The means of commuting for Atsushi Saito of the Technical Development Center is his bicycle. Saito, a competitive cyclist once, begins each day by waking a little af-ter ve. He prepares to go to work by suit-ing up in a full set of cyclist wear. His daily morning routine includes a stop at Mejiro Fruits and Vegetables, a fresh produce store located 10 minutes on foot from Nishi-Kokubunji Station. Chatting with the storeowner, he chooses a fruit for the day, then resumes his way to the ofce.“I bought a bicycle about 15 years ago and got hooked on cycling. I don’t partici-pate in races now, but when I was compet-ing, I spent around two hours before work on my training. Now, I just enjoy cycling to the office at a leisurely pace. But even that’s enough to get my body sweating. It wakes me up. Once I get to the ofce, I take a shower and go to my desk feeling refreshed and clearheaded. That’s my style. That’s how I start my day fully charged.”Saito says he took up cycling due to a chance meeting with a senior colleague. At the company’s bicycle parking space, he would often see a person with his bicycle, someone he didn’t know at the time. One day, Saito struck up a conversation.“I learned he was a famous competi-tive cyclist who’d won major races, includ-ing the Norikura Hill Climb, multiple times. After I bought a bicycle from a shop he in-troduced me to, he’d take me cycling. I got better as I trained. I’m glad I spoke to him that day. I wouldn’t have gotten to know him so well otherwise, despite working for the same company.”At Rion, Saito is a member of the workout club. He often exercises after work. The time he spends focusing on cy-cling or working out has positive effects on work. “I make an effort to empty my mind while I focus on riding my bicycle or mus-cle training. Spending some of my time in this way renews my mind and body. It also functions kind of like a switch.”One place he likes to visit after a morn-ing’s work is Meibutsu Sutadon, his favorite eatery. He lls up on a full bowl of Sutadon before returning to the ofce for the after-noon. After work, he gets on his bicycle once again and pedals briskly home. Once there, he experiences the contentment of a day well spent.“I live in Tama District. The area from my home to Kokubunji is perfect for cy-cling. The route features hilly terrain and mountain paths, with natural scenery in every direction. I’m fortunate to live and work in this environment. Kokubunji has so many interesting individually owned shops, many of which I still haven’t visited. I think the calm atmosphere of this town reects on Rion’s attitude as a company. At our company, everyone’s really busy with their work, but they don’t seem rushed or des-perate. In more ways than one, this town has a different appeal from a big city full of tall buildings.”A Change in Life Patterns Made Possible by a Bicycle17OUR FAVORITE TOWN, KOKUBUNJI—RION STAFF SHOW YOU AROUNDStrolls Around KokubunjiHometown! This issue’s theme ［Recharging Body and Mind in Kokubunji］Mejiro Fruits and VegetablesChatting with the storeowner at her fruit and vegetable shop is among Saito’s morning high-lights. There’s some distance between the shop and his ofce, but there’s always time to stop by because he rides his bicycle to work.2-5 Musashidai 3-chome, Fuchu-shi, TokyoMy FavoriteAtsushi SaitoHearing Aid Development Group, Product Development Department of the Tech-nical Development Center. Mr. Saito worked in the Medical Instrument Division before being transferred to his current position. As a team leader, his current focus is to make the younger members on his team work together as a unit. He enjoys a healthy lifestyle, bal-ancing work and personal life.In this new collaborative series of articles, each of our staff members will take turns giving their unique take on Kokubunji, Rion’s hometown.In part 3, we introduce a day in the energetic life of a staff member of the Technical Development Center, such a day being possible only because we’re located in Kokubunji.❶❸❷❹❶Every day—and not just for this photo—he gets into a com-plete set of cycling wear. The ride to work on his bicycle doubles as a training ride, leaving him perfectly refreshed by the time he arrives at the ofce.❷A little past seven in the morn-ing, he selects fresh fruit at the fruit and vegetable shop.❸Meibutsu Sutadon in Kokubunji offers a delicious combination of pork marinated in their secret-reci-pe soy sauce with garlic and egg.❹Saito filling up with a bowl of Sutadon before heading back to the ofce for the afternoon.
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