Do you like company trips?
If you look at the Google search keyword field related to "company trip," you'll see the phrase "I don't want to go," and there are people who say they don't really like it.
Reasons for not wanting to go included "work and private life are separate," "having to be considerate of my boss," "feeling like I'm working 24 hours a day," and "not being able to go where I want to go," and I thought, "I get it, I get it..." However, Dojo, a member of the company trip committee, said, "I want to make this a trip that can only be experienced on a company trip."
The destination was Zamami Island, Okinawa Prefecture. There were no fluffy beds at a resort hotel or luxurious meals at a high-end restaurant, but instead, the group enjoyed building their own sleeping quarters in nature and cooking with their own ingredients, a trip full of a DIY feel. In fact, the trip was planned from scratch by the committee members. It was DIY right from the planning stage. This original company trip was the kind of trip that could not be experienced on one's own, where everyone could enjoy the island while communicating with each other. (An interview with the trip committee members will be introduced in tomorrow's "Monosasu-shiki DIY.")
So, what kind of trip was this "trip that can only be experienced on a company trip"?
Here is a report on the 2015 Company Trip to Zamami Island.
Zamami Island Day 1: Friday, October 16th
It's cloudy in Okinawa, there's a typhoon in the Philippines, but the DIY camp has started
The destination of this company trip was the uninhabited island of Amurojima. We planned to camp on Amurojima, which is about a 20-minute ferry ride away from Zamami Island in Okinawa Prefecture. We had planned to depart on June 15, but the trip was postponed due to three consecutive large typhoons that hit Okinawa, which are rare for this time of year.
Weather satellite near Japan on June 15, 2015. Thick clouds hit Okinawa directly.
( tenk,jp Past Weather from June 15, 2015 )
On October 16th, four months later, our second attempt, we were all excited to finally go to the uninhabited island of Amurojima! However, we received news that the ferry to Amurojima had been cancelled due to a typhoon in the Philippines. Instead, we decided to camp at Ama Beach on Zamami Island. It was a bit disappointing that we couldn't go to the uninhabited island, but camping on Zamami Island seemed like plenty of fun! So we boarded the ferry.
We arrived in Naha the day before and boarded the ferry to Zamami Island at 10am.
Ticket from Tomari Port in Naha to Zamami Port.
The ocean view was so pleasant that we left our cabin and spent time on the deck in the hot sunshine.
Some employees sat cross-legged on pillars offering a good view.
Employees enjoy sunbathing and the view to the island while feeling the sea breeze.
After about a two-hour boat trip, we arrived at Zamami Port.
2:00 PM
We took a bus from Zamami Port and arrived at the campsite at Ama Beach. Camping began.
First, we formed teams of 2-3 people and set up tents.
To be honest, I have never pitched a tent before. It was my first time to stay in a tent. I was excited to try it out and wonder what it would be like to sleep outside.
First, each team was given two small bags like these.
I tried pitching a tent and realized it was surprisingly difficult.
When I opened the tent bag I was given, I found similar synthetic fiber fabric, poles, and lots of nails. I had no idea how to assemble it...
I don't really understand the instructions. I don't even feel like looking at them.
I left it to my teammate Furuhata to decipher the instructions (sorry!), and I was in charge of scouting how the other teams did it. We set up the tent through trial and error, going this way and that.
We set up tents with the help of members who we don't usually work with.
Furuhat, from the same team, pushes the pole into the frame.
After about an hour, the tent was finally set up.
Some employees even set up clotheslines near their tents.
Your room suddenly appears in the outdoors. It's a strange sensation, as if your private space has been extended outdoors.
4:00 PM
After setting up, you will have free time until dinner.
You can relax in the tent, help prepare the BBQ, or play in the sea.
I headed out to Ama Beach, where you'll find pure white sand and turquoise blue water.
When I entered the sea, I saw many coral reefs moving around. That day, I even saw a large sea turtle, which made me feel auspicious.
A majestic sea turtle moving slowly and steadily.
Employees are engrossed in throwing stones into the sea.
Meanwhile, we're preparing for the BBQ. Everyone is busy moving logs to make benches, making a fire with charcoal, setting up the lights, etc.
We carried logs and built a bench for the barbecue.
Starting a fire for the barbecue.
We brought all the ingredients that we bought ourselves at the market in Naha. The cooks were busy cutting and grilling.
Our CEO, Hayashi, is incredibly motivated when it comes to grilling meat .
Harazawa was cutting ingredients throughout the day.
While preparations for the barbecue were underway, we took a short break on benches and chairs made from logs.
At around 6:00 PM , as the sun was about to set, a toast was raised. At the same time, the gong sounded to signal the start of the BBQ. The smell of sizzling meat was already filling the air, and everyone's stomachs were rumbling.
As expected, food we made ourselves tastes better! The BBQ continued well into the night.
At night, the beach is pitch black and filled with stars. Some employees are fascinated with taking photos of the stars.
