Hello, this is Dojo from the Creative Department.
Just one week ago, on October 21st, we went on a company trip to Yakushima for three days and two nights.
Every year, Monosus' company trips are filled with some kind of mishap, but this year's Yakushima trip is probably the only one that will ever be so full of mishaps.
This time, we bring you the first instalment of the Monosus employee travelogue, full of laughs and hardships.
It was the day before I left for Yakushima.
It's September 1st, and with our company trip just the next day, I'm already feeling excited about the trip.
I look at the weather forecast for the Yakushima region, wondering what I should bring and what I should wear.
And then...an ominous white swirl appeared on the weather chart.
Yes, a typhoon has unexpectedly occurred.
Yahoo! Weather forecast as of September 1st. The typhoon was predicted to hit Yakushima while we were there.
Is it possible for something like that to happen so suddenly, even though it was just the day before?
On the day before that, on August 31st, the members who were going on the company trip got together and did a shopping tour at mountain climbing equipment stores, and at a drinking party to cheer them up, we were just talking about how last year's company trip was postponed due to a typhoon, which was a pain, but it seems like it's okay this year.
Is it really true that Monosus' company trip has been postponed due to typhoons for two years in a row ( see last year's company trip report for details )? Is there something cursed about the trip?
As a member of last year's company trip committee and also having to deal with a postponement due to a typhoon, I feel very sorry for the members of this year's company trip committee.
The leader of the company trip committee, Tatsuta, also officially informed us of the postponement, leaving us disheartened.
A cancellation message from Tatsuta was sent to the company-wide Chatwork account right at work that day.
It must have been extremely difficult to deal with cancellations, postponements, and other procedures such as making second reservations.
This time! The long-awaited company trip begins
The rescheduled date was October 21. Since we couldn't all get reservations on the same flight that day, we decided to split into two groups (one for an early morning departure and one for a later departure).
The meeting time for the early morning departure group is 5:55am.
The company trip committee members had been anxious for some time that some members would be late, but they breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived safely, despite the worry that had been caused by the courtyard (who had a previous offense on a company trip two years ago) and by myself, who had been working until the last train the previous day.
I haven't slept a wink and I'm in a bad mood
...But then I realized there weren't enough people.
Just as he was thinking this, Hatakeyama, a member of the company trip committee, received a call from Murakami, who was completely off his radar, saying that he would be absent due to poor health.
Apparently, he had been working late the previous day in an attempt to get some work done before the company trip.
I had previously heard him say that he was thinking of buying hiking boots for the company trip, so I was really looking forward to it, so I'm really disappointed.
Arriving in the rain on Yakushima
Walking distance from the plane to the airport terminal
After changing planes and taking my first propeller plane of my life, I finally arrived at Yakushima.
What greeted me was rain, just as I expected. I had expected it to be a constant drizzle, but I was a little frightened by the downpour, which was more intense than I had expected.
On the first day of the trip, we have free time until the evening banquet, so a group of volunteers, mainly from the mountaineering club, head to Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, the setting for the forest in Princess Mononoke.
According to the lady at the rental car shop, there is a possibility that the rain may have caused the river on the route to Shiratani Unsuikyo to flood, making it impossible to cross, which worried me a bit.
The lady at the rental car company who kindly guided us along the way. She gave us several supermarkets when we asked her about them, and even explained their characteristics. She was the one who helped the Monosas team again on the last day with her kindness.
Meeting while looking at the map of Shiratani Unsuikyo
When we arrived at Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge and asked the manager there, he told us we'd somehow be able to get through, so we were relieved and set off towards Taiko Rock.
Heading off to the Spirit Forest in the rain!
Shiratani Unsuikyo is a walking route through a mysterious forest full of moss.
I walk along slowly, my body bathed in negative ions.
On the way to Taiko Rock, we passed through a hole at the base of a Yakusugi cedar tree and enjoyed the slimy Himeshara tree. The moss in Mononoke Forest is more densely grown on the tree branches than I have ever seen before, and it is so lush and cute that I can't stop taking pictures.
Moss Moss Moss
The Kuguri cedar and thrilling river crossings
I'm feeling a bit tired from the climb.
After panting on the final climb, we finally arrived at Taiko Rock.
I love high places, so as soon as we got there I got excited and started running up the rocks.
