2021 New Year’s Kickoff Held Online! Group Companies Announce Their “Kanji of the Year”

Happy New Year, everyone! This is Sunny-chan from Public Relations. We look forward to working with you again this year.

While these restless days continue, we hope you are all doing well. Today, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP held its New Year’s kickoff online!

Every year on the first day of work, we invite guests related to that year’s zodiac sign (e.g., a real sheep for the Year of the Sheep, the comedy trio Dacho Club for the Year of the Rooster, members’ pet dogs for the Year of the Dog, etc.). However, due to the spread of COVID-19, this year’s event was held entirely online. You can view last year’s event here.

Before the current situation arose, we had discussed holding a “Beef Festival” to serve small portions of beef dishes in honor of this year’s zodiac sign, the Year of the Ox. However, this was also canceled to ensure the safety of our members.

Instead, in honor of the Year of the Ox, an MC wearing an ox-print hoodie volunteered to lead the proceedings!

The event was managed by a minimal number of staff members.

In online events where members participate from different locations, it can be difficult to feel a sense of unity because it is hard to hear each other’s laughter and reactions. However, when the MC appeared in the ox hoodie, the tiled screen was filled with members’ smiles. Even though we were physically apart, I was happy that we could share the same time and see each other’s faces.

First, a greeting from President Tsugihara.

■ Greeting from President Tsugihara

Happy New Year.

PR is a profession that moves people’s hearts. While the PR and communication work we do may not save lives directly like medical care, I believe it has the power to brighten and move people’s spirits.

“When people’s feelings change, their actions change, and eventually the world changes.” I have been saying this for over 30 years, and I truly feel that the true value of PR is being tested right now. Let us move forward with correct knowledge and action, prioritizing health and safety, so that our “Tanoshii Sawagi” (exciting commotions) can become a “vaccine that changes the atmosphere of the world.”

Then, each group company announced its “Kanji of the Year”! Here are some of them.

■Kanji of the Year

■ SSU Group

Wa (Ring/Circle):
2021 is the year the group becomes one “ring.” No matter how large a wheel is, it cannot move forward if the axis is not fixed. We want each company and business to grow and move forward as one large circle.

■ SUNNY SIDE UP

Sho (Laughter):
Fortune comes to those who laugh! Especially in times like these, we want to overcome challenges with “fun power.” As drivers on this “ring,” we will enjoy our work as we move forward.

■ Wise Integration

Sei (Accomplishment):
The “Sei” from the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” We will act with strong determination to achieve anything. Although the first half of the year remained unpredictable, we were able to work together to overcome it. As a strong Wise Integration, we aim to create new solutions.

Other group companies also presented Kanji representing their respective resolutions, such as “Shun” (Season/Trend) and “Ketsu” (Connection).

The “Kanji of the Year” from each company reflected a desire to make positive resolutions precisely because of the current times. As a side note, Sunny-chan’s Kanji of the Year is “Cho” (Surpass)! Since I am spending more time at home, I want to increase the knowledge I consume and “surpass” my former self. ^^

…I ended up speaking quite seriously, but that concludes this year’s New Year’s kickoff!

The ox hoodie worn by the MC suited them so well that we decided to give it to them as a gift (lol).

Last year brought significant changes to our lives, and there were times when we felt unsettled. We hope the situation improves even slightly this year… All our members will strive to create even more “Tanoshii Sawagi” than ever before.

We look forward to working with you in 2021!

Author

Sunny-chan

A group PR representative dedicated to “SUNNY SIDE UP.”Keeping an eye out both inside and outside the company, she is searching for and sharing the “next exciting commotion.”From member-led projects to internal events, she writes across the widest range of categories in the company! Her current goal is to reach 3,000 followers on the official Twitter account!