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President Ueda's way of showing affection to employees: supporting happiness in life through the "Liberal Arts System"
There are various systems in the company, each with its own purpose. However, no matter how much thought is put into establishing the systems, the reality is that it is difficult to get all employees to empathize with all of them. In fact, one of these systems is the liberal arts system. It has been well received by people outside the company, who call it "wonderful," but there are mixed reactions from employees who do not have the habit of reading or who dislike reading. President Ueda says that such reactions were expected, so what is his belief in continuing the liberal arts system?
This time, Grace Communications Co., Ltd., which is indebted to us for the production of the in-house newsletter, interviewed us for the in-house newsletter project, and we will release the whole story on KAKERUBA. The in-house newsletter of this project and the book recommended by President Ueda are also introduced, so please read to the end.
Text: Mei Ogata
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PROIFILE
- Keiji Ueda
- President ASNOVA Co., Ltd. In December 2013, Nihon Rentect Co., Ltd. was established. In December 2019, the company name was changed to ASNOVA Co., Ltd. In order to meet the rental demand of wedge binding type scaffold, we have created a thorough equipment management base. In April 2022, the company achieved its goal of going public, which it had been aiming for since its establishment, and aims to expand its business in the future.
- Airi Sugiyama
- Joined Grace Communications Co., Ltd. as a new graduate and worked as a director producing in-house newsletters.
Social trends and skills that should be acquired from the perspective of the president. The benefits of reading are the background to the system.
Sugiyama: This time, I would like to interview you about the "Liberal Arts System," one of the personnel systems. First of all, please tell me the background to the introduction of this system.
Ueda: Until now, the economy has been on an upward trend, and I think we've lived in a society where there were relatively few correct answers. The same was true in the educational field, where people studied in search of the correct answer and those who could respond were considered to be excellent. Now, the changes are so rapid, and especially in this global society, there are no longer any correct answers. We are living in a world where it is no longer true that doing this is right and doing that is wrong. In that case, I feel that diversity is needed more than one correct answer.
Recently, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and others have been calling for a shift from 20th century education to 21st century education. I believe that moving away from an education that places too much emphasis on deviation scores and toward an understanding of diversity and the fact that there are many different ways of looking at things will ultimately lead to being able to apply that knowledge to the world and enrich our lives.
I believe there are many benefits to reading, such as making new discoveries in various fields, broadening one's horizons, experiencing the contents of the book virtually, and serving as a stepping stone to a new world.
Sugiyama: Only a book can provide a simulated experience. Are there any other benefits to the attention the president is receiving?
Ueda: I've heard that a decline in vocabulary has become a problem in recent years, so I think that reading is the best way to improve vocabulary. I think that improving vocabulary will make you more expressive and easier to convey your thoughts to others. If you have a low vocabulary, you will not be able to understand or be considerate of what others are saying, which can lead to various problems. This problem seems to be occurring in the field of children, but it is actually the same for adults. When the world you live in becomes narrower, your thinking becomes shallower, and your worldview and ability to feel for others become weaker. When I learned that the need for reading is being reexamined because of the changes in the times, I felt the need for reading myself, so I decided to try it as a system, and that's how I started it.
I haven't always liked reading, but what are the benefits of reading now that it has become a habit?
Sugiyama: Have you always loved reading since you were a child, President Ueda?
Ueda: That wasn't the case. That wasn't the case, so I can understand the feelings of people who don't like books and don't think this system is necessary. Now I try to read books, and it has become quite a habit, so I think it's good.
Sugiyama: Is the book that you distribute each month chosen by the president?
Ueda: At bookstores, there are about three options, such as best sellers from last month. Books that are currently hot topics in the industry, business books, etc. It's a system where you can choose the books for the course you want to read.
Sugiyama: So it's something you can choose. You also mentioned that you started reading books and that it has become a habit, but have you felt that your vocabulary or way of expressing yourself has broadened?
Ueda: Yes, that's definitely true. I think that by learning about the background and thoughts of top leaders in the industry, business, and cultural worlds, which led to their businesses, it becomes one of the criteria for making various decisions and judgments. It would be nice if there were many opportunities to actually meet them and hear their stories (laughs), but it's not that easy.
When you improve your vocabulary, your ability to understand others increases greatly no matter what your job is, so I think it really does give you something extremely rich in life.
Sugiyama: So reading is one way to enrich your life and become happy! Reading a book, whether it's a novel or a biography, certainly gives you a simulated experience, and that experience can become a criterion for making decisions and connect to your future. I learned a lot from hearing that.
