A new place to belong — for parents, children, and the community

Born from the needs of employees, the childcare center
has also fostered connections with the local community.

In October 2019, Kirishima Takenoko Childcare Center opened its doors.
"I never imagined that joining a shochu manufacturer would lead me to being involved in establishing a childcare center. But when I saw the faces of the children and their parents at the first entrance ceremony, all of the hardships and challenges we had gone through simply faded away," recalls Toshitaka Suzuki of the Human Resources and Labor Relations Department, who was in charge of the project.

Kirishima Takenoko Childcare Center is a daycare established through the Japanese government’s Corporate-Led Childcare Program,^*an initiative promoted by the Cabinet Office. It was established through a partnership between Korimoto Welfare Association, a social welfare corporation in Miyakonojo City, and Kirishima Shuzo.
*The Corporate-Led Childcare Program is a subsidy program for companies launched by the Cabinet Office in fiscal year 2016. It provides subsidies for facility development and operating costs to childcare facilities established by companies to provide flexible childcare services tailored to the working styles of their employees, as well as to childcare facilities jointly established and used by local companies.

The origins of the childcare center trace back to a dinner meeting held in October 2016 between Toshihiro Asai of the Korimoto Welfare Association (current chairman of Kirishima Takenoko Childcare Center) and Takuzo Enatsu, Senior Managing Director of Kirishima Shuzo.
"When I brought up the Corporate-Led Childcare Program with Director Takuzo, he expressed his support. Not long afterward, I was informed that Mr. Suzuki had been assigned to oversee the project," Asai recalls. At the time, Asai was serving as principal of Inari Certified Children's Center, which had more applicants than available spots, and he wanted to do something about the situation.

Meanwhile, Kirishima Shuzo also had many employees who were raising children or were in the next generation of parents (the average age of employees in 2016 was 32), and some employees were unable to return to work smoothly because they could not find childcare facilities such as nurseries, depending on when they returned from maternity or childcare leave.
"It seems the reason the managing director appointed me to be in charge was because my child attends 'Inari Certified Children's Center,' where Mr. Asai is the principal," Suzuki said. With Asai and Suzuki, who was raising child, the establishment of the center began to move forward.

"I thought the most important thing was whether there was a real need from the employees," said Suzuki. He conducted a survey of all employees at Kirishima Shuzo, as well as those at group company, and spoke with various parties, including the Cabinet Office, doing everything he could to successfully submit the application for the program.

The center incorporates many touches that reflect the essence of Kirishima Shuzo while also offering glimpses of childlike innocence and fun. While prioritizing the safety of the children, the interior and playground are designed to nurture their sensibilities through nature and space, making every day enjoyable. The three distinctive stone roofs represent bamboo shoots, and from a certain angle, they are said to resemble the shape of the Kirishima mountain range.

Furthermore, with the hope of giving the children valuable experiences and having them watched over, the center planted the rare and highly valued "Yakushima crape myrtle," which grows naturally in Yakushima and other areas, as a symbolic tree on the artificial hill in the playground.
The name "Kirishima Takenoko Childcare Center" was decided after brainstorming ideas within the company. It embodies the wish that the children will grow up honestly and steadily, like bamboo that grows straight, flexibly, and gracefully.

There are also initiatives unique to Corporate-Led Childcare Program. Based on feedback from within the company, the opening time is set early at 7:00 a.m. so that parents can drop off their children with ample time before work. The facility is also open on Sundays and public holidays if there are users. They also provide care for children recovering from illness, children who are unwell, and temporary childcare.
"There are always two nurses on duty, so if a child develops a fever while in daycare, they can respond immediately. As a working parent, you want to pick up your child right away, but that's not always possible, so it's reassuring to know there's a place you can rely on in those situations," says Suzuki.

Three years after its opening, Kirishima Takenoko Childcare Center has become a more familiar presence for both the local community and Kirishima Shuzo. With a community interaction space set up on the premises, it is also used as a gathering place for local residents. Some residents have brought in various small animals, giving the children opportunities to interact with them, while others have donated items that the children enjoy, such as pianos and samurai helmets.
Furthermore, when the center holds events, Kirishima Shuzo lends out happi coats and lanterns for children. During Halloween, children dressed in costumes come to visit the "Shochu no Sato Kirishima Factory Garden." "Kirinokura Bakery" also makes original bamboo shoot bread and offers it as a snack.

"We truly feel that the community is raising our children. We participate in local events, and in turn, people from the community come to the events at the childcare center. This kind of collaborative approach to watching over the children is the best," Asai says.
"We are truly grateful that they take on the role of being the first point of contact for our employees when they have questions or concerns about childcare. We want to continue creating an environment where it is even easier to balance work and childcare," said Suzuki.
Asai says he wants it to be a good environment for everyone—children, parents, and teachers. In the midst of their hectic daily lives, there was a warm and supportive place there.