Embracing Nature Through Camping and the Importance of Preparation
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’m “Kito”, and I’ll be handling this employee introduction. I usually work in system development within the IT industry, but starting this year, I was spurred by my interest in disaster preparedness, I’ve discovered a new hobby – camping. Combining daily disaster awareness with the joy of camping has transformed my time in nature into precious moments for relaxation.
At the start of this year, news of an earthquake in the Hokuriku region dominated the headlines, and witnessing the extent of the damage and its impact on people firsthand deeply affected me. Having lived in Kobe during its reconstruction after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in my student days, my awareness of disaster prevention grew even stronger. Although I had always practiced disaster preparedness, I began reevaluating my own measures and thought, “Could these disaster-preparedness items also be used for camping?” This insight led me to make my camping debut.
My first camping trip was to “Lake Motosu” in winter, a famous spot featured in the anime “Laid-Back Camp”. It was around the time when the pandemic-induced camping boom had settled down, so it wasn’t too crowded, but the season and weather made it quite cold. Even so, the next morning was clear, and I was amazed by the stunning view of Mount Fuji—a sight unique to camping that moved me deeply. Of course, I enjoyed some “curry noodles” to fully experience the location. Since then, local day camps where I can relax and enjoy tea have become my go-to style.
With the recent issue of overtourism making accommodations difficult to secure, camping has been a helpful alternative in such situations. During a trip to Hokkaido, I faced challenges transporting camping gear by plane. Dealing with carry-on and checked baggage restrictions taught me the importance of clever packing strategies—a valuable lesson for future long-distance camping adventures.
One of my most immersive camping experiences was a trip to Nagano with some former coworkers. I purchased a new tent, and together we set up camp and made full use of our gear, making for an enjoyable time. This shared adventure offered a different kind of fulfillment compared to my usual solo or day camping. We identified many areas for improvement and clarified our goals for the next trip. (The tent on the left is mine.)
Amidst all this, our company had the opportunity for a thematic discussion, and my proposal on disaster prevention was accepted. We divided into teams based on age groups, and each presented on various themes from different perspectives, such as “disaster-preparedness goods,” “disaster awareness,” “zombie pandemic countermeasures,” “trends in disaster prevention,” and “disaster-prevention business models.” This significantly heightened disaster awareness within the company. With the looming risk of a Nankai Trough earthquake, it was a valuable opportunity to deepen our collective preparedness.
What began as a focus on disaster preparedness has evolved into a camping lifestyle that has introduced new values and lessons into my everyday life. By intertwining the two seemingly different worlds of disaster prevention and camping, we can explore a way of living that combines disaster preparedness with an appreciation of nature. Looking ahead, I hope to continue cherishing new experiences and discoveries in the great outdoors.
Here at Dandelions, we hold a reporting session for each unit in late November to discuss the activities we’ve undertaken over the past year. Each unit presents their report, and members along with representatives score the presentations.
The goals for each unit this term are as follows:
0th Unit
Operation and maintenance of the Dandelions site, along with content updates
Research on web trends and motion UI
1st Unit
• Improvements to the image recognition system
① Data migration
② Development of a smartphone app
③ API functionality (adding alerts: checks for excessive operational hours)
(In collaboration with Unit 2)
④ Login authentication feature using image recognition (In collaboration with Unit 2)
2nd Unit
• Full operation of the internal system → Experience in operation and maintenance
① Adding transportation expense application functionality
② Migrating the database to the internal database (changing from Outsystems internal DB to our own DB)
3rd Unit
Operation and maintenance of the internal server, enhancing security
Internal security training
This is a valuable opportunity for members to present the culmination of a year’s work. Let’s prepare thoroughly to ensure we don’t forget any points during the presentation!
Details of the reporting session will be provided later.
In August, we held an internship program at our company, with three Japanese students and five international students participating. In this second part of the experience stories, we’ll introduce the Japanese students!
Japanese student (male) :
I participated in Dandelions Inc.’s summer internship. It was my first internship, and aside from me and two others from my school, everyone else was from overseas. I was really nervous. On the first day, we used AI to create stamps for the SNS app LINE. It was really interesting to hear so many different ideas on the impressions we got from a single illustration.
Even though it was my first time doing group work, everything went smoothly and it was a lot of fun.
On the second day, we did some test exercises. The task of carefully checking for any mistakes in the results was really tough, but it gave me a strong sense of accomplishment.
On the third day, we practiced exchanging business cards and tried out website design. During the business card exchange practice, we actually exchanged cards with employees of Dandelions Inc.
It was a valuable experience since it’s rare to have the opportunity to exchange cards with actual employees.
For the website design experience, the theme was introducing traditional crafts from the Tokai region to people overseas.
When we discussed how to spark interest in Japanese products among people overseas, we were able to hear actual opinions from international participants. This helped us notice a lot of things we normally wouldn’t, making it a really interesting and meaningful time. The internship was full of first-time experiences and allowed me to grow significantly.
Japanese student (male)
I participated in Dandelions Inc.’s internship. It was my first time joining an internship, and although I was nervous, it turned out to be a great opportunity for cultural exchange since there were many participants from different countries. The staff members who guided us were friendly, and I had a great time.
On the first day,
we kicked things off with icebreakers, starting with self-introductions where we talked about our names and where we were from. Next, we worked together to choose 10 phrases and images for creating LINE stamps. Additionally, we created personal PR materials and went out to buy snacks for a project called “LUCKY BOX,” which involved promoting Japanese snacks to an overseas audience.
