fun note

newsletter vol.02

Arc Communications Inc.

date: October 13, 2006

Arc Communications Newsletter vol. 02

fun note

Greetings
I am happy to report that Arc Communications was able to close its first year in the black. This would
not have been possible without your support, for which we are sincerely grateful. The goal for Arc Communication’s second year is to achieve major growth. For starters, we have adopted a divisional system,with Kazutoshi Honda assigned to lead the translation and localization business. Web and cross-media
planning and production will be led by Yoshihiro Sato, and Hiroshi Watanabe will head the temporary employment and referral business. We are also carrying out a reform of our organization by inviting an outside
lecturer to come and speak so as to enable staff members to act interactively and on their own initiative.
We will continue to endeavor to work with our clients with even more joy, propriety and innovation.
Mariko Ohsato

Representative Director (CEO), Arc Communications Inc.

Our Projects

EAP (employee assistance program) introduced for temporaryworkers

Translation Services
Swift grasp of Japan market information

We have adopted a counseling service provided by an outsideorganization as part of a benefit package for our registered

Arc Communications is handling the Japanese-to-English trans-

temporary staff working for clients. Temporary staff, too, canlation of news for publication on the intranet of a major manufac-

have daily worries and anxieties, such as emotional problems,turer. The company publishes Japanese news reports related todissatisfaction over work, problems related to interpersonal

the telecommunications business the following day in English forrelationships, or problems at home. Through this program, theythe sake of the company’s non-Japanese employees. This quick

can anonymously receive 24-hour telephone counseling or e-maildelivery service is provided every day by a native English translator.

counseling from specialized lawyers and counselors.

A backup system is also in place.
Facilitation
The outcome of localization can greatly differ depending on

We hope that the adoption of this service will enable our
temporary workers to have an interest in the management of theiremotional health and work vividly.

how it is managed by a project manager. That’s why since August
the localization team has invited Tokihiko Mori, Director of theFacilitators Association of Japan as lecturer to carry out training toWebAn unusual experience—the rescue project!

learn facilitation, which is effective for problem solving. Everyone is

The Web team is experiencing a rather unusual project – proj-

applying themselves to become even more adept at localization.

ects to be exact – that we call the “rescue project.” In a nutshell, it
calls for taking over web construction projects that other compa-

Temporary Employment
Saikyo Line Takeovernies were unable to carry through to the end, and reconstructing
it from scratch. While we are handling these projects by request

From August 28 to October 8,of our clients, the projects are turning out to have much for us to

the women-only car of the Saikyo

learn from­—it allows us to see details, such as where the otherLine was filled with ads for “Hatara-company fell into miscommunication with the client or why theyko Net,” which provides information

were unable to meet the client’s desires.

on temporary employment (limitedAs they say, “One man’s fault is another man’s lesson.” We hopeto 10 out of 40 trains in operation).

to make the most of this precious experience and leverage it for

Hanging posters for Arc Communi-the future.

cations were also on display. Men can also ride in the cars outsideof commute-hours, so you may have noticed them. We’ll keep up
our energetic activities, so look forward to seeing more!

We constructed roughly 30 websites between Oct. 2005 and Sept.
2006. Thank you!

date: October 13, 2006

News
The Japanese translation of Principles of Management became the No.1 best seller on Amazon.co.jp

health, and for the marital partners who support our employees,On July 19, the Japanese translation of Principles of

it became a good chance to solve the mystery of “What kind of a

After all, it is thanks to our families that we can work in goodManagement (Harvard-ryu Management “Nyumon”/

company does my partner work for, and with what kind of people?”

Introduction to Harvard-style Management) published

We plan to hold a “Let’s Visit Mom and Dad’s Company Day” forkids next time as well as other events.

by First Press, Inc. and translated/translation
supervised by Arc Communications, became the No.1
best-selling Japanese book on Amazon. Harvard-ryu Leadership

Arc branding meetings“Nyumon” (Leadership), the previous book in this series only madeWe want to make Arc Communications a good company! That’s

it up to No.2. The patient buzz-marketing activities we carried out

why staff members from each division, filled with such motivation,using the frustration we experienced at that time as a springboard

get together once a week for a one-hour meeting. We brainstorm

seem to have done the trick!

on various themes such as, “What kind of social contribution cana company make?” “What is the meaning of employee happi-

It’s said that autumn is the best season for reading books.
Kigyo Blog Senryaku (tentative title) (Corporate Blog Strategy) willness?” and “What does happiness mean to me?” Sometimes, webe published by Diamond, Inc. in mid-November, and First Press

leave the meeting with homework to do, and sometimes there arewill be publishing Harvard-ryu Human Resource Management

presentations to be given, but all in all, it is a very significant and“Nyumon” (Introduction to Harvard-style Human Resource

enjoyable time spent exchanging opinions that go beyond ourManagement) next year, so do look forward to them!

ordinary duties. Things decided in the meeting may be immediatelyexecuted, or we may decide to cancel it after a trial run, but there

Party held with spouses invited!

is one thing for sure. That is, the office environment has become

A party, doubling as a get-to-better with these meetings as its beginning. Actually, though, whatgether to celebrate (belatedly)

the members really look forward to the most is that this meeting

web director Kensuke Takazawa’s

comes with snacks! Everyone happily takes turns purchasing fa-marriage, was held. The spouses ofmous sweets from long-established shops or prized local confec-married employees were also invited

tions and presents them at the meeting, sometimes devoting evento attend. There was time set aside

more energy on this than on their homework! We are sure that in

to introduce them and ourselves,

their hearts, everyone wants to keep this up.

and even a bingo game with some
unusual prizes. We spent a very
enjoyable time together.

