Spotlight by SparkDojo Issue #1 - Event Report
(English follows as the full report)
先週木曜日にSparkDojo主催の新イベントシリーズ、Spotlightがはじまりました。本イベントシリーズは日本が抱える歴史の長い、根深い社会問題に対する解決策を模索するパネル/オープンディスカッション。 様々なインダストリー・専門領域・文化背景を持つパネリストが、それぞれの知見・経験をもとに独自の視点から難題に対する解決策を提案し、英語で議論を交わした。初回のパネリストはZehitomo Inc., 創業者兼CEOのJordan Fisher、Finom, KK. (5AM Ramen) 創業者兼CEOのFrank Striegl、そして芸人 / タレントの石井てる美。オーディエンスもパネリストやお互いと直接意見交換。基本的には英語のイベントであったものの、日本語も時折飛び交うバイリンガルイベントとなった。
非常にグローバルな集まり・・・でもトピックは日本の社会問題！
日本人はもちろん、アメリカ人、中国人、メキシコ人、韓国人、イギリス人など様々な国・文化背景を持つ方が集まり、日本の残業というトピックに関して考えや想いを交わした。否定的なものも肯定的なものもあったが、それぞれが知っているワークスタイルをもとに、異文化・異業種の方が集まるからこそ色々な視点・経験が聞けました。
イベントの構成としてはモデレーターのトピックおよびパネリスト紹介のあと、各パネリストが自身の見解をプレゼンテーション形式でシェア。その後パネルQ&A、オープンディスカッションなどを実施しインタラクティブに議論と考えを重ねた。最後にモデレーターのレイナが議論のハイライトのおさらいをしてイベント終了。まだまだ議論が白熱するなか、タイムアップで残念ながらイベント終了となった。
おかげさまで大盛況・大成功に終わり、参加者・パネリストから「次回も出たい・参加したい」という声を多くいただけました。今回のイベントに参加できなかった方はぜひ次の機会にこのとてもユニークなイベントに足を運んでください。
This event will make you think...
and put your hand on your chin.
Full Report - English
以下フルレポートは英語ですが、トレーニングの一環としてぜひ読んでみてください！
On November 29, SparkDojo hosted our first SPOTLIGHT event, focusing on the issue of chronic overwork.
SPOTLIGHT is an event series with the mission of finding new perspectives and solutions to Japan’s oldest and most intractable issues. We invite panelists from industries and fields that are not directly related to the issue, and through an open panel discussion, the panelists and participants work together to discuss new ideas and views.
Our first panelist was Jordan Fisher, CEO and co-founder of Zehitomo. A programmer and former VP at JP Morgan Tokyo, Jordan presented his ideas about freelance working and the burgeoning gig economy as a solution to changing the chronic overwork culture of Japan. Jordan noted that Japan has the lowest productivity among G7 nations, and the work culture must change to value and reward working smarter over working harder.
Our second panelist, Frank Striegl is the CEO and founder of Finom KK and 5amRamen.com. Based on his experience working in the inbound tourism industry, which has grown by 245% since 2012, Frank had witnessed with his own eyes how overwork has harmed professionals who are already overly stressed and fatigued. He suggested solutions that aimed to change the mindset of workers in Japan: more leaders and role models who demonstrate new ways of working and providing more opportunities for professionals to discuss new working styles.
Finally, we had an open panel discussion which was joined by our third panelist, comedian and TV personality Terumi Ishii. As a consultant-turned-comedian, Terumi had experienced firsthand the overwork culture that exists in not only the world of business, but also that of the media and entertainment.
The open panel discussion focused on how the recently passed Work-Style Reform Laws are a step toward the right direction, though actual measurable changes within companies will take some time, and analysis of their impact will take even more time. Businesses that cannot adapt to this trend toward work-style reform will eventually experience failure. Already, many university graduates include a “zangyo” check when applying to companies; they call the companies outside of regular working hours to see if anyone is working late, and some go as far as visiting the offices late at night to see how many windows are lit up. The younger generation is therefore more sensitive to and vocal about work-life balance, and companies that cannot adapt to cater to their demands will struggle to hire capable recruits.
The discussion also focused on how companies must incentivize well-being and health instead of just performance and output. Comments were made about how job enjoyment, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction with life are still somewhat foreign concepts in Japan. Terumi stated that it is not that Japanese professionals do not know how to be happy; however, there has been little public discussion about what happiness is. As Frank had stated, perhaps there needs to be more opportunities for professionals to have open discussions with one another about what is meant by well-being and happiness in the context of both work and life.
The next issue that SPOTLIGHT will tackle is: Gender Equality in Japan. Thank you to everyone who joined the first event, and we hope to see you at the next one as well!
