She's a cute girl in her early twenties.
His business card says AD (Assistant Director).
As the name suggests, an AD is someone who usually works as an assistant to the director.
But this time there was only one AD.
"Um, well...where should I start...anyway, this is my first time doing something like this..." she said, sounding somewhat nervous.
Here's the story.
Apparently he happened to watch a TV program called "7 Rules" which featured my daughter Mai Takeuchi.
It seemed that Mai-chan, who struggles in a tough, male-dominated world, overlapped with my own image working on a similar TV production site.
"Even though we're the same age, Takeuchi-san is so cool and successful, while I'm at the very bottom, and I just thought I couldn't continue like this..."
So she decided to take a leap of faith and create her own program ideas.
"No one wants me, a low-level employee, to take on this challenge."
Apparently, he thought he might as well create an intimate program about KOMA, who had influenced him.
I presented my idea to my boss and he gave me the chance to go and try it on my own, which is how I got to where I am today.
What a wonderful story.
And so the meeting began.
"What's so great about KOMA?" she asked.
I was confused by the type of question I didn't know how to answer.
"Do you know the difference between mass production and craftsmanship?" I asked.
"Hmm... somehow..."
"It's difficult for artisans to understand the works they create by hand, and to be recognized in the general market, you need reputation and a track record, right?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't see what's so great about that," she said.
"That's right... Umm, I wonder..."
It's honest and feels good.
Above all, I'm happy that he fully understands the company and is enthusiastic about conveying the good points of KOMA to his superiors.
But it's hard to explain.
This was followed by about two hours of Q&A and demonstrations of the craft.
It was a learning experience for me as I was reminded of how difficult it is to get people to understand something.
A few days later, I got a call from her.
"I want to tell my boss more about KOMA! So I have some additional questions!"
Apparently her proposal was well received, and she needed additional materials to take the next level of the meeting.
"Wow! She's awesome!!"
Somehow, we KOMA members are getting excited too.
A few days later, I got another call.
However, his voice sounded somehow gloomy.
"It looks like it's going to be a great show!"
His superiors also gave him good reviews, and he cleared each stage one after another.
We made it to a meeting with the president and it was almost decided, "Okay, let's go with this!", when a problem was discovered.
The plan was quickly scrapped because the sponsor of this program conflicted with a program that KOMA had previously been featured on.
Unfortunately, most of the challenges are like this.
The environment probably won't change with just one attempt.
It just might change something inside of you.
It doesn't matter whether it's a sense of accomplishment or defeat.
I believe that the accumulation of experience in accepting the results of challenges will change the environment.
"No one wants me to take on a challenge as a low-level employee."
Her words were impressive.
At the very least, her boss would have been happy about the challenge, but I certainly thought that was the case.
Everyone starts out as a low-level employee and no one expects anything from them.
However, if I continue, more and more people will have expectations of me, and the responsibility of living up to those expectations will give me freedom.
People take on challenges on their own for reasons such as not being satisfied with the results or because they would be happy if someone praised them.
It's foolish to blame something and get stressed out, and it would be a waste to give up.
The sight of older men at izakayas getting excited and complaining about their bosses, the company, and politics on an ever-increasing scale isn't a bad addition to the nightlife scene, but it also seems incredibly tiring, so it's probably best to avoid it if possible.
She seemed disappointed, but she finally said this to me.
"Matsuoka-san is so cool! So I'm going to make a program about him, so please wait until then!"
I'm so happy.
Just hearing a young lady say something like that makes me glad to be a furniture maker.
The past creates the present, but I believe the present creates half of the past.
If things are going well now, about half of the bitter memories can become funny stories.
"So that she won't be disappointed in me someday."
That's reason enough to take on the challenge.
And when it actually comes to fruition, the launch will be incredibly exciting.
My job is interesting because I have encounters that allow me to imagine such a future.
The photo above is the thing I remember most about the work I did in the first week of December.
We are currently producing custom-made items for tie chair2017.
For the first time in six months, I realized that I had made some progress in using cutting tools such as small planes and knives used to finish chairs.
I'm teaching this to Mai Takeuchi.
For the discussion about the close cover story of KOMA in TV, a stuff of a program production visited the factory of KOMA.
