My job is to maintain the engines that run the ship. The ship I am currently on is a large ship with an overall length of 169.99 meters. It might be easier to visualize if I say that it can hold 150 large trailers loaded with cargo.

The ship has a room called the "engine room" and the engines are located in that room. The main engine has 8 to 9 pistons, large enough to hold an adult person. There are also three generator engines that are smaller than the main engine.

There are also other machines in the engine room that produce water for use in the ship.

The reason is that we eat and bathe on the boat just like everyone else. There is no electricity or running water on the sea. That is why it is necessary to generate electricity and water on the ship.

The machinery that we engineers maintain is necessary for the safe operation of the ship and for a comfortable stay on board.

If the engine stops running, the ship will stop moving, and if the electricity stops running, the ship will go dark and work will not be possible. It is also an important job of the engineer to perform maintenance and inspections to prevent problems from occurring.

Machines are like human beings; sometimes they are in good shape, and sometimes they are not. In the world of engineers, it is often said that "an engine is a living thing," and this is very true.

I find it fascinating because, in addition to daily inspections and maintenance to keep the machines in good shape, the engineer must be able to respond quickly and restore them when trouble occurs, all of which is a testament to his or her skill.

The number of engineers on a ship is determined by the size of the ship, and on my ship there are four: the chief engineer, first engineer, second engineer, and third engineer.

What is important for an engineer is each person's knowledge and experience, and the fact that everyone, regardless of age or position, shares opinions and works together as one. I am attracted to the sense of accomplishment and teamwork when we solve a problem.

I am also very happy to be able to touch the big, cool engines. You can just look at the machines on a factory tour, but actually being able to use your knowledge and experience in maintenance is a privilege that only an engineer can enjoy.

I get extremely excited when my maintenance improves the condition of the engine!

The work schedule is also attractive. Engineers work on a cycle of 3 months on the ship and 1 month off, and having a month off allows them to travel when the ship is free and to spend plenty of time on their hobbies.

There is no hassle of commuting, so once you step out of your room on the ship, you are already at work. Since you are on the ship for a very long time, having your own room where you can relax is also an attractive point.

The hard part is that you never know when machine trouble may occur. Even at this very moment as we speak, an alarm may go off. When the alarm goes off, no matter what the situation, even in the middle of the night, we need to rush in immediately and deal with the problem until it is resolved.

That is why I am always nervous when I am on the boat. That makes me feel relieved when I get off the boat.

I was born in Fukuoka Prefecture and grew up in an environment where the sea was nearby. My father worked at the port unloading cargo from ships, and my brother, who is four years older than me, works as a navigator, so I was familiar with the idea of working at sea.

My brother encouraged me to become an engineer. I thought it would be good to have more options in terms of being able to maintain machinery on land as well as on ships.

When I was in the first grade of junior high school, I began to think that I wanted to become an engineer, and in order to fulfill my dream, I went to a fisheries high school. After graduating from a fisheries high school, I studied for two years in an advanced course at a fisheries high school called "Major Course" and took an examination to become an engineer.

The first priority is to get off the ship in good health and without injury. This may sound obvious, but you never know what will happen on the sea. I want to make sure I accomplish this goal every time.

Also, I still want to be an engineer-in-chief.

To become an agency head, you need not only the knowledge and ability to lead, but also the skills to lead everyone as a leader.

To this end, I am usually conscious of taking the initiative in difficult tasks, while referring to the opinions of experienced senior staff.

I don't want machine trouble to happen, but the experience of restoring the machine will lead directly to my ability to do it, so I said, "Okay, here it comes!　Let's do it!" (laughs), and there is a part of me that gets excited.

Other examples include using past problems as a reference to think about what can be done to prevent the same thing from happening again, or asking questions about machines that have been serviced in the past, such as "What is going on here? or "What's going on here?

I work with the idea that there are many opportunities for growth in my daily work.

The job of engineer is perfect for those who love the sea and machinery. The work on board is three months long, but you get three days off per month, which makes it a very attractive job.

The machine will not tell you on its own that something is wrong here. You need to be able to notice a defect by a slight change in sound, etc., so I think it is suitable for people who have the ability to concentrate and can continue one task slowly and for a long period of time.

The most important thing may be to have a "love" for machines and engines in order to maintain them with single-minded care. If you are interested in becoming an engineer, please do so!