Hello, I'm Kurihara, the operations team leader.
Last year, I spent six months in Kamiyama Town as the principal of Kamiyama Monosasu Juku, and at the same time, I was involved in opening the Kamiyama Satellite Office (hereinafter referred to as the Satellite).
I was able to be involved in many different things between Kamiyama ←→ me ←→ the company (Monosus), and I decided to stay and continue working in Kamiyama after the school closed.
The satellite where I would be working was completed in November, but it had not yet officially started operating as an office.
The new year has begun, and from January the operations team I belong to will officially start operating at the satellite. We are currently busy purchasing equipment, completing various procedures, and setting up the environment, but we have also started working on website operations .
I will not be the only one working here; four people who graduated from Kamiyama Monosasu Juku in December last year will be working with me as new colleagues on the operations team.
In addition, two members who were based in Yoyogi also joined us, and the Kamiyama operations team consisted of a total of seven people.
Today I would like to give you a brief introduction to what the satellite is like and introduce our new members who will be working with us from January.
I work in a place like this.
The satellite office consists of two row buildings: an office building and an accommodation building.
The "Office Building" is, as its name suggests, a place to work, and the "Accommodation Building" (including some conference rooms) is a place where people who come from Tokyo for satellite work can stay. It is conveniently located just a 5-second walk from the workplace.
On the left is the office building. Next to it is the accommodation building, with the lady's house next door.
Inside the office building.
Office building at night.
Night accommodation.
The location is at "Jinryou" on Ginza Street in Kamiyama Town (I'm just calling it that), right in front of the "Yoriiza" temple*1. It is surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, making it a location that is pleasing to the eyes.
*1 The Yoriiza Theater, built towards the end of the Taisho period, hosted plays, Joruri puppet theatre, and films until the mid-1950s. The advertising signs for businesses and other businesses painted all over the ceiling give a glimpse into the town's appearance at the time. From the Kamiyama Town website
The view from the second floor of the office building. Yoriiza is in the center of the photo. On the left is our neighbor, Engawa Co., Ltd.
Inside the Yoriza seat.
Introducing our new members
◎ Name: Ryohei Asada
◎Birthplace: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
◎What would you like to be called?
Morning Call
◎Why did you join Monosasu Juku?
First, about life in the countryside and how to interact with the people around you.
I want to live my life having conversations with myself one thing at a time.
I felt that Kamiyama was the place where I could do these things naturally, so I decided to move to Kamiyama.
Also, what President Hayashi said was, "Work with people who you want to live with."
During the Monosasu Juku period, I actually interacted with the Monosasu people,
The main reason was that I personally felt that I wanted to work with them.
◎How do you feel after two weeks on the job?
I feel a renewed sense of freshness about working in Kamiyama.
Every day feels very relaxed.
It's not that the work itself is relaxed; an old lady from the neighborhood might drop in to visit while you're at work, and the atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable.
During your lunch break, you can go for a walk to the river and enjoy the sunset.
Regarding work, I am already working hard on coding,
I have a lot of support from those around me, and I learn a lot every day, so it's a lot of fun.
◎What I want to do in the future after joining Monosasu:
What can only be achieved at the Kamiyama Satellite Office?
What on earth is that?
I would like to think about this and try new things.
◎ Future ambitions:
In everything I do, I want to make it my own and think about how I can enjoy it.
And then, love yourself more.
◎How is life in Kamiyama?
We've been plagued by snow this year.
◎What is your recommended way to spend your holidays?
The place where I live now is already a great spot with a spectacular view, so in the morning I can enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee while looking at the view and get some work done.
◎What do you want most right now?
Scrap materials.
I've also finally got my hands on a welding machine, so I'd like to use the scrap materials to create all sorts of things.
A word from former school principal Kurihara: Mr. DIY from Kamiyama Satellite!
He loves making things so much that he brought a large set of tools from his parents' home.
They also plan to make furniture in the future, so I would love to see them make furniture for the satellite locations as well.
He has a broad perspective when it comes to his work, but he is also curious about everything, and this attitude may be the reason why he is so popular with so many people that he has been nicknamed the "Old Man Killer." It was probably due to his great achievement that on the third day of the opening of Kamiyama Monosasu Juku, he was able to find a house where former students still live together.
I currently live in an area called "Tonomiya" which is at a high altitude, and on cold days the roads freeze over, so there are days when I have to go to work without being able to get down the mountain (laughs).
◎ Name: Sawada Haruna
◎Birthplace: Kochi Prefecture
◎What would you like to be called?
Sawada Karu
◎Why did you join Monosasu Juku?
After working at my previous job, I started to feel like I wanted to gain more knowledge about the web.
I was attracted to the job posting because it focused not only on coding but also on website operation.
◎How do you feel after two weeks on the job?
There are still two weeks to go! It feels like there is still a long way to go.
Every time I have the opportunity to hang out, I hope to meet people from the headquarters.
