2025/11/19
Providing peace of mind - One engineer's story
Hibi Satoru joined ADVICS in 2017 with the desire to be involved in building cars that everyone can drive with peace of mind. Since then, he has been pursuing vehicle safety in the Reliability Engineering Department. At work, he is involved in the maintenance and evaluation of vehicles used in the development of sports braking technology, and in his private life, he trains his mind and body as a Physique athlete. Physique is a competition that competes on the balance and beauty of upper body muscles, and hairstyle and pose are also evaluated, requiring natural muscular beauty. Hibi's days are a continuous cycle of "training" to hone his skills and his mind and body. In both work and training, he meticulously prepares and records his progress, striving to surpass his yesterday's self - his attitude embodies the pride of an engineer and the passion of an athlete.
My second year in the workforce and my encounter with physique
Hibi started weight training with a friend in 2016, six months before joining the company. He trained about twice a week as a hobby. The turning point came in the winter of 2018, when a friend invited him to join a gym. Overwhelmed by the well-trained muscles and stoic attitudes of his fellow gym members who were challenging themselves with physique, Hibi began training in earnest. Hibi has successfully gained about 25 kg since he started weight training, and when he meets his friends from his school days, they are surprised at the huge difference in their physiques.
"The appeal of physique is that your daily efforts will result in visible changes to your body. Because there are no limits, you can always grow," he says.
Won the prefectural championship in their first appearance, and placed 8th nationally in their second attempt
Hibi began competing in competitions in 2021. In his first appearance, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning the 176cm and under class at the Fukui Prefecture Men's Physique Championships, placing third in the Aichi Prefecture Championships, and fourth in the Tokai Championships. In the following national tournament (All Japan Fitness Championships), he was eliminated in the preliminaries, but he used that disappointment as motivation to win the Aichi Prefecture Championships and place eighth in the national competition the following year. In 2023, he made his first appearance in the SPORTEC CUP, which is open only to athletes who have achieved good results the previous year, and achieved eighth place. (He will not be competing in the tournaments in 2024 and 2025 due to the distance they will be held.)
"I have never once thought about quitting physique. I have continued believing that the more effort I put in, the more my muscles will respond," he says.
(Center and right) Showing off their impressive poses at the 2022 national tournament
Surpassing yesterday's self | Daily efforts
I train five days a week for two hours each time. I go to the gym after work on weekdays and record all of my training in a notebook. I also take detailed notes on form that felt good and any realizations I had, and my daily goal is to "better myself than I was yesterday."
In training, he places more emphasis on "how much you can move your muscles" than on weight. He pursues form that takes into account the maximum range of motion, and recently has also been focusing on flexibility and alignment. By achieving the correct posture and balance of movement, he is able to effectively target areas and prevent injuries.
He is also very strict when it comes to his diet. His diet is based on eggs, natto, lean pork, vegetables, kimchi, and rice, and he adjusts the amount of carbohydrates when he is trying to lose weight. He also brings his own homemade lunch to work. "Muscles can only grow through daily accumulation," he says, his words exuding unwavering conviction.
A job that supports sports braking technology
Sports braking technology is an advanced braking technique used in motorsports and high-performance vehicles that enables stable deceleration and stopping even under extreme conditions. It requires responsiveness to driver input, heat resistance, and precise control of braking force. Hibi, who is responsible for maintaining and evaluating sports braking technology development vehicles, begins his day with preparations before the race. He carefully selects the necessary tools and parts by reading through request forms and past performance data. Because work is affected by weather and the usage of the test course, he meticulously prepares and conducts simulations to be able to respond to unexpected situations. Evaluation work requires not only numbers, but also a "solid sense" based on experience. He physically senses the vehicle's behavior and identifies any anomalies or areas for improvement that cannot be seen through numbers. It's truly a job that "trains" him.
"I think it's important to have a balance in everything. My desire to make as much time as possible for muscle training may be what allows me to work efficiently," she said with a smile.
Training expands your world
Hibi's efforts in physique have been featured in the company newsletter, and his sincere attitude is widely known within the company. He often has the opportunity to work with people from outside the company, and when they first meet, they often ask, "Do you play any sports?" Seeing him train hard naturally sparks conversation, and he then gets asked for advice on muscle training, which helps build relationships.
On the day of the competition, his family, colleagues, and gym friends rush to cheer him on. Many employees are inspired by Hibi's stoic and steady approach to both his work and physique. He and his gym friends share a relationship where they inspire each other and aim to grow. The bonds forged through competition are a great source of strength that supports his challenge.
(Right) Competing in a tournament with fellow gym members who have trained hard
What lies beyond training
Hibi, who plans to compete in the Hyogo, Tokai and Japan tournaments in 2026, confidently declares, "I'm going to win every single tournament!" Technique and training will pay off in proportion to the effort put in. With this belief in mind, Hibi continues to train today.
At ADVICS, each employee has their own passion and grows while balancing their work and life. The training of each individual will eventually become a strength for the organization and lead to the technology that will drive the future. The presence of employees who continue to take on challenges with passion supports the growth of ADVICS.
[Click here for articles about colleagues working at ADVICS]
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