Wrapping up work for 2022! A look back at an eventful year for SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP 📢
Hello, this is Kawamura from the Public Relations Group! How are you all doing? Whether you are busy with the year-end rush or have already finished work and are preparing for the New Year, I hope you are well. 🧣
Only a few days remain of this year. In 2022, the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, “new normal” styles became the standard for both our members’ working styles and PR communication strategies. It was a year in which we were able to leverage those advantages to work on a larger and more efficient scale.
Without further ado, let’s look back at the various “fun commotions” created by the members of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP this year!
January–March
▼ First Day of Work (Jan 4)
The second New Year since the start of the pandemic was held in a hybrid online and offline format. We welcomed the start of the year with food and drinks inspired by the Year of the Tiger 🐯. In the early afternoon, a calligraphy booth was set up in a corner of the office! We expressed our aspirations for the year through traditional brush writing.
SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s 2022 begins! Each company announces New Year’s resolutions along with their “Kanji of the Year”
New Year Calligraphy Event! Members wrote down their own resolutions for the year!
▼ Tsugihara begins her term as IPRA President (Jan 1)
Etsuko Tsugihara, President and Representative Director of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, was appointed as the 2022 President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), based in the UK. As the president leading board members who drive the global PR industry, she spent the year working under the theme of “CONNECT.”
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2021/11/01/2022presidentforipra/
▼ SUNNY SIDE UP participates in the advanced flower art facility “NAKED FLOWERS FOR YOU” (Feb 22)
In February, SUNNY SIDE UP Inc. joined the “NAKED FLOWERS FOR YOU Production Committee” alongside NAKED, INC., Aktio Co., Ltd., The Asahi Shimbun Company, and Pia Corporation. As the first permanent domestic installation of the experiential art exhibition “NAKED FLOWERS,” which engages all five senses, the advanced flower art facility “NAKED FLOWERS FOR YOU” opened in Yurakucho in March 2022.
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/02/22/naked-flowers-for-you/
▼ Introduced the “AMH Testing Subsidy” to encourage women to face their own health! Added “Sustainable Support” and “TKG” systems to ensure everyone can work “happily” (Mar 2)
A new logo for the “32 Benefits” was also created!
To coincide with “Sunny Day” on March 2, we significantly updated SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s original welfare system, the “32 Benefits”! In addition to introducing the “AMH Testing Subsidy” as an expansion of the “Dear WOMAN” program, we established the “TKG System,” “Sustainable Support” system, and “Suni-Cari” system. To create an environment where each individual can work in their own way, we solicited ideas from all employees and used their feedback to add new programs and refine existing content.
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/03/02/20220302/
April–June
▼ Entrance Ceremony (Apr 1)
This year, many new “eggs” joined our team! It has already been nine months since the first-year members made their declarations with sparkling eyes. They are growing into reliable PR professionals every day! 🥚
▼ SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP ranked 25th in the world in PRovoke Media’s “Global Top 250 PR Agency Rankings 2022” and PRWeek’s “PRWeek Agency Business Report 2022” (Jun 9)
SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP ranked 25th in the global PR agency rankings “Global Top 250 PR Agency Rankings 2022” and “PRWeek Agency Business Report 2022” 🎖. We ranked 4th and 3rd in Asia respectively, and 2nd among Japanese PR agencies.
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/06/09/global-top-250-pr-agency-ranking-2022/
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/06/09/prweek-agency-business-report-2022/
July–September
▼ Start of the New Fiscal Year (Jul 1)
On July 1, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP entered its 38th term! With the theme for this term set as “NEW ERA,” we resolved not only to continue maximizing group synergies—the theme of the previous term—but also to make this a year where we can surpass our past selves.
▼ Further update to SUNNY SIDE UP’s unique welfare program “32 Benefits.” Introduced “Semen Testing Subsidy” in addition to “AMH Testing Subsidy” to help members “know their bodies” (Jul 7)
Following the addition of the “AMH Testing Subsidy” in March, we introduced the “Semen Testing Subsidy” in July. This update to the “32 Benefits” was driven by the desire to provide an opportunity for members, their families, and partners to face their own bodies and futures.