A pretty female in her early 20's.
According to her business card, her title is AD (Assistant Director).
Usually, ADs visit the factory to literally assist Directors.
However, this time, she visits us by herself.
She seemed to be very nervous saying, "How can I say, how can I say, from what I should start. This is the first time for me something like this."
His story would be following.
She happened to see the TV program named "7 rules" where KOMA was covered with special focus on our employee Maiko Takeuchi.
She seemed to have sympathy with Mai-chan who is struggling in man-oriented craftsman world given her similar experiences in man-oriented TV productions.
"Despite same age, Takeuchi-san has been showing excellent performance which looks cool, I have been struggling as the lowest level of stuffs. I need to change something myself."
So, she made her mind to produce her own project of a TV program.
"No one requires me to do it. This is the challenge of the lowest level of the employee."
She would like to make cover story of KOMA which influenced her, if she is going to do it.
When she talked to, her boss gave her a chance saying "Cover the story by yourself."
It is quite a delightful story.
Then, the interview has been started.
She asked "What are great in KOMA?"
I replied with kind of embarrassed
"Do you know the difference between mass production and crafts?"
"Well, I guess I know it without details..."
"It would be difficult for hand crafted products to be understood, or recognized in the general market, which requires evaluations and track records, kinds of...."
"I am sorry I do not understand what is great about them.", she said.
"Well, it would be..."
I felt refreshed about her honesty.
I was delighted to observe for her enthusiasm trying to convey goodness of KOMA to her seniors with full understanding of it.
However, it would be difficult to explain.
Through interactions something like this, the Interview and associated demonstrations continued about tow hours.
It was a good lesson for me through I have re-realized how difficult to be understood by others.
Several days later, we had a call from her.
"I would like to explain more about KOMA to my supervisor ! Thus, I have additional questions !"
Her project proposal seemed to be well received, thus, she needs additional information for one step upper forum.
"Oh! She is amazing!!"
We, KOMA members were also excited.
Several days later, she called KOMA again.
However, her voice sounds kind of down.
As expressed as "We are supposed to make a good TV program !", the evaluations of her seniors were good and she has cleared upper steps.
When the project was almost to be signed off at the meeting where the president of her company participated as "Yes! Let's proceed this!", an issue was identified.
One of assumed sponsors of this project has a conflict of the interest with the company which sponsored another TV program covering KOMA. The project was suddenly returned back to the drawing-board.
It would be disappointing, however, most challenges are something like this.
Just one time trial must not change the environment and infrastructure.
Actually, something inside oneself may be influenced.
It does not matter whether it is a sense of accomplishment or a sense of defeat.
The experiences of accepting results of challenges would change the environment.
Her words were really impressive;
"No one requires challenges from me, the lowest level of the employee."
Her words would be true although her supervisor was supposed to be pleased with her challenge.
Everyone starts from the lowest level of employees whom no one expects.
However, through continuous challenges, the number of others who expect you is supposed to increase, thus, responsibilities responding to their expectations may give you autonomy.
Challenges would be initiated by something selfish like one cannot be convinced, one would like to be evaluated by others.
It would not make sense to have been stressed out with attributed the fault to something and it would be waste of time.
Old men, who are excited to grumble about supervisors, companies, and politics in "Izakaya" restaurant, would not be necessarily bad as one of scene in an entertainment district at night, however, it seems to be very tired and would be good to avoid to join them.
She seemed to be very disappointed, however, she made the following comments at the last.
"Mr. Matsuoka, you look so cool! Please wait for me to make your closely covering story in the future!"
I was too delighted to hear it.
My craftsman carrier in furnitures is paid off given such comments from a young lady.
The past has made the present, while a half of the past is made by the present.
Because about a half of bitter memories of the past will be funny story if the present tome is good.
"I will never disappoint her in the future", which would appropriately justify challenges.
And, the celebrating party accomplishment of it would be really fun.
Given encounters through the job which implies such interesting futures, the job would be fun.
The picture above is the most memorable thing in the first week of the December.
We are making specially ordered "tie chair 2017".
I was able to realize my skills in small planes and/or blades have been improved in 6 months.
And I taught Mai-chan Takeuchi it.