In April 2024, Mr. Gu Xuxiang, General Manager of Changzhou Huiya Decorative Materials Co., Ltd., was invited to join a study and exchange delegation to Japan organized by the Changzhou Cultural Exchange Association. Led by veteran team leader Mr. Chu Jianming, the delegation traveled to Himeji and other Japanese cities for an in-depth study of Japan’s automotive parts processing and manufacturing industry. The delegation also visited iconic Japanese cultural landmarks such as Todai-ji Temple in Nara and the Gassho Village at Gero Onsen, experiencing the unique charm of Japanese society from the perspectives of industry, culture, and daily life.

The leader of this trip, Mr. Chu Jianming, lived and worked in Japan for more than a decade between 1989 and 2014, and possesses deep insights into Japanese society and culture. Before departure, Mr. Chu shared a thought-provoking question with the delegation:

Mr. Chu summarized in a single sentence the answer he had drawn from his many years of living and working in Japan:

“An enterprise is, in essence, its people; a nation is, in essence, its people.”

An enterprise, at its core, is a group of people; an outstanding enterprise is a group of people who act according to certain rules.

It is precisely this respect for rules and dedication to detail that has built the competitiveness of Japanese enterprises and supported Japan’s post-war economic takeoff. Carrying this question and these reflections, the delegation embarked on its journey to Japan.

I. Himeji Visit: Inside Japan’s Automotive Parts Manufacturing Enterprises

In Himeji, the delegation visited several automotive parts manufacturing enterprises, including renowned firms such as Fukushin Electric (Team FUKUSHIN). Over several days of factory tours and roundtable exchanges, the delegation focused on learning about the mature practices of Japanese manufacturing enterprises in the following areas:

• ✅ Lean Production and On-Site Management: Company-wide implementation of 5S management, visualized Kanban systems, and standard operating procedures.
• ✅ Quality Control Systems: Closed-loop, end-to-end management spanning raw material intake, in-process inspection, and finished goods dispatch.
• ✅ Craftsmanship Spirit and Skill Inheritance: The earnest attitude and sense of responsibility shown by frontline employees toward every single process.
• ✅ Corporate Culture Building: A people-centered management philosophy rooted in teamwork and shared growth.

These observations and reflections offer highly valuable references for Huiya Raised Floor’s future improvements in production management, quality system optimization, and team culture development.

II. Cultural Journey: Understanding Japan Through Its Details

Before departure, the team leader’s central directive to delegation members was: travel with reflection, and miss no detail of any experience. In addition to business inspections, the delegation visited several iconic Japanese cultural landmarks to feel the spiritual character of the Japanese people through the subtle textures of social life.

1. Todai-ji Temple in Nara: A Millennium-Old Temple and the Harmony Between People and Deer

The delegation arrived in Nara and visited Todai-ji Temple (Daikegonji), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 728 CE, Todai-ji is the head temple of the Kegon school of Japanese Buddhism. Its main hall is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, and the solemn Vairocana Buddha enshrined within carries profound Buddhist cultural and architectural-artistic value.

In the surrounding Nara Park, herds of deer roam freely among visitors, living in harmony with people. This unique scene of human-nature coexistence deeply moved the delegation: the respect and protection that a thousand-year-old ancient capital extends to wild creatures reflects a culturally inherited consciousness and a sense of public order passed down through generations.

The long-standing tacit understanding between Nara’s deer and tourists offers another expression of Japan’s “rule consciousness” — respect for life, respect for order, and respect for inheritance.

2. Gassho Village at Gero Onsen: Traditional Architecture and Craftsmanship Heritage

The delegation also visited Gassho Village at Gero Onsen in Hida, Gifu Prefecture (a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan). The village is famous for its distinctive “gassho-zukuri” thatched-roof houses, whose roofs form vast inverted “V” shapes resembling hands joined in prayer, an architectural wisdom developed to withstand the heavy snowfall of the local climate.

The delegation took commemorative photos in front of the “Village Entry Memorial” plaque (Reiwa 6, April 12), gaining a close-up appreciation of the craftsman wisdom embodied in these centuries-old traditional dwellings. Every beam, every bundle of thatch, and every mortise-and-tenon joint reflects Japanese traditional craftsmen’s profound understanding of materials, techniques, and the laws of nature.

The fact that gassho-zukuri houses can stand firm against centuries of wind and snow is not the result of “high technology,” but of generations of craftsmen strictly adhering to craft standards and meticulously refining every detail. This devotion to “doing one thing well” is one of the spiritual sources of Japanese manufacturing.

III. Reflections from the Tour: Implications for Huiya’s Management and Culture

Looking back on this Japan study tour, from factory floors to millennium-old temples, from modern manufacturing to traditional dwellings, what the delegation gained was not merely tour notes, but a transformation in mindset. Drawing on Huiya Raised Floor’s two decades of industry experience, Mr. Gu Xuxiang shared several core reflections in his summary:

IV. Reflection Is the Beginning of Action

This Japan study tour was a journey of industry — and even more, a journey of culture and reflection. From the precision workshops of Himeji, to the millennium-old temples of Nara, to the traditional dwellings of Gassho Village — every sight and every encounter brought new inspiration to the Huiya team.

As the team leader put it: “Travel with reflection, miss no detail of any experience, and broaden your horizons.” This was not only the core purpose of the trip, but also the fundamental path forward for Huiya as an aspiring manufacturing enterprise.

Huiya Raised Floor will take this study tour as a new starting point, translating what was learned, contemplated, and realized into concrete actions in corporate management, product R&D, and customer service. Together with our customers and partners, we will write a new chapter in Huiya’s development.

Changzhou Huiya Decorative Materials Co., Ltd.
Official Website: www.huiyainc.com
Tel: +86 18706128688
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