A month of learning how to “create a fun buzz”! We are sharing highlights from our new-employee training.

Hello, everyone! We are Kaneko, Ueno, and Hayashi, who joined SUNNY SIDE UP this April.

In this article, we will share what our new-employee training was like over the roughly one month since joining the company.

SUNNY SIDE UP’s new-employee training includes not only learning standard business etiquette and the basics of PR, but also some uniquely “fun” programs. We would be grateful if you would read through to the end.

Training 1: SUNNY FARM: Learning communication and the SDGs under the open sky

First, we would like to introduce the training held “under the open sky.”

At SUNNY SIDE UP, as part of an in-house project, we have been running SUNNY FARM since December 2020, where members cultivate the field themselves and carry it through to harvest.

The concept of SUNNY FARM is: “We are not growing vegetables—we are growing communication.” With telework on the rise and fewer opportunities for in-person interaction, this project was launched with the aim of revitalizing internal communication through farm work and other experiences that people do not usually have.

An overview of SUNNY FARM activities is available here:
“SUNNY FARM note”

Using SUNNY FARM, we conducted training focused on communication with our fellow new hires and senior colleagues while working the soil in preparation for summer vegetables. This farm-work training—something we rarely experience in everyday life—surely became an opportunity to deepen our relationships with our peers and seniors.

In addition, not only did it provide a place for in-person communication, but by actually touching the soil we were also able to deepen our understanding of agriculture and the SDGs, making it a truly valuable experience.

This “soil” we see every day apparently has a very delicate nature. According to the agricultural advisor who guided us, caring for the soil determines the taste and quality of the vegetables. We, too, focused on pouring plenty of care into the soil (in a way, it resembles communication with people). We hope that the soil we cultivated will produce wonderful, delicious vegetables!

At SUNNY FARM, we plan to plant various kinds of summer vegetables and fruits, including watermelon, in preparation for summer. We are already looking forward to our next visit!

Training 2: Online “drawing” and “theater”?!

During the training period, we experienced unique online training sessions, each with a different concept.
They were called “Buzzkuri.” Buzzkuri is a team-building service that enables employees to build relationships online. It is an online service launched with the desire to restore the “play” and “connections” that were lost due to COVID-19, and to create people, companies, and society through “play.”https://buzzkuri.com/

First, the first online training session was “drawing.” Drawing? You may think so, but we actually prepared drawing paper and colored pens and drew pictures! We drew based on prompts given by the facilitator, and one of the most interesting prompts was “your ideal future self.” We shared what we drew with our group members and talked about our dreams while putting our drawings into words.

The second session was “theater.” We formed cross-level groups with senior colleagues and acted by dividing up the roles. Aside from the assigned theme of regional revitalization, we were free to create the entire story, resulting in a wide variety of stories, each with its own unique character. Even with veteran seniors we do not usually have many chances to speak with, we acted on equal footing within the play.

Through this experience, we were able to communicate in a unique and casual way not only with our fellow new hires but also with senior colleagues, transcending the boundaries of generations and positions. At the same time, by sharing the extraordinary experience of “online theater,” we feel that even deeper bonds were formed.

After completing the “Buzzkuri” training program, we truly felt “mutual understanding and unity,” exactly as the concept states: “Play creates connections between people and brings everyone together.” To everyone at Buzzkuri, thank you very much for providing such a wonderful training program.

Training 3: Precisely because we cannot travel right now: A world trip at the CEO’s home?!

Next, we visited President Tsugihara’s home and, with safety in mind, all the new hires worked together to make dinner. Today’s theme was “a makeshift world trip”! Since overseas travel is difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to enjoy local dishes from around the world as if we were traveling from country to country. From salad to the main course, side dishes, and dessert, we enjoyed a variety of country-specific dishes.

Local dishes from Mexico, Italy, the UK, the US, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam—completed through teamwork. We plated small portions of each on one plate, and our makeshift world trip began!

From stories about work around the world to relationship advice, we were thrilled from start to finish by the valuable stories we do not usually get to hear. We felt renewed happiness at being able to become part of a company that “creates a fun buzz,” and at the same time, we became even more determined to become people who can “spread fun,” too.

It was a lively time filled with laughter from beginning to end. It is one of the trainings we will never forget.

At last, the final day of training

The turbulent month flew by, and the final day finally arrived. Looking back on this month, each of us shared our determination for the future.

A month we overcame together as 13 peers who met through what felt like a miraculous twist of fate, united as one. After completing the packed training program, we came to love SUNNY SIDE UP—warm and full of energy—even more than when we first joined.

While we all face the same direction, each of our feelings and goals is different in its own way. Just as the president said—“It is okay for everyone’s ‘fun’ to be different; let’s create a world where we can share each other’s values of ‘fun’”—we will work hard in the duties that begin from here on out to become PR professionals who create “fun buzzes” in many different forms.

Finally, an announcement! A video introducing all 13 of us—along with the words each of us cherishes—has also been released, so please be sure to watch it!