For about 20 years, from when I was 4 years old until I graduated from university, my life was dominated by rugby. All 15 people on the field must give 120% to succeed. If even one person slacks off, we will definitely lose. There is a famous saying, "One for All, All for One," and I was crazy about the sport of rugby, where everyone has a role to play and everyone works together to reach great heights.
In 2017, when I was looking for a job, the Rugby World Cup was two years away, and the Tokyo Olympics were three years away. I wanted to work in such a major sporting event. I searched for a company that could help me realize that dream, and attended several company information sessions. While most companies explained their corporate policies with the Olympics as the main focus, Happo-en was the only company that spoke of both "Rugby World Cup in 2019 and Tokyo Olympics in 2020" on the same level. They value rugby, which was still a minor sport in Japan, as much as the Olympics. It may be a small thing, but for me, it was the best reason to choose them.
The greatest value that Happo-en offers is,
The spirit of hospitality.
Happo-en values the "spirit of hospitality." Even before I joined the company, I was surprised at what hospitality Happo-en offers. The main gate of Happo-en is about a three-minute walk from the entrance. When I visited Happo-en for my interview, I greeted the service staff at the main gate and told them that I was there for an interview. When I arrived at the entrance, another staff member greeted me, saying, "Welcome, Mr. Iwashita." I can imagine that communication took place through a communication device, but at the time I was just amazed. I never thought that not only customers who were holding weddings and banquets would be treated like this, but also a student looking for a job. It was an incident that made me honestly think that this company, which treats everyone equally, is truly amazing.
One of the main reasons why Happo-en is a unique venue is the presence of a 400-year-old Japanese garden, but the most valuable thing about it is that everyone is eager to make our customers happy. Just like in rugby, each and every person gives 120% for the customers. That is what we truly provide to our customers, and that is what I love about Happo-en as a company.
I proposed this idea with great enthusiasm.
A client's wedding.
In my first year at the company, I was assigned to the corporate sales department and was able to be involved in a sporting event that I had always wanted to participate in, so my days were going smoothly. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to scale back our business, and I unexpectedly transferred to the bridal department. To be honest, the job of a bridal producer, with many clients wanting a female to work with me, was often difficult. However, one day, as I was working with the clients in front of me, trying to become their one and only, I met a couple of them.
The two share a common hobby of playing tennis. We spent a lot of time talking to them, from the impressive story of how they started dating after spending just 15 minutes on the court together, to the warm relationships they have built with the people around them. From there, I proposed the concept of "thread." Just like tennis strings, their encounters with people overlap like threads, weaving together their beautiful lives. The couple liked our wedding plan, which expressed this idea with "Japanese paper arrangements," and decided to hold their wedding at Happo-en.
Like shining in the night sky
Like that first magnitude star.
A few years later, when they returned to Happo-en, they had a child. When I asked them about their child's name, I found out that it contained the kanji character "thread." The concept of "thread" that I proposed to them at that time truly represented their lives, and they told me that they had decided that if their child was born, they would definitely name it after this character. I had become a unique and unchanging presence in their lives. When I thought about it, tears welled up in my eyes.
Now, with the situation improving, I am working in both the bridal department and the corporate sales department, where I was originally a member. It may be some time before this happens, but I have an ambition that I want to achieve. Someday, when the Rugby World Cup is held in Japan again, I want to hoist the World Cup trophy in Happo-en's symbolic garden and hold a light-up event. To make this happen, I want to be the face of Happo-en. My name comes from Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth, other than the sun. My mission is to make myself and Happo-en unique so that I don't bring shame to the name my parents gave me.
Posts
Share
