中国出身で慶応大学に在学中の語学堪能な女の子が面接に来てくれた。元は北京の大学を出て銀行のフィナンシャルプランナーなんて事をしていたらしい。KOMAにとっては異色の経歴で興味が湧いた。いつも面接は午前中からスタートして簡単に挨拶をしたらそのまま工房で作業を体験してもらう。武内マイちゃんがサッと用意してくれる「同じ釜の飯」の昼食をみんなで共にして、また午後から作業をしてもらい、安いが日当も支払う。次の段階は、来れる範囲の週１ペースでバイトに来てもらうか３ヶ月のトライアルをしてもらう。こちらが見たいのではなくてこちらを見てもらいたい。自分に合うか、続けられそうかを見て体感して判断してもらいたい。多くの時間を費やすことになる仕事と職場をしっかり選んでもらいたい。今までも沢山の人が入ってきて離れていった。本当にハードな時期にいてくれた一人一人に感謝しているし、勝手ながら惜しいことをしたなぁと思う人が何人もいる。何れにせよ大抵の場合は会社と俺に落ち度があり、その度に後悔して少しずつだが働く環境は改善されてきた。会社の成長は人の成長とイコールだと分かっているが、モチベーションを持ってイキイキ成長できる環境とは何か？それが簡単に実現できたら苦労しない。今までもその時なりに一生懸命やってきたつもりだが、振返ってみるとやはり良くないことばかりだったとあらためて反省する。そしてこの冬から現メンバーの努力の甲斐もあって、若い衆の働き方を根本的に変えられるような新しいチャレンジが始まった。1日８時間で２０日勤務が月の基本で残業はあっても２時間まで。月間１６０時間〜最大でも２００時間未満といったところだ。毎月１０日の休みがあってだいぶ時間にゆとりが出来る。その時間の使い方は自由だが、もし作品を作ったら会社が買い取って本人の紹介プロフィールと共にshopで展示販売する制度や、日常の業務中では時間の縛りがあって丁寧に教えたりチャレンジできない内容の作業を時間外業務として一緒にやる制度などもできた。「もっと上手くなりたい」とか「もっと稼ぎたい」理由は何でも良いが、やりたい人はいくらでもチャレンジできる。ヤル気に溢れるウチの若い衆達の場合、会社が下手に縛るより本人達の自由にした方が伸びるだろう！との想いもある。少なくともモノづくりが好きで意欲的に前進したい者にとってはチャンスもあって良い環境だと思う。きっと職人という職業の未来も他と同様に明るくないと思う。近い将来ほとんどの人の手技は機械に勝てなくなるだろし、効率の良い優れた設計やデザインも人工知能が人の経験に勝るのだろう。グローバルな技術の進歩なんて俺のオツムじゃもう予想もできない。だけど「オリジナリティーがあれば何の問題もない」と楽観的に見ている。職人にとってのそれは、作って造って創りまくったその先に見えてくるものだと信じている。そりゃあ人の何倍かはやらなきゃダメだろうけど、ただそれだけのことだと思う。時代の波は個人の想いなど微塵も関係なく勝手にカタチを変えながら進んでいく。その途方もなく大きなウネリに抗い変化を拒んだ途端、一瞬で飲み込まれモミクチャにされて、気付いた時には上も下も前も後ろも何かも見失なって取り残されてしまうような気がする。この時代は予想できないくらいスピードもサイズもあって難しそうだけどその分「乗れたら最高にキモチ良さそうだ！」とこれもまたサーフィン気分で楽しめれば良いくらいに楽観視している。変わりたくないからこそ変わらなければならない。俺たちで言えば「良い家具を創りたい」という初心を変わらずに持ち続けるためにチャレンジして世の中の変化と共に変わり続けなければならない。普遍的なモノはその春秋を経た先に表現出来るのだと思う。KOMAは恐れることなく皆でガンガン挑戦しながら変化を楽しんで、一人一人がオリジナリティーのある職人の集団でありたいと思っています。そんな職人達それぞれの個性が光る作品のファンになってくれる人が次第に増えていって、一人一人が主役で輝けるような「ロックバンドみたいな会社」を目指すのも修業時代に憧れた自分勝手な初心の一つです。全ての人に受け入れられるモノなんて作れないし、誰にとっても居心地が良い会社なんかもつくれません。限られているからこそ、響いてくれるお客様や仲間達の有り難みを感じます。現在週一でアルバイトに来てくれているのは、プロダクトデザインをしっかり勉強した女の子と韓国出身のイケメン専門学生。二人とも魅力的でよく頑張ってくれる。今回の中国から来た女の子は家庭の急な事情で国に帰らなくてはならなくなってしまった。映画を見てるだけで言語が覚えられるというから相等アタマが良いんだろう。陽気でハツラツとしたすごく可愛らしい子だった。帰り際にKOMAのパーカーをあげたら飛び跳ねて喜んでくれた。「中国に帰ったらコレ着てKOMAの宣伝する！」「中国に来る時は力になるから声かけて！」「また日本に帰って来れたら働かせて！」たった数時間の付き合いだったけど、いつか何かで関わるんじゃないかと直感する良い出会いだった。俺は頭も顔も性格も良くないがテキトーな直感力だけは自信がある。 I had an interview of a female proficient in language studying in Keio University. She graduated from a university in Beijing and worked in a bank taking financial planner. I was interested in her given her experiences unique to KOMA. Usually, an interview starts before noon, we ask the candidate to experience our manufacturing processes in our factory after brief greeting. We eat lunch Takeuchi Mai-chan prepares for us in short period of time together, and in the afternoon return to manufacturing processes, we pay daily allowance which may not be large amount. Next step would be part-time job either once a week or three months trail. It is not meant for us to observe the candidate but the candidate to observe us. We would like for candidates to judge whether they are able to continue the job or not through the working experience. We would like to ask for candidates to select their working places providentially. We have been many people who joined and left KOMA. I appreciate those who stayed with me in tough time and I have selfish opinion some of them would be regrettable. In most cases, their leaves are attribute to me and/or the company. With the reflection of each experience, working environment of KOMA has been improved. I understand that the growth of the company is identical to growths of its employees, I am struggling to understand what is the environment where employees are able to energetically grow with keeping motivations. It would not be easy to achieve. I have tried my best at the time, however when reviewed, many of past improvements might not be good. From this winter, thanks to efforts of existing members, KOMA started new challenges which may fundamentally change working environment of