A Japanese factory recently held an unusual farewell ceremony for two machines that had spent decades working alongside its employees.
One of the machines, a Mori Seiki SL-65 lathe, had been part of the workshop for 30 years, while the second machine had completed 37 years of service. Before the equipment was taken away, workers gathered to mark its retirement with a special ceremony.
A former manager, now 92 years old, also joined the occasion and led the farewell. Employees bowed toward the machines, expressing their appreciation for the equipment that had played an important role in the factory’s operations for many years.
The ceremony also included a Shinto purification ritual. Such practices reflect a Japanese cultural tradition of expressing gratitude and respect toward objects that have served people for a long time.
The farewell quickly attracted attention because of its emotional and symbolic nature. Rather than treating the machines simply as old industrial equipment, the workers recognized their decades of contribution to the workplace.
The moment offered a glimpse into Japan’s distinctive relationship with craftsmanship, work culture and tradition. It showed how even machinery can become part of a workplace’s history when it serves generations of workers.
The retirement ceremony was therefore more than the removal of two aging machines. For the staff, it was a respectful goodbye to equipment that had faithfully remained part of their working lives for decades.
