SUNNY SIDE UP Baseball Club Practice Game Report! What is the relationship between baseball and work?

Hello, I am Yamashita from Public Relations.
This series introduces SUNNY SIDE UP’s interesting initiatives, “32 Benefits”.
This time, we bring you a report on a SUNNY SIDE UP Baseball Club practice game.

“Club Activity Support” System

A program that supports employees’ club activities across all genres, from outdoor to indoor.

It was a little while ago, in late August when it was still humid, that the SUNNY SIDE UP Baseball Club held a practice game. The venue was a wilderness on the outskirts of Tokyo (or at least, a field that looked like one).
As it was a game that anyone involved could watch, I went to cheer them on in a relaxed mood.

I knew about the SUNNY SIDE UP Baseball Club’s activities, but it was my first time watching. Family members and girlfriends of the baseball club members also came to cheer them on.

There were 12 baseball club members participating in this game. And, believe it or not, they even have a beautiful female manager!

A distinctive feature of the SUNNY SIDE UP Baseball Club is its wide range of roles, from first-year employees to the Director and COO. Wearing their original uniforms, they looked sharp and sporty—quite different from how they are at work!

The head of the Promotion Department, who was playing third base, got nervous every time he threw the ball to the director at first base. (Laughs)
The manager teased him about it.
The manager, watching with a smile, noted the score.
A club member’s wife cheered loudly while taking photos.
Family members watched with steady, serious eyes.
And I called out, “Looking good!”—even as I was told it was not a very baseball-like cheer.

Even though everyone was doing what they liked, there was a surprising sense of unity.

Watching this, I felt that the reason SUNNY SIDE UP employees can perform well at work and generate fun ideas may be that everyone does their best toward the same goal, fulfills their role in their own way (as they truly are), and recognizes one another’s individuality. Even if each person is doing something different, there is teamwork that accepts and complements one another.

At SUNNY SIDE UP, we often work as a team, and we also frequently work together with clients and partner companies. Building individual capability is important, but teamwork is essential. As a united team, everyone works to deliver their best performance, so while everyone is also a rival, they understand that each person’s success leads to the team’s victory. That is why they can celebrate others’ achievements and support one another when something happens.

Instantly judging who to throw the incoming ball to, and at what speed.
(Thinking about how to make it easier for teammates to move.)
*There are times when collisions happen, though…

Wind up the bat, and hit the incoming ball back with full force!
(Sometimes staying up late because you want to deliver results beyond expectations.)

Once you hit it, run with everything you have.
(Seize opportunities with all your strength.)

Even if you feel down after giving up a run, there is a manager who supports you so it becomes motivation to hit back next time.
(If they learn you are feeling down about something, there are employees who check in on you—suggesting going out for drinks or having lunch, for example.)

And as I watched the game, I found myself vaguely thinking about work.

I felt truly fortunate to have colleagues who can form a team together, face the same direction, and work just as hard together to achieve the same goal!

I have completely strayed from talking about the baseball game, but the baseball club won decisively!

Oh—and one last thing I absolutely have to say.

Men playing sports looked about three times cooler than usual. (Laughs)