Holiday Member* Mr. Koushima has 30 years of experience as a newspaper journalist and is currently involved in online news distribution and writing activities. He has been using GOODWORK since our opening 5 years ago. Through this interview, we discovered that he was the one who inspired the initiation of our Holiday Membership program!
*A Holiday Member is a membership type for usage on Weekends and National Holidays.
GOODWORK STAFF INOMATA (Ms.) (hereinafter Inomata):
Thank you for your continued patronage of GOODWORK. Today, we’d like to have a candid conversation with you, Mr. Koushima, about your work and personal experiences. Thank you for your time.
To start off with, could you tell us why you were prompted into becoming a member of GOODWORK?
Mr. Koushima:
Five years ago in March, I took an early retirement from a company where I had worked for 30 years. I was looking for a new base to replace my workplace while considering re-employment and at this time I found GOODWORK near my house.
Inomata:
GOODWORK opened in May 2019, so you found us right after your retirement!
Mr. Koushima:
It was before the pandemic so there weren’t many facilities like GOODWORK and therefore I remember quite clearly even today when I discovered your facilities. Initially, I used to take advantage of your Drop-IN Plan and use GOODWORK for 2-3 hours a day, appreciating the comfortable atmosphere. Wanting a more settled space to leave my belongings, I rented a locker and became a regular member. At that time, I used it as a workspace for job hunting and writing, as I was conducting interviews and writing articles concurrently. I would arrive around 9 AM and stay until evening.
After finding a new workplace and having to commute there, my usage of GOODWORK decreased, but I soon wanted a place for weekends. Since it is hard to concentrate at home, I had hoped GOODWORK could provide that environment, although there wasn’t a weekend membership back then. When I discussed my desire to use it on weekends with the staff, the Holiday Membership was introduced! I became a member right away, and it’s been about three years now since I have become a Holiday Member.
On weekends without specific plans, I usually arrive around 10 AM, where I organize documents, read, watch videos on my PC, and enjoy leisure time as a hobby. The private desk area on the second floor is particularly cozy! When I read, I mainly use the sofa.
Inomata:
When you worked as a newspaper journalist, were you on call 24/7 to cover breaking news whenever it happened?
Mr. Koushima:
Certainly. Yes, I was mentally prepared for a 24-hour work schedule back then. In my younger days, I had the physical stamina to manage it. When I first joined the company in Osaka, the internet wasn’t widely available yet. I even carried around one of those early mobile phones, a shoulder phone that was quite bulky! During the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995, I happened to be in Osaka. At that time, personal mobile phones weren’t common yet; it was still the era of pagers. While my pager was buzzing, home phones were down, so I had to search for a payphone to get in touch. There were long queues for taxis, and while waiting for one, there was a very big aftershock (of the earthquake). Despite all that, I made it to the office after a much longer journey than usual to get the job done.
Inomata:
Could you tell us about your experiences and achievements during your career as a newspaper journalist?
Mr. Koushima:
During my time as a newspaper journalist, I mainly worked in the social affairs department, focusing on events, governmental issues, and local news in Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto. The area where I was based, are known nationwide for their frequent major incidents and noteworthy topics, providing me with extensive experience covering various scenes. Especially the Great Hanshin Earthquake, as I mentioned earlier, was an unforgettable catastrophe. After transferring to Tokyo in 2002, I covered the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries at Kasumigaseki, and also participated in coverage related to the Imperial Household Agency, including accompanying coverage of the overseas visits by the former Emperor and Empress during their reign. It’s been almost 20 years now, but I also had the opportunity to attend a state dinner on behalf of the press corps from a certain country.
Inomata:
What kind of work are your currently engaged in?
Mr. Koushima
After retiring from the newspaper company, I worked in a medical advertising agency and in an industrial paper dealing with the education industry before joining a television station to handle online news distribution. My current role involves delivering news from television broadcasts to the internet. In today’s media landscape, the ability to swiftly and accurately upload information online is crucial. To be honest, I’m not as proficient with computers compared to the younger generation and so I often find myself sweating over it and working through challenges.
Inomata:
Could you tell us about your future career aspirations?
Mr. Koushima
First and foremost, my primary focus is on my main occupation. However, I also aim to pursue writing projects that capitalize on my extensive experience as a journalist. I have several ideas in mind, but given the wear and tear on my body and decreased stamina with age, I intend to take things slowly and steadily.
Inomata：
Lastly, could you kindly share with us your hobbies, enjoyments, and how you like to unwind and recharge?
Mr. Koushima:
I love reading and visiting bookstores. Recently, it’s been a bit sad as bookstores in town are decreasing, but I make it a point to go to a bookstore daily. My favorite genre are mystery novels. Another passion of mine is Professional Wrestling, mainly New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Rather than just watching, I go to photograph wrestlers. When I capture the moment of their finishing moves perfectly, I transfer the photos to my smartphone. On my days off, I often wear bright-colored wrestling T-shirts in red