We hope that you will become interested in the charms of Setouchi and workation, and have been delivering reports on our experiences in Setouchi for each season, spring, summer and autumn!
In the final summary article, we look back on the events that have taken place so far, receive feedback from the Setouchi Triennale secretariat, and share some of the findings from the workation demonstration experiment.
I imagine that many of the people reading this article are interested in "work styles," so I've included information that may be useful for those who are thinking, "Maybe I should give workation a try..." Also, I hope that even those who aren't particularly interested in workcation will think about the "work styles" of the future through this article.
[Recap so far]
First of all, why is ITOKI participating in the Setouchi Triennale 2022?
Did you become a partner company?
The background to this is that we have had previous business relationships with companies involved in the Setouchi Triennale, such as Benesse Corporation, with whom we worked in the autumn session, and the Fukutake Foundation. In the midst of all this, ITOKI's mission statement is "We Design Tomorrow. We Design WORK-Style." and our efforts to tackle new ways of working, such as workcation, as well as our activities as a company called Art Place, where we hold art exhibitions in offices, resonated with us and led us to contact them.
Thus, ITOKI became a partner company and, wanting to be of some help in revitalizing the Setouchi region, came up with plans for each event and sent out reports. Here, I would like to take a moment to look back on each event!
▲The mobile office car is being handed over before the opening!
Spring session
How are the Setouchi Triennale staff using the mobile office car? What is it like to use a car customized for work? We interviewed staff on Shodoshima to find out more.
ITOKI's special mobile office car! Heading to the Setouchi Triennale 2022 (Spring session)
Summer session
On the first day, I participated in a volunteer group called "Koebi-tai" for the first time on Megijima and Shodoshima. On the second day, I did some workcation on Ogijima.
ITOKI employees experience the "Koebi-tai"! "Setouchi Triennale 2022" <Summer session> Report Part 1
Workcation on Ogijima Island in the Seto Inland Sea! Part 2 of the report on the Setouchi Triennale 2022 (Summer session)
Autumn session
11 people thoroughly enjoyed Naoshima, Inujima, and Teshima. Experience workcation while appreciating authentic art and enjoying the nature of the islands.
2 nights and 3 days “Art x Nature x Workation” trip! “Setouchi Triennale 2022” <Autumn session>
What was it that caught your eye?
Spring, summer and autumn are always very intense, and looking back at the photos I took brings back memories and makes me yearn to visit Setouchi again. Setouchi has fascinating islands, art, mountains and the sea... I realized again through my many visits that it would be difficult to find a region with all these conditions.
Message from the Setouchi Triennale Secretariat
Here we would like to introduce some of the feedback we received from the secretariat staff who made good use of the mobile office cars during the event.
"The back seat was set up for desk work and was very comfortable."
"It has a power outlet and is perfect for desk work. The color and internal specifications are unusual, so many people were interested. People often took photos of it while traveling or waiting at traffic lights!"
"It was also well received by the Koebi-tai, who used it for lunch."
"During the trip, everyone except the driver was often sitting in their seats and doing mobile work using their laptops. The space was larger than in a passenger car, so it was comfortable to do mobile work while traveling."
It was a great honor to be able to support all of you in your busy work, even if only a little. Some of you even became interested in workation!
▲Mobile office car and the Setouchi Triennale Executive Committee staff
What we learned from the autumn workcation experiment
In addition to the 11 people introduced in the article, two other groups also participated in the Setouchi workcation during the autumn session. A survey was conducted on a total of 24 workcation participants, and the results of the survey will be released in a press release soon. Please take a look at this if you are interested.
This pilot study found that workcation in the Setouchi region had a positive effect on work and well-being that continued for more than four weeks. It is believed to have a particularly positive effect on creative thinking. This is surely an effect that can only be achieved in the Setouchi region, where beautiful islands, majestic nature, and magnificent art come together.
I would recommend workation in the Setouchi area not only to creative workers, but also to anyone looking to start something new or come up with ideas!
How to give workcation a try...
From the results of the demonstration experiment, you can see that workcation has many Advantage. However, as we have mentioned in other articles, it is true that there are challenges and ingenuity required. Some people may find it difficult to try it right away due to issues such as company systems and IT environments.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, we didn't have much flexibility in where we worked, but that has changed dramatically over the past few years as the world has changed. And there have been changes to ITOKI's system as well. This may be helpful for companies considering workation in the future. We would like to introduce it to you.
There was already a telework system in place, but it was revised in July 2022. The content of the revision is that teleworking can now be done not only from home as in the past, but also at a location prepared and selected by the employee, called "my place." This means that lodging and workcation facilities at travel destinations and mobile office cars are now also eligible as work locations.
For more information, please see this press release.
ITOKI's workcation system has only just been established, so if you are seriously considering it, we recommend that you take a look at the Japan Tourism Agency's website, which provides detailed information on workation cases and the process of introducing in-house systems.
▲And on to the next destination
In this era of 100-year life spans, even if you feel that workcation is out of the question in your current job, you may find yourself in a different job in a few years. At such times, you may have the opportunity to think about what kind of work style suits you best.
I believe that the best way to work varies from person to person depending on their living environment and the nature of their work. That is why at Itoki, we hope to introduce "options for working styles" by trying out various working styles. By casting aside the fixed idea that working styles cannot be changed, and thinking about and tuning the working style that fits you now, I believe you can enrich your life.
After the closing ceremony, the future development of the mobile office car
▲Setouchi Triennale 2022 Closing Ceremony
With the Setouchi Triennale 2022 coming to an end, what on earth will become of the mobile office car? As we introduced in an article about the spring session, this mobile office car was built with funds raised through an internal crowdfunding system.
Therefore, going forward, each invested department will take turns using the facility. It may not be long before we are able to show you what kind of workation will take place in what locations, and what it will be like!
In conclusion
The Setouchi Triennale 2022 has come to a close, but the islands of Setouchi continue to shine today and tomorrow! There are permanent museums and artworks, so as fans of Setouchi, we would be delighted if you would visit as a workcation or travel destination.
▲Highlights of the Setouchi Triennale 2022!
(Top left photo) Noe Aoki "Ball of the Sky / Kankakei" Photo: keizo kioku @ Kankakei, Shodoshima
(Bottom right) "The Beginning of Time" by Keizo Miyake @ Shodoshima
You will want to share the experiences and insights you gain by actually visiting the site with the important people around you. I would like to end this article on the "Setouchi Triennale 2022 x ITOKI Final" with the hope that this wonderful cycle will continue.
We will continue to think, try and communicate our mission of We Design Tomorrow. We Design WORK-Style." so that we can bring you new discoveries!
Until the end Thank you for reading.
[Introducing] MOOW, the mobile office car
Although it is different from the specifications that will be loaned out to the Setouchi Triennale, the mobile office car MOOW, which was produced in collaboration with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in April, is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. dealerships within this fiscal year.
