Thirty-one employees of JFE Shoji Service Corporation, a JFE Shoji Group company, toured the Keihin Works of JFE Steel Corporation's East Japan Works on May 26 and 29.

This was the first time for most of the participating employees to visit a steel mill. Many of them said that the most impressive part of the tour was the steelmaking plant. The bright red molten iron (hot metal) is poured from the converter furnace into the ladle with red and yellow flames and sparks. When we observed this process, all the employees were amazed at the overwhelming power of the flames, temperature, smell, and sound. The tour continued with a close-up look at the steel mill, where the participants were able to experience with their whole bodies the moment iron is born.

Participants commented, "I heard that JFE Steel's strength is that safety is more important than speed, and I want to work hard with this in mind. I would like to make use of what I have learned in my future work," he said with renewed determination.