2025 Retrospective Feature
―NAKAMA Reflects on Their Year―

Since the station's launch in 2001, I've been involved in delivering information to the townspeople and visitors. This year, as a "bridge" connecting the community and listeners, I increased my activities outside the studio—not only hosting regular and special programs but also participating in live broadcasts, reporting, and event hosting.

This year also saw the launch of a new late-night program at FM Karuizawa. While I wasn't directly involved, it was a year of significant change for the station as a whole, with an increase in program producers. I feel strongly about the importance of programs not existing in isolation, but developing through mutual connection and support.

Beyond radio broadcasting, I also explored new forms of expression by utilizing social media to disseminate information through multiple channels, reaching a wider audience. Moving forward, I aim to continue broadcasting that stays close to the community, connecting people to people and program to program.

This year, I was involved in numerous projects managing on-site operations for self-consumption solar power generation facilities, from planning and construction to operational launch.

Through tackling various challenges at each site—such as safety measures, process efficiency, and coordination with stakeholders—I gradually developed my management and technical skills. It was a year where I honed my responsiveness and judgment by working with my team to address schedule changes and issues caused by weather and material constraints, one by one.

Next year, I aim to leverage this experience to achieve smoother, higher-quality site operations. I will also focus on knowledge sharing and system development to foster growth across the entire organization. I remain committed to prioritizing site safety and quality to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy.

2025 was a year filled with challenges and growth, both professionally and personally.

Professionally, successfully executing the Korea Campaign, Go Go Japan Campaign, and SEA LI Hokkaido Tour, creating trips our members truly enjoyed, was a major achievement. Team bonds deepened, and I learned a great deal within this mutually supportive environment.

In my personal life, I became more health-conscious. Through consistent intake of S Lutena, cycling, and improving my diet, I achieved a better balance between mind and body. I feel that interacting with the many friends I met through Naturally Plus has enriched my relationships.

Next year, I aim to pursue further skill development and new challenges, cherishing each fulfilling day as I move forward positively.

2025 was a year filled with many challenges and experiences through my work. In my daily tasks, I consciously balanced "challenge (output to the company)" and "experience (input from the company)," feeling I built a win-win relationship where both myself and the company could grow.

The launch of our new product at the start of the year shifted the main advertising battlefield to SNS, making me keenly aware of the evolution from 2D design to video expression. A major achievement was self-teaching myself video production and raising my quality to a level where I could secure new projects. This process also gave me firsthand experience in sensing market reactions and preferences.

It was also a year of rapid AI adoption, prompting me to reexamine the unique value I can provide. I look forward to new challenges and experiences next year.

This year, after transferring to the Facility Division, I was involved in a project from its inception for the first time as a Project Manager. One of the two sites I was responsible for was in Ibaraki Prefecture, requiring multiple trips for on-site support. Initially, I felt uneasy without local knowledge, but as I traveled more, I became familiar with the route. On my days off, I even visited the nemophila flower fields at Hitachi Seaside Park, a place I'd long wanted to see, which was a great way to refresh myself.

Initially, I relied on senior colleagues' support, tackling uncertainties one by one each day. Recently, however, I've been able to independently oversee construction inspections at another site, resolving issues on-site through consultation with contractors. Looking back, I can feel myself growing steadily.

Even as I write this, I'm in the middle of a construction site visit at a client's location. Moving forward, I will continue to build on each experience, aiming for better project management.

As I've gotten older, I've found that new discoveries and moments of wonder have become fewer each day. I often feel like time flies by in a blur, consumed by routine work and tasks. Apparently, when the human brain repeats the same actions, it consolidates memories, making time feel like it's passing faster. This phenomenon can be countered by gaining new insights or introducing changes to daily life.

In 2025, alongside my support duties, I gained many new experiences: hosting webinars explaining UnivaPay usage, registering my rock band as a merchant to sell merchandise overseas, and filming and reporting on actual payments made during our Korea tour. It was a year rich with the joy of new experiences.

However, time flew by in a flash as I was absorbed in these pursuits. I want to continue immersing myself in new discoveries and experiences. Moving forward, I hope to enjoy each day while never forgetting my gratitude towards those around me.

I have now entered my third year working in accounting. Looking back on this year, every day was a continuous cycle of learning and challenges, a year where I threw myself wholeheartedly into the tasks at hand. Thanks to the support of everyone on the team, my responsibilities gradually expanded, and I feel I have grown in my own way.

Additionally, I was fortunate to receive the valuable opportunity of a concurrent assignment to UNIVA Rhizoma. Working alongside professionals with extensive specialized knowledge provided me with many new discoveries and insights. While each day was filled with tension, it also served as a good opportunity to confront my own challenges.

And the company trip to Okinawa, which I was able to attend with my daughter, stands out as my best memory of this summer. I will strive to keep that spirit of challenge alive next year and continue working hard to grow even more.

This year brought significant changes for me, both professionally and personally. My daughter started nursery school in April, and I assumed a new position myself. Honestly, there were times when I felt overwhelmed and troubled by the unfamiliar changes in my environment.

What lifted my spirits was witnessing my daughter's daily growth. Though she's only a year and a few months old, she went from crawling to walking before I knew it. At her recent sports day, seeing her strive so hard to reach the finish line on her own two feet truly warmed my heart.

My daughter seems genuinely happy as she gains new abilities every day. Seeing her carefree smile made me realize, "It's important not to overthink things and to enjoy life with a positive outlook." Lately, I've been feeling much brighter and more cheerful.

I want to treasure each day and walk forward joyfully, not wanting to be outdone by my daughter's growth.

This fall, I gave a lecture at my alma mater, Motosu Shoyo High School, titled "Dodgers Shohei Ohtani VS UNIVA Securities Kenji Inagawa." During the lecture, I shared my experience founding a university-based venture and introduced the regional revitalization UNIVA FUND project I'm currently working on at UNIVA Securities: the "Hanamaki East Baseball Park Concept." I conveyed the importance of the courage to challenge and the drive to take action, emphasizing that even from a regional area, it is possible to change the world.

The students listened intently, and after the talk, I received loud applause and cheers.
Facing social challenges and providing valuable solutions—
This lecture also served as a reminder of the fundamental purpose of this work.

On the other hand, the subtheme's message, "Let's go to Tokyo!", remained merely a "problem statement," highlighting the reality that many in regional areas abandon urban university dreams due to financial constraints.

It made me realize that creating systems enabling young people to take on challenges through financial means is another critical task we must tackle moving forward.