From "side jobs" to "multiple careers." And then, to "fulfilling careers."

Even when physically apart, skillfully using technology can make us feel closer than ever before. A slight shift in perspective can create entirely new connections. The new lifestyle emerging in the wake of COVID-19 could be called "Remote Connection Life" (Remote Connection Life). Remote Connection Life is Remote Communication Life, and it also creates Remote Comfortable Life. This series explores the "future vision" of this lifestyle—staying connected while physically apart—through conversations between magazine editors and Dentsu Inc. creators.
For the fourth installment, we spoke with Takashi Inukai, Editor-in-Chief of "SPA!".

<Table of Contents>
▼[Remote Life Story #04: From Side Hustles to Fuku-gyo]
▼ What's Needed Now to Break Free from Corporate Shackles?
▼ Remote Work Reveals Who's Capable and Who Isn't
▼ The "Third Place" – Neither Company Nor Home – Shapes Your Life
▼ Money Shifts to Stock-Based, Goods to Flow-Based

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【Remote Life Story #04: From Side Hustles to Fuku-gyo】

(Case of Tomoki Nozawa / Financial Company Employee / Age 44)

For Editor-in-Chief Inukai, who views the stay-at-home period as "a simulation of life after retirement," the situation of being unable to go to work or go out drinking was apparently very painful. "Sure, there are some easygoing aspects, but deep down, I really thought, 'Isn't it better to have work?' (laughs)"

Based on Editor-in-Chief Inukai's insights, how can we work happily for as long as possible in this era of 100-year lifespans? What is this "new way of working" emerging in the wake of COVID-19? We've compiled a brief story exploring these questions.

Tomohiro Nozawa (Dentsu Inc. 1CRP Bureau)

Illustration: Taro Uryu

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After about an hour of remote meetings, just as most team members were about to disappear from the screen, Yamada, in his fifth year at the company, muttered, "Somehow..." "It's easier to talk like this..." Tomoki left his cursor hovering over the exit button, waiting for Yamada to continue. "Because," Yamada said with an uncomplicated smile, "the real Nozawa-san was seriously giving off this vibe like, 'Don't even think about talking.'"

Being able to say something like that so casually was probably a unique effect of remote work. Tomoki stared at the screen, now empty of all members, with a sour expression. "Damn it, they just say whatever they want." It wasn't just Yamada; since meetings went remote, members had become much more vocal. There were hardly any of the silent stretches you'd get in a conference room. Tomoki had thought it was because everyone was conscious of "efficiency," but apparently, he'd been mistaken.

"Right then," Tomoki said aloud deliberately as he opened YouTube. "Wonder if any comments came in?" During the stay-at-home period when he had too much time on his hands, his nephew living in Okinawa asked him to teach him how to fillet fish, so he sent a video. "It's super easy to understand!" his nephew had exclaimed happily. That became the catalyst for him filming videos of filleting various fish and uploading them to YouTube.

His channel is simply called "How to Deliciously Prepare Fish." Fishing had been a hobby since childhood, but he was actually better at preparing the catch than catching it. When filming, Tomoki carefully explained the subtle differences in knife technique required for each fish, putting it into precise words. While he could convey the "feel" of pressure and such when teaching in person, that "feel" surprisingly doesn't come across well on video.

His subscriber count wasn't huge, but his audience was surprisingly diverse—from fellow fishing enthusiasts to housewives and even elementary school boys who loved fish. People started asking for direct lessons, so he began teaching online. Since last month, he's even started live streaming to explain recommended fishing gear for beginners. Beginners often buy gear they quickly stop using, so he focuses on introducing items with high resale value. This approach has proven popular not just with beginners, but with experienced anglers too. Combined with YouTube income and private lesson fees, the earnings became substantial enough to be called more than just pocket money.

"Whoa!" Tomoki exclaimed, seeing the comment count on yesterday's video. "200 comments!?" Last weekend, he held a live event on "How to Clean Fish Deliciously" and uploaded footage from it. He never imagined it would get this many comments... The event itself was a huge success, drawing about 20 participants to a kitchen studio in Tokyo. From the 90-year-old "Fishing Line Sage" to elementary schooler "Shun," it was truly a gathering of all ages and genders. When the regulars from the comment section met in person, they strangely hit it off immediately.

After everyone filleted the fish Tomoki had prepared, it naturally turned into a feast. "Oh, this is delicious!" Tomoki said, putting a neatly cut piece of white fish into his mouth. "If you can do this well now, you could become Japan's best sushi chef someday." Shun's eyes widened. "Really?" "Really. It's way tastier than what Uncle prepared." Watching Shun cheer, "Yay!", Tomoki fought back tears. He felt a deep sense of relief, knowing he'd found a new place to belong—neither company nor home.

