What is Division 1 really like? The appeal of the team from the perspective of three fresh faces | Division 1 Edition

Hello, everyone! We are Asahina, Yano, and Kaneko, and as of July we have been officially assigned to Division 1 of the Public Relations Division!

Following on from the previous Division 3 edition, this time we will share what we see as the appeal of Division 1 as first-year new graduates, as well as what we felt were the “strengths of Division 1” through interviews with our seniors.

Click here for the Division 3 edition
It’s already been two months since our assignment! What makes our new team so appealing? | Division 3 Edition
https://blog.ssu.co.jp/ssustaffs/19820/

(The one being held is a family-style robot, “LOVOT [Rabot]”—its name is “Tamako”!)

1What is Division 1 like? A direct interview with the department heads!

As we prepared this blog post, we realized it was a perfect opportunity to speak with the four department heads we admire, so we decided to interview them! They spoke candidly about things we do not usually get to hear!

■“A group of PR lovers who believe in the power of PR!”: Head of Department 1 Mr. Hirukawa

(From left: Mr. Hirukawa, Asahina, and Mr. Fukui* Mr. Fukui happened to be right next to us (laughs), so we asked him to join the photo!)

Mr. Hirukawa, who joined the company in 2014, said, “My impression of Division 1 is that there are a lot of ‘extremely serious people,’ myself included.” When we asked about what goes on inside the team, he told us, “Everyone looks very serious and composed, but behind the scenes they come up with ‘ideas that make you chuckle’ and proposals that can become PR hooks. We push each other every day, and everyone is growing and becoming stronger.”

He also said that Division 1 is a department where “people who believe in the potential of PR and love PR gather.” Working in Division 1 day to day, we truly feel that many people throw that sense of “love” into their work and tackle it with great enthusiasm!

■“Our strengths are ‘diverse solution approaches’ and ‘experience’”: Head of Department 2, Mr. Terui

Mr. Terui, who joined the company in 2012, told us that Division 1 handles many PR projects for large commercial facilities and hotels, and also has extensive experience with events and TV commercial publicity. (Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Terui often went on nearby outings or camping trips with his family on his days off!)

Division 1’s strength is its ability to use diverse solution approaches to cover areas that clients’ PR teams cannot easily reach. Recently, cases where we build a startup’s PR structure from scratch have also been increasing.

We also heard that many members have long careers in the PR industry, and that their strong on-site responsiveness at events is another key strength.

It made us reaffirm our desire to become professionals who, like our seniors, can be involved in event operations from the ground up and move the site forward flexibly as needed!

■“Even with remote work, we achieve an efficient hybrid way of working!”: Head of Department 3, Mr. Takeuchi

(From left: Yano, Mr. Takeuchi)

Mr. Takeuchi joined the company in 2010. Recently, he says his personal trend is taking his dog for a walk once or twice a day!

Regarding how he switches between on and off while working remotely, he said that spending more time with his family has helped him clearly separate work and private life. (His smile as he talked about how he spends time at home was truly heartwarming…!)

As for improving efficiency at home, he is working on creating a space where he can focus, and shared valuable insights such as the importance of changing his mood by enjoying lighting and music.

He also taught us that, as online meetings increase, it is important to go in after fully understanding the agenda and your role in advance, so that you can find meaning in each and every meeting.

We will start putting what we learned into practice in our remote work right away!

■“Supporting everyone through ‘close communication’” Head of Department 4, Ms. Iwasaki

Ms. Iwasaki, who joined the company in 2014, immediately told us that what she keeps in mind when supporting members is valuing “close communication.”

She said that through casual conversations—including about private matters—she keeps track of how members are doing and is always mindful of “whether this person is able to work happily right now.” When we asked about Division 1’s support system from an objective perspective, she told us, “There are many managers who truly care about their members.”

She also said that they always maintain the perspective of “what can we do so that everyone can thrive,” anticipating members’ growth, and that they hold meetings frequently. Hearing this made us once again deeply appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to work in Division 1…!

(And as expected of Ms. Iwasaki! She even suggested, “Let’s do this interview over lunch!” and took the three of us to a delicious soba restaurant. Thank you for the meal!!)

These are the kinds of people in Division 1! We asked the group leaders!

■Leader Mr. Kusunoki, hugely popular even among first-year employees

(From left: Kaneko, Mr. Kusunoki)

Following the department heads, we also interviewed the group leaders!

First up is Mr. Kusunoki, who joined the company in 2016 and is currently into relaxing at home and binge-watching Korean dramas on Netflix.

We admire Mr. Kusunoki’s work style, as he is trusted immensely within the company, and he says he sometimes takes a nap during breaks to refresh. (At SUNNY SIDE UP, we have employee benefits called “32 Benefits,” including a siesta program that allows you to take a nap!)

