Saji, who has a long career at the Shibuya Ward Office and has been involved in Future Design Shibuya from its inaugural preparations, has been appointed Deputy Secretary General this year.
We once again asked Mr. Osada about what he has seen in the course of his career so far and his thoughts on the future of Future Design Shibuya.
Shibuya Ward Office-Future Design Shibuya, 40 years of diverse work
OsadaThank you again for Osada time today. Mr. Saji, you had a long career at the Shibuya Ward Office until you started Future Design Shibuya, but you were born in Shibuya Ward, right?
SajiYes, I was born and raised in Ebisu. And then I entered the ward office... It's a little impure motive (laughs). Originally, I was in the basketball club at Hiroo Junior High School, and after graduating, I was playing basketball in the form of an alumni association. He said. So I took the exam and entered the Shibuya Ward Office. At that time, I wanted to play basketball more than I wanted to be a civil servant (laughs). But after that, I worked until I retired, and I'm still at Future Design Shibuya after retirement. I've been active for 40 years so far.
What kind of work did you do at Osada Ward Office?
SajiThere are so many different things. My first job was at the Child Welfare Center at that time, now Friends Honmachi, then I moved to the Social Education Division of the Board of Education. Lastly, Shibuya station area maintenance section. So I was involved in the preparations for the launch of Future Design Shibuya, and that is how I am today.
Osada Nagata is currently involved in the "Mirai no Library" project at Future Design Shibuya, his first workplace, Friends Honmachi. .
SajiThat 's right. For example, in the government building management department, we also managed facilities, and in the board of education, we understand the school to some extent. …… There are some specialists at the ward office, but general clerical workers like me are transferred to various workplaces. There are times when I learn for the first time in the future, but after a few years there, I acquire specialized knowledge and skills.
To connect the ward and companies and create better ideas
From the perspective of Mr. Osada Nagata, what has the past five years of Future Design Shibuya been like?
SajiLast year, Mr. Osada was the secretary general, and there was no deputy director. I think all the staff are the same, but Future Design Shibuya has a lot of work, isn't it difficult? But for some reason, not everyone wants to quit. Isn't there anyone outsourced who said "I don't want to do it anymore" and quit?
Osada: Certainly...
Saji Future Design Shibuya 's work is not always about fixed things, but there are always new things happening, and there are many things to do while saying, "What should I do about this?" I think that it leads to growth one by one. That's why, although it's very difficult, I think that when I return to the ward office, I'm sure I'll feel unsatisfactory.
Osada 's exciting. However, because it is an organization like this, there is an atmosphere of everyone working together. think.
Because of Saji, I'm sure that those who entered the company at a young age will be able to use what they have learned here in the future, as this will not be their final career.
Osada the other hand, is there anything that you can see compared to when you were at the ward office?
In the case of the Saji Ward Office, even if the on-site staff feel the gap between the current system and reality and feel that this should be the case, there are things that cannot be done under the current system. At Future Design Shibuya, I can come up with ideas for what I want to do. Do you feel like trying to think of a way to do it first? There is no such thing as being rejected without doing anything.
Osada 's right. If there is something I want to do, basically I feel like "Well, go ahead". I thought it would be nice to do it.
SajiIf we are here to do that sort of thing on behalf of the ward, it would be nice if everyone in the ward would use us better. That's why we need you to know more about us.
I think that member companies of Future Design Shibuya also want to be able to work together with the government in a beneficial way. We can become a hub and connect both sides well, and we can build a better city. Even if it's a small problem, if the ward asks Future Design Shibuya for help, it might be a good hint for the member companies.
Osada are quite a few things that can be solved by using the power of companies.
SajiIt would be nice if we could communicate with each other from the previous stage, instead of consulting after the budget is decided and the plan is decided. I don't think it's possible for the ward office to make such moves on its own, but if we can get in the way and have conversations, we can exchange opinions with various companies and come up with even better ideas. I don't think so.
Osada: Certainly. Ideas are better when there are various viewpoints.
Aspirations as Deputy Secretary General
Osada Nagata, you have become the deputy director of the secretariat from this year.
SajiFinally, or rather. (laughs)
How about Osada?
Saji: I have long thought that it would be good if the secretary general could be the face of the ward, or rather, the business promotion, and the deputy director could be responsible for the areas where the ward staff originally excelled. So, five years have passed since the foundation, but I believe that my role is to properly organize the areas that are still lacking as an organizational foundation.
Rather than setting rules and binding them, I would like to organize the organization so that everyone can work more rationally.
I think this is the first and last time I'm going out like this (laughs). As a behind-the-scenes person, I would like to focus on ensuring that everyone at Future Design Shibuya and the people involved can proceed smoothly.
Interview/text) Suke Amada
Photo) Masaru Saito