◎What I want to do in the future after joining Monosasu:
We hope to be able to do work and work in a way that is only possible at Monosus, located in Kamiyama, Shikoku.
◎ Future ambitions:
I want to broaden my horizons in both work and life.
I will endeavour to try and do everything I can and want to do with my own hands.
◎How is life in Kamiyama?
Even as we struggle to survive each day, at the mercy of the changing seasons, I feel like I am being kept alive by the wisdom I receive, such as "This is how you do it," and the boar meat, vegetables, fruit, and firewood I am given, which I am told "Use this."
◎What is your recommended way to spend your holidays?
On Sunday morning, I went to the wholesale district for a surprise market! I bought everything I needed to make my life more comfortable.
A full course meal that includes a bath at the public bath and then a night out
◎What do you want most right now?
Just turn the tap and hot water comes out of the bath. I'm currently living in a wood-fired bath!
A word from Kurihara, former principal of Kamiyama Monosasu Juku, the only female member.
In order to live in a wood-fired bath, many people have provided us with firewood. It is thanks to all of you that she is able to take a bath. Thank you very much.
Although she lives this kind of life, her tenacity is outstanding. She is the type who faces things head on and thinks things through until she is satisfied. That attitude is more wonderful than anything else. We should all learn from her.
Take as much time as you can and think everything through to the end.
I'd like to start by acquiring a wide range of web skills, and I think that a director position might be suited to me in the future.
◎ Name: Hikaru Sato
Hometown: Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture
◎What would you like to be called?
Anything is fine as long as you call me by it in a friendly way.
◎Why did you join Monosasu Juku?
I was looking to learn web technology, and when I found the job posting I was intrigued. I thought it would be a good opportunity to think about how I live and work, so I applied.
◎How do you feel after two weeks on the job?
Just completing the instructions I've been given is all I can handle. I want to take my time to learn each and every job.
◎What I want to do in the future after joining Monosasu:
I want to study and absorb everything so that I can do the kind of work that is unique to me.
◎ Future ambitions:
Things are as they are. I want to work hard every day to become someone who can have a positive influence on those around me.
◎How is life in Kamiyama?
I am having a fun and fulfilling life. The only thing I can't stand is the cold winter mornings.
◎What is your recommended way to spend your holidays?
I wake up in the morning, laze around, go to the hot springs after 10 o'clock, and go out in the afternoon.
◎What do you want most right now?
A smartphone. The one I have now is a flip phone, and it's starting to become inconvenient.
A word from former principal Kurihara: Kamiyama's youngest member.
He hails from Niigata and has a taciturn appearance reminiscent of a man from a snowy country. However, once he starts talking, he provides one interesting topic after another.
A friendly, innocent young man.
He's the type of person who gets lost in his thoughts, so if you see him out and about in town, please give him a listen.
There are a mountain of things to learn from now on, but I want you to make each one your own.
Recently, my coding skills have improved remarkably. Is it because I have a good sense of it? Is it my calling?
First of all, I want you to improve your coding skills.
Great expectations for the future.
◎Name: Murapi
◎Birthplace: Matagi village
◎What would you like to be called?
Murasan
◎Why did you join Monosasu Juku?
I wanted to live close to nature,
Because I felt that I wanted to live as much as possible on my own.
◎How do you feel after two weeks on the job?
I'm amazed at the incredible concentration of my two seniors.
My immediate goal is to maintain my focus on coding.
I'm intrigued by the beat the person sitting next to me is playing while coding.
◎What I want to do in the future after joining Monosasu:
The floors in the Kamiyama office get cold, so we need to think carefully about how to deal with the cold.
◎ Future ambitions:
CODING! CODING! CODING! & DIY!
◎How is life in Kamiyama?
As always, the natural feel is amazing.
It's a boar!
◎What is your recommended way to spend your holidays?
Looking for scrap materials.
◎What do you want most right now?
A vessel of the heart that doesn't care about the beat.
Just getting the beat in your head
Because it breaks concentration.
A word from former principal Kurihara: Due to the Beat incident, which may cause a rift in our relationship going forward, I have refrained from sharing any information that could identify him (lol). Who is the member that blends in the most with Kamiyama? No, he is the member that blends in the most with nature.
He has many hobbies, and actively pursues what he wants to do, whether it be in the mountains, rivers, or the sea, while living his daily life with the theme of "living on his own terms."
He is a multi-player and can flexibly respond to any situation. He is especially skilled in planning and creativity, and is full of interesting ideas.
We have decided to start website operations here in Kamiyama Town together with a team of truly unique individuals.
Just like at Kamiyama Monosasu Juku, I hope that each member will naturally use their strengths, which will become their role, and we will be able to help each other but not become too dependent on each other, creating a well-balanced team.
There are still many aspects of the office that are not yet ready, but we would like to gradually improve the environment.
I also hope to enjoy Kamiyama Town in many ways, not just work.
We hope to continue to bring you updates on the Monosus Kamiyama satellite office.
KURIHARA Tsutomu