The NYK Group Regatta, a longstanding rowing competition first held in 1917, is an annual tradition that symbolizes the unity of the NYK Group. We spent a day at this year’s event to witness the excitement, camaraderie, and passion that filled the course in the autumn air.

Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on an October morning, participants began arriving at Toda Rowing Course in Saitama Prefecture, the venue for the NYK Group Regatta each year.

Groups in matching T-shirts and polo shirts emblazoned with words like “NYK,” “Sea,” and “Ship” immediately stood out. Despite the early hour, enthusiasm was already running high. Under overcast skies and with almost no wind, the 2,500-meter course lay smooth as glass — nearly ideal conditions for racing.

A total of 164 teams participated in the 71st NYK Group Regatta, surpassing initial expectations. Organized by department and workplace, the teams brought a strong sense of pride and friendly rivalry to every race. Banners from NYK Group companies lined the spectator areas, while colleagues and family members cheered enthusiastically from the shore.

The competition featured six categories: Championship, Championship Masters for rowers aged 30 and over, Mixed, Women’s, Men’s, and Executive. Preliminary races were held over a distance of 300 meters, with top-performing crews advancing to the finals based on their placing and race times.

All competitors raced in coxed fours, with each crew comprising five members: four rowers and one coxswain. While the rowers power the boat forward, the coxswain plays a critical role in steering, pacing, race management, crew motivation, and safety.

Following the opening ceremony, the races began as crews boarded their boats and headed toward the starting line.

As race after race got underway, ripples spread across the otherwise calm water.

Once each boat was in position, the starter’s flag dropped, and the races were underway.

The coxswains’ calls of “Catch!” and “Row!” echoed across the course as crews synchronized their strokes and surged forward. Every powerful pull of the oars sent the boats accelerating through the water. As expected, crews rowing in perfect harmony quickly distinguished themselves from the competition.

As the finish line drew near, rowers launched into final sprints and gave everything they had until the very end. Yet regardless of the result, smiles awaited them at the dock. The satisfaction of having given their all was evident on every face.

Spectators also played an important role throughout the day. Children shouted encouragement to their parents, while colleagues ran alongside the course cheering on teammates. The event showcased not only the thrill of competition, but also the joy of supporting one another.

Another popular feature was the live race commentary. To help even first-time spectators enjoy the event, members of the Nibiki-Kai Rowing Club — one of NYK’s employee clubs — provided clear explanations of rowing rules and shared interesting insights about the sport throughout the day.

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Race results were delivered in real time through a dedicated smartphone app jointly developed by NYK’s DX Promotion Group and group company NYK Business Systems. In the past, results could only be checked on paper notices posted at the event. Since the app’s introduction in 2022, participants and spectators have been able to follow races from anywhere. The app continues to evolve each year, and this year it even allowed users to post messages of encouragement to crews — another example of the NYK Group’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives.

In rowing, teamwork is everything. Success depends not only on individual skill but also on the entire crew’s ability to move as one. It is a spirit that extends far beyond the water — and one that remains equally important in business.

Rowing was first introduced to Japan by foreign residents in the closing years of the Edo period in the mid-19th century, and it gradually spread among students and corporate teams. When NYK was founded in 1885, the company had a branch in Yokohama, a city at the forefront of Japan’s modernization and cultural exchange with the West.

As NYK employees interacted with foreign rowing clubs, the sport gradually became part of the company’s culture. Over time, those early activities evolved into what is now known as the NYK Group Regatta.

The tradition has endured through wars, economic downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic, and countless other challenges. More than a century later, it continues to be passed down from one generation of employees to the next, carrying forward the spirit that has supported NYK since its founding.

The regatta is organized entirely by NYK employees.

One of the organizers, Yuki Tomizawa of the Corporate Planning Group, served as chief race official for the event. A former university rower and member of the Nibiki-Kai Rowing Club, Tomizawa worked closely with departments across the company as preparations progressed.

“Rowing is all about bringing a crew together as one,” he says.

That same philosophy extends beyond the boats themselves. From registration and race operations to timing and recordkeeping, teamwork is shared and practiced throughout every aspect of event management.

It is no exaggeration to say that the regatta has been sustained year after year by the collective efforts of NYK Group employees.

After a day of competition, the regatta concluded with the closing ceremony.

Reflecting the global nature of the NYK Group, President Takaya Soga delivered his remarks in English so that employees from diverse backgrounds could share in the occasion.

In his speech, President Soga emphasized that the long-running NYK Group Regatta is a symbol of the Group’s unity. Supported by approximately 35,000 employees and their families, the company grows stronger when its people come together. He praised participants for once again demonstrating a spirit of unity and expressed his hope of welcoming everyone back to the course next year.

As the excitement of the day gradually faded, anticipation for the next regatta was already beginning to build.

A rowing shell moves forward only when all five crew members work together in harmony. Even less experienced rowers can achieve remarkable results when united by a common goal.

At the same time, success depends on more than the crew alone. Throughout the day, enthusiastic cheers from family members, colleagues, and friends inspired competitors to push beyond their limits. Several teams made impressive comebacks, lifted by support from the shore.

The spirit of supporting one another is a cornerstone of the teamwork that has long been valued throughout the NYK Group.