At night, we sleep in our sleeping bags in our own tents.
One romantic employee wanted to watch the stars until he fell asleep, so he curled up like a bagworm on a blue tarp outside and slept.
Four employees (three men and one woman) sleep while gazing at the stars.
Zamami Island Day 2: Friday, October 16th
Sea and coral,
Goodbye Comes Suddenly
8:30AM
On the second morning, as soon as we got up, we started taking down the tents. Even though we had drunk too much last night, there was no time to doze off. We started dismantling the tent frames and banners.
It was a little sad to have to take down the tent that we had worked so hard to set up... I worked with that feeling of melancholy.
We returned all the tents to the campsite reception and thought we were done! But then we found out that 18 nails were missing from the tents?! Each of us searched around our feet, but we could only find 2-3, and we were stuck. So we came up with a strategy of lining up in a line and searching around our feet as we moved forward. We thought that this would allow us to thoroughly search the area where the tents were set up, so we banded together and used a human wave tactic. From the outside, it was a strange sight to see such a group of people in the morning.
9:45AM
After that, we moved to a guesthouse near the port. The group that was going to try scuba diving left their luggage and headed straight to the port.
On our second day on Zamami Island, we stayed at Pension House Zamami.
Here too, everything was a first for me. I dived into the ocean wearing everything I had never worn before: a wetsuit, snorkel, fins.
And under the sea is a new world of coral! It's like the Palace of the Dragon King!
I was so captivated by the fantastic scenery that I even forgot about the unfamiliar breathing techniques while snorkeling.
4:20 PM
The scuba team is about to return to the port. Meanwhile, Dojo, a member of the travel committee, is at the port.
Did he come all the way there just to greet them?
Dojo waits for the scuba team on his bicycle.
When he sees the boat, Dojo waves to them.
Oh, did they come all the way out to greet me? It seemed like such a scene, but the first thing she said was,
"Mr. Miyagawa, are you there?!"
He looks desperate somehow.
Dojo is desperate but never gets off his bike. Miyagawa is dumbfounded. (Black T-shirt in the middle )
"Can we hurry and catch the ferry back now?"
Before his hair, wet from the seawater, had even dried, Miyagawa was left dumbfounded, wondering what was going on.
"Tomorrow's high-speed ferry to Naha has been canceled due to bad weather! We can't get back to Thailand unless we leave here on the last ferry today! That ferry leaves in 20 minutes!!"
Miyagawa is currently working at Monosus Thailand. He was supposed to be able to catch the return flight to Thailand by catching the high-speed ferry tomorrow morning, but the flight was canceled due to high waves.
Dojo, a member of the travel committee, was on the sea and unable to reach Miyagawa by phone, so he felt a sense of mission to get the news out to him as soon as possible, and so he waited anxiously at the port.
Miyagawa has an important meeting the day after tomorrow, so he has to fly back tomorrow as planned. With only one day left of the company trip to spend with everyone, he rushes back to the inn and just makes it to the ferry in time.
Miyagawa quickly packed his bags and left the guesthouse. I was sad to say goodbye so abruptly.
Saito and Dojo wave to the ferry carrying Miyagawa from Kaminohama Observatory.
7:00 PM
In the evening, we all went to a bar where locals gather. We enjoyed island cuisine, shared what we had experienced yesterday and today, and showed off some of our talents. It was a fun gathering.
We toasted at Marumiya, a local izakaya.
The illuminated Orion draft beer sign features the excellent copy, "This deliciousness is within the factory limits."
Zamami Island Day 3: Sunday, October 17th
Island hopping
On the last day, we had free time until late afternoon. During the last few hours on Zamami Island, we toured the islands and spent time relaxing by the sea.
Running with the sunrise...
Relaxing on the beach...
Going on a hike...
A hiking scene in Murakami, looking stylish with a towel wrapped around his head.
I'll go around the island by bicycle.
"This is the first time I've had so much fun cycling!" Saito said happily.
Meanwhile, a team also appeared that went on a touring tour around the island.
The three of them get ready to ride off on their bikes.
Touring is fun with everyone.
Many people visited the observation deck that offers a panoramic view of the island.
The cape of Unajinosachi Observatory.
The three climb up to Takatsukiyama Observation Deck.
A dojo where you can enjoy the breeze at Unajinosachi Observatory.
One of the great things about Zamami Island is that there are so many ways to have fun. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the island to the fullest, devising their own way to spend their remaining time.
A company trip to Zamami Island and other places rich in nature where we spent time with the members we usually work with. Camping, scuba diving, island hopping, local izakaya... At night, we all went out on bikes to the beach to watch the stars.
Although I'm an adult, it was an exciting trip that made me feel like a child again.
And as Dojo, a member of the trip committee, said, perhaps the fun was something that could only be experienced by everyone together.
I will be sharing in detail in tomorrow's "Monosasu Style DIY" post about the ingenuity (and hardship) of the travel committee who planned and executed this trip. Until next time!
NAKANIWA Keiko