Prayers and hard work put into practice: Continuing to weave the aspirations of three generations

"No matter how good a job a single person does, nothing great will come of it. If we continue to pass on prayer, a path will open up. If we walk that path, we will surely encounter God. Prayer is the practice of love and perseverance. Keep walking until you encounter God."

These words are an important "guidepost" that I return to many times in my management. They were left behind by the second generation owner - my great-uncle. He continued to support the family business after my grandfather (the first generation owner) passed away suddenly at the young age of 45.

My grandfather risked his life to develop the business in the early days of the company's founding shortly after the war. However, he passed away suddenly at the age of just 45. This happened at a time when both the times and the company were still unstable.

After my grandfather passed away, my father's older brother, my great-uncle, the second generation president, supported the company. At a young age, he became the central figure in the company, incorporated the business, and gave it its shape as Higuchi Hosiery Industry Co., Ltd. He lived to the amazing age of 92, teaching my father and us by example what it means to run a business with prayer and sweat.

Meanwhile, my father was 19 years old at the time, an age when he should have continued his education and pursued his dreams, but instead he gave up everything and joined the factory to take over the family business.

I believe my father's life was all about "carrying on" and "protecting." Even while burdened with debt, he protected his employees, preserved his techniques, and inherited the aspirations of his grandfather and brother. My father was not a man of many words, but one day he pointed to a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall and said:

"Don't forget this."

That is the second word.

I am the youngest of three sisters. My sisters started their own families, and before I knew it, I was the one working in the factory with my father.

When I decided to take over the family business, it wasn't out of a dream or a hope, but simply a strong sense of responsibility that "if I don't do it, the lights will go out."

However, the reality was much more difficult than I had imagined. Business was tough, my father had a heavy debt load, and the future was uncertain. But what allowed me to persevere was the belief that "this company is filled with the prayers of three generations."

We are currently making socks called "Tsutsushita." They are designed to be wearable by people who cannot wear socks. For people with sensitive skin, people with foot problems, and people with disabilities. This product was created to listen to the needs of such people.

Behind every thread is prayer. And sweat. We put our heart into our threads every day to deliver products that are kind to the environment, the skin, and people's hearts.

Prayer is the practice of love and hard work. I have come to understand firsthand the weight of these words.

That is why I want to continue to cherish my grandfather's thoughts, my father's journey, and the teachings of the second generation, and pass them on to the next generation.

"Keep walking until you meet God." I continue to walk today, pondering the meaning of these words.