The hard life (a grueling day at work)

Today we had to be at work at 11am, an early hour that people were not meant to be awake for. I forced myself to get up before noon (I actually got up at 6am) and got to work on time. We had some "research time," where we got to plan what sights we wanted to see in Takayama. By this time we had worked up quite the appetite, so we went and bought lunch in the station.

After lunch we met at the Shinkansen platform to travel to Mishima, a town 120km outside of Tokyo. We arrived 37 minutes later and walked to the Mishima Training Center. This is one of two centers where new employees have their intensive two month training program, as well as where current employees return for periodic classes. The grounds are pretty cool, the highlight being the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji to the West.

We met with the directors of the facility, and learned a bit more about training at the facility and the daily life of the students. My basic impression was that it was a combination of being in high school, in the military, and at work all at the same time. There were 8 class periods every day, a strict schedule (don't be late!), and compulsory physical fitness (including a 20mi hike).

Dorms are right at the facility, which can handle over 1,000 students at any one time. It is most busy in the spring, as most of their new hires come directly out of high school or college. They definitely have a large production, and take their training very seriously.

After our tour, we took the train back to Tokyo and were done for the day. I told you it was a grueling work day.