First of all, I would like to express my gratitude that we were able to successfully complete the sports day in 2024.
We would like to thank everyone who helped make the event possible as planned, everyone at headquarters who allowed us to be part of the planning again this year, and above all, everyone who participated and cooperated.
Monosus has been holding sports days since 2021.
Originally, they held an anniversary event for Monosus in the fall, where they would cook and eat their own food. But when a member said, "We want to hold a sports day!", it became an overnight sports day. It will be the fourth time they hold the event in 2024.
I have been involved as a member of the sports day committee since 2022, and I will tell you about some of the things that I like most about the sports day later, but perhaps my favorite part is looking at the photos after it's all over.
Even though I thought I was seeing the overall picture of what was going on in the rush, I could only find out how each person spent their time through the stories I heard later and through photos and footage.
When I look at the photos, I feel relieved and think, "It looks like it was fun this year too."
Maki Yamada and the Sports Day
Once the sports day is over for that year and you have been able to jot down some points for reflection, you can put your feelings about it aside for the time being until you start making serious preparations for the next one.
However, there is one project that I have been in charge of since I first became a member of the Sports Day Committee. Among those projects, there is one important one-day job that I cannot miss, and it happens almost at the same time as the Sports Day every year. From the day the Sports Day ends, I pray that the project will not overlap with the Sports Day the following year. This is the first mindset I have for the next event, and is the most important thing for me as a member of the Sports Day Committee, Yamada Maki.
I remember this prayer and repeat it every few months.
When I was writing this article, I was asked, "Why do you serve on the sports day committee every year?"
Simply put, "Because I want to do it. Because it's fun." The clients are different, the things I offer are different, and I use different brains and muscles, so I find it fresh and fun.
I think I was talking about sports day from the very first interview before I joined Monosus. In fact, I was looking for an event company to organize sports days. The fact that they have sports days may have been one of the reasons I joined the company.
Looking back, the first thing I proposed to the president of the company I used to work for was, "Let's have a sports day." I wasn't prepared, so the idea never really got going.
Also, when I was in junior high and high school, a friend of mine used to say to me, "For Maki, the sports day is the shining day of the year."
I guess he's the type of person who can't stay away from sports day.
I never liked running because it was tiring, but sports day is an exception. For some reason, just the thought of sports day gets me excited, and I feel like I want to do my best. I was a girl who had tears and laughter during sports days in junior high and high school. Maybe she just chose the best way to say it was the day when my emotions were the loudest.
If we focus on me and the sports day, it would look something like this.
What changes and what doesn't
I feel that there are some things that change and some that remain the same at Monosus Sports Day.
At one sports day, our then president, Mr. Hayashi, said the following.
"It would be nice if we could make this sports day a tradition."
I think it would be wonderful if things were to turn out that way.
It feels like an honor to be able to witness the beginning of this tradition; although this is only the second time I've actually participated, I've been there in my heart since the very beginning.
The traditions are apparently as follows, but Monosas also has many cultures and customs, and sports day is one of them.
Things that have been passed down since ancient times as normative, such as ideas, customs, habits, styles, techniques, and practices, within a certain ethnic group, society, or group. Also, the act of passing them on.
Kotobank "Tradition" https://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%BC%9D%E7%B5%B1-102607
And the fact that it has already been held four times is an unchanging fact and something to be happy about.
At the same time, things are constantly changing.
Of course, we continue to improve the members who take part in the sports day, the composition of the executive committee, the content of the events at the actual sports day, and the meals served each year.
For example, the president has changed from Hayashi to Manabe, and as I write this article, Okubo, who was at the forefront of leading the sports day, has graduated from Monosus.
Looking at it this way, there are surely more things that continue to change than those that remain the same. The environment and circumstances of the people involved continue to change, but if the traditions themselves become rigid as a form, it will no longer fit the people involved. Even if it is a new tradition, I feel that the fact that it is constantly changing is the way of a good organization. And I think that is why we will surely continue holding sports day in 2025.
This is why I can't quit Monosus Sports Day
I'd like to introduce some of the highlights of this year's (and again this year's) Monosus Sports Day, which I think are what make it so great.
Adults are more serious than children.
Look at that serious expression.
This Monosus member participated with his family, and there is a video of this scene.
Then, I noticed that the child's feet were floating in places. It's amazing how serious he was, even willing to leave his child behind.
There are adults who are betting on this sport.
The man pulling the rope at the front is our executive chef.
At the sports day, he is involved in all the meals and is supposed to be very busy, but he always takes part in the tug-of-war, no matter what.
The theory that people who say "I'm fine just watching" are the ones who are having the most fun
Even if you say, "No, no, I'm done," it doesn't matter if you have a plate half-eaten or a beer half-drunk. There are times when we have to run.
It takes off with great force.
When the situation arises, it's impossible to suppress the desire to win.
I think it's great that he expressed those feelings from the beginning.
Children looking happy
What a thing to say.
They're carrying Hayashi-san on a cart. It seems like something we adults would never be able to do, but the kids and Hayashi-san both look very satisfied with their smiles, so it's probably no problem.
What's more, no matter where you take a photo of the kids at the sports day, they all look like they're having fun with big smiles on their faces. This is true not only during the competition, but also during meals, breaks, and even when they go to sleep at night, so I admire that.
Before that, children are welcome to attend our sports days.
In 2024, in addition to the children of Monosus members, our business partners also brought their children to participate.
Full stomach rice
One thing that remains the same every year is food. The menu changes, but there are plenty of meals that will bring a smile to everyone's face.
This year's lunch menu looked like this: Of course, there are plenty of drinks available, both soft and alcoholic.
・Onigiri (fried rice/salmon)
・Fried noodles ・Sirloin steak / Chicken steak ・Bulgogi ・Oden
A video that will always remind you of that time
This year, Monosus designer Taira Kawarazaki produced a video for us.
This time, we used an action camera to capture not only Kawarazaki's perspective, but also the cooperation of many participants in filming.
Photos taken by the members also appear in the video.
Thank you very much, Taira-san, and everyone who helped!
Mr. Kawarazaki explains the theme. (Quote below)
The theme is "Let's create and run together again next year."
Monosus has been running for 20 years, gradually changing its shape and members, industry, etc.
Although the members live in different places and have different work styles, they created the project with the hope that they would continue to work together again next year and run energetically through to the next sports day.
Please take a look!!
I'm sure 2025 will be another great sports day!
What I want to say is that one of the members running the sports day is Maki Yamada, who has this kind of enthusiasm. I'm sure we'll be able to put on another great sports day in 2025.
In my opinion, participating in an athletic meet does not simply mean taking part in a competition.
Eat, laugh out loud and cheer, take pictures, talk to people you don't know very well, play around, prepare, or clean up. You can drink or even have your fortune read. It's all part of the sports day. You can do it all, or just one. There must be lots of ways to enjoy it in your own way.
Whether you are a Monosus member who has participated before, a Monosus member who has not yet participated, an external partner, or a trading company, if you receive an invitation to the sports day, we would appreciate it if you would consider participating positively.
Now let's finally pray.
Everyone please join us.
I hope that we will be able to celebrate Sports Day in good health in 2025.
And I hope I can attend the full schedule.
YAMADA Maki