[Entrance Ceremony Report – Part 2] Let’s Have a Fun Entrance Ceremony! ~The Future Eggs Edition~

Following on from the previous blog, we bring you more from the recent entrance ceremony.
With the presentation of fountain pens complete, the entrance ceremony moved toward its closing.

■ “A Company Is a Stage to Express Your Values”
The ceremony concluded with words from Tsugihara to the new graduate members.

“Everyone, congratulations on joining SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP today. First, I want to thank you for choosing SUNNY SIDE UP from among the millions of companies across the country. Second, I want to thank you for being here among the tens of thousands of new graduates who started their careers today. And finally, I want to thank your parents for raising you to this point.

Even after more than 30 years since the company was founded, I still love our slogan ‘Let’s Have Fun!’ But everyone’s definition of ‘fun’ is different. The experiences you’ve had up until now form the basis of your values—what you find ‘fun.’

I believe a company is a stage to express your values. Throughout your life ahead, please express what you find ‘fun’ according to your own values on the stage that is SUNNY SIDE UP.

You are the protagonist of your own life. Someday when you look back on your life and think, ‘Ah, it was truly a good life,’ I sincerely hope that SUNNY SIDE UP will be reflected behind your eyelids.”

How unfair—just moments ago he was playfully hugging the new graduates, and now this.
I was moved by Tsugihara’s heartfelt words.
■ It Was a Moving Entrance Ceremony!… But It Doesn’t End There
With the moving entrance ceremony over, all’s well that ends well… or so you’d think, but that’s not how things work at SUNNY SIDE UP (laughs).
Haven’t we forgotten something? That’s right—the balloons used for the welcome initiative!

A total of 100 balloons are still floating in the office entrance.
Due to the helium gas, the balloons will only stay afloat for about one more day at most. They make excellent office decorations, but our pride as people who champion ‘Let’s Have Fun!’ won’t allow us to just let them end like this (laughs)!
(As Tsugihara said, the definition of ‘fun’ differs for each individual.)
Now, what to do? The balloons’ lifespan is ticking away moment by moment.
When our members are thinking about how to ‘have fun,’ they’re all deadly serious. They mean business. It’s almost scary (laughs). At that moment, one member spoke up.

“How about having the new graduate members distribute the balloons to ‘the eggs who will carry Japan’s future’?”

■ Balloons Pass from “New Employee Eggs” to “Eggs Who Will Carry Japan’s Future”
—Eggs who will carry the future. It sounds impressive, but to put it simply, we’re talking about kindergarten and nursery school children (laughs).

Actually, we at SUNNY SIDE UP are officially recognized by the Shibuya Tourism Association as the “Official PR Agency for Dagaya Sandou.” Dagaya Sandou is a trendy area combining Sendagaya and Kita-Sando where our headquarters is located, and with the New National Stadium also positioned there, it’s said to be one of the most exciting areas in Tokyo leading up to 2020. We continue various activities to energize this entire area.

In other words, as part of our local community communication as the “Official PR Agency for Dagaya Sandou,” the plan was for our new graduate members to visit kindergartens and nursery schools scattered around the company and distribute balloons to “the eggs who will carry Japan’s future.”

The plan was set. Off to the kindergartens and nursery schools of Dagaya Sandou!
(We contacted the facilities in advance and visited only those that gave us permission.)
As soon as we arrived at the kindergarten, the future eggs were fascinated by the balloons. They expressed ‘having fun’ with their entire bodies.
The balloons passed from the “new employee eggs” to the even smaller “eggs who will carry Japan’s future.” What kind of fun awaits when these small children become adults?

“Fun” is equal for everyone—kindergarteners, new employees, and even those who were new employees decades ago. Having fun is something you can create with just spirit and a little bit of creativity. After all, we did it with just balloons!

I can’t wait to see what kind of fun we’ll create together with the new graduate members who have joined us.