Vol.29

People who support IKEUCHI from behind the scenes

Mr. Aoki is in charge of general affairs and accounting at the Imabari Head Office. With nearly 10 years of experience working at a labor and management firm, she is now deftly handling not only general affairs but also accounting duties. She has been with the company for almost six months now, and she spoke to us with a smile from start to finish about the issues she has come to see in her work that she would like to solve, as well as the towels she brings to her child's nursery school without fail.

General Affairs and Accounting Aoki

At first I wanted to meet Representative Ikeuchi.

–Are you originally from Imabari?

Yes, I grew up on an island called Omishima in the middle of the Shimanami Sea Route, and came to Imabari around high school.

–Did you have Imabari towels around you?

Yes, there were. However, I have the impression that towels are not something you buy, but something you receive from other people. Even if I do buy towels, I buy them at a discount at towel fairs, and I don’t often buy them at regular prices. I sometimes buy towels as gifts for people outside of the prefecture.

–What interested you about IKEUCHI ORGANIC?

The job posting said to take a look at the website and come in for an interview, and that was when I first read about the history of the change from Ikeuchi Towel to IKEUCHI ORGANIC and an article by Representative Ikeuchi. I read the book and found it interesting, and I felt that I wanted to meet the representative first.

–Did your impression of him change before and after meeting him?

I thought he was almost exactly the same. The words in the book are very soft, and he seems scary at first glance, but when he speaks, the atmosphere is gentle.

Supporting the Company in General Affairs, Accounting, and Behind the Scenes

–Did you work in general affairs at your previous job?

Yes, I had been working for a labor attorney’s office for 9 years, so I thought I could use my skills in the general affairs field.

–I think many people don’t have a clear idea of what kind of work you do at a company when they hear the word “general affairs,” so can you tell us about your work since you joined the company?

At first, I was in charge of general affairs, such as preparing insurance certificates for new employees, asking a labor consultant to prepare release forms for those who had resigned, and checking everyone’s attendance. I have no experience in accounting at all, so I have to start from scratch.

–Does the accounting work sound interesting?

I am still in the process of sorting things out, but I sometimes realize that this (cooperating) company appears in these processes, so there are really a lot of discoveries every day.

–Did you find anything different about IKEUCHI ORGANIC from other companies?

I think it’s amazing that they go to the trouble of introducing green power even though electricity costs more, that they purchase organic cotton yarns that are more expensive than regular yarns, and that they make products that I’m satisfied with. It is easy to say, but I think it is amazing that he is putting it into practice. I think the company is friendly to (employees) in many ways.

However, some of the systems, such as the work rules, are still outdated, so I would like to make them more realistic to some extent by utilizing my past experience.

Creating an environment where employees can work comfortably and with peace of mind

–Do you have a vision of what you would like to become or what you would like to do in the company in the future?

One year from now…I wonder what I will be like. First of all, I would like to be able to do accounting properly, and on the general affairs side, I would like to make various proposals on systems so that everyone can work with peace of mind. I would like to make suggestions without being asked. （I think it is important to keep up-to-date with the latest information on labor issues, as (legal) systems change from time to time.

In terms of benefits, IKEUCHI is both a manufacturer and a retailer, so there are sometimes problems in that area. Even if there is no problem at the head office in Imabari, each store may have a problem, and vice versa, so we have to make sure everything is in place on a case-by-case basis. It is getting to the point where it is impossible to match one or the other, so I think that by separating the different systems, there will be no difference in benefits for either party, and we can both work comfortably together.

Compact foldable air for naps at daycare

–Let’s move on to your favorite towel. The one you brought is the Bamboo 120. What do you like about it?

What do you like about it? （I like that it is cool and shiny.

–What do you think of the touch?

Compared to the towels I have used so far, it feels very voluminous.

–Do you use Bamboo 120 at home?

I use the Bamboo 120, and I also bring the Organic Air to my child’s daycare center for naps because I have to take the towel there.

–The Bamboo 120 is often used for naps for children who go to preschool.

(When they go to day-care centers) they have a lot of luggage, so Air is compact, isn’t it? So air mattresses are easy to pack. I also use a handkerchief made of Mottainai Bamboo towels for wiping my hands.

–Do you have any suggestions for future towels? Do you have any suggestions?

I don’t know…it’s difficult. For now, we have enough to fill our needs. I’m taking them to daycare to use, and I have face, bath, and handkerchiefs. （I have to bring a lot (to daycare). So it’s been very helpful.

Interview June 2016
Interview and text by Mutaguchi and Kamio
Photographer/ Yuji Kimura (Kimura Photo Office)