When we asked for his secret to improving work efficiency, he said with a smile: eating his wife’s cooking! (Mr. Kusunoki is perfect in both work and private life… truly wonderful!)

Finally, when we asked what he values most at work, he said, “Staying close to every client and coming to genuinely like their product or service.” He also advised us first-year employees: “Do not let opportunities slip by! Be determined to go after every chance!” It made us feel even more motivated—we have to work harder…!!!!!

■When it comes to entertainment-related projects, this is the person: Leader Mr. Sakama

(From left: Mr. Sakama, Asahina)

Mr. Sakama, who joined the company in 2013, handles many entertainment projects. First, we asked how he spends his days off. With dining out difficult due to the COVID-19 situation, he has been cooking at home. He says it is satisfying to pack the dishes he makes on weekends into containers and fill the refrigerator to the brim. (The first-year members of Division 1 are already planning—on our own—to have him treat us to his home cooking someday (laughs).)

Mr. Sakama’s refresh method during work breaks is reading one chapter of a manga. It was a unique way to recharge, fitting for someone who has always loved manga.

We asked Mr. Sakama, who always seems to enjoy everything, what he values at work. He told us: “Being ‘super positive’! I do not dwell on mistakes—I switch gears quickly, and my motto is to end everything on a fun note.”

We felt that “positive thinking” is an essential element for Division 1—and for everyone working at SUNNY SIDE UP!

■A leader who is exceptionally powerful and radiantly shining even within the company: Ms. Kindaichi

(From left: Ms. Kindaichi, Yano)

Ms. Kindaichi, who joined the company in 2017, told us, “My way to refresh is to admire the lemons I grow at home!” She grows them in a fairly large pot, and says she is soothed by watering them daily and watching the fruit grow and enjoying the fragrance.

When we asked her secret to improving work efficiency, she said she chooses different music depending on her mood while working. She also recommended EDM when you want to move through tasks at a good pace (laughs).

Ms. Kindaichi, who has a fulfilling work and private life, told us that she values “being twice as positive as others.”

Because performance inevitably drops when you feel down, we first-year employees also want to build the habit of thinking positively and put “enjoying everything” into practice!

Finally, we would like to share our “commitments”!

After completing the interviews with our seniors, we once again recognized what makes Division 1 so great and how fortunate we are to be surrounded by such wonderful seniors. Here, we would like to reaffirm our “commitments”!

■Asahina

Now that I have completed the two-month provisional assignment period and have been officially assigned, I do have some anxiety, but I am truly happy that I can finally work together as a member of SUNNY SIDE UP!

At present, I am in charge of projects in completely different genres—sweets, supplements, and idols. Every day I struggle as I search for the right media, angles, and approaches for each project, but I am able to experience a wide range of things, experiences, and people, making each day feel fresh, and I am enjoying moving my work forward.

I joined SUNNY SIDE UP with the ambition of sensing the latest trends firsthand and spreading them to the world. In a world where there is still so much I do not know, I am filled with excitement at the thought that, as a member of SUNNY SIDE UP, I will be able to share information with society using PR as a method!

Under the slogan “Let’s Have Fun!”, I hereby pledge to become a PR professional who enjoys work at the core and is trusted and loved by our seniors as well!!

To that end, I will first tackle each task in front of me one by one, and I intend to be ambitious in everything I do and deliver results!

■Yano

Ever since my OJT told me on the last day of my provisional assignment, “This is where it really begins,” I have been spending each day with a renewed sense of focus.

I am in charge of projects such as a large mixed-use complex in Shibuya and an international liquor brand.

I am still far from being able to handle media interviews on my own and have been relying heavily on my seniors, but I am working desperately on the tasks in front of me so that I can become a fully fledged media promoter as soon as possible.

I also want to be involved in planning proposals, so I will continue to take in information from many different angles every day and aim to become a PR professional with a rich store of ideas.

So that I can give back to the seniors who always support me, I want to promote each project persistently and deliver results! I will keep moving forward without wavering, holding on to my “strong feelings for what I love”!

■Kaneko

After moving from a provisional assignment to an official assignment, I have finally gotten off to a full-fledged running start in [Division 1] as of July!

I am currently mainly in charge of two projects. One is PR for a food delivery service, and the other is PR for the family-style robot “LOVOT.” Both are challenging projects, but I already find them very rewarding…!

For the “LOVOT” project, I am giving it my all to secure publicity for “PARK＋,” which is set to open in September!

I intend to make the most of every opportunity and build strong relationships with media professionals across many fields! With my natural grit, I will keep moving my hands and feet, grow by turning those experiences into strength, and keep running relentlessly to truly feel how “the power of PR” can change society—and the world!

Above all, I will enjoy my work and continue to devote myself with a positive mindset!