Kazutoshi Maeda
Brief History
Graduated from Waseda University’s Faculty of Political Science and Economics in 1984
Completed M.B.A. in the Department of Management Research in Keio University’s Graduate School
Recently studied abroad at Sweden’s Stockholm School of Economics
Completed the EAP special program of the International EAP Association in the United States
Became a part time instructor at Otsuma Women’s University’s Department of Domestic Science (Department of Life Design Psychology of Occupational Groups)
Work History
Entered Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd. in 1984
Left the same company in 2000 (to enter the graduate school of Keio University)
Established LOV Corporation in 2003
– Took part in the establishment/ operation of “Kiraku Kasumigaseki”, Japan’s first exclusive facility for stress management
Groups Belonging to
Japan Society for Occupational Health
The Japan Association of Job Stress Research
The International EAP Association
The Japan EAP Association
Literary Works
“Stress Vaccines that Protect Organizations” (New publication by Doyukan)
“Clinical A La Carte for the mind—A New Care System for the Mind” (Published by Seiwa Shoten Coauthor)
(Ozawa) Thank you for today. Professor Maeda, you have worked on measures for stress for various corporations. Would you tell us about some of the things you noticed from experience regarding the stress of workers and working environments?
(Maeda) When we say working environment, we tend to think of it as a place that allows us to focus on work. I actually believe the most important thing is how we can build a good relationship with our surroundings and the people involved when proceeding with work. Today’s society is one that does work as an organization. I feel that creating a space that can keep an appropriate distance without making one feel isolated, and yet can maintain individual privacy is important for working environments.
(Ozawa) In countries such as Germany there are laws that determine the depth of the office from the window facing outside as a result of considering the importance of letting in natural light into the office. Office environments that can make one become aware of nature must be important.
(Maeda) The relationship between stress and sunlight is being studied in various ways. It seems to be a fact that sunlight resets the biological clock of humans through the eyes. It is said that the biological clock is a 25-hour cycle. To adjust it to a 24-hour cycle, the best thing is to receive sunlight. If not the rhythm can fall apart. Also, humans have determined time for thousands of years with the position of the sun. For example it must be noon when the sun is right above and it is dusk or we must hurry with work when the sun is setting in the west. Even with considering these points I believe working environments that let in natural light are important.
(Ozawa) Your company has proposed a very unique approach for stress. Could you give us a brief introduction about it?
(Maeda) We carry out organizational improvement of companies with various kinds of stress. Stress is actually a barometer that allows us to determine the degree of activity of an organization, the degree of mutual understanding, and the degree of adaptation of business models. Also, as a countermeasure after this, we provide programs that create a state of stress as a simulated experience, named “Stress Vaccine”, and thinks of what to do in that situation. It is something that can encourage adaptation to organizations and helps everyone to find the issues in an organization.
(Ozawa) There are cases when workers feel stress more or less when reviewing office environments as a result of changing working methods. Is your company’s approach effective to such cases as well?
(Maeda) To put it in other words, it can also be said that if stresses can be adjusted in the right direction, it can lead to good workplace cultures. I think it can be said that organizing the office environment and creating a workplace that allows individuals to maintain a coordinated and appropriate relationship is an extremely effective measure.
(Ozawa) It feels that a vaccine is in some ways similar to the work of testing by creating a section of the office as a pilot program. By simulating (Nakamura) actual experiences it must help broaden the understandings and reduce the stress of the new office environment.
(Maeda) I believe so as well. An organization has life and will change as long as it is composed of people. Naturally the most suitable offices change according to the organization and time. I feel that repeating simulations of actual experiences, thinking about what kind of office environment is appropriate for what kind of organization leads to the birth of various virtuous cycles. I believe the sharing of experiences will further strengthen the commitment to organizations.
(Ozawa) I feel it is necessary to create offices from now on by focusing on the mental aspects of workers. The standard way of giving the responsibility just to the designer does not work as well as it used to. It was an extremely useful reference for considering the comprehensive creation of offices for DOUMA as well, thank you. We ask for your guidance again in the future.