Welcome our global distributor #4 : Haruko MINAMI, Advisor

Shinjuku-Kabukicho…

As you can see in the above-attached picture, there is no tree in the landscape seen through the hotel window we stayed at.

I had no choice but to have had to be in this sleepless town, formerly known as red light district, now transformed to be filled with host and hostess clubs for Sonora’s training with our global distributor, DMC, visiting Japan for the first time.

When the CEO, Mr. S, and the construction manager, Mr. M, arrived in Japan in the evening time, we went to eat ramen for dinner since it’s one of their favorite Japanese dishes. Yes, Japanese Ramen noodles are nowadays very popular all over the world!

However, we could enjoy the travel mood only the first evening, as training sessions started the next morning at Sonora’s head office located in Seijyo area in Setagawa-ward, Tokyo.

We went there every morning to learn:

• Design
• Manufacturing
• Installation and construction
• Interior work plan
• Installation and construction work procedures
• Sales activities
• Marketing initiatives

I was involved in the preparation of all the above training materials in English, so I could see first-hand how carefully and accurately Sonora works. I was reminded once again that the essence of Japanese manufacturing “Monozukuri” lies in this accumulated knowledge and capabilities.

Each training session was given by each expert in charge, having confidence in their work with passion, so DMC members listened carefully and tried to understand as much as possible.

However, even though the term “anechoic chamber” is used both in “acoustic” and “electromagnetic” in English, there is a big gap between Sonora’s specialized “acoustics” and DMC’s “electromagnetic”.

Although the construction methods may seem similar each other at a first glance, the walls of an acoustic anechoic chamber, which are actually intended to be soundproof and anechoic, are much more thicker than those that prevent the reflection of electromagnetic waves, and the internal wedges between for acoustic and electromagnetic are completely different, from the materials to the shape.

It was quite difficult for us to let them understand how the chamber could satisfy an acoustic anechoic environment.

We even had a day of fieldwork in a large acoustic anechoic chamber in the Sonora showroom for DMC members to experience it for themselves, but again, many questions were asked and the discussion went on for a long time.

It is a fact that end-users often have the impression that both types of anechoic chambers can be built in a similar way, especially when both acoustic and electromagnetic wave measurements are required by them. Actually, DMC has often received such inquiries; order of acoustic anechoic chambers, even though they don’t have such acoustic know-how.

So, we tried to see if we could build a complementary relationship towards the future, working with each other in acoustics and electromagnetic waves, offering products that neither of us can make. This was a pressing matter especially for DMC, as several clients in North America were rushing into.

As an corporate advisor, I have also been looking objectively and curiously this encounter between Sonora and DMC, especially interested in the similarities between the two companies, both of which were started by aspiring young people, and I was eager to see what kind of new creation will be brought by them during this training period.

This happened during a relaxed lunchtime and on the last day of the training.

< to be continued >