“Kinniku” Returns from Aomori with a Certificate: Mechanic Okamura Wins a Long-Awaited 3rd Place at the National Sports Festival

“Kinniku” (meaning “muscle”) has returned to the depot.
It was a long-haul trip from Takamatsu to Aomori, more than 1,000 km each way. And the cargo he brought back? A certificate of award, of all things. For arms that can lift 710 kg, it must have been a very light load.

In a recent blog post, the whole company sent good vibes from Takamatsu, hoping “This year, the podium!” for mechanic Shinya Okamura of our Maintenance Division. Representing Kagawa Prefecture, he competed in the 120 kg class of powerlifting (a demonstration event) at the 80th National Sports Festival (Kokuspo), “Ao no Kirameki Aomori Kokuspo,” and…

He finally, finally did it!
At his fourth Kokuspo, he made the podium for the first time, taking 3rd place!! (Our good vibes got through.)

The “6th-place wall” he could never get past, no matter how many times he tried. This year he properly put on his turn signal, moved into the passing lane, and overtook it in one go. Usually it’s a truck bed he climbs onto; this year it was the podium.

As soon as he got back, he went straight to our Representative Director, certificate in hand, to report his arrival. To sum it up like a driver’s roll-call check: condition “good,” smile “perfect,” thighs “slightly overloaded.”

A 710 kg Total: About Twice a Kei Truck’s Load Capacity

And the record? A total of 710 kg across the three lifts. The certificate clearly reads “3rd Place, Record 710.0 kg.”

710 kg is roughly twice the maximum load capacity of a kei truck (350 kg). In other words, Okamura lifted two kei trucks’ worth of cargo, no truck required. (*That’s the total of three lifts. He didn’t lift it all at once.)

That’s a further 20 kg capacity upgrade from his 690 kg at last year’s Shiga tournament. As you’d expect from a trucking company mechanic, he has increased not only the vehicles’ payload but his own as well.

By the way, the 1st-place athlete reportedly set a new Japanese record at this tournament. The moment a Japanese record was born, our mechanic was standing on the same podium. That alone sounds impressive.

The local spectators in Aomori were surely shouting “Waiha! Dondaba!” (“Whoa! What a surprise!” in the local dialect). Back in Takamatsu, we were probably shouting just as loudly when we heard the result (in Sanuki dialect).

The certificate made it all the way to Takamatsu in this fine case. No shifted cargo, no damage, and of course, no accidents. He certainly knows how to handle precious cargo. The character on the cover is holding up a torch to celebrate, too (probably).

A Comment from Okamura

“I went well beyond the ‘6th-place wall’ I had never been able to get over, and stood on the podium for the first time.
Once again, I would like to thank everyone who supported me, and Representative Director Kusunoki for his consideration in allowing me to compete in the National Sports Festival (Kokutai).”

Congratulations, Okamura! His next destination is one step higher on the podium, with an estimated arrival of next autumn. The whole company will be sending even stronger vibes from Takamatsu than this year.

Stay safe! Go for it, Okamura! ♬