which I believe was the “”G-SHOCK”” that led to Casio’s quality and brands.
It is a good memories that I have been negotiating with the suppliers many times saying “”we will definitely repay you once G-SHOCK becomes a big pillar!

Mr.Isosaka:That’s amazing.We also have similar experiences, and we ask our suppliers somehow to cooperate with us on points and requests that we do not want to compromise.In such a case, the amount of passion is everything.

Mr.Ibe:I believe that’s the only thing.It may not be favored by young people who want to do smart work.But I’m worried that some might not able to overcome the difficulties with a smart-only attitude when they encounter.

“””G-SHOCK”” hit was not possible by one person.Working for someone

Mr.Ibe:Mr.Ibe: While saying such things, I was not a respectable person either, and I was a young man who had no desire to be anything.Rather, as a result of erasing things that I couldn’t do or didn’t want to do, I was picked by Casio, and started my career as engineer.

Mr.Isosaka:Surprisingly.We can’t say, “”The young people of these days!”” (laughs).

Mr.Ibe:You are right.The young people today are all far more studious and superior than I am.
I was a deadly person who was not good at designing even though I majored in mechanical engineering, so I had even thought of changing jobs in the third year of joining the company. It must be same with the younger people who are worried about my career.

Mr.Isosaka:And your life changed with the single line proposal for “”G-SHOCK”” ?

Mr.Ibe:There was no desire to pass the plan inside the company, but I just wanted to make “”such a watch I myself want””.When a GO appeared in the project, I was not happy, but rather thought, “”What should I do. Oh no.It was a journey of hardship after that.

伊早坂：Mr.Isosaka: In Mr.Ibe’s book, I was moved by the phrase “”I will realize it because I have made proposal by myself and the responsibility of my boss who gave me an evaluation.
I think the driving force is to help people, not only for themselves but also to responding to the benefits of people.

Mr.Ibe :That’s right.Mine is an erasure life method, but once it’s decided, I am a full-power throwing type.I wanted to live up to the expectations of my boss at that time.
Since its development, G-SHOCK has grown up to this point in terms of the strength of many people involved.I spent about two years developing it.Since then, there have been many people who have persistently worked over the course of several years even in in the years which the sales was not good.It’s something I couldn’t have done by myself.

Ways to maintain motivation

Mr.Isosaka:I also know there were tremendous difficulties in the development process.How did you maintain your motivation?

Mr.Ibe:Regarding to maintaining motivation, I was able to change my values at a time away from development rather than in time I developed G-SHOCK.
Until then, I had some sort of evil desire, saying, “”I want to release what I designed into the world”” and “”I want to surprise the people by thinking about new structures.If that’s the case, even if you clear the hurdles from time to time, there’s no end to the next time, and at last, you are stuck.
I happened to transfer to the Product Planning Department, and worked to plan low-cost, high-quality watches for developing countries.This was a turning point.
You can see it with the smile of the person who bought the watch.”””This person will take good care of this watch for the rest of his life.”””
As MrIsosaka said in the part 1, happiness is not a price but to be useful to people.No matter how small it is, when I am involved in a job or in manufacturing that leads to a smile on a person’s face , I am happy. After I noticed that, I no longer have any concerns about maintaining motivation.

Mr.Isosaka:I agree.The slogan that we are advocating, “”Beyond Expectations”” is also for the smiling faces of our customers and colleagues.
To makes someone happy is everything.If we can have a source of motivation here, we can overcome any hardship, and rather, if we don’t do anything from our side, we won’t feel comfortable.

Mr.Ibe:I understand that feeling very much.

Mr.Isosaka:It’s wonderful to cherish small joys and small happiness.If we can become a company where each person can accumulate small happiness, everyone will be happy.That would be ideal.

Never Never Never Give Up & Efforts to go through

Mr.Isosaka:Our slogan is “”Beyond Expectations”” and the message Mr.Ibe conveys in his “”SHOCK THE WORLD.”” “”Never Never Never Give Up”” has something in common.

Mr.Ibe:Even though there is a difference between watches and packaging, this spirit is something that is common to manufacturing.By the way, the word “”Never Give Up”” resonates in people’s hearts throughout the world.
At first, I thought it was an aesthetic sense peculiar to Japan, but it goes beyond national character.It gets stuck in everyone’s heart.

Mr.Isosaka:In “”SHOCK THE WORLD””, I read no matter which country you go to, you will be presenting in native language.

Mr.Ibe:I started thinking that it would convey my feelings to the audience if I did not use an interpreter.It’s my habit to start with momentum without hindsight or backing, just as I did when I wrote a G-SHOCK proposal.I am trying my best while thinking “”What should I do, oh no”” without learning from the past.
It’s a way of life that I don’t recommend, but there are people like me, so I want young people who are studying much wiser than me to take on challenges without fear.

Ms. Isosaka:You embody the precedence of action, don’t you?

Ms. Ibe:Lastly, I would like to dare to convey this draft of the dialogue because it will be aimed at those who will be responsible for manufacturing in the future.

Isosaka:What about that?

Mr.Ibe:Ito: “”Efforts to penetrate”” is the term.
At one point in time, I was talking about a variety of lectures, saying, “”Once in life you need to make an effort to penetrate. There is something you can see when you do it.In fact, it was when I developed “”””G-SHOCK,”””” so I was talking about it as a successful experience, wasn’t it?
However, there are some reflections that this is not a way of working or living that is recommended due to the background of the times.I happen to be lucky, and I have no child if I get too forced and get sick.

Isosaka:It’s a very delicate story, but it’s also one of the true intentions of monozukuri, isn’t it?I have a number of experiences in a situation where I was stuck with design, pushing myself further to the limit, and “”flushing with ideas.

Ms. Ibe:It’s not much of a requirement, and it was a message I haven’t conveyed lately, but after a long time I tried to say that it’s something I want people who will be responsible for the next generation of manufacturing to know about.

Isosaka:No, rather thank you.
We received many hints for developing “”G-SHOCK”” that is loved worldwide, including Mr. Ibe’s hard work, his gratitude for cooperating with many people, and the accumulation of small happiness.
I’m sorry about Mr. Ibe, but I hope we can work together to boost manufacturing in the future and enjoy manufacturing more.

Mr. Ibe:Thank you too for today.In fact, I have an idea that I would like to try wrapping it like this, so please allow me to give you a presentation.First of all, the practice of action lol.

Kikuo IBE
Born in 1952.After graduating from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Sophia University, he joined Casio Computer.In 1981, he began with a single-line plan stating that ‘ a strong watch that could not be broken even if it was dropped, ‘ and after two years of development, he sent the first ‘ G-SHOCK ‘ to the world in 1983.
In 1996, we planned and commercialized a full-metal, shock-resistant adult G-SHOCK””MR-G as a project leader.In 2004, we planned and commercialized OCEANUS, a full-metal model equipped with radio-wave solar, with the aim of upgrading Casio’s brand stage.In 2008, we began SHOCK THE WORLD to convey the story of developing G-SHOCK worldwide.Currently, she conveys her thoughts and know-how through workshops and seminars on nurturing the next generation of engineers, and “”Invention Classes”” at elementary schools throughout Japan.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. website: https://www.casio.co.jp/
G-SHOCK Official Website: https://gshock.casio.com/jp/

Picture:Takahiro Yamada
Text:Cross Media Marketing