Ricoh 2012 Annual Report Download - page 83

Ricoh Group Sustainability Report 2012 82
Top Message About us Our Activities
To Grow with Society
Data
At the 10th anniversary milestone, the school
initiated new activities led by alumni
On October 23, 2011, a total of 344 alumni, their parents, and
those concerned, gathered at the Ricoh Technology Center located
in Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture to attend the Ichimura Nature
School’s 10th anniversary reunion.
A total of 130 former students and 134 parents exchanged
opinions and views on a number of topics including “How are you
putting into practice the lessons learned at the nature school?”
“How can we create opportunities for exchanges between alumni
and for their further development going forward?” Upon looking
back on the old days spent at the school, some former students
said that they learned the importance of putting forth their best
efforts, recalling that plants that failed to grow well did not have
good care, and they naturally started to appreciate food more and
to also feel humble, understanding that the food they ate came
from living things. At the same time, we received from them a
number of opinions and requests, including, “I would like to have
an opportunity to listen to
graduates who have started
working,” “I want to open a
website specifically for the
alumni association,” and “I
want to make new fields for
the alumni.”
The opinion exchange
session was followed by a
Providing firm ground for a greater zest for life,
nurtured at the Nature School, into the future
Providing graduates with further support to continue
to develop soundly through social networking
Strong bond of fellowship created through living together
The alumni association,
Daichi-no-kai brings former students together,
stimulating each other to work harder
ocus
F
ceremony where Ricoh’s chairman, Masamitsu Sakurai, who serves
as the general head of the Ichimura Nature School, delivered the
opening remarks. In acknowledgement of a wide range of issues
surrounding today’s children, Mr. Sakurai emphasized the school’s
underlying vision that has remained true to its form since its
foundation and the great social significance of the programs.
Then School Board Director Takashi Nakamura summed up
the opinions and views exchanged among the former students and
their parents, indicating that going forward, Ricoh, the Ichimura
Nature School and “
Daichi-no-kai (the voluntarily founded alumni
association)” will work together to decide on a future approach
to measures to support further development of graduates. He
expressed his hope that with these new measures implemented
in line with regular activities at the school, graduates can grow to
become future leaders to create a better society.
In his closing remarks, Ricoh President Shiro Kondo extended his
gratitude to those who made the event possible and expressed his
commitment and continuous support to the Nature School in hopes
of its further success and for the continued sound development of
every single student who graduated from the school.
nterview
I
Yoshiaki Minagawa
Chairman of
Daichi-no-kai
One of the first students who joined the Ichimura
Nature School Kanto (when he started he was a
grade 8 student.) He is currently in the second
year of the Graduate School of Engineering, the
University of Tokyo.
“When we unite our efforts, we can accomplish what appears to
be impossible to accomplish by individual effort.” This is one of the
lessons I learned at the nature school. Since I always keep this in
mind, I am able to organize people well in my research group, at a
school club, etc. In addition, because of the farming experience, I
understand how hard farm work is and feel appreciative of food.
At
Daichi-no-kai , we strongly emphasize the maintenance of
bonds developed among former students and between alumni and
the school. Through living together at the school and eating the
same food together, students start to bond with each other. You
also find many of your peers are curious about various things and
have different interests. Keeping a good relationship with those
fellows is really significant for the rest of our lives.
Daichi-no-kai has held general meetings and summer camps,
etc. In addition, I would like to start activities that will be helpful
for those who have finished the school to continue to grow well,
which will be a solid ground for the time when they start to work.
Children need an adult or senior student around who is a kind of
person they want to become in the future as well as a friend who
competes to work harder at times, and also support them at other
times. I hope we can develop an environment in which children can
build such relationships with others.
Furthermore, I wish to create opportunities for alumni to be
engaged in activities that will contribute to society, such as volunteer
activities related to environmental conservation and agriculture.
Panel discussion of alumni
Masamitsu Sakurai, general head of the
Ichimura Nature School