It was raining so we weren't expecting a great view, but we were able to see the surrounding mountains and rivers better than we expected and enjoy the fantastic scenery in the mist.
Climbing club members feat. Nagai pose at Taiko Rock
After enjoying Taiko Rock, we were getting hungry so we headed to a mountain hut on the route for lunch.
However, it would still take about 30 minutes to reach the mountain hut. As I walked, trying to fight off my hunger, I heard Vice President Nagai say something like Anpanman, "I'm so hungry I can't walk any more."
The lines are a little humorous, but this symptom is clearly a lack of energy. However, Nagai is in trouble because he has no place to rest in the rain, so he has no choice but to stand and stuff his rice balls.
Immediately after eating, he suddenly felt energized, said he was full of energy and began walking powerfully.
I myself have experienced Sharibate, but Nagai's before and after condition was so clear that, although it was inappropriate, I found it a little amusing.
After finishing his rice ball, Nagai suddenly became lighter on his feet and said, "I'm full of energy!"
After that, we had lunch at the hut and then headed to the virgin forest course. The virgin forest course is the first course to flood when it rains, so we were worried about crossing the river, but when we asked a guide nearby, he said it was okay, so we decided to go on under the condition that we would turn back immediately if it became dangerous.
We were worried about the rising river levels, but there were no problems, and we enjoyed a few thrills as we crossed several rivers and made our way along an unpaved route surrounded by moss.
Walking through the primeval forest course, I felt as if I had entered the world of Princess Mononoke, and since there were few other people walking around, I was able to fully enjoy the silence and depth of the forest.
Personally, this was my favorite route out of all the ones we walked on this company trip.
The moss grows thicker and thicker as it penetrates the rocks and tree roots.
I pose with the rain-swollen river behind me.
Mossy virgin forest course I'm pretending to be a Kodama
A Yakushima dinner full of flying fish followed by a drinking party in the room
Finally everyone is together! Looks like fun!
After working up a sweat, all the members of the company trip had dinner at "Sanpo-tei" near the lodging.
It is no exaggeration to say that the menu at Sanpo-tei is full of flying fish, beginning and ending with it.
Stylish dishes that use flying fish generously
The men seemed to be having fun wearing the tastefully patterned jinbei-like clothing provided by the hotel.
Some of the members were meeting each other for the first time at this point, and it finally started to feel like a company trip.
After enjoying a meal at Sanpo-tei, we moved to Room 403 of the hotel to begin the second round.
The members gather in groups of three or five, having gotten ready.
Everyone gathers at the after-party!
Meanwhile, Nagai appeared wearing yellow-green glasses, probably already drunk.
You might think he's trying to be funny, but he's actually completely serious.
Unfortunately, I can't post any photos because Nagai herself said no. I wanted everyone to see how adorable Nagai is.
As we talked, everyone's faces started to turn redder and the conversation got deeper and deeper. Seeing them talk passionately about work and the company, I realized once again that everyone really loves Monosus.
Everyone listens intently to Sakamoto's interesting stories
I wanted to play a Werewolf game with everyone, but my wish was rejected.
I've written about the party from memory, but to be honest, I was pretty drunk and can't really remember what we talked about (lol).
Midnight Snoring Shuffle Case Files
After the banquet, everyone returned to their rooms to sleep in preparation for the next day's trekking through Jomon Cedar or Mononoke Forest, but the next morning, we heard that an incident had occurred in the men's room.
It was approaching 2 a.m., and several members, unable to bear the snoring of their roommate, Mr. Yuchi, decided that if they didn't get enough sleep they would be exhausted the next day, so they moved to another room. However, Mr. Hbata's snoring was so loud in that room that they had to wake up the member in the third room, which was locked, by phone in order to move to another room, resulting in a mass migration.
Meanwhile, one member was unable to join the movement at that time and tried to fall asleep by listening to music with headphones, but this time the music was too loud and he couldn't get any sleep.
The next day, the members who hadn't been able to sleep all had haggard expressions on their faces.
Snoring offenders: Mr. Hbata, 37 (left) and Mr. Yuchi, 38 (right)
Well, this is the end of the first installment, which can be considered the prologue of the company trip.
Next time, I'll report on the main event, the Jomon Sugi trekking, and then share my hectic journey home .
stay tuned!
モノサスアーカイブ