To promote children's education and community interaction
The Hofu Plant has welcomed approximately 499,000 visitors since 1982 when the first plant of the Nishinoura District opened. The plant tour is conducted twice a day. Visitors come mainly from various organizations as well as local elementary and junior high schools, whose students observe the plant as part of their social studies classes.
Approximately 9,300 visitors toured the Hofu Plant.
To foster the next generation, who will uphold the future, through hands-on manufacturing experience
With the goal of encouraging children to think and dream about the automotive society of the future and discover the joy of creating things, Mazda has offered hands-on manufacturing experience at its Hofu Plant since 2009.
The tour was held in March, with approximately 120 participants, including elementary schoolchildren and their guardians. There were three courses, covering the topics of "body," "painting," and "assembly," and events included a robotic operation using a mini robot (body), creation of an original plate made by spraying color from a paint gun (painting), and attaching doors (assembly). Participants enjoyed seeing the manufacturing facilities firsthand.
To contribute to the sound development of young people and promotion of community sports
Mazda has provided support to the Mazda Invitational Youth Soccer Competition hosted by the Hofu City Soccer Association since its inception. This tournament was established in commemoration of the completion of the Hofu Plant in 1982. Since then, this two-day event has been held every year during summer vacation. The tournament has established its position as a traditional competition that attracts powerful teams from Yamaguchi and its neighboring prefectures.
- The tournament was held in the Hofu Athletic Stadium, with a total of approximately 400 players participating from 20 teams; 18 teams from Yamaguchi Prefecture (11 teams from Hofu City) and 2 teams from other prefectures.
- A soccer class taught by players of Sanfrecce Hiroshima was organized to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the tournament.
To contribute to human resources education provided by schools in communities
In response to requests from schools in local communities, the Hofu Plant assists them in implementing activities to enhance students' motivation for learning. The plant offers work experience programs for students, and dispatches its employees certified as Yamaguchi Meisters*1 to schools, at which they give lectures on work experience.
- *1A Yamaguchi Meister is a person who has been certified by Yamaguchi Prefecture as having outstanding techniques in the manufacturing field and enthusiasm for training next-generation technicians.
- The Hofu Plant accepted a total of 42 students from 12 schools, including junior high schools, high schools, technical colleges, and universities.
- Support was provided to commercial high schools' programs for work experience (in production, inventory management and sales)
- Dispatched employees certified as Yamaguchi Meisters to high schools to give lectures on work experience (five schools, about 150 students in total).
To contribute to community revitalization through active participation in local events
The Love Hofu Flea Market is one of western Japan's largest street flea markets, attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year. The Hofu Plant has taken part in the event since its inception in 1993. This flea market is the leading event of the Love Hofu Campaign*2. Companies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the local government, and shopping centers work together to organize the event. As the secretariat of the Love Hofu Campaign, the Hofu Plant participates in planning and running the flea market, and presents a booth jointly with partner companies and suppliers.
- *2The Love Hofu Campaign, proposed by Mazda and other companies in accordance with the philosophy, "A company is also a family member of the city," commenced in April 1993, with the participation of 35 companies having factories in Hofu City, etc. Currently, 150 companies promote the campaign (the secretariat of which is located at the Mazda Hofu Plant).
- A team of 300 volunteers, primarily employees of the Hofu Plant, helped out.
- At the Mazda booth, the new Axela (Mazda3 overseas) was on display. Also, various locallyproduced food stalls were set up offering products made from local materials, and a bazaar was held to sell goods brought by employees. A portion of the proceeds from the flea market was donated to the Hofu City Social Work Council.
To promote interaction with the community by opening plant grounds for public events
Since 1994, the Hofu Plant has hosted the Ekiden Road Relay Race using a route (a total distance of 18.0 km, divided into 12 legs) mapped out across its grounds. This event, open to Mazda employees as well as members of the general public, is held as part of the Love Hofu Campaign, serving as an opportunity to deepen friendship between Mazda employees and local residents.
Approximately 1,400 runners from 93 teams joined the race from Yamaguchi and other prefectures, making the number of participating teams in FY March 2012 the highest ever.
To contribute to community revitalization and beautification through participation in traditional events and cleanups held in communities
Mazda employees actively participate as volunteers in traditional events and cleanups held in communities, deepening exchanges with local residents and thereby encouraging community revitalization.
Employees from the Hofu Plant actively participated in the following events.
- April: Approximately 20 employees participated in the Usa Hachimangu Shrine Rhododendron Festival (to work as parking lot attendants).
- June: Approximately 50 employees participated in the Amidaji Temple Hydrangea Festival (to work as parking lot attendants).
- July: Four teams participated in the Cutter Race Competition of the Hofu Harbor Festival.
- July: Approximately 100 employees participated in the 44th Hofu Dance Festival.
- August: A total of approximately 110 employees participated in cleanups of the area around Shin-Yamaguchi Station, and of areas from the Hofu shopping center to Hofu Tenmangu Shrine.
- November: Approximately 150 male employees participated in the divine Gojinko Festival of Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, known more commonly as the Hadakabo Matsuri ("half-naked man festival"), as sparsely-clad "hadakabo."
- December: Some employees participated in the rice-cake pounding event of the Hofu Shopping Center.
- February: Some female employees participated in the Setsubun (Bean-Throwing Festival) of Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, as Fukumusume (lucky maidens).