Day 2
We started by tasting the snacks we bought the day before and shared our thoughts. It was refreshing to hear people compare them to snacks from their own countries, and some of their opinions were completely different from what I, as a Japanese person, had expected.
Next, we did some test exercises. The test involved something like a “spot the difference” task, which was very detailed and important work. It required a lot of concentration and was quite tiring.
Day 3
We practiced exchanging business cards, learning how to give and receive them properly, which was a valuable experience. Next, we started working on creating a website. Through gathering information and discussions, we set our direction and got to work. Even though everyone was from different countries, we were able to communicate well and bring everything together smoothly.
Japanese Studend (male)
Self-introduction Nice to meet you, I’m Nori, and I participated in the internship this August. Looking forward to working with you.
Reason for participating I thought the biggest feature of Dandelions Inc. is that they have many foreign employees, offering a global working environment. I’ve always wanted to work at an international IT company, and I was curious about what it would be like to work in a global setting as a first step, so I applied for this internship.
Internship details
On the first day, we created LINE stamps and went out to buy snacks.
on the second day, we had a tasting party and a system test experience.
On the third day, we practiced exchanging business cards and created a website using WordPress.
Post-internship thoughts It was a great opportunity to learn about the cultural differences between various countries by communicating with many international participants, including fellow interns. The biggest takeaway for me was the difference between Japanese and global perspectives. I think many Japanese, including myself, tend to be a bit reserved, while I noticed that people from other countries were much more proactive and frequently shared their opinions. I believe it’s important for companies to have a variety of options. This internship has inspired me to become someone who can view things from different angles and actively express my opinions.
Thank you for reading! I’m “Yamaguchi,” and this is my third time writing an employee introduction post.
Since it’s been a while since my last “Employee Introduction” blog, I was wondering what to write about, but this time. I’ve decided to write about something I love: “alcohol.”
I’ve always liked umeshu (plum wine). My parents, siblings, and even relatives love umeshu, so maybe it’s a family thing! (lol) One of my fond memories of umeshu is visiting the CHOYA bar in Tokyo, where I got to try different types of umeshu. I ordered a tasting set and enjoyed comparing the different flavors (even though they were all umeshu), each one tasted so unique, which was really fun. Unfortunately, the bar is only in Tokyo, but I highly recommend it!
Umeshu tasting set ⁂
One of the best discoveries I’ve made in the past few years is a parfait bar. There’s one in Nagoya that serves both parfaits and accompanying alcohol that pairs perfectly with them. At first, I thought, “Parfaits and alcohol?” but they actually pair really well together. Enjoying a tasty parfait and drink in a stylish space really takes the edge off.
parfait alcohol set at a parfait bar ⁂
Recently, I’ve also started drinking wine more often. I enjoy sparkling wine, and I like white wine as well. I love drinking it with cheese or liver pâté. My family recently bought a wine that was so easy to drink, I ended up drinking a lot and got pretty tipsy! (lol)
Wine that was easy to drink ⁂
I often go out for drinks with the members of Dande as well. Recently, we held a “Wine Party” and a “Sake Party.”
At the wine party, since there were a lot of people, we got to try a variety of wines. We drank sparkling, then red, then white, then red, then white… It was a lot of fun! Everyone shared their thoughts as we drank, and we enjoyed feeling like grown-ups while having a great time.
wine party
I was surprised by how many people showed up for the sake party. It was memorable that even members who usually don’t drink said, “If it’s sake, I want to join.” There were many different types of sake, but honestly, I got so drunk that I don’t remember much! (lol)
Japanese Sake
The next gathering might be a “Beer” or “Umeshu” party!
I am “Omatsu”, a member of the Operations Management Department, in charge of this blog post. I am pleased to introduce you to our newest sponsor.
A new hope, Regulus, arrives at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden!
Hello, and welcome to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden!
With the arrival of spring, we have a new addition to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden. His name is Regulus, and he is only one year old. His name, Regulus, is taken from the name of a star meaning “champion,”. We are very excited to see what new light his presence will bring to the Zoo.
We here at Dandelions are proud to be a sponsor of this young lion. Our decision to sponsor this young Lion is more than just a sponsorship. We are deeply committed to conservation and activities that support a sustainable global environment. We promote these values through our support of Mr. Regulus.
Regulus’ joining our sponsors is a contribution to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) of which we are supporters. Especially SDG Goal 15: “Let’s also protect the richness of our land”, which aims to conserve biodiversity. Working to protect endangered species through his conservation and support of their growth is also part of our social responsibility.
This new animal sponsorship is also an opportunity for us to reach out to more people about the importance of conservation through the story of Regulus. We hope you will watch how Regulus will grow and what impact he will have.
Regulus’ upcoming journey is the beginning of a new chapter for us at Dandelions. Together with him, we will continue our journey toward a sustainable future. Together, we will strive to ensure that all life on earth can coexist.
I saw Regulus in person!
Perhaps because it was late in the evening when we went to see him, Regulus was taking a nap. However, we were able to see him in a very cute pose. Although it was hard to believe he was a lion since he was so relaxed with his tummy showing. We also saw many other animals, but all of them seemed to be tired of the hot August temperatures, and many of them did not move at all.
