The Tokyo head office of Kanematsu Corporation (hereinafter "Kanematsu") won the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the highest award given to only one out of 132 entries, at the 36th Nikkei New Office Awards, jointly sponsored by Nikkei Inc. and the New Office Promotion Association (NOPA).
The award-winning Tokyo head office in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, is a new office relocated from Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, on November 21, 2022, for the first time in about 30 years. Based on the vision of "building a workplace* that will continue to support Kanematsu's growth looking ahead 30 years," Kanematsu aimed to create a workplace that fosters diversity and autonomy. Its purpose is to enable each employee to continue to be who they want to be, thereby leading to new corporate value and business creation. *A place for work that generates intellectual production, not limited to the office
*A place for work that generates intellectual production, not limited to the office
Factors contributing to the award
- An office that is full of energy and makes employees want to come all the way to the office, which goes against the mainstream trend of working from home. The fact that each employee chooses their place to work according to their purpose and works in such a way that they can find value in coming to the office.
- The fact that it is felt throughout the office that Kanematsu is committed to creating a space that promotes the activation of communication and the coexistence of relaxation and concentration, and actually fulfills this purpose.
- The fact that young employees worked together to create the office through a process of trial and error. The strong attachment to the office can be felt.
Left: Office relocation staff Center: Chairman Tanigawa Right: Senior Executive Officer Yamashina
Features of the office
Based on the idea that "places make people," Kanematsu aimed at a workplace that utilizes ABW (Activity Based Working) and ICT (Information and Communication Technology).
ABW is a way of working that allows employees to freely choose where to work according to the nature of their work, without being restricted by time or location. By deciding where to work according to one's mood and the nature of one's work, one can not only improve work efficiency, but also develop a proactive attitude toward work. Aiming to create an "office that makes employees want to come all the way to work," Kanematsu has created various types of workspaces to suit the activities of individual employees, including focus booths suited for solitary contemplation, seats around a playful fireplace, and a "BASE CAMP" area can be exclusively used for group work for a certain period of time.
Regarding ICT, various IT tools, such as face recognition systems and security cabinets, have been introduced to improve operational efficiency and enhance security. For example, a web conferencing system installed in the conference room has enabled a speedy and smooth start of a web conference at the touch of a button. Large-screen monitors and audio equipment allow for lively exchanges of opinions without feeling physical distance from the other party, even during web conferencing. This makes communication easier.
In addition, the workplace has many features , such as a cafe and internal stairwell, that encourage natural conversations and incidental interactions that emerge from the casual, at-home atmosphere. This facilitates cross-organizational communication, brings vitality to the entire office, and at the same time, innovation creation is expected through synergy.
Kanematsu has identified "creating an environment that enables diverse work styles " as one of its key issues (Materiality). Kanematsu also makes other efforts to evolve its employees' work styles to be more flexible and optimal, such as introducing telework rules and revising the dress code. Kanematsu will continue to strive to improve productivity and develop an environment that encourages new value creation.
New office introduction
【Cafe "Cafe The Perch" -Active place that brings lively collaboration-】
Named "PERCH" for a place to take a breakAs a center for interacting, this is a place where people from all departments and positions gather. During the day, it can be used as a workspace in addition to serving meals for cafe and lunch, and there is also bar time in the evening. We also work on other efforts to increase employee engagement by using coffee beans traded by Kanematsu as well as using meat we imported as an ingredient for lunch. This multi-purpose space hosts a variety of events during the day and night, including meetings to exchange opinions with group companies, lectures by invited outside speakers, and piano and violin concerts performed by executives.
【Communication foyer -A hub where people and information come and go-】
With an internal stairwell, which gently connects to the office area, as a center, the communication foyer is arranged with sofas and other free spaces around the stairwell. The stairwell connecting the upper and lower two floors from the inside is where people always come and go and is one feature that creates accidental encounters. It is hoped that it will encourage communication among employees from various departments and lead to unexpected collaborations.
【Library area -Quiet area for learning and concentration-】
A quiet area that has a calm atmosphere isolated from the surrounding area, where talking and chatting are prohibited. Employees can learn information necessary for work or study for qualifications outside of working hours, concentrating on their activities while feeling relaxed in this quiet atmosphere.
【Presentation area -Bringing moderate stimulation to the surroundings in an open space-～】
The presentation area is located at the back of the office area and can be used in an open and friendly atmosphere. By deliberately leaving the room without walls, the liveliness of presentations and discussions is conveyed to those around, providing just the right amount of stimulation. The room's openness also provides an opportunity for people to learn about and become interested in the work of other departments, encouraging the creation of new synergies.
[Contacts]
Public & Investor Relations Section, Kanematsu Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6747-5000
https://www.kanematsu.co.jp/en/inquiry/