Most people don't know how the things we see and use every day are actually made. We aim to show you these behind-the-scenes processes as much as possible.
Special thanks to:
Ishida Construction Co., Ltd.
103 Hiwatari, Shibata City
Niigata Prefecture 957-0072
Many people misunderstand what the construction industry really is. I was one of them. The roads we casually drive on, the water that flows from our taps without a second thought - all of these are carefully created by these workers who adapt to constantly changing conditions. It's natural that we don't understand what we can't see.
Through filming, I've learned just how much these workers contribute to our daily lives. When disasters strike, construction companies are the first private enterprises to respond. I create these videos hoping to help people understand a little more about these workers.
Contact:
siteworkers.japan@gmail.com
Editor's Note: "An Unworthy Editor"
During filming, an elderly lady approached me. "Thank you so much for always keeping everything clean," she said, holding a bag of refreshments. She must have thought I was one of the workers. Since I couldn't accept the gift myself, I asked the managing director, who was operating equipment, to pause his work so I could hand it over to him.
After receiving the gift, she quickly returned to her home - a beautiful single-family house. Even under the snow, you could tell her garden was well-maintained. She must have been carefully watching these workers who regularly maintain her area.
This scene isn't in the final video because I had stopped filming. Partly because the moment seemed almost too perfect - I worried it might appear staged. But more honestly, I selfishly wanted to burn that moment into my own memory instead of capturing it on camera. As someone involved in video production, this was a professional failure.
Looking back, during the morning meeting, I had noticed several bags of beer and snacks in the company office. These were gifts from local residents, which the workers would later divide among themselves to take home. This isn't about wanting gifts - it's about how these simple gestures of appreciation help sustain their spirits.
You don't need to bring gifts or even say anything. I believe we could create a better society if people simply acknowledged in their hearts that there are people working hard to support our daily lives.
Videographer Hirozo