Japan | National Technician Grand Prix Contest Report 2016 | YAMAHA WORLD TECHNICIAN GRAND PRIX 2016

JAPAN CONTEST REPORT 2016

COMPETITION OUTLINE

Yamaha Motor Sales Japan Co., Ltd, holds the Japan National Technician Grand Prix once every two years. This NTGP is the 7th.
A record number of participants, 106 technicians, entered the competition and the area contests, competing on technical knowledge and skill, which took place in six areas on June 8th.
16 technicians from each area were selected to take part in the final stage which was held on July 20th.
The final stage has a technical and a customer relations section. The winner was Mr. Samejima Ryohei, who belongs to YSP Kawasaki-Chuo.

Top 3 prize winners (from left)

Mr. Eto (Second)	YSP Funabashi (URL: http://infinisports.co.jp/)
Mr. Samejima (Champion)	YSP Kawasaki-Chuo (URL: http://www.ysp-top.co.jp/)
Mr. Chiba　(Third)	YSP Hirosaki (URL: http://www.ysphiro.com/)

CONTEST EVENT

The area contest for technical knowledge and skill took place in six areas: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Nishi-nihon, and Kyushu.
The final stage was hold at the G-YTA center of the Japan head office.
The champion was selected according to the total score of the technical knowledge test that took place in the area contests,
and technical and customer relation skills, which were tested in the final stage.

Knowledge: The test covers the engine, chassis, electrical parts, products, regulations, CS, and racing activities.
Technical skill: This comprises both the CS aspect, such as motorcycle maintenance, and a practical part, such as troubleshooting and daily maintenance.
Technical skill: This comprises 2 parts: reception skills for at the time of periodic maintenance, and conveying to customers the appeal of genuine parts: their functions and importance.
YDT ver.3 is included in the technical skill test. It is mainly concerned with how contestants use YDT.

NTGP WINNER AND WTGP PARTICIPANTS

Samejima Ryohei

PROFILE

Name:	Samejima Ryohei
Dealer:	YSP Kawasaki-Chuo
Working experience at Yamaha:	8 years

Photo with colleague
Hobby photo
YSP Kawasaki-Chuo

What motivated you to take up the WTGP challenge?: My motivation is to be the WTGP winner. I would also like to appeal to Japanese technicians of high ability to display their knowledge and technical skills to other people from around the world. I am going to take part in WTGP as a Japan representative, and hope to do my dealership proud.
What effort did you make to win the National Contest?: I learned the basic things which I have gotten through YTA and my daily work. I always keep in mind the philosophy: "One to One Service - Creating a good relationship with each customer." NTGP is different from the daily workshop, and to prove myself there I always have to work at 120% of my power.
Let us know the activities or services your shop is doing to go beyond the expectations of the customers, if any.: I am strongly aware of maintaining my spirit of inquiry in everything, not just product knowledge and maintenance skill. This spirit keeps my mind busy and keeps me growing. I always work according to company guideline: "Be free of deceit."
When do you find your job rewarding?: I am given interesting work by customers who pay money for maintenance. I build up a sense of professionalism as a technician by acquiring knowledge and enhancing it, and skills that lead to customer satisfaction, which in turn rewards my efforts.
What is your favorite point about Yamaha?: Yamaha was my first motorcycle after getting a motorcycle license. At that time, I did not have a clear reason as to why I should buy a Yamaha, but I do now I have become a Yamaha technician! Yamaha products form many of my memories, and we are life-time partners.
What challenge do you want to take up or be passionate about in your work from here on in?: I am grateful for the support of the dealership owner and my colleagues. I do my daily work with the thought not only of getting a high score result at the WTGP, but of making our dealership better known and further raising customers' confidence in us. I appreciate the help I get from the people who take care of me, and respect them.
What are your aspirations for the 2016 WTGP?: A one-time chance. The WTGP is a good chance to measure my skills. I would like to participate in the WTGP enjoying that pressure to win.