A record 32 new members join SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP: The 2025 Group Entrance Ceremony was held.

Hello! This is Sunny-chan from Public Relations. 🌞

On April 1st, right in the middle of the cherry blossom viewing season, the SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP 2025 Entrance Ceremony was held!

This year, a record 32 new graduates joined SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, the largest cohort in the group’s history. With more colleagues ready to “Let’s Have Fun!”, we anticipate the office will become even more vibrant.

Although Tokyo saw cold rain in the morning, the sky gradually brightened as if to celebrate this new beginning, and a gentle light began to shine through. With spirits lifted, the entrance ceremony finally commenced. 🌸

The new graduates, dressed in their own unique styles, gathered one after another with slightly nervous expressions. By the time the venue was filled with the smiles and voices of their senior colleagues, their expressions began to soften.

As the ceremony began, it opened with congratulatory remarks from the executives of each group company.

First, a welcome message was delivered to the new graduates by Watanabe, Representative Director and Vice President of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP.

“I have supported the growth of this company alongside our founders, launching the PR business and taking on new challenges such as athlete management. Today, I am building SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP together with many colleagues across our group companies.

All of you gathered here today are precious partners with whom we will embark on this new start. Please take your first steps as working professionals and enjoy the journey to the fullest. Congratulations to you all, and I look forward to working with you!”

Next, Xiqiao Liu, Representative Director and President of SUNNY SIDE UP, delivered an enthusiastic message of encouragement.

“I am truly delighted to finally be able to work with all of you starting today. I have previously told you to ‘play as much as possible before joining,’ but today is the moment to shift your mindset.

You are the ones with the greatest potential to surpass us in this company. That is why I want you to stay focused and challenge yourselves with many things. The accumulation of each day’s efforts will make a significant difference 10 or 20 years from now.

Steve Jobs reportedly told his children, ‘Think about what you failed at every day.’ Growth is fueled by the lessons learned from failure rather than success. Please enjoy making many mistakes starting today. I look forward to seeing your growth.”

Kaide, Representative Director and President of Steady Study—which handles PR in the fashion and lifestyle sectors—also shared a message for the new graduates embarking on their new journey.

“I am truly happy that you took the time to choose this company and that you are here today.

We are in our fifth year since joining SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, specializing in PR for fashion and lifestyle. I look forward to having more opportunities to work with you all.

There may be times when things are difficult or confusing. However, if you remain humble, ask your seniors questions, and challenge yourselves, it will surely become a wonderful experience a year from now.

Nothing beats someone who works because they find it ‘fun.’ Please enjoy every day and take on various challenges.”

Otsuka, Representative Director of Kumnam Entertainment, also offered words of welcome to the new colleagues.

“We at Kumnam Entertainment handle all aspects of entertainment. We operate in a wide range of genres both domestically and internationally, including advertising contracts for athletes and K-POP related projects.

For those of you who have joined our group through this connection, I hope you spend your days being ‘bright, energetic, and positive.’

When you encounter something you don’t understand, please feel free to consult your supervisors or seniors. Consistent reporting, contacting, and consulting is the first step toward building trust. Above all, communication skills are vital; no job can succeed without them.

Let’s work hard and enjoy this new step together.”

Next, Matsumoto, Director of SUNNY SIDE UP, spoke about the sentiment behind the “Commemorative Gift Presentation,” a tradition of the Group Entrance Ceremony.

“Welcome to SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP. Every year, we present a fountain pen as a commemorative gift to our new graduates. This might be the first and last fountain pen of your life. Nevertheless, this gift carries an important meaning.

The ‘tools’ of our trade are ‘words.’ Once written with a fountain pen, words cannot be erased, and you must wait for the ink to dry. That is why I want you to take responsibility for every word and cherish them.

This year, we selected the ‘AMBITION’ model from Faber-Castell, a German company and the world’s oldest pencil manufacturer with 264 years of history. I hope you move forward carrying your dreams and aspirations in this pen, which bears a name meaning ‘ambition’ or ‘aspiration.’ There are eight designs in total. I would be happy if, years from now, you still have a relationship where you can say, ‘We had the same fountain pen back then.’”

Then, the presentation of the entrance certificates and commemorative gifts finally took place.

Toward the end, three new graduates representing their respective companies delivered their declarations of determination. Watching them carefully articulate how they want to grow in this environment while reflecting on their student experiences was a sobering and inspiring moment for us as well.

The ceremony concluded with a congratulatory address from Tsugihara, Representative Director and President of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP.

“First of all, congratulations on joining SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP.

With approximately 4.5 million companies in Japan, I am truly happy that you chose our group. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to your parents, who have raised you with love until today.

In a sense, an entrance ceremony is like a ‘wedding.’ Right now, you are likely excited as your dreams overlap with the company’s potential. However, moving forward, there will surely be times when things don’t go well or when you struggle with interpersonal relationships. That is the reality of society.

I am not perfect myself. However, it is because I had colleagues who could complement my shortcomings that I have been able to keep this company going for 40 years. A company is a place where you challenge yourself toward the same goal with your peers. I truly feel now that this is the very reason for a company’s existence in society.

It is not us executives who will build the future of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, but all of you. We chose you after many interviews because we believed in that potential.

Our company slogan is ‘Let’s Have Fun!’ Please use this company as the stage for your lives and create many ‘fun commotions’ here.

And I hope that one day, when you look back as you grow older, you can truly feel that your life was happy. I would be incredibly happy if the ‘Sunny Days starting here today’ are reflected in those memories.

Once again, congratulations on joining us. Let’s create many ‘fun commotions’ together from now on.”

By the end, the nervous expressions seen at the start of the ceremony had vanished, replaced by relaxed smiles.

Thus, the 2025 fiscal year has begun with great energy. With the addition of new colleagues possessing diverse personalities and enthusiasm, we will continue to create even greater ‘fun commotions’ in the future.

Once again, to our 32 new graduates: welcome to SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP.

Please look forward to the future we will create together with them!