It's not that easy to achieve happiness. The president's faith and love are what make him want to continue even if he is disliked.
Sugiyama: What are your expectations for your employees going forward, and what kind of person do you want them to grow into through reading books?
Ueda: I would like to continue this liberal arts program. We don't ask for any essays or anything like that, but there are still various opinions about the system. Most people don't like reading in the first place, so it hasn't become a habit for most people.
Sugiyama: That's true. It's difficult to make something a habit.
Ueda: Soon after we started the liberal arts program, we received reactions like, "Maybe this system could be done once every three months or six months," or, "I'm sorry, I can't read it, so it's better to stop it." To be honest, we got the reactions we expected.
For example, parents will take a position that is disliked for the sake of their children's happiness. Therefore, I think that abolishing the system based on their opinion is not true love. In the first place, I think that this system exists to obtain happiness. It is not that easy to obtain happiness.
Ueda: It may be a waste of time, but I want people to develop the habit of reading in order to live a happy life. I don't think it's easy to develop a habit, so I want to keep believing in it.
Sugiyama: It can be difficult until it becomes a habit, but once it becomes a habit and it becomes second nature, I think your vocabulary will improve and the enjoyment will increase.
What books does the president, who is always learning more than anyone else, recommend?
Sugiyama: Is there a book that you would recommend to us that you found useful?
Ueda: Well, please wait a moment.
Ueda: Do you know the monthly magazine "Chichi"?
Sugiyama: Yes, I am aware of that!
Ueda: I subscribe to it, but it's a magazine. I came across a book there that I would recommend. Last year marked the 1400th anniversary of Prince Shotoku's death, so there were many features on the Seventeen-Article Constitution. I didn't know this either, but it seems that the Seventeen-Article Constitution is being reevaluated as a constitution that is attracting a lot of attention from around the world. So, the book that was recommended to me as a cultural read for all Japanese people was "The Seventeen-Article Constitution" by Tochi Publishing.
Ueda: After reading this, I thought the Seventeen-Article Constitution was amazing. It seems to be used as a reference by growing American companies.
Sugiyama: It's getting attention from overseas too! What kind of things are being written about it?
Ueda: What is written there is very simple, for example, "If something happens, everyone should gather together and discuss it." The content is simple, but what surprised me was that this happened 1,400 years ago. At that time, status was very clear. Prince Shotoku was the top leader, so there was no way he would discuss things with the people. Nowadays, I can understand that, but...
Sugiyama: That's right. That was 1,400 years ago. That's what they thought about at the time and put into the constitution.
Ueda: "Always discuss things favorably together with the people." In other words, it also talks about the so-called consensus system, such as how things don't go well when you decide things unilaterally, and it also touches on the mindset you need when discussing things. I read this book because I knew it was a good read to build a strong organization when running an organization, and it was a really helpful book.
Sugiyama: I see. I'll definitely read it too. I'm looking forward to it.
Ueda: There is one more. This was also told to me by Chichi, and it is a book called "Grandpa, tell me about the war." This is a book that all Japanese people should read! It was written by Nakajo, who was an honorary advisor to Asahi Beer.
Ueda: Reading this book will change your perspective on war. I think that we, the generation that did not experience war, should know about it. Gaining knowledge broadens your perspective.
Sugiyama: When did the president read this book?
Ueda: This was also introduced in the monthly magazine Chichi as a book that all Japanese people should read. It was an old book, and I found it for sale second-hand, so I bought it immediately on Amazon.
Sugiyama: I will look into it later too! Finally, if there is anything else you would like to add, please feel free to share it with us.
Ueda: I think it would be great and I would be happy if students in the liberal arts system could read this book every month and have the experience of thinking, even if it's just one book in their life, that they are glad they came across this book. It's not easy to come across such a book, so I hope that they will read it while looking forward to coming across it.
Sugiyama: If there was a place where employees could come across such books and share them, it would spread even more happiness!
The company newsletter is released for the first time. The company insists on sending the newsletter in paper form by mail so that employees' families can read it too.
*Click on the image to view the PDF.
Grace Communications Co., Ltd. Many small and medium-sized enterprises have difficulty producing and using in-house newsletters, which are an internal communication tool, due to a lack of human resources and skills. Grace Communications acts as a PR representative for its clients, aiming to solve their problems by increasing employee loyalty, preventing turnover, sharing know-how, and improving business performance.
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