【Event Report】"Transmission of Wisdom" from Former Roadster Chief Engineer Mr. Kijima to the Next Generation, Newton Works Holds Seminar in Hiroshima
Newton Works held a "Transmission of Wisdom" seminar in Hiroshima, inviting Mr. Takao Kijima, former chief engineer of Mazda Roadster. The event aimed to convey the importance of emotion-focused manufacturing and human-centered design to next-generation engineers, sharing insights for navigating a transformative era.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 09:54 (23 min after Collected)
Newton Works Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Toshikazu Yamanashi) held the "Transmission of Wisdom: From Hiroshima! Emotion-focused Manufacturing and Thinking Design CAE Seminar" at the Hiroshima Prefectural Information Plaza on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Mr. Takao Kijima, a legendary engineer who served as the former chief engineer for Mazda Roadster development, took the stage.
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
Engineers from Hiroshima gathered, facing a modern era where transformations and incidents said to occur once in a century happen almost every year, and navigating the turbulent global economy. They listened to the stories of senior engineers who overcame past difficulties, learning from their experiences and passionate commitment to manufacturing.
Insights for pioneering the future were shared, based on the spirit of "Onkochishin" (learning from the past to understand the new) that resonates with contemporary times.
Lecture Scene
Event Image
Details of Mr. Takao Kijima's Lecture
1. Dynamic Craftsmanship Supporting the Legendary "Jinba Ittai" (Rider-and-Horse as One)
The concept of "Jinba Ittai" is indispensable when talking about the Mazda Roadster. Mr. Kijima elaborated on the process of thoroughly translating this into engineering numerical values, without leaving it as merely an emotional slogan.
The essence of "Jinba Ittai" lies in the "mirror-like responsiveness" where the car reacts precisely as the driver intends. In the development of the 3rd generation (NC model), he discussed how meticulously the three axes of motion—yaw, roll, and pitch—were controlled, and how inertia was minimized by accumulating weight reductions of 1 gram at a time ("Gram Operation").
Particularly impressive was the concept of "dynamic craftsmanship," which extended to visibility and the tactile feel of controls. For example, by adjusting the opening angle of the A-pillar by millimeters, the clipping point during cornering becomes easier to see, giving the driver a sense of security that they "can drive the intended line." It was demonstrated that this process of materializing "sensibility that is difficult to quantify" through thorough human-centered design is the true "wisdom" that created the world's most beloved open sports car.
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
2. "Integration of Object and Mind": Designing a Hormone Shower
In the latter half of the lecture, the spirit of "automotive culture" advocated by former Mazda president Kenichi Yamamoto was delved into, and the importance of "emotional value" in product development was discussed. Mr. Kijima expressed the joy people feel when driving an excellent car as a "hormone shower," drawing from medical and psychological insights.
- The "sense of security" born from the consistency of operation and behavior releases serotonin.
- The sense of accomplishment when cornering as intended, and the exhilaration of "wanting to drive more," release dopamine.
- The immersive state (flow state) brought about by rhythmic driving releases endorphins.
He asserted that designing such moving experiences, enough to secrete these brain substances, is the "soul-making" that elevates industrial products to a "culture."
His words, "A good car should not only bring joy of ownership but also be a presence one constantly wants to be with, to share time with," contained a passionate message for contemporary engineers facing technological innovations like EV adoption, which tend to become inorganic.
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
3. The Spirit of "Onkochishin": Proposals for Engineers Surviving an Era of Transformation
To conclude the seminar, Mr. Kijima touched upon the history of "unrelenting challenge" born in Hiroshima. Hiroshima's spirit (raison d'être), which rose from the devastation of the atomic bomb, is rooted in the "human-centered philosophy of valuing people."
The path of predecessors who overcame past hardships through the practical application of rotary engines and numerous challenges in motorsports is precisely "Onkochishin." It means learning "unchanging truths (wisdom)" from past gritty trial-and-error and integrating them with the latest modern technology.
Even in the turbulent waters of EV adoption, engineers must not merely pursue "specs" but look at the "human being" beyond the technology, and create products that stir the heart. Mr. Kijima's "transmission of wisdom" was truly the "succession of soul" as an engineer, transcending technical know-how.
