- Title: JAPAN: Tokyo company hopes to convince its employees that life's a beach at work.
- Date: 5th August 2014
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 4, 2014) (REUTERS) VIRTUAL BEACH IN THE RECEPTION AND STAFF LOUNGE OF BIZREACH WAVES PROJECTED ON SAND PROJECTOR ON CEILING SOUND OF WAVE FROM SPEAKER EMPLOYEES OF BIZREACH SEATED AT TABLES NEAR VIRTUAL BEACH VARIOUS OF TWO EMPLOYEES DISCUSSING WORK TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 27-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEE AT BIZREACH, KURUMI NISHI, SAYING: "Obviously I cannot enter the water, but the sound of waves comforts me. I don't think I need a vacation this summer as I'm already refreshed." MORE OF EMPLOYEES SEATED AT TABLES NEAR VIRTUAL BEACH FEMALE EMPLOYEES SEATED AT TABLE NEAR VIRTUAL BEACH WAVES HITTING SHORE BEHIND LAPTOP COMPUTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 28-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEE AT BIZREACH, AYAMI ODA, SAYING: "It's air-conditioned in here, so it's a bit different from the hot summer beach, but other than that I feel almost like I'm working on a beach. And the sound of the waves help me concentrate." EMPLOYEE NISHI RUNNING HER FINGERS THROUGH THE SAND A SEASHELL ON NISHI'S FINGER COMPUTER GENERATED FISH SWIMMING IN VIRTUAL BEACH EMPLOYEE WALKING ON THE SAND CEO OF BIZREACH, SOICHIRO MINAMI, PLACING A WATERMELON ON A BEACH MAT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) CEO OF BIZREACH, SOICHIRO MINAMI, SAYING: "I want our employees to use this space not only as a show-case to visitors but also to use it for their daily meetings, so that they can think more freely, become more creative, and come up with more unique ideas. At the very least I want them to make use of this here." VARIOUS OF EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS AT A RECEPTION PARTY NEAR THE VIRTUAL BEACH SIGN IN ENGLISH READING "OCEAN" BEYOND VIRTUAL WAVES
- Embargoed: 20th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Business,General,Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA7POT708PS45BEXBH4D66C059C
- Story Text: The sound of waves and the crunch of sand beneath one's feet - those are not sensations you expected to have at the office.
However Bizreach, a Japanese venture company in Tokyo, did just that in the hope of luring its employees, visitors and potential clients into believing that, at least here, life can be a beach at work.
Using a carpet of sand, speakers and a 3D projector, the firm has recreated a tropical beach in the very reception area they also use as their employee meeting space and staff lounge.
Some of the employees who use this space joke that they feel they've already gone off on summer holiday.
"Obviously I cannot enter the water, but the sound of waves comforts me. I don't think I need a vacation this summer as I'm already refreshed," said Kurumi Nishi, a 27-year-old sales representative.
Another employee said the sound of the waves was actually soothing and helped her work.
"It's air-conditioned in here, so it's a bit different from the hot summer beach, but other than that I feel almost like I'm working on a beach. And the sound of the waves help me concentrate," said 28-year-old Ayami Oda.
The company CEO, Soichiro Minami, who was ready with beach party goods of beer, watermelon and even a guitar, nevertheless said such a working environment had real benefits for his 310 employees.
"I want our employees to use this space not only as an show-case to visitors but also to use it for their daily meetings, so that they can think more freely, become more creative, and come up with more unique ideas. At very least I want them to make use of this here," Minami said ahead of a reception party to show off the company's new layout.
Although the water, waves and sea life are an illusion the sand certainly is not. The firm brought in two tonnes of it to form the beach for that extra hint of realism. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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