Hometown and Where I Grew Up
I grew up in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. My house was within walking distance of Hamamatsu Station, so I mostly got around by bicycle without needing to take the train. When I moved to Tokyo for university, I was shocked by how normal it was to use the train for getting around, as well as the sheer number of people and the fast-paced environment. Coming from a laid-back life in Hamamatsu, I often wondered, “Why is everyone rushing on the escalators? Why are elementary school kids commuting to cram schools by train?” I experienced quite a bit of culture shock.
What Influenced Your Personality?
I think it was my experience with team sports. I was active from a young age, playing seasonal sports when I was younger, and then softball in junior high, tennis in high school, and hockey in university. Team sports foster the ability to solve problems and see things through to the end while sharing the same challenges and finding solutions with your teammates. I guess you could say I’m a typical “athlete type” person. In the organization SANU, I feel a similar connection where we work together as a team to overcome difficulties and realize our mission of “Live with nature.”
Is There a Word That Describes You?
I aspire to be like bamboo, flexible and resilient. Trees can snap under strong winds, but bamboo bends and then returns to its original shape, remaining sturdy. In life, it’s the same; I want to be flexible in my thinking and approach, trying new things with a positive attitude, but still maintaining my core principles and growing tall without wavering.
What Made You Want to Be “Flexible”?
I think my seven years working at Shibata Yoko Office (a branding company) had a significant impact. The CEO, Ms. Shibata, was always proactive in adapting to change. For example, during my seven years there, social media became hugely popular, and instead of traditional advertising, we had to think about which influencers to use for promotions. The branding agency work changed at an incredible pace. In such times, Ms. Shibata never clung to the past; she continuously took on new challenges without fear of riding the waves of the new era. Seeing her approach made me want to remain flexible and not be bound by fixed ideas.
How Did You End Up at SANU?
In my previous job, client work was the norm, so we didn’t have our own products. We always had fixed contract periods, and after the work was done, I couldn’t follow up on how the project progressed or how the product turned out, which left me feeling unsatisfied. While looking for companies with high expectations, thinking, “I want to grow a business I can be confident in,” I found SANU.
Tell Us About Your Work and the Atmosphere at SANU.
At SANU, I currently belong to the Business Development Department. So far, SANU 2nd Home has only been building triangular cabins called “SANU CABIN,” but we are now planning a new type of building. We are advancing projects with our partner architects, considering what kind of stay experience we want our customers to have.
Regarding the atmosphere within the company, I feel that all employees joined because they resonated with SANU’s vision, and it’s a comfortable environment where everyone has similar values and life priorities. Everyone in the organization embodies and wants to walk together with the principle of “Live with nature.”
Do You Have Any Ideas to Deepen Connections Within SOIL Nihonbashi?
We already have a strong connection with the Staple team through collaborative projects via Soil work, but we rarely have opportunities to interact with individual members of Soil work who use the coworking space on the second floor. I think it would be great to have events where we can converse and interact through common themes!
This Fall, “Soil work Ichinomiya” will open within “SANU 2nd Home Ichinomiya 1st,” developed by Sanu Inc. This location is positioned as a nature hub within Soil work, aiming to promote a lifestyle that realizes one’s true self in nature. SANU, a lifestyle brand advocating “Live with nature. Living in harmony with nature,” aims to realize a society where humans and nature coexist. SANU is also a tenant of Soil work within SOIL Nihonbashi, and “Soil work Ichinomiya” is the first collaborative project with the brand.
Sanu Inc.: https://sa-nu.com/
Press Release for “SANU 2nd Home Ichinomiya 1st/2nd”:https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000052.000060549.html
Soil work Official Site:https://soilis.co/work/