Editor’s Note
The days are becoming refreshingly brisk with the sweet fragrance oforange osmanthus in the air; a sign that autumn has arrived. We have only
passed our 1st birthday and are still in our infancy, but the company is as
fun-filled and energetic as ever, as you will see in this second issue of the“fun Note.”
This time, we all tried our hand at calligraphy, choosing our favorite
Japanese character. They are all quite good, and perhaps the handwriting
will give you some clue to our personalities. Space does not permit us tointroduce all of them this time, but we hope you will enjoy them. (Editor)

Arc Communications Inc.
7F Moriden Bldg., 3-9-9, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-0073 Japan
Phone: 03-5730-6133 Fax: 03-5730-6134
http://www.arc-c.jp/My Favorite Japanese Character

One — It is used in the phrase “ichigo ichie” which

As in Dunhuang, China — There are often many varia-

expresses the aesthetic ideal of treasuring every single

tions to how a name is written in kanji, and my name isencounter as if it were the only one. It can also be foundno exception. The easiest way is to cite a well known

in Japanese words for “the one and only” and “the firstusage, but things become difficult when that doesn’tstep.” I want to treasure each opportunity as being

immediately strike a bell. Otherwise, you have to try to

singular, and grow steadily, one step at a time. This said, however, I am

verbally describe the parts that comprise the kanji. As for my name, I’ll

neglecting to treasure many things. Time to correct this! (Hiroaki Baba)

first say, “As in Dunhuang, China.” That is not easily recognized, and if
so, I have to say, “Well, on the left, you write an inverted ’T’ and below
it the kanji for “mouth” and “child.” Then, on the right side…” I have

To forget — A prominent figure once said in describing

to admit that one tends to becomes fond of things that give you mostthe death of a family member, “I can’t recall anything.

trouble. (Atsuko Mori)

Maybe that’s how I was able to get back on my feet.
Forgetting is a type of self defense.” My life seems tome to be a series of mistakes made, but thanks to myShinto gods — The Ohsato family traces its history

ability to forget them, I’ve been able to come this far without illness.

back to the Muromachi Period (1336 to 1573) as a line

Emotional difficulties seem to be experienced by many today, butof Shinto priests. That is why I believe that the multitude

perhaps “forgetting” is the secret to recovery. (Kazutoshi Honda)of Shinto gods will not forsake me even if I don’t know
how to correctly wave the sacred Shinto branch inceremonies, and even if I did get married in a Christian chapel. There’sEnjoy with moderation — This is a fabulous kanji withturning to the gods in times of trouble and the miracles that comeaustere refinement that is loaded with many meanings

to pass with the arrival of divine winds. Our company should be fully

that include enjoyment, grace, and savvy. I want tosecure! (Mariko Ohsato)

be able to enjoy everything, though with moderation.
(Takahide Hoshi)
The hiragana “fu” — I like the hiragana “fu,” but when
you convert it to kanji on your computer, you get a list ofkanji that don’t have very good meanings. For example,The moment the wind blows — Created by combining
the characters “立” (to rise, to start, etc.) and “風” (thethere is “不,” the equivalent of which are prefixes like“non-,” “anti-“ and “un-.” Then, there’s “負” (to incur,wind), this mimetic word expresses the moment that asuch as a debt) and “腐” (to rot, decay, etc.). The hiragana “ふ” how-wind starts blowing. Based on this imagery, it has also

ever, looks to me like a laughing face. I get the impression from it ofcome to mean “light and brisk.” I have been aware ofbeing able to laugh even during adversity. Maybe it’s far-fetched, butand liked this kanji since childhood since it is a part of my mother’s

it’s as good a reason as any for liking this character. (Yoshihiro Sato)name. I also like the word “sasso” which uses this kanji character,one of the meanings of which is “dashing.” My ideal. (Miho Ishimoto)
Summer — I love summer. Seeing the blue summer
sky makes me want to go to the beach. The rays of theAspiration — I have always tried to hold aspirations

summer sun are admittedly hot, but this doesn’t deterin my life. Though very important, it is something thatme. I think it is because it reminds me of the summer

I sometimes forget, especially the busier I become.

vacations spent as a student. (Hiroshi Watanabe)

However, the real reason why I like this Japanesecharacter might simply be because it is part of thename of a musician that I have always been fond of! (Rie Kawana)

No longer in use — An old-style hiragana probably
difficult for most to read today, it looks like an incomplete “ぬ” (nu) or an erroneously written “み” (mi). Is
it “ヰ” when written in kanji? It still looks incomplete.
This sounds just like me. Do you know how it’s read?
(Yasuyuki Yamamoto)