on motherson.com
Misato Industries Co., Ltd. is a very traditional automotive mirror manufacturer with over 50 years of history. The company was formerly Ichikoh Industries, which changed its name to Misato Industries in 2023 and became a member of the Motherson Group. We have expanded our business while valuing long-term relationships of trust with our customers and have established ourselves as a leading manufacturer of automotive mirrors in Japan. Once again, we would like to thank all of our stakeholders.
Although the environment and social conditions surrounding us continue to change dramatically, we will continue to provide outstanding solutions and continue to offer our customers peace of mind, safety, and great trust and value.
We look forward to your continued support.
Since August 1st 2023, Misato Industries Co.,Ltd is part of the Vision Systems Division of the Motherson Group. Motherson is a diversified global manufacturing specialist and a global supplier to automotive OEMs as well as to customers in a wide range of other industries. Motherson’s diversified product portfolio includes wire harnesses, electrical distribution systems, fully assembled vehicle interior and exterior modules, automotive rear vision systems, moulded plastic parts and assemblies, injection moulding tools, moulded and extruded rubber components, lighting systems, electronics, precision metals and modules, industrial IT solutions and services and new innovative technologies. The group has expanded its presence to support customers in new segments including health and medical, aerospace and logistics. Motherson’s vision is to be a globally preferred sustainable solutions provider.
Misato Industries develops and manufactures a wide variety of high-quality mirror products for the automotive industry, including exterior mirrors, interior mirrors, side turn lamps, and electric retractable units. Our competitive advantage stems from ongoing innovations and utilization of the latest design and manufacturing technologies. By continuing to develop and provide innovative and cost-optimized solutions, numerous leading automotive manufacturers have chosen to partner with Misato Industries.
Safety is the most important factor when driving a car. We contribute to make driving safer by developing advanced, high-quality interior and exterior mirrors.
Misato Industries was the first company in the world to introduce power foldable exterior mirrors with the Nissan "Laurel" in 1984. Since then, power foldable mirrors have become a global standard and are installed in almost all vehicles. SMR, a group company, was also the first in the world to introduce exterior mirrors with integrated side turn Indicators and the world's only intelligent camera-assisted blind spot detection system using image processing technology. Thus, by developing and manufacturing both state-of-the-art customized solutions tailored to the specific needs and standardized platform solutions, we provide the values of mirror systems in a wide range of vehicle segments and price segments.
Interior mirrors are required for rear view when checking for following vehicles and when parking.
Our side-turn features to enhance your brand identity.
We provide models for passenger cars to large trucks, as well as models with reduced noise when opening and closing mirrors.
The laboratories of SMR Misato is equipped to attend the demand for initial performance tests and durability tests.
Misato Industries is part of the VISION SYSTEM of the Motherson Group and is part of a global team with strong ties across 15 countries.
We have a culture where we can say anything to each other like a family, and we all help each other.
We respect individual opinions and provide an environment where you can challenge yourself and grow in many ways.
We have opportunities to work globally.
We have a future we want to realize and a desire we want to realize.
We want to make future mobility more convenient, more comfortable.
Your potential. Your ideas.
Why don't you join us and give shape to it?
What does it mean for our employees to be part of SMR Misato? The four main value propositions briefly explained.
Originally, both of my parents worked for Ichikoh Industries (the predecessor of Misato Industries), where my father was in charge of quality assurance of mirrors and my mother was in charge of assembly. I have known well that Ichikoh Industries is a big company in Fujioka City since I was little, and my parents' house is also nearby. When I was a child, there was a local festival held by Ichikoh at the plant, and I once came with my parents. As for joining the company, my parents recommended it, and I myself have always wanted to work here since I was in junior high school because I like to move my body and make things. Now I sometimes talk about mirror products with my parents at home (laughs).
I am mainly an inspector, and I am entrusted with the important role of making final checks on items that have been assembled by other personnel. Only those who have passed the test can be inspectors, and special badge on inspector's hats. The difficult part as an assembly inspector is that have to find defects that have been assembled by the person in charge of the previous stage. It is the "last resort," so to speak. Some of the workers are temporary workers who have only been here a short time, so I have to check all over the way inside. Without a complete understanding of the assembly process, it is impossible to know where defects are likely to occur, so we work on this every day with a sense of responsibility.
I am happy when the production output exceeds the target value, and I feel a sense of accomplishment. And always aware of the hourly production volume because it is calculated every hour, and while instructing each assemble worker, I try to think about how to prevent defects from occurring and communicate this to the team leader.
I am also happy when I see a car running with a mirror that I was involved in the production of, because it makes me realize that I have actually been involved in manufacturing. It is a moment when I feel that I am contributing to the world.
I just moved to my current workplace, so I am still unfamiliar with some things, but the senior staff around me are all interesting people. I can talk with the group leader about anything without hesitation. We also talk about our personal lives and hobbies.
Misato Industries is a global company that can relate to a variety of people, including those from overseas. At the assembly site of our factory, there are people from various countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, and Brazil, and we enjoy communicating with each other by teaching each other the language of each other's country. Please join us and have fun working with us.
There was a high school senior in the vocational training school of Ichikoh Industries (the predecessor of Misato Industries), and through that connection, I have come to my current position. Since then, I have been doing this job for 13 years.
