The future has already begun-Future Summit members Kikai and Takada look back on their activities for the year [3rd serialization project]

In 2019, Euglena recruited CFOs (Chief Future Officers) under the age of 18 to think about the "future" of the earth and the company, and selected one CFO and eight summit members.

This time, the final episode of the series, the editor-in-chief of the media, Kitami, will broadcast live about what Future Summit members Kikai and Takada felt, thought, and left an impression on their activities during their one-year term. Is an interview. Here are some of the situations.
(Click here for the first and second series.)​

Kitami: Today, I would like to look back on the activities of the Euglena
Today, we would like to invite Mr. Kachi and Mr. Takada, members of the Future Summit, to look back on the activities of the Future Summit. First of all, I would like to interview Mr. Kikai.

Junichiro Kikai (hereinafter referred to as Kikai): Thank you. I'm Junichiro Kiki, a member of the Future Summit and a second year high school student.

Kitami: Please tell us what made you decide to apply for the CFO project.

Kikai: I have participated in projects to change society, but I found it difficult to move society. At that time, I saw a newspaper advertisement planned by the CFO and applied because I thought that I could move society by working in the form of corporate activities.

Kitami: When you applied, you had the task of writing your own opinion on SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). What kind of content did you write?

Kikai: I wrote about the genome. I remember that it was a good sentence because I was able to write all my thoughts.

Kitami: That's wonderful. By the way, all the meetings have been switched online due to the influence of the new coronavirus infection. Did you have any anxieties or challenges in your activities?

Kikai: That's right. Something that can be read with the skin when offline is not readable when online, so there was a difficult part. However, being able to handle online meetings was a valuable experience.

Kitami: I think the Future Summit members have been discussing for a year. Did you get inspired by the members?

Kikai: I was inspired a lot by Mr. Ozawa, CFO. In particular, I felt that the ability to make presentations and gather opinions was amazing. I was also inspired by the abundance of ideas from the youngest member, Mr. Higaki.

Kitami: Is there anything that left an impression on you through your activities?

Kikai: I was impressed by the fact that I was able to witness the resolution of the Board of Directors. Based on our recommendations, goals such as "total abolition of PET bottle products" and "50% reduction in the amount of petroleum-derived plastics used in products by 2021" were resolved, but the Future Summit I was very impressed at the moment when the discussions for about a year came to fruition.

Kitami: It's difficult to give a presentation at the board of directors or witness a resolution. I think it's a valuable experience. What do you want to do in the future?

Kikai: Originally, I had a vague goal of changing society, but through the activities of the Future Summit, I have become confident that I can actually change society.

Kitami: Future activities of the summit is for one year, Euglena, Inc. and Our relationship with the fellow (employee) ※ will continue all the way. Let's continue to work together in the future. What kind of person do you want the CFO and Summit members of the second term to be?
* In the Euglena Group, employees are called "companies" with the same aspirations.

Kumi: It is suitable for people who have a lot of energy and want to shape it somehow, or for friends who have the same aspirations. Not only the members of the Future Summit, but Our colleagues have the same aspirations, so I think we can meet many of them.

Kitami: If you have a message for the last person watching, please.

Kikai: I value the phrase "the future has already begun." You may think that the "future" is somewhere far away, but in reality the future has already begun, and I think it is important to do what we can do now.

Kitami: That's true. Thank you, Mr. Kumi.

From here, I would like to talk to Mr. Takada on behalf of Mr. Kikai.

Yuto Takada (hereinafter referred to as Takada): Good evening. My name is Yuto Kida and I am a second year high school student. The reason I applied for the Future Summit member was because when I lived in Indonesia, I witnessed people who were sick because they couldn't maintain oral hygiene and wanted to improve.

Kitami: Please tell us what was difficult and enjoyable through the activities of the Future Summit.

Takada: Around December 2019, I had the opportunity to discuss various ideas, but it was difficult at that time. I had an online meeting for about 5 hours every day.

Kitami: That's right. Everyone had different backgrounds, and as they came up with ideas and made selections, their enthusiasm collided and the discussions were heated. What was the factor that allowed you to narrow down your ideas?

Takada: Mr. Ozawa, CFO, took the lead, but it was great that each member was able to recognize the importance of "combining one proposal together." After recognizing the origin, we were able to work together as one.

Kitami: Around that time, I was given a presentation to my colleagues at Our It was a presentation in front of a lot of people, but were you nervous?

Takada: All of Our colleagues are at home, so I was able to give a comfortable presentation.

Kitami: That was good. Are there any other activities that left an impression on you?

Takada: When I participated in the Japan Action Tank Forum, I was impressed by the fact that I was able to ask and talk to Mr. Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Kitami: That is a valuable experience. Have you ever changed your mindset or brushed up your activities?

Takada: Through the activities of the Future Summit, my desire to contribute to society has grown stronger. In addition, I was able to put together recommendations such as plastic reduction targets, and Our targets, I became confident that I could change the company and society by my own actions. I think it was a big step in doing various activities in the future.

Kitami: Is there anything you would like to work on in the future?

Takada: I am interested in educational issues, so I would like to contribute to society in the field of education.

Kitami: The second Future Summit is about to begin, but you may be worried whether it will be compatible with your studies and club activities. Is Mr. Takada doing club activities?

Takada: I'm the director of the tennis club in high school. I enjoy playing sports, studying, and activities at the Future Summit. I often talk to my friends and family at school about the activities of the Future Summit, and I feel that my friends and family are becoming more aware of environmental and social issues.

Kitami: Mr. Takada's thoughts have spread to the people around you. What do you want the 2nd term members to do?

Takada: It's better to be able to take good care of your friends. During the one-year term of office activities, there may be disagreements among the members, but I think that it is possible to move in the right direction by treating the members as family members and friends. I myself am an ordinary high school student, but I feel that I was able to contribute to changing society through the activities of the Future Summit. If you are interested in changing society even a little, I think it is suitable for the Future Summit.

Kitami: Thank you. Do you have any precautions or advice regarding the selection of the Future Summit?

Takada: First of all, I think it's best to look for the problem awareness that is in your core. Recognizing your core awareness of the issues Our activities, you will naturally be able to challenge the selection with passion. In my case, the core was the awareness of oral hygiene issues that I felt through tooth brushing instruction in Indonesia's slums, and I gave a presentation in connection with Our

Kitami: Last question, the activities of the Future Summit were irregular due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection this year. What has changed due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection, and do you think it will change in the future?

Takada: I feel that the opportunities to connect with the rest of the world have increased as various things such as meetings and events have been brought online. It has become easier to listen to the opinions of people all over the world and to convey my opinions to the world. In that sense, I think that the possibilities have expanded greatly.

Kitami: Thank you for your time, Mr. Kikai and Mr. Takada.

I was able to hear passion from the first CFO and Future Summit members three times.
"The future has already begun"
Euglena is Sustainability First and will continue to think and act on "how our happiness continues to coexist with someone's happiness".