"We Don't Just Want to Work!" Today's Young Moms ~What Became Clear Through Participating in TWDW~

 

The second was "Workshop".
As society changes at an incredible pace, new words appear while others remain unchanged. This day featured a workshop titled "A Meeting to Consider Today's 'Words'," where participants reconsidered what words truly mean.

First, participants wrote their "favorite words" and "least favorite words" on placards to hang around their necks. They then explained and defined these words to each other. If someone liked a word, they wrote it down on a sticky note. As a thank-you, they gave each other a hug – a bit embarrassing for me (laughs), but the participants carried it out without hesitation.

When we gathered the words from the sticky notes onto a whiteboard, it became clear: "favorite words" reflected strong personal convictions, like individual mottos, while "hated words" were often socially prevalent terms like "gender equality," "bonds," and "work-life balance."
Comments like "I feel uneasy about the idea that simply placing men and women side-by-side equates to equality" and "Trying to separate work and life might just make things harder" revealed that some participants were questioning the gap between these commonly used terms and reality.

The third is "Talk."
From this, we introduce "Work Changes Through 'Meeting'. ~The Potential of Live Skill Sharing~".
A panel discussion on their perspectives on work and the future of working styles was held with Tsubasa Tanaka of Work Travel Agency, Masaya Yamamoto of KitchHike, Daisaku Yamamoto of TimeTicket, and facilitator Koichi Kawajiri.

Tanaka from Work Travel Agency, which offers "journeys" to visit workplaces, stated, "I want to spread the universal value that 'work is fun.' If I were only seeking profit, I would have quit. I move in the direction I want to go." Yamamoto from TimeTicket, which sells time for sharing personal knowledge and experience, spoke about what work demands: "Ideas, skills, and passion are required, but passion is the most important. Without conviction, you can't keep going."
Yamamoto from KitchHike, a service enabling people to eat local home-cooked meals at destinations worldwide, said, "It's not about profit or loss. I want to do things that make the world a happier place just by existing."

When asked if they wanted to try this kind of work style, participants nodded vigorously. After the talks, they eagerly approached speakers with questions and exchanged business cards. TWDW functioned as a community, connecting people directly with those living their ideal work lives.

Young people who truly want to find purpose through work

A "Youth × Work" survey conducted by Dentsu Inc. Youth Research Department (Wakamon) revealed that while about 70% of men and women aged 18-29 currently work "for stable income," their ideal is to "gain a sense of purpose" – showing a positive mindset.

TWDW was precisely the place where the passion of young people—those with the spirit to actively navigate rather than passively accept changes in society and work styles, and the straightforward positivity of wanting to work for their own sense of purpose—was expressed.

Understanding this strong desire among young people regarding how they work is a crucial perspective not only for companies conducting new graduate recruitment but also for building strong companies through talent development and for mentoring juniors on an individual level. Wakamon will continue to focus on real events where young people's new values are expressed.

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【Wakamon Profile】
Dentsu Inc. Youth Research Department (commonly known as Wakamon) is a planning team that engages with the real lives and mindsets of young people, primarily high school and university students. We seek insights from their present to find hints for brightening and revitalizing the near future. By anticipating the future through their perspectives, we realize new businesses that foster better relationships between young people and society. Currently, 18 project members are based across our Tokyo headquarters, Kansai branch, and Chubu branch. We also share updates on the Wakamon Facebook page.