KOMA. The working hour is defined as 8 hours per day, 20 days per month, and the overtime work is limited to 2 hours per day. Total working hours per month would be ranging from 160 hours to 200 hours per month. There would be 10 holidays per month, which would be spent on things other than jobs. Employees have autonomy how to spend the time, we have invented the system for the company to sell products employees make in their free time with their introduction in the sales promotion at the company store after the company's purchase of them. We have invented a system where employees are able to challenge or learn processes which cannot be conducted in their standard working hors due to limitation. Whatever reasons including "I would like to improve my skills" or "I would like to make more money", challenges are open to those who would like to do. Given highly motivated, our employees would grow faster when they have more free than have constrain made by the company. At least, those who like manufacturing something and are motivated to proceed. The future of occupation of craftsmen would not necessarily good as other occupations. In the near future, most hand techniques would become inferior to machine technology, and the Artificial Intelligence would become better than experiences of human-beings in terms of efficient plan and design. I cannot imagine progresses of global technology in the future. However, I have optimistic personal view "There would not be any issues as long as one has originality." Craftsmen would acquire their own originality after continuous manufacturing of significant number of their works. The required amount of products would be several times larger than the ordinary craftsman, however, that is it. The wave of age moves in variable shape irrespective of our personal desires. Immediately after resist the wave and refusing changes, we would be left in the wave with losing anything up and down, left and right after being mobbed. It would be difficult to dealing with the wave, which would be unexpectedly quicker and bigger, at the same time, I would be optimistic "it would be really fun to ride the wave" as feeling in surfing. We need to change because we would not like to change. In case of KOMA, we need to change along with changes of the world in order to keep our original purpose, "We would like to make good furniture." Universal products can be expressed only after years of challenges. KOMA would like to the group of craftsmen, each member has plenty of his/her own originality, enjoying changes. One of my own selfish original goal at my training period is establishing "the company like a rock band" where each member plays as the shining lead member with increasing funs of products his/her originality. We cannot make products accepted by everybody and no company is comfortable working place for everybody. Given being limited, I appreciate clients and employees who are resonated with KOMA. A female adequately learned about product design and nice-looking male coming from Korea take once a week part-time job in KOMA. Both are attractive and have made efforts. The Chinese female interviewed this time had to go back to China due to her family matters. She is supposed to be extremely smart because she is able to master languages just looking at movies. She is cheerful and cute. She was delighted as jumping to have a KOMA parker as gift from us. "I will promote KOMA wearing this parker !" "I would like to be informed when visiting China because I would like to help you !" "If I am able to come back to Japan, I would like to have an opportunity to work in KOMA !" It was just several hours interactions, however, I felt we are supposed to have interactions in the future. I would not be good in blain, face, and personality, however, I have strong confidence in my insight. Written by Shigeki Matsuoka
