Okuma's Kosei Masuda was selected in the Metalworking Section (CNC Machine Tools) of the 2008 Contemporary Master Craftsman awards. The Contemporary Master Craftsman system, under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, is intended to honor technicians with outstanding skills who are recognized as leaders in their fields.

Mr. Masuda joined Okuma in 1971. He is a machinist with superior knowledge of milling machine, machining center, and NC lathe operation, expert in the machining of long materials, special screws, and hard-machining and rigid materials. As a certification committee member, he also promotes activities for the acquisition of skills in Japan and abroad, and has worked to nurture a great many machinists. He currently works in Okuma's Solution Development Center, where he proposes machining solutions and provides guidance on machining techniques to Okuma's customers.

Mr. Masuda is the fourth Okuma employee to receive this award, following Kaneaki Takeichi in 2003, Yasuo Miyata in 2005, and Yoshiyuki Nakagawa in 2007. Okuma is proud to see its employees selected as Contemporary Master Craftsmen, and will continue to work for the development Japanese "monozukuri."