1-6 The Beginning of the Journey

— My First Day at the Company —

Returning to Nishi-Asakusa

Just like on the day of my interview, I got off at Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line and headed toward the travel company in Nishi-Asakusa. Today was my first day of work. Along the banks of the Sumida River, the Bokutei Cherry Blossom Festival was being held.

After the interview, I took exams at three companies and received offers from two. My friends and family recommended that I choose the others, but I didn’t hesitate— I chose this company.

Now, I was walking along Nakamise Street, its shutters closed, with hardly anyone around.

During the interview, the discomfort I felt here had really been discomfort toward my own job hunt. But I sensed there had also been another feeling— something about myself.

Meeting the President Again

I turned off Kappabashi Main Street into the alleyway, and just like before, the president was standing at the corner of the apartment building, looking up at the sky.

“Good morning, Tabina,” he said, and walked into the office.

I quickly ran after him, irritated at how slowly the automatic door opened, and slipped inside as soon as it let me through.

Welcome to the Team

Suddenly—

“Welcome!” “Nice to meet you!” “‘Uss!’”

Those voices, followed by loud applause, wrapped around me.

When the clapping faded, the president called out:

“Please come this way,” his warm smile inviting me from the back of the office.

There stood Heidi. And two men.

Everyone stood in front of their desks— arranged neatly in a square— waiting to greet me.

Drawn in, I walked quickly to stand beside the president.

“This is Tabina, who will be working with us starting today—”

Before he could finish, Heidi suddenly spoke.

“For the past week, Maru-san has been saying, ‘Will Tabina-chan really come? Will she?’ He’s been restless the whole time!”

The president cleared his throat lightly. Heidi stuck out her tongue playfully.

Introducing the Team

“These are all of our employees,” the president said. “You already know Heidi, of course.”

Heidi was beautiful as always— loose beige pants, a light navy sweater with a round neck, a brown belt as an accent. If she posed in a springtime park full of soft sunlight, she could easily appear in a fashion magazine.

“Please take care of me,” Heidi said. “I tend to say too much sometimes, but don’t mind it, okay? I’ve loved you ever since the first moment I met you, Tabina.”

I felt certain— the grown-up Heidi from the Alps was standing right here.

Sensei Appears

“This is Sensei,” the president said.

The moment I looked at him, the image of a sumo wrestler came to mind.

He wore black-rimmed glasses, his hair a messy mop. He wasn’t particularly tall—maybe 165 to 170 cm— yet his presence overflowed with energy. He looked like the kind of wrestler who would square up against an opponent twice his size without hesitation. But an endearing, lovable wrestler.

“If you need to know anything about computers or horse racing, just ask him,” the president said.

Sensei. Computers. Horse racing. Sumo wrestler.

All those words collided in my mind, and question marks swirled around like a shower of cherry blossoms.

Sensei bowed like a wrestler entering the ring and said in a deep voice:

“‘Uss.’”

Yes—definitely a sumo wrestler.

Sake-shō-san

“And this is Sake-shō-san.”

Before the president had even finished, Sake-shō-san began speaking.

“I’ve worked here for over twenty years. This is a wonderful company. You never need to hesitate about anything with the president or your coworkers. If you don’t understand something, ask anyone at any time. And since I love Japanese sake, feel free to ask me about that too.”

Heidi raised her hand.

“Sake-shō-san, you’re rambling again!”

He laughed as everyone burst into warm laughter. He scratched his head while looking at the ceiling— just like the president often did. Their smiles overflowed with trust and affection. Standing side by side, the president and Sake-shō-san looked like lifelong friends.

The President’s Message

“Now, lastly, from me,” the president said. Everyone nodded.

“As Sake-shō-san said, there’s no need to hold back here. But as a travel company, we must never forget two things— to ensure our customers enjoy their travels, and to protect their safety.”

“And after discussing it thoroughly with everyone…” he continued.

“We want you, Tabina, to design trips that share the beauty of Japanese culture and traditional crafts with many people.”

“We’ll help you. So please create trips that express what you want to share.”

“To do that, touch, learn, and feel Japanese culture and crafts deeply.”

Everyone looked at me— smiling warmly— as I stood there, stunned.

Sensei thumped his chest like a sumo wrestler and shouted loudly:

“‘Uss!’”

And that’s how my journey— Tabina’s Journey— began.