Kid's Day at SmartNews

The SmartNews Tokyo office buzzed with laughter and the pitter-patter of little feet as forty-four kids participated in a day filled with exciting activities during SmartNews’ first-ever Kids’ Day in late July.?

Event organizer Emi Aoi from SmartNews’ Office and Community team designed the event to strengthen the sense of community among SmartNews employees, their families, and their coworkers. It was also a fun opportunity for kids on summer vacation in Japan to see their parents at work and better understand what they do.?

The day’s activities were divided into morning and afternoon sessions, each tailored to different age groups. The activities for the youngest children started in the morning with casual chatting time in the office's freestyle zone and was followed by an office tour and a stamp rally. The purpose of the stamp rally was to get to know other SmartNews members and learn about their roles at the company.

“The members explained what they do in a very friendly way, and I think the kids were able to more or less understand what it is that they do,” said Marc Lihan , manager of our QA team, who attended the event with his seven-year-old daughter. “She loved the event.”?

To add to the fun, they had the chance to pose for pictures with Chikyu-kun, our friendly earth-shaped mascot, making the experience truly memorable.

In the afternoon, the older kids engaged in captivating activities centered around media literacy and AI. The event's success was amplified by the active involvement of SmartNews employees who volunteered to facilitate these interactive sessions. The kids learned valuable insights into the world of media and technology in a fun and engaging manner, creating an environment of both learning and enjoyment.

For employees attending the event with their children, it was a meaningful opportunity to share time with their children.?

“For my daughter, it was exciting because she wanted to spend the day with me in the office,” said Marc. “Before the event, she told her friends she would go to her dad’s office. It made me feel proud that she was talking about it so much. She was so excited to be able to go to our office.”?

Even for employees without children, the event provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues in a new and meaningful way.

“When I saw the people I work with come in hand-in-hand with their kids, I was reminded that everyone has lives outside of SmartNews and has so many different roles they fulfill,” said Kaya D. . A translator and interpreter at SmartNews, Kaya supported the event by interpreting for the media literacy session, during which the children learned about the topic through hands-on activities.?

“We don't really think about this so much when we communicate with each other as colleagues daily, but during the event, I felt a lot of appreciation for the work that my colleagues put in both inside and outside of work.”?

Emi Aoi also expressed similar sentiments regarding the success of the day.?

“I had imagined that people who came to the office with their children would have a good time, and they did enjoy themselves. What I hadn’t planned on was how happy the event seemed to make even employees without children feel. When I saw many employees smiling and looking over at us as they worked, I felt really happy.”?

Kids Day undoubtedly left a lasting impression on everyone involved and will be remembered as a day when the SmartNews family came together, strengthened their bonds, and celebrated the joy of learning and growing as a community. Here's to many more such heartwarming and enriching events in the future!