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/07/07/20220707/
▼ SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP wins top award in the “Corporate Communications” category of the International PR Association’s “GOLDEN WORLD AWARDS 2022”! (Aug 9)
SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. received the top award in the “Corporate communications – Agency” category of the “Golden World Awards 2022,” an international award hosted by the International Public Relations Association 🎖
We have significantly strengthened our “Social Good activities (initiatives for social issues),” which we have been engaged in for many years since our founding. In June 2021, we established the “Social Good Promotion Office” to drive solutions for social issues, and in September of the same year, we founded “Good and Company Inc.,” a business dedicated to developing social issue solution platforms. We have established a foundation for engaging in more concrete activities.
This series of corporate communication activities regarding social issues was highly evaluated as a “Social Good Company” working to solve social problems, leading to this award!
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/08/09/ipragwa2022/
▼ Updated the unique “32 Benefits” welfare program. Is Japanese sleep duration at the world’s lowest level? Added the “Sleeping Children Grow” system to coincide with Autumn Sleep Day (Sep 3)
An incentive of 3,200 yen for members who sleep an average of 7 hours or more per month!? To foster an environment where each member can work comfortably and lead a richer life, we further updated the “32 Benefits” to coincide with “Autumn Sleep Day” on September 3.
We focused on “sleep,” which is key to maintaining members’ physical and mental health, as well as improving daytime concentration and individual performance. To support members’ well-being and work styles by ensuring adequate sleep time, we established the “Sleeping Children Grow” system 😴
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/09/01/20220901/
▼ “CRAFT SAKE WEEKEND 2022 at J-WAVE INSPIRE TOKYO” held (Sep 17-19)
We held “CRAFT SAKE WEEKEND 2022 at J-WAVE INSPIRE TOKYO,” a spin-off project of “CRAFT SAKE WEEK,” for a limited three-day period.
On the day, 10 carefully selected sake breweries from across the country appeared each day 🍶. Despite the unfortunate weather due to a typhoon, the event was a huge success, far exceeding expectations on all three days. It was an event enjoyed by many people.
October–December
▼ [SUNNY SIDE UP Press Release] SUNNY SIDE UP Inc. shifts fully to post-pandemic mode, significantly strengthening recruitment to expand global business (Oct 7)
Taking “fun commotions” even further into the world! We announced a significant strengthening of bilingual talent recruitment to respond to the rapidly increasing consultations from foreign-affiliated companies in recent years, and to further drive “inbound consumption” and the entry of overseas businesses into Japan, which are expected to contribute significantly to the Japanese economy 🌎
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/10/07/global-rectruiting-2022/
▼ Labor Thanksgiving Day “Thank you, Colleagues!” Event (Nov 22)
The “Thank you, Colleagues!” event, which has become something of an autumn tradition, was held again this year!! Starting with hugs from the executives of each company, including President Tsugihara, and featuring delicious food… we expressed our daily gratitude throughout the day 🤝🏻❤
Held again this year! “Thank you, Colleagues!” event to express gratitude for Labor Thanksgiving Day
▼ SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP wins “Honorable Mention” in the “JAPAN/KOREA BEST PLACE TO WORK” category of Campaign’s “Agency of the Year 2022”! (Dec 2)
SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. received an “Honorable Mention” in the “JAPAN/KOREA BEST PLACE TO WORK” category at the “Agency of the Year 2022” awards hosted by Campaign Asia Pacific! This special award is given to companies that show ingenuity in achieving a comfortable and productive work environment. Our initiatives, such as the original “32 Benefits” welfare system, office renovations for post-pandemic work styles, and unique educational systems for developing professionals, were recognized for fostering a vision that generates cultural diversity and creativity, and for building an environment where employees can maximize their potential.
https://ssug.co.jp/news/2022/12/02/agency-of-the-year-2022/
Wrapping up 2022! We held a year-end party
The eventful year we’ve looked back on so far will end in just a few days. We held a group-wide year-end party to appreciate each other’s hard work over the year and welcome the new one!
*The event was held with thorough infection control measures in place, and masks were only removed while eating and drinking.
Starting with a message from Etsuko Tsugihara, President and Representative Director of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, we all shared a toast!!!
We filled our stomachs while reflecting on both the good times and the challenges 🍣
To create even larger “fun commotions” both domestically and internationally next year, all our members will move forward with a fresh mindset 🌞
And with this article, “SUNNY DAYS,” which has delivered various stories from SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP this year, comes to a close for the year.
The gradual growth of this media is thanks to all of you who follow us every day. Thank you very much. ⛄
As the cold days continue, please stay warm and have a wonderful New Year holiday. 🎍
