# Japan distribution center empowers workforce through culture improvements

/ Published Feb. 8, 2016
YOKOSUKA, Japan, 

Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, is a uniqueworkforce that supports U.S. forces in the region, but is largely made up oflocal national employees.  To help improvecommunication and empowerment of these employees, the distribution centerestablished a Command Culture Center of Excellence and Diversity InclusionCommittee, responsible for addressing the constant change and modification thatimproving culture requires.

“Culture is a dynamic ‘entity’ which is always evolving and changing, andfor leaders, positive organizational culture is a worthy goal to achieve,” saidNavy Cmdr. Brian Johnson, the distribution center’s commander. Organizational culture and command climate is broadspectrum as values, beliefs, myths, traditions, and norms all play apart.Once set, commonlyshared interpretations, values, and patterns are difficult tomodify.

Tomo Ookubo serves as the cultural champion at the distributioncenter.  In this role, Ookubo coordinated fourtours to local logistics companies to provide awareness and developmentalopportunities to aid employee professional growth and to expose them tocutting-edge distribution technology. One tour was to the Black Cat LogisticsTerminal, whose network covers every corner of Japan and handles over 1.4billion parcels a year, making it the largest individual parcel delivery servicein Japan.

Additionally, Ookubo translates Culture Center of Excellencematerials, including diversity and inclusion materials, into the native Kanji,so the local labor force can be kept apprised of currentinformation.

As a result of the 2016 DLA Distribution diversity plan, the CulturalCenter of Excellence team, along with Tom LaBelle, Equal Employment Opportunityspecialist, is developing a Diversity and Inclusion team. The team will address the goals and vision of thediversity plan by analyzing current workforce diversity rates.The team will also plan and coordinateobservances throughout the year, focusing on inclusion and the promotion ofcross-cultural and cross-gender awareness for active duty military, governmentcivilians, and the Japanese labor force.

The Diversity and Inclusion Team is divided into five committees,each focusing on a different diverse focus area. 

One committee, the Special Emphasis Program committee, kicked off theirseason with a special introduction to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inJanuary.  The committee learned that Dr. Kingwrote a letter to the people of Japan, expressing his desire tovisit.In addition,Hiroshima, Japan, is one of the only cities outside of North America to honorDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.In large part, this is a result of the efforts of the former HiroshimaMayor Tadatoshi Akiba, who often used King’s words in his speeches to betterarticulate the argument for nuclear disarmament.
“Allsaid, addressing organization culture is not just a onetime ‘hit and run’ event,it requires constant change and modification,” said Johnson.  “Welook to reach our goals through training, education, messaging, and usingsupervisory and non-supervisory councils as feedback mechanisms.”