4. Newton Works Proposes "Thinking Design CAE"
From our CAE Development Center, Tomokazu Tanaka, proposed three latest technologies for how to efficiently and logically realize the human-centered development and "thinking with the car" that Mr. Kijima spoke of, at the design site.
It was shown how to connect component models to SimulationX Driving Maneuvers, calculate the impact components receive from "overall vehicle behavior" and the impact components have on the overall vehicle, and then think about how to design.
Also, with SimulationX
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
Engineers from Hiroshima gathered, facing a modern era where transformations and incidents said to occur once in a century happen almost every year, and navigating the turbulent global economy. They listened to the stories of senior engineers who overcame past difficulties, learning from their experiences and passionate commitment to manufacturing.
Insights for pioneering the future were shared, based on the spirit of "Onkochishin" (learning from the past to understand the new) that resonates with contemporary times.
Lecture Scene
Event Image
Details of Mr. Takao Kijima's Lecture
1. Dynamic Craftsmanship Supporting the Legendary "Jinba Ittai" (Rider-and-Horse as One)
The concept of "Jinba Ittai" is indispensable when talking about the Mazda Roadster. Mr. Kijima elaborated on the process of thoroughly translating this into engineering numerical values, without leaving it as merely an emotional slogan.
The essence of "Jinba Ittai" lies in the "mirror-like responsiveness" where the car reacts precisely as the driver intends. In the development of the 3rd generation (NC model), he discussed how meticulously the three axes of motion—yaw, roll, and pitch—were controlled, and how inertia was minimized by accumulating weight reductions of 1 gram at a time ("Gram Operation").
Particularly impressive was the concept of "dynamic craftsmanship," which extended to visibility and the tactile feel of controls. For example, by adjusting the opening angle of the A-pillar by millimeters, the clipping point during cornering becomes easier to see, giving the driver a sense of security that they "can drive the intended line." It was demonstrated that this process of materializing "sensibility that is difficult to quantify" through thorough human-centered design is the true "wisdom" that created the world's most beloved open sports car.
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
2. "Integration of Object and Mind": Designing a Hormone Shower
In the latter half of the lecture, the spirit of "automotive culture" advocated by former Mazda president Kenichi Yamamoto was delved into, and the importance of "emotional value" in product development was discussed. Mr. Kijima expressed the joy people feel when driving an excellent car as a "hormone shower," drawing from medical and psychological insights.
- The "sense of security" born from the consistency of operation and behavior releases serotonin.
- The sense of accomplishment when cornering as intended, and the exhilaration of "wanting to drive more," release dopamine.
- The immersive state (flow state) brought about by rhythmic driving releases endorphins.
He asserted that designing such moving experiences, enough to secrete these brain substances, is the "soul-making" that elevates industrial products to a "culture."
His words, "A good car should not only bring joy of ownership but also be a presence one constantly wants to be with, to share time with," contained a passionate message for contemporary engineers facing technological innovations like EV adoption, which tend to become inorganic.
Mr. Takao Kijima, former Chief Engineer for Mazda Roadster Development, currently Honorary Professor at Yamaguchi Tokyo University of Science
3. The Spirit of "Onkochishin": Proposals for Engineers Surviving an Era of Transformation
To conclude the seminar, Mr. Kijima touched upon the history of "unrelenting challenge" born in Hiroshima. Hiroshima's spirit (raison d'être), which rose from the devastation of the atomic bomb, is rooted in the "human-centered philosophy of valuing people."
The path of predecessors who overcame past hardships through the practical application of rotary engines and numerous challenges in motorsports is precisely "Onkochishin." It means learning "unchanging truths (wisdom)" from past gritty trial-and-error and integrating them with the latest modern technology.
Even in the turbulent waters of EV adoption, engineers must not merely pursue "specs" but look at the "human being" beyond the technology, and create products that stir the heart. Mr. Kijima's "transmission of wisdom" was truly the "succession of soul" as an engineer, transcending technical know-how.
4. Newton Works Proposes "Thinking Design CAE"
From our CAE Development Center, Tomokazu Tanaka, proposed three latest technologies for how to efficiently and logically realize the human-centered development and "thinking with the car" that Mr. Kijima spoke of, at the design site.
It was shown how to connect component models to SimulationX Driving Maneuvers, calculate the impact components receive from "overall vehicle behavior" and the impact components have on the overall vehicle, and then think about how to design.
Also, with SimulationX