Interview with Morimoto Rina
We spoke with Morimoto Rina, a young employee working at Morimoto Construction.
What is the role of general affairs in supporting home building?
After graduating from high school, you must have had some anxiety about working as a member of society. Were there any training programs?
Morimoto
After joining the company, there was a unique training program for new employees at Morimoto Construction. For about a month, I accompanied each employee daily to learn about the roles and tasks of each department, as well as the overall workflow of the company.
I joined as a member of the general affairs department, but during that training, I also visited the lumber processing plant and accompanied site supervisors to observe construction sites. I got to try assembling rebar and learned about the machines used for processing; it was all new to me and very enjoyable.
Not only did I learn the workflow, but it was also great that I was able to adapt to the company quickly. I believe the relationships I built with employees from other departments were thanks to the training right after joining.
When do you feel joy in your work?
Morimoto
I feel a sense of accomplishment with the results visible in the numbers from the SNS I manage in public relations.
The videos for SNS are created in collaboration with my colleagues from planning to shooting and editing. When the views of the videos we made increase or when there are many reactions, it makes me really happy.
Usually, my main work is office tasks, and I don't have many opportunities to go to the field, but I always look forward to the time I can interact with customers during shoots. I love children, so I especially get excited when kids appear in the videos. Sometimes, my colleagues and I brainstorm to ensure the children don't feel nervous.
On the contrary, what challenges have you faced?
Morimoto
It took a considerable amount of time to learn specialized construction terminology. I didn't attend a construction-focused high school, and of course, I had no experience building my own home, so there was a lot of new specialized knowledge to learn.
In the early days after joining, I was overwhelmed with unfamiliar construction terms even when receiving calls from customers, and it was challenging to convey that information to the responsible parties. I think the customers were often more knowledgeable than I was.
Learning construction terminology seems difficult. How did you cope with it?
Morimoto
I just kept listening and memorizing.
At Morimoto Construction, anyone is willing to teach, so I would ask people around me whenever I encountered unfamiliar words. Even now, there are still words I don't know, so I feel like my studies are never-ending.
I have colleagues who graduated from architecture programs, so it's reassuring to be able to ask them various questions. I appreciate the easygoing work environment where I can consult with others.
Diverse tasks lead to personal growth
Now in your 10th year with the company, you are involved in a wide range of tasks. Did you experience any gaps between the work you imagined before joining and the reality?
Morimoto
I didn't feel much of a gap. However, since it's a small company, the scope of each person's work tends to be broad.
On the contrary, because I was entrusted with new tasks, the skills I acquired increased. If I had only been doing accounting, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to work with Illustrator or video editing software.
It took time to get used to each task, but in return, my experience level has also increased.
What do you keep in mind while working?
Morimoto
Recently, I've been entrusted with multiple tasks, so I value speed. Especially in accounting, it's a world where having accurate numbers is a given, so I focus on how to handle tasks accurately and with a sense of urgency.
What kind of people work in your workplace?
Morimoto
I think everyone is friendly and easy to talk to, regardless of their department.
Since construction work can be dangerous, there are times when we are serious and have stern expressions while working, but everyone has a good balance. If you go to ask a question, they will teach you kindly, and when you ask for help, they might jokingly say "Oh no," but they will do it properly.
Especially, I think craftsmen have a tough image, but many of them are very kind.
Recently, there has been an increase in young employees, with about one-third of the staff in their 20s and 30s. Lunchtime, when we all eat together, has become even more enjoyable!
The "Kino Ka Festival" that fosters community interaction
Do you have any episodes that make you feel rooted in Tamashima as a construction company?
Morimoto
At Morimoto Construction, we hold an appreciation event called the "Kino Ka Festival" every year. In 2025, which marked the 24th event, about 400 customers attended.
The Kino Ka Festival is a lively event centered around woodworking corners, featuring workshops that children can enjoy and food trucks. Our customers, as well as local residents, come to join us.
Seeing children who participated in the Kino Ka Festival grow up and come to our company as interns, or customers who participate across generations, makes me feel that Morimoto Construction is trusted across generations.
I often hear local sentiments like, "I've lived in a Morimoto Construction home since I was a child, so I want to build one too!" or "My parents say, 'If you're going to build a house, you should ask Morimoto!'".
The interaction with local people and customers continues without interruption.
Morimoto
That's right. There were years when we couldn't hold the event due to COVID, but the following year, we received calls from customers asking, "Will the Kino Ka Festival be held this year?" It made me happy to know that many people were looking forward to it.
By the way, the Kino Ka Festival is organized by employees taking turns as chairpersons.
Did you also serve as the chairperson for the event?
Morimoto
I have done it before. The year I served as chairperson was the year we couldn't hold the event due to COVID.
However, since many customers were looking forward to it, we wanted to do something... After discussions in the executive committee, we decided to sell woodworking kits that could be made at home by reservation and produced a how-to video to upload on YouTube.
Since we didn't have filming equipment, I attached a selfie stick to a ladder to capture the footage. Looking back, I think it was an interesting challenge.
Options for growth with local companies
Please share a message for your peers.
Morimoto
I think many people are now getting jobs outside the prefecture, but I have recently felt that local companies have unique advantages.
For example, companies rooted in the community, like ours, may have an old-fashioned and rigid image. However, in reality, they properly incorporate the opinions of young employees and are often proactive in trying to update themselves.
While there are sometimes traditional ways of thinking, that aspect has also contributed to being loved by the community. The gaps felt between generations can be seen as new ideas that I didn't have, and they can be educational.
I hope that for everyone, working for a local company becomes one of the options.
Conclusion
In this era where changing jobs has become commonplace, I personally think it is valuable for young people to continue working at the same company for ten years.
While there must be challenges in handling multiple roles, it may also lead to new challenges and a sense of fulfillment.
Listening to Mr. Morimoto, who continues to make earnest efforts, has increased the author's motivation towards work. I would like to continue supporting Mr. Morimoto so that he can deliver the charm of Morimoto Construction to more people in the future.
Please check out the Instagram that Mr. Morimoto is managing.
Young People Weaving the Kurashiki Work Story Back Issues
Data of Morimoto Construction Co., Ltd.
| Organization Name | Morimoto Construction Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | General Construction, First-Class Architect Office, Real Estate Transaction Business |
| Representative Name | Morimoto Hajime |
| Year Established | 1971 |
| Address | 1026 Yuzaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-528-2121 |
| Website | Morimoto Construction Website |
