The Honda Years: My job consisted of developing technical training material and graphic design at Honda's training center's in Wako Shi Saitama. I want to say that the best thing about working for what may seem as the best job on earth, was not the long hours (Itai!) or the green tea, but being surrounded by people who new everything about Honda. When I say everything I mean Honda Japan shifts its workforce around every 3 years to get everyone well rounded in all areas of the company. While this causes a few drawbacks in specified applications, it's instilled to promote communication within all levels of production. Being the only white guy in my department made this a very challenging experience. Being around people who remember working on the 1972 Civic and telling me how they had to swap motorcycle parts over to make the CVCC engine work was not something I could ever experience back home. Or meeting engineers who remember the heydays of the Lotus 99T Honda with Ayrton Senna, and having part in that era which culminates Soichiro's influence in Motorsports. One thing Ill never forget is how the older guys spoke of a once great company when the old man (Oaji) was around. Now it seems Honda's old ways have been dropped and been replaced by the American bottom line. Which brings me to this point; I am by nature a true Honda enthusiast in that I respect what Soichiro was trying to accomplish through Motorsports as a passion. I not only respect Honda as an acclaimed engineer but also as one of Japan's most revered national heroes (Voted man of the Century with Ibuka Sony, for outstanding contributions to Japan in 2001). Most of the work I did is protected under a confidentiality agreement and I can't go into too much details. Basically, I helped write and design the overseas training modules and technical information guides for the H13 Jazz/Fit, EP Civic/Civic Hybrid, CL Accord and DC Integra to name a few, so it's fair to say, I know a little about these cars. I also worked on the Service Manuals, which is what overseas companies such as Helm's, Mitchell and Haynes transfer their information from. I have to admit, I had to learn a lot of this as I went along, and doing meetings in Japanese over technical data wasn't easy to say the least. Our department also had to take TOS (Test Only Service) car info from Tochigi R&D and translate it, which was interesting because we where able to see TOS cars and perform troubleshooting procedures on such systems as CAN protocol (Control Area Network). The nice part about working in Wako Shi is that not only are the Honda Service centers located there, but so is R&D for Honda Chemicals, HRC, Aerospace and other main offices for other Honda divisions. And close by in Asakadai is Honda Parts, and Motocycle R&D, which is pretty top secret and I wasn't allowed access because I'm a gaikokujin….oh! and Mugen. After all the long hours of meeting amongst the strictest of automotive deadlines, 3 years at HSY was enough. Its hard to put into words the experience that goes along with all this, and I'm sure I did a real crappy job, so feel free to email me any questions and I'll do my best to get back to everyone.

Hard At Work:
This was the beautiful office where I spent much too much time, although it just happens to be a 5 minute bike ride down the street from Mugen.

The Honda Whites:
When I visited other departments such as the Honda training center, I had to sport the Honda Whites. I wore them with pride... that, and I didn't have a choice.

This picture here is of me on my last day at Honda in October 2003. These are all people I had major projects with, and learned the most from. Some of these people worked on development of the NSX at Tochigi back as early as '86.

Saitama central:
Many of Honda's operations are located in Wako and Asaka in Saitama Japan, which is just North of Tokyo on the Tobu Tojo Train Line. Most people refer to it as the "Wako Basho", as the main city is Wako-Shi.

The new Honda training headquarters is just north of the station and not far are several other important places, such as Honda R&D, HRC and Motorcycle R&D. Foreigners are not admitted in the R&D labs but I was able to visit most of these offices over 3 years.

HRC...One of the reason's I came to Japan.