A First-Year New Graduate Takes on a Dream PR Project and Gives It Their All! Behind the Scenes of the “Shinagawa Aquarium” Special Exhibition Media Preview | We Went to See It

Hello! I’m Tanaka, a first-year employee at SUNNY SIDE UP.

On a personal note, just four months after joining the company, I was given the opportunity to handle PR for an event I had long wanted to be involved in!

In fact, back when I was job hunting, I readthis article on SUNNY DAYS and told my interviewers at SUNNY SIDE UP, “Someday, I want to work on a Shinagawa Aquarium project!” This time, that dream finally came true—I was on site as the PR lead!

Have you been to an aquarium recently? It is a classic summer outing, but do you know what PR staff are doing behind the scenes?

Today, we bring you the appeal of the special exhibition currently being held at Shinagawa Aquarium as it marks its 35th anniversary year, along with Tanaka’s “real, on-the-ground report” from the day of the media preview!

To the Long-Awaited Site! The Appeal of the Special Exhibition

Shinagawa Aquarium’s 2026 special exhibition, “Eric Carle and the Colors of Life—Same World, Different Colors—,” is a special event made possible by a double anniversary: the aquarium’s 35th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the Japanese edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Alongside author Eric Carle’s unique worldview, you can enjoy learning about the secrets behind the diverse “colors” and “patterns” found in living creatures—and the “radiance of life.”

From a PR perspective, I will introduce four recommended highlights!

Recommended Highlights

1. [Art and Color] Rainbow Surgeonfish

The rainbow surgeonfish is known for its vivid vertical stripes that look like a rainbow!

The aquarium tank background features tissue-paper designs drawn by Eric Carle, creating a colorful, charming world that envelops not only the animals but the entire venue.

2. [Camouflage and Observation] Fleischmann’s Glass Frog

This is a type of frog that lives in Central and South America!
Its back is a vivid, bright green, but its underside is actually transparent—so you can see its internal organs through it.
This time, it happened to show us its underside, so we were able to photograph a truly rare sight…!

3. Collaboration Drinks

To commemorate the special exhibition, the on-site “Dolphin Café” is offering a limited collaboration menu.

(Left) “Full-Belly Chubby Caterpillar Soda” ¥1,080 (Right) “Dolphin Parent-and-Child Stroll Soda” ¥930

This time, I tried the “Dolphin Parent-and-Child Stroll Soda”!
Its cold, refreshing taste makes it the perfect drink to beat the summer heat!

4. Inside the Aquarium

As you walk through the aquarium, Eric Carle’s vivid illustrations welcome you from all around—on the walls and throughout the tanks!

[On the Scene] On the Day of the Preview, What Was I Doing Behind the Scenes as a First-Year Employee?

On the day of the event, we held a preview to welcome members of the media.Here is a look at what my day was like behind the scenes, with a realistic rundown of how things moved on the day!

1) Greetings and Business Card Exchange

First, I welcomed the media guests who attended.
I exchanged business cards in person with people I usually communicate with by email or phone! It is always a pleasure to meet those who regularly support us face to face.

2) Listening to the Explanation from Shinagawa Aquarium Staff

To help the media better understand the exhibition’s appeal, Shinagawa Aquarium’s PR representative provided an explanation for them.
While listening right behind them, I observed how media professionals photographed the exhibits and which explanations caught their interest—learning firsthand the “media perspective” that only an on-site setting can provide.

3) Guiding Guests Through the Aquarium!

Next, I guided the media guests through the aquarium.Although I was nervous, I focused on attentive hosting so I could clearly convey the exhibition’s key highlights.

4) Communicating with Media Guests

Even between guided segments, I communicated directly with the media guests who attended.I was able to share a great deal about what makes this event special and what to look out for.

Being able to meet media professionals in person on the day of the event was an extremely valuable experience for me as a PR professional.

Above all, I was truly happy when, as they were leaving, someone said, “This event was so much fun! Thank you for inviting me!”

In addition, a media promoter’s work is not limited to the event day. To encourage media to attend, I realized how important it is to build proactive, thoughtful communication—sending invitations, reaching out by email, and making careful phone calls. Precisely because AI is streamlining operations, I want to continue valuing this kind of steady, hands-on communication.

I feel that the essence of “what PR is,” which had been somewhat vague to me before joining the company, is gradually becoming clearer through hands-on work!

PRMy First Step as a PR Professional: What I Learned on Site

Back when I was job hunting, I admired the PR work for “Shinagawa Aquarium” that I saw on SUNNY DAYS.

Standing on site just four months after joining the company, meeting media professionals directly, and feeling their real reactions firsthand was truly a valuable experience for me.

Regardless of seniority, being encouraged to take on what I say I want to try—and having senior colleagues provide solid support on site—is something I have come to truly feel is a major strength of SUNNY SIDE UP.

In this place where I can value what I love and what I want to challenge myself with, I would like to keep diving into all kinds of work from here on. Finally, the Shinagawa Aquarium special exhibition introduced here is now being held—so please do come and visit!

At SUNNY SIDE UP, we handle PR and communications for a wide range of products and services, including PR for leisure facilities like Shinagawa Aquarium. What can be made possible through the power of communication? We welcome inquiries starting from that kind of discussion as well. Please feel free to contact us via the “CONTACT” button below.