I am in charge of quality for new products. I measure various parts of new products to see if they meet the required specifications. My main task is to explain to the customer about what is OK and obtain their agreement. Through repeated measurement and feedback, the quality of the product is improved. Finally, I get a sense of accomplishment when I obtain the customer's agreement, which is very rewarding for me.
Misato Industries is a cohesive company where we can say anything to each other like a family. Anyway, they respect my opinions and listen to me in a friendly manner, so I feel that Misato has a workplace with a family atmosphere. Three years ago, a defect occurred in a mirror retraction unit manufactured in China, which affected multiple products. To be honest, it was very difficult to deal with the customer, find the cause, and improve the product in relation to this defect. At that time, I was impressed by the fact that the entire company was united in pooling our wisdom to solve the problem.
My senior colleagues and I are good friends in our private life. And I am also an officer of the labor union, so I am involved with many people at various union events. Therefore, I am very fulfilled in communication with them.
Misato Industries' labor union has just been established, so in a positive sense, we have to build it up from now on. In that sense, we are in an environment where we can take on new challenges without the ties of the past. As a union, we are able to listen to the opinions of each and every employee, and we will work to meet everyone's expectations.
I would like to become more and more dependable in various environments. I don't have a specific goal in mind, but I would like to be someone who can be trusted with great confidence when some problem arises or when we have to respond to a short deadline for the release of a new product. I would also like to take over the roles of my seniors and become more independent.
Misato Industries has become easier to work with since becoming a part of the Motherson Group. It is a company that thinks flexibly, allows you to take on any challenge, and respects what you want to do. Let's challenge and create the future together.
I used to work in CAD modeling at my previous job. I used CAD to create a 3D shape from a designer's design drawings. At the time, I had just gotten married and wanted to find a new job in a new environment, and I was also interested in the automotive industry, so I applied for a position at Ichikoh Industries (the predecessor of Misato Industries). My experience in CAD design matched the requirements and I was hired, and my carrier have already been 10 years now.
I mainly work at my desk designing mirrors for automobiles. I work on design work every day, checking what we can achieve, what they want to do, and the changing conditions while meeting with customers. Before mass production, the finished product is tested by a certification organization for compliance with regulations, but we are also present at the regulatory certification test. At Misato Industries, the role of the designer is to be involved in the total process from the initial design conception to passing the final certification test. In the certification evaluation, I am especially happy when the impact durability test for door mirrors is successfully completed. It is a moment when I feel that the project, which took one to two years to complete, has been successful.
It's a very comfortable working environment. Everyone around me is really generous and attentive to teach me their skills and know-how. They are also always ready to help you if you have any issues. I work in a great environment where there are a lot of senior people around me who I feel are so capable of doing the job, and they are always willing to lead those of us who work hard.
I currently have a 3 years old sister and 0 years old twin boys. Our first child, our oldest daughter, was born in 2020, just as the COVID was happening. I gave birth in Niigata prefecture where my wife's parents live, but at the time we were not allowed to see her until the 5th month after she was born due to restrictions on traveling across the border between the prefectures. I was really saddened by this experience and felt that this time I wanted to participate in childcare even if I had to take childcare leave. Another reason was that my second child was twins. When I went to consult with a care manager for childcare support, I was told that "a mother alone cannot take care of twins“, and with a startling realization, I began to think seriously about taking childcare leave. When I asked my supervisor for childcare leave, he said, "Leave this to me, and good luck with your childcare!" . I am very grateful to him for accepting my request so graciously. In fact, taking care of twin boys is a real challenge. The fact that I am able to take six months of childcare leave and raise my children as a couple is truly a precious time for me.
Before joining Misato Industries, I had experience in prototype production, but I was a beginner in mass production design. However, Misato Industries has trained me to the point where I am now confidently in charge of mass production design. Misato Industries provides an environment where even beginners in the industry can challenge themselves and grow. Misato Industries is also open to male employees taking childcare leave, and is a company that values each and every one of its employees. We look forward to working with you.
After graduating from university, I worked as a sales representative for a financial institution and a mold manufacturing company. Aiming to take my career to the next level, I joined Ichikoh Industries (the predecessor of Misato Industries) as a company where I could make use of my past experience.
Since I am a sales, I don't have a set daily routine. I perform various tasks in a flexible manner in order to provide customers with Misato Industries' excellent products, including door mirrors. For example, presentations to customers, negotiations on quotations, and coordination with all departments within the company, such as the design and production sections, are also important roles of a sales representative. When unexpected events occur, sales takes the lead in encouraging the relevant departments to respond quickly. For this reason, I value the "thinking sales" style, in which I always set my own goals and strive to achieve them. It is a tough and difficult road to win business every time, but it is a very happy moment when I overcome the difficulties and win the order.
Communication with the people around me is very well. There is an atmosphere where we can talk about anything, and we sometimes go out for drinks with members of the Nagoya office.
Misato Industries has become even more open since becoming a part of the Motherson Group. We have a cheerful corporate culture that aims to create a good organization. We respect each other and everyone is comfortable expressing their opinions. I look forward to working with proactive people who are interested in everything and think and act on their own.
Your web browser (Safari unknown) is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site. Update browser
