Starting in July 2024, Mikako Kawazu, Managing Director of Seibu Shinkin Bank, will be appointed as a director of Future Design Shibuya. Here, we look back on Ms. Kawazu's activities to date and ask her about her expectations for the future of Future Design Shibuya.
Interview and text: Amada Tasuku (Future Design Shibuya)
--Mr. Kawazu, you have been dedicated to Seibu Shinkin Bank up until now.
Yes, I joined the bank in 1985, so this year marks my 40th year at the bank. I spent about 10 years working at the bank's branches, handling customer service and in administrative positions, but otherwise I've spent a long time at headquarters, working in internal management roles such as personnel training, recruitment, and administrative guidance. I became an executive in 2022, and since the new department for supporting urban development, the Regional Collaboration Department, was established in October of that year, I have had many opportunities to interact directly with customers again.
One of the distinctive products for this urban development support is the "Regional Future Fixed Term Deposit." This is a donation-type fixed term deposit, and a portion of the interest earned at maturity and contributions from the Bank are used to subsidize NPOs and businesses that carry out activities that contribute to the local community, such as child-rearing, welfare, and the environment.
Through this, I have had many opportunities to meet with customers who are tackling social issues in recent years. It's very rewarding and I'm also inspired by everyone's passion.
--What are the things you pay particular attention to when doing your job?
When I was in charge of training, one of the president's precepts was "Do your best in your position," and for a long time, I have been conscious of this as an important thing in my work. I used to teach this to new employees during their training, and it became my motto in my work that I should always be like that.
—What kind of town is Shibuya in your opinion?
I'm from Akita, and before I moved to Tokyo, it was always a city I longed to visit. It was at the forefront of fashion, food, and entertainment, and I felt happy every time I visited.
As I enter the workforce, I have many opportunities to talk with customers in Shibuya, and one of our bank's loan products is a loan for businesses that solve social and local issues. In fact, one-third of the users of this product are from the Shibuya area. There are many people who start businesses to solve various social issues. People who notice social issues that are difficult for the government to reach alone, turn them into businesses, and continue to deliver them to customers - for example, an organization that actively plans and holds community activities to connect people with disabilities with the community, and has been working independently on employment support since before the current employment transition support program was established, and a company that plans, manufactures, and sells ethical fashion using overseas resources, creating jobs to sell domestically and manufacture overseas. I have the impression that Shibuya is a city where many such powerful people gather.
-Among all of that, is there anything from Future Design Shibuya project that made the biggest impression on you?
I think the "Future Library" is a wonderful project.
※ Children's third place "Mirai Library"
https://mirainotoshositsu.jp/
A project that provides a place where children can feel safe, neither at school nor at home.
This is a local support project that aims to bring together children from various backgrounds and help them improve their survival skills through experiential learning programs provided by supporting companies and organizations.
Last year, we also offered an experience program. We invited a company that runs an awareness program called "My Kizuna BOX," which encourages children to think for themselves about what to put in a box to take with them when evacuating in the event of a disaster, and we had the children experience and learn from it.
It's also an opportunity for the children to think about what is important to them, and they can take the box they made home and talk about it with their parents. I hope that it will be a learning experience in a broad sense, including all of these things.
-What do you think is good about Future Design Shibuya?
From my perspective, I think it's great that a general incorporated association has been able to turn a profit. Many of our clients are general incorporated associations, but I get the impression that they all struggle financially. In this environment, I believe that Future Design Shibuya is receiving a lot of enthusiasm and expectations from its member companies who support it. I think that this is a huge strength for Future Design Shibuya.
I also always feel the strong energy of the staff, and I believe that the organization will continue to be a hub where diverse companies and organizations can work together to solve the problems of a diverse range of people.
—Finally, please tell us about your enthusiasm for taking on the role of director.
Seibu Shinkin Bank has six branches in the Shibuya area, and has been working closely with its customers while being rooted in the community. There are many long-time customers in this area who have a strong desire to revitalize the town of Shibuya. For example, there is a manager who decided not to demolish a very luxurious wooden restaurant built just after the war, and continues to do business there, and regularly organizes cultural events. There are also many long-time business managers who support young people who have recently moved to the Shibuya area and work together with them to revitalize the town.
Among our customers, we would like to expand this circle to include those who are not yet aware of the work that Future Design Shibuya is undertaking, or to customers who would like to do something together.
We also believe that by combining this pioneering initiative with the efforts of Seibu Shinkin Bank, we will be able to spread the initiative beyond the Shibuya area to a wider range of other areas.