"No, no, gotta work, work," he thought, trying to suppress his eagerness and close the comment section. But then Tomoki's eyes caught a cute fish icon. It was Shun's icon. "Well, I'll just read this one before getting back to work," he muttered. As he started reading the comment, his eyes instantly filled with tears. "Tomo-san, thank you so much for Saturday. I thought you were scary when I watched your YouTube videos, but meeting you in person, you were so kind. I'm really happy."

(This story is fictional. It bears no relation to any real persons or organizations.)

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What do you need right now to break free from corporate ties?

Please take a look at the interview with Takashi Inukai, Editor-in-Chief of "SPA!", which provided the inspiration for the "Remote Control Life Story" mentioned above.

Editor-in-Chief Inukai of SPA!, who kindly participated in our remote interview (bottom row: members of Dentsu Inc.'s "Remote Control Life" team)

What became clear during COVID-19 is ultimately the "distance between you and your company." At SPA!, we've consistently proposed this as a theme, and what we feel is finally gaining traction is "multi-career work." Not "side jobs," but "multi-careers." Securing multiple income streams.

With the rise of remote work eliminating the two-hour daily commute, more people are definitely thinking, "Let's use that time to earn money!" Plus, many have realized, "If I don't get another job now, retirement will be hell" (laughs). So, I think it's becoming fairly common for salaried employees to steadily build up multiple side gigs that each bring in around ¥30,000 a month.

Nowadays, there are tons of services encouraging side hustles—so-called personal skill-sharing and matching sites. Things like "I'll teach you how to fillet fish" can apparently be pretty lucrative, and there seems to be demand for online game walkthroughs too. People succeeding with "side hustles" tend to choose what they're good at over what they like. Everyone has something they're a little better at than others. If you hone that skill, there's definitely a way to turn it into money.

Remote Work Reveals Who's Capable and Who Isn't

I think quite a few people struggle with the shift to remote work. Take the "intimidating type," for example. In remote meetings, that person's aura just disappears, right? (laughs) Those "intimidating types" who used to command obedience through sheer pressure in face-to-face situations are probably having a tough time. Nonverbal communication just doesn't work the same way. Similarly, the appeal of the "atmosphere-driven charmer" might fade too. Their aura gets completely nullified. (laughs)

Ultimately, I think productive people will become even more productive. But those who aren't good at their jobs will be completely exposed, which will be really tough. For example, when you're physically at the office and can see how others are doing, it's easier to ask them for help or delegate tasks, keeping work flowing smoothly. But online, you lose that visibility entirely. People who slack off will get almost no work assigned to them. That means they won't gain new skills either, and their productivity will steadily decline. I think the gap between the "capable" and "incapable" online will just keep widening.

A "third place" neither home nor office will shape our lives

With pension issues looming, there's growing momentum from the government to raise the retirement age. But many companies feel they simply can't afford it. From the employee's perspective, if you're passed over for promotion around age 45, you're stuck as a regular employee until retirement – it becomes a meaningless existence (wry smile). The longer the period until retirement, the tougher it gets. Given this possibility, shouldn't we be planning next steps? That's what SPA! has consistently proposed. And now, finally, COVID-19 has aligned the interests of workers, companies, and the government!

Among workers, there are basically "stay-at-home types" and "stay-at-company types," and there wasn't much of a middle ground. With COVID forcing us to rethink "what truly matters to us," I feel the significance of having a "third place" – neither home nor company – grows. It could be an online community, a neighborhood bar's social circle, anything. Sometimes small businesses start out of fun, and whether you have a community sharing your values greatly impacts life's richness.

Money shifts to stock-based, goods shift to flow-based

COVID has made me realize how our values around money and goods have shifted. Money used to be fundamentally a "flow-based" thing, all about keeping cash moving. But going forward, it's becoming more "stock-based," like savings. Conversely, shopping is increasingly becoming "flow-based," built around the premise of resale.

When buying electronics or daily necessities, like apartments or cars, people will increasingly check resale prices on Mercari before choosing, rather than just hunting for the lowest upfront cost. This shift is happening more and more: things that were "flow-based" are becoming "stock-based," and things that were "stock-based" are becoming "flow-based." How do we "flow-ify" the skills and knowledge we've accumulated? How do we "stock-ify" the people and connections we've built? I believe it's becoming increasingly important to discern "what truly matters to me" in order to "work happily alongside colleagues."

[From the Remote Control Life Team]

Here are the keywords for enjoying Remote Life more, gleaned from Editor-in-Chief Inukai's talk.

◉ From Side Hustles to Multiple Careers
◉ From Leisure to Leisure Income
◉ Online Blurs Your Aura
◉ Skill sharing
◉ The Third Place (New Value of Community)
◉ Resale Value

How will the novel coronavirus change our lifestyles? We aim to predict the future by focusing on subtle shifts in daily life and subtle changes in people's hearts, and to create new value. This series explores that potential through the lens of "remote-controlled life."