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Written by: Tomohiro Koizumi, Representative Director, tentus inc.
Born in 1975; spent about three years in the Philippines starting in 1994; came back to Japan, got a job, got a stomach ulcer from stress and quit, went to the Bahamas and was instantly cured; the next company that took me in was a pretty wonderful place; and then, after this and that, I went independent — and this month marks entering the 10th year since I did. Before I knew it, I've become an admitted-by-all "old guy," but the wish I held as a kid — "I will absolutely never become an adult who looks like life is boring!" — I feel I've achieved, in a pretty off-kilter, funky way.
(The meeting room is in the back.) The reason I can find life fun, and the reason I've managed to survive 10 years since going independent, come down to the same thing at their root, I think. I really am blessed with people.
(The day we all wrapped gyoza from Mangiaen.) Even living alone, the fun doesn't last, and even working alone, over a long span you eventually hit a dead end, I think.
(We often grilled gyoza on the rooftop.) The reason I've been able to keep it going until now is truly because there are wonderful people around me helping me, in both public and private life.
(An effort to create a fun work environment, since it's lonely with no one at the office during COVID.) If I were to advise anyone who's read this on my own secret to making such companions, it would be "opening your heart first." Foreign friends call me open-minded, but I think a way of building relationships where you deliberately leap over the wall yourself so the other person doesn't get defensive is really important.
(Still lonely, so instead of telework, cat-work.) Whether the relationships I have now with the people around me are truly the result of that working out, I can't say, since it depends on the other person too.
(The Shanghai company trip was fun too, wasn't it.) But going forward too, I want to keep interacting with everyone with an open mind, and I want to work hard so that people I already know and people I meet from now on all feel that tentus is a flat, open place.
(tentus started out laying the flooring ourselves.) Thank you for your continued support!