Roger OngTrust Inc has opened its doors to Fukuoka with its “Community Space Wis Square” Fukuoka, a space rental. While its Tokyo counterpart is well known for its rental space for work or events, its opening at Fukuoka hinted a slightly different twist.
The opening event of Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka opened with a SDGs-related card game called Outside In. What seemed like a simple game to introduce the concept of Sustainable Development Goals, became an eye-opening look at the obstacles and solutions of social businesses in Japan.
During the event, we got to speak to Trust Inc representative Yukika Ono and Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka’s community manager Akiko Fish to discover the importance of Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka in connecting social businesses and organizations with one another.
Learning to create new opportunities through Outside In Card Game
Even though concerns of the coronavirus loomed over the city, there was a good turnout for Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka’s opening. Akiko Fish, who is also a certified facilitator for the Outside In card game, opened the first session with a shortened version of the full game.
“Because of the time constraints, I had to rush through the explanations and make the game shorter. At first, I was worried if the participants could understand and play the game,” Fish shared. But that worry was unnecessary. The participants were excited at the novelty of the game, and were happy to learn.
The participants were divided into 10 teams representing 10 different industries, like IT and Food & Beverages. Using their assets and resources, the goals are to (1) create new business opportunities, and (2) make as much profit as possible. The game encouraged cross-industry collaboration and deal-making.
The key lies in creating new business opportunities
But there is a catch in the game. Just like in real life, attempts to create new business opportunities doesn’t always succeed. However, as Fish revealed, the only way to make profits is to create new value in their industries. And to create new businesses, the industry needs to look beyond their organizations to solve a need in the society. That is where the name of “Outside In” comes from.
The Outside In card game is based on the concepts covered in the SDG Compass. By looking outside the organization and leveraging on the strengths of the organization, new opportunities can be created by solving social problems, while also being financially beneficial.
Opening participants’ hearts to SDGs through Outside In card game
Furthermore, the game is highly accessible. Players get to learn about SDGs-related businesses in an interactive environment, rather than through a lecture or seminar about SDGs.
As a coordinator of the Social Design Laboratory at Kyushu University, Fish realized there were two different groups of people. It is easy to promote social action to those who are interested in social good. However, it is not easy to stir interest in those who aren’t. She wanted something that could spark interest. That was when she learnt about the Outside In card game, and became the first facilitator in Japan for the game.
“In a way, the SDGs is ‘absolute justice’. How can one argue that SDGs is wrong?” Fish shared amusingly. “So SDGs do not necessary have an approachable image that invites anyone to learn more.”
On the other hand, by the end of the game session, the participants were in a high mood. SDGs, in particular sustainable businesses, was fun! After sharing each industries’ number of new businesses and announcing profits, the participants were also allowed time to reflect on what had worked, and what could have gone better.
“As the new community manager, that is what I want for Wis Square Fukuoka,” Fish expressed. “The Japanese are aware of social problems in Japan, but often feel powerless to act. The game can open their hearts and minds, and update themselves to a mindset of sustainability. When combined with this community space, new doors to possibilities are opened. And seeing today’s participants’ reactions, I believe they will start looking around themselves with a new found perspective.”
Community Space Wis Square as a catalyst for social business in creating new value
The representative of Trust Inc, Yukika Ono, understands the concept that Outside In game is trying to convey. This is why she has a vision for Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka to facilitate new partnerships.
“Many businesses often find themselves struggling by themselves. Very often, they are startups who have found a solution to solve a social problem, but are often held back by other obstacles,” shared Ono. “For example, one of the obstacles is financing for marketing. While they are focused on creating the product or service, there is limited funds for promotions and attracting an interested audience.”
This is also reflected in the Outside In Card Game. Even after succeeding in creating new businesses, there is no profit if players do not involve themselves in promotional activities. To do both, partnerships with other teams are required.
Therefore, Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka plays two important roles. Firstly, it acts as the space where businesses can come together and connect with one another. It is where new businesses can be initiated through collaborations. The second, social organizations can leverage on the facility’s ability to gather fans or customers.
Ono explained, “The booth exhibition we have arranged today is a good example of how Wis Square Fukuoka can facilitate that connection. The booths are free for the social business startups to rent and display their products and services, and the representatives are free to network. Furthermore, today’s Outside In Card Game’s participants explore these booths as successful examples of the game. An interested audience provides exposure for these organizations.”
The post-game exhibition introduces examples of sustainable businesses of “Outside In”
As the facilitator of the Outside In Card Game, Fish knew the social businesses that would perfectly demonstrate the lessons in the game. They were invited to set up booths in the opening event.
The exhibitions covered various social issues. For example, Ameagarino Niji, which is a cafe that hires staff with disabilities. It provides work support and training too, including food preparation, waiting, cleaning and data entry. This spring, Ameagarino Niji will start introducing farming work for their staff with disabilities in Itoshima, Fukuoka. It will involve them in harvesting the ingredients for the cafe.
Wig Ring Japan was also present. Wig Ring Japan puts a very special meaning behind a cycle of wig rental. Wigs that were used by survivors of cancer are taken back, cleaned and handed on to new cancer fighters. The wigs thus become a symbol of encouragement, especially for the women who have various troubles on their minds. In fact, they started Cheers Style TV, meeting the need for information supporting women in various circumstances, like sickness, divorce and health.
Another social business, Guardner spent a year of intense research and development on Room Shampoo. It is a machine that can wash the hair and body without the need for a bathroom. (We’ve included their video here, because it’s the fastest way to understand how it benefits anyone who has mobility issues.)
As a matter of fact, there is a collaboration between Baobab Sunrise (a social business for Zambian villages promoting Baobab) and Yasaiya Honpo (specializing in turning unsold vegetables into jams) to find ways to turn the African fruit Baobab into jams. An excellent example of how new value can be created by combining different companies’ strengths.
Ono also added, “This is also a personal challenge for me, to continue this model of events, so that Trust Inc will also unearth new business values that are beneficial for society and the company.”
A model to find new value, and a channel to grow social organizations
Moreover, Ono doesn’t just want to stop at local Japanese social organizations. She wants to be able to invite overseas companies to leverage on the space and events too, with a particular interest in Chinese businesses. Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka is thus a great option, on top of the fact that Fukuoka has an active startup culture and infrastructure.
Perhaps that is the best way to discover new strengths of a social organisation: to diversify its options for collaboration too. Even though the Outside In Card Game deals with 10 different industries, we can imagine the range of possible permutations that individual organizations can offer with their multiple strengths. And we should make full use of community spaces like Wis Square Fukuoka to speed that process up.
[Reference] Community Space Wis Square Fukuoka[Reference] Outside In Card Game
