2025/10/14
The trail carved into the snowy mountains of youth
At ADVICS, there are two employees who are now active members of AISIN Ski Club, carrying the passion they developed for skiing in their student days. They are Hiroki Ito of the Control and Software Development Department and Yosuke Kamiya of the Elemental Technology Development Department. During their university days, Ito pursued speed in the competitive ski club, while Kamiya honed the beauty of his gliding in the basic ski club. In fact, the two were captains of different ski clubs in the same year at the same university, and it was at an employment offer ceremony at ADVICS that they first met.
With the experience and knowledge they gained in the snowy mountains, they moved to ADVICS, where they continued to work hard as engineers and as classmates. Although they would occasionally go to ski resorts, as they became busier raising their children, they drifted away from ski racing.
A challenge in his 15th year at the company: joining AISIN Ski Club
Fast forward to the winter of 2023. Ito and Kamiya, who had been with the company for 15 years, are now in a position to lead their team members as group leaders. With the most difficult period of raising their children behind them, the two decide to take on ski racing for the first time in a long while.
It was Ito's first race in 14 years, and Kamiya's first since high school, a whopping 21 years ago. Ito won the 36-40 age group at the 40th All Toyota Ski Championships held in Nagano Prefecture. Kamiya also achieved the remarkable feat of winning the 30s division at the 63rd Kariya City Mayor's Cup Ski Championships.
Although it had been a while since their last race, the two were able to reaffirm their enthusiasm and confidence, and decided to join AISIN Ski Club, which had previously invited them to join.
"My passion" becomes "my family's hobby"
During his student days, he risked his life to ski. Now he is a member of the AISIN Ski Club, where he enjoys skiing with his friends and family, and participates in races with his parents.
Before the competition, Ito practices with his children and even sleeps in his car after practice. "I'm so happy to be able to enjoy skiing, which I was passionate about as a student, with my family," he says. Kamiya recalls the moment his elementary school-aged daughter won her first medal at a competition and says, "It was very moving to see my daughter looking so happy as she received her award. My wife had almost no experience skiing, but now she has a full set of equipment and it has become a hobby for the whole family."
The AISIN Ski Club is made up of employees and alumni from group companies, including ADVICS, and boasts a history of over 60 years. Currently, there are about 50 members, and they foster bonds as "comrades" that transcend generations and companies. They participate in about 10 competitions a year, and in the off-season, they focus on developing their physical and mental development by training their strength and endurance on road bikes.
The skills honed on the snowy mountains are the driving force behind his skills and team
Skiing is the fastest non-powered sport. In giant slalom*, average speeds can reach 50-70km/h, and one-hundredth of a second can make the difference between victory and defeat.
"A split-second error in judgment can be fatal. That's why the sense of accomplishment when you have a good run is so special," says Kamiya. In the development of the "Future Brake (Electro Mechanical Brake/ electric disc brake)" he is currently working on, there are many situations that require precise control and accurate judgment, and he says that the concentration and calm judgment he developed through skiing are coming in handy.
Meanwhile, Ito is leading the development of software for Electric parking brake. "When I ski, I go all out, but at work I'm more cautious. Because I have the experience of going all out on snowy mountains, I can take a step back and make calm decisions at work. This ability to switch gears helps me concentrate as an engineer and maintains the mental stability to keep going for long periods of time," says Ito.
Furthermore, although skiing may appear to be an individual sport, mutual support from teammates is actually essential. The attitude of systematically training for competitions and helping each other is also relevant to project management and team development. Everything I have learned through sports has helped me as an engineer.
*A skiing sport in which skiers compete for time by zigzagging down a course set up on a snowy slope. The curves are just large enough that both speed and skiing technique are required.
Bonds live on in ADVICS' manufacturing
"We never imagined that 15 years after joining the company, we would be joining a company club or competing in ski races with our families," the two said with a smile. Now, they continue to have close family relationships.
"Kamiya's children's ski equipment is hand-me-downs from Ito's children." Such a warm relationship speaks to the homely corporate culture at ADVICS.
At ADVICS, each employee has their own passion and grows while balancing their work and life. The sight of our engineers boldly taking on challenges in the snowy mountains reflects the true essence of the company ADVICS. Passion, together with our colleagues and families - these bonds support the technology of the future.
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Weekend racer, weekday engineer.