Interview with Kuromyo Tatsuki
We spoke with Kuromyo Tatsuki, a young employee at Garakutas Company.
The rewards of the job in his third year
What aspects of your current job do you find rewarding?
Kuromyo (surname only)
First, what I find rewarding about working at Denim Lodge is that interacting with tourists gives me a direct sense that I am contributing to the local community.
A rest area that also serves as a tourist information center and a guesthouse are things Kojima Jeans Street has never had before.
We can recommend scenic spots and delicious local restaurants that only local staff would know about, and I hope that helps visitors enjoy their trip more.
I hope people will enjoy Kojima Jeans Street not only by shopping, but also through its food and experiences.
I imagine you also do a lot of design work. What do you find rewarding about that?
Kuromyo
The most rewarding moment is definitely when I receive words of appreciation.
Our clients work in a wide range of industries and fields, so I enjoy learning something new every time. It broadens my perspective, gives me many opportunities to take on new challenges, and I feel I’m developing know-how in problem-solving.
I’m happy when clients appreciate ideas I’ve added to their requests about what they’d like us to do.
You’re now in your third year at the company. Have you faced any difficulties at work?
Kuromyo
Actually, I can’t really remember having any difficulties yet. I enjoy everything I do. I tend to see everything as a chance to grow.
If I do run into a problem, it’s easy to ask for help right away, so I feel secure working here in that sense, too.
Though having to give a presentation on my first day might have been difficult for some people… I’m glad I’m a positive person!
Could you tell us about the atmosphere among colleagues at the company?
Kuromyo
I’d say it’s welcoming. I think there’s an atmosphere where it’s easy to speak your mind, regardless of seniority.
Maybe that’s why even young employees like me can easily tell senior colleagues, “I’d like to try this.” They also give proper support to initiatives started by younger staff, so I feel I’m working in an environment where there are no limits to what I can take on.
The people of Kojima, who feel a love for their hometown
What do you think makes Kojima and Ajino appealing, Kuromyo?
Kuromyo
I think the Ajino area is a town that changes in a good way.
Perhaps because it’s a tourist destination with Kojima Jeans Street, new facilities and shops open, and apartments are built and the population grows. It’s interesting to watch the town change with the times, and it never gets boring.
Another appealing thing is that many people have a strong love for their hometown.
The area where Kojima Jeans Street is now used to be Ajino Shopping Street. People who remember when the shopping street was thriving often say, “We’d love to bring back the energy it had back then.” People involved with Kojima Jeans Street feel especially strongly about this, and I can feel their love for the local community.
How would you like to contribute in a community like this? Do you have any goals?
Kuromyo
Through running the guesthouse, I’d like to make Kojima Jeans Street even livelier than it is now.
I think running accommodation in a nationally famous tourist destination with several hotels presents completely different challenges and difficulties from running a guesthouse on Kojima Jeans Street.
To be honest, I haven’t yet thought of exactly how to make the area livelier. But there’s no one right answer to community development, so I’d like to enjoy working on it.
How to find work that is both enjoyable and rewarding
Do you have a message for young people your age?
Kuromyo
In a world where the internet and social media are always close at hand, I think many people feel down when they compare themselves with others. But I hope you won’t get too caught up in what others are doing and will find something that can serve as your own guiding principle.
What you love and what society needs—if you can find where those things overlap, you may be able to find enjoyment and a sense of fulfillment in your work.
I’m currently involved in community development in Kojima, so I hope that someday more people will become interested in community development.
Even if you don’t get involved right away, you can put the experiences you gain in your 20s and 30s to use in community development when you’re in your 40s and 50s… I’d be happy if more people came to see that as an option.
From the Writer
I had the impression that many people on Kojima Jeans Street take pride in what they do, and the phrase “love for one’s hometown,” which Kuromyo used during the interview, really resonated with me.
I feel that wanting to make your hometown thrive is essential to community development.
I look forward to seeing how Garakutas will use its strengths—its ability to offer a wide variety of proposals and its know-how—to help the local community thrive in the future.
When you visit Kojima Jeans Street, be sure to stop by Denim Lodge, too. You may discover new charms of the area that you haven’t encountered before.
I’m rooting for Kuromyo and Denim Lodge in all their future endeavors.
Stories of Kurashiki Work Woven by Young People: Back Issues
Garakutas & Co. Information
| Organization Name | Garakutas & Co. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Total planning and production based on IT and design planning and production Food manufacturing and OEM services/apparel manufacturing and sales, etc. |
| Representative | Nakano Mikio |
| Year Established | 2001 |
| Address | 4034-4 Ajino, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 070-6649-0930 |
| Website | Garakutas & Co. Official Website |
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