Towards a new society brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic;
Reviving Humanity: Creating mechanisms to enhance our senses

　Around the world, the words, “STAY HOME”, have become a mantra, allowing us more time to remain where we are and come face to face with how we honestly feel. I even feel that the coronavirus pandemic may be nature’s warning to the human ego. It has become an opportunity to question and realize that which we considered to be common sense and what we took for granted, and to rediscover what is really important to us and why we need the things we do. For many people, the pandemic may also have become an opportunity to explore a new way of living in their daily habits and workstyles with an increased awareness of health and safety.
　Many companies withdrew the caps on working from home, allowing remote working to become more widespread; meetings and even drinking parties were also held online. As information continues to spread with the evolution of IT and globalization, automation and the development of mechanized systems at production sites are also picking up speed. The introduction of automated systems seems to be factored into BCPs (business continuity plans), from tiny shops in small towns to large factories around the world. Today, as we interact with robots using AI (artificial intelligence) on a daily basis, I have come to the conclusion that in order to create a sustainable society that can co-exist with these types of technologies, it will be necessary for us to recoup our “humanity” at its very essence.

　So, once again, just what is “humanity”? Maybe it is because we have had quiet periods of inactivity this year or that our sensibilities are more finely tuned, but for whatever reason, with another summer is drawing to a close, I find myself feeling a bit nostalgic.
　I believe that we Japanese have always maintained a good balance with the seasons and nature. Wind chimes and sudare bamboo rattan blinds are a few things that come to mind, providing relief in the heat and humidity of summer; sitting on the veranda and enjoying the fresh taste of watermelon made ice-cold in well water, together with the cool texture and pleasant sounds of wind chimes, and feeling the gentle breeze through the cracks and flickers of light filtering through the bamboo blinds, I find myself dozing off, homework in hand, as I listen to the sounds of the cicadas off in the distance. I can still clearly remember the feel and texture of the watermelon rind, the wind against my skin, and the touch of the tatami mat. This was not something that my parents taught me, but was an environment presented to me as a way to withstand life’s difficulties. It is about the transformation into cool and comfortable spaces using ingenuity in one way or another on sweltering hot and humid summer days. It is about weaving rich memories with our five senses that we can cherish. I believe that this must be what humanity is, a means of reinforcing our human values.

　The hurdles for safety and security are being raised now. It feels like a fresh reminder that even things we took for granted, like touch, were a luxury. The speed of the evolution of virtual technologies in today’s day and age has made it possible for us to have real experiences anywhere. The coming years will see us able to engage in design without requiring us to come into direct contact with other people or things.
　Even if this is only a trend of the times, I believe that we as designers must continue to offer unforgettable scenes full of imagination and creativity that appeal to all five senses. I think it is our job to keep asking ourselves if we can continue creating mechanisms to provide spaces that are even better than those in the natural world to broaden the range or stop emotional swings in their tracks.

　The coronavirus pandemic has given rise to a new value that “maintaining a sense of distance is caring for others”, and we have also accepted workstyles that differ from the traditional. With ingenious methods of communication, workflows were also developed to fulfill their intended roles from within our comfort zones. The use of satellite offices in city hotels and work-cations at resort hotels have also drawn attention. I think that the process of working amidst nature is one of the best ways for us to regain our creativity and senses.
　At the same time, I have started to realize that it is difficult to create a sense of unity even as the same corporation working towards the same goals. We may feel anxious or impatient that we are missing out on something. Some of us may be experiencing a growing sense of loneliness. Some may be shaking their heads instead, enjoying life and working at their own pace with no particular inconveniences or complaints.
　When I consider what elements we need in an office environment for this new social system, I think it will be a new mechanism to foster empathy in sharing the same goals of being glad to be working with this particular group of colleagues at this company after all.
　There are many things we can do with no preconceptions or conventions that would be easy if we just tried. We hope to be able to work with you to create such mechanisms in the future. (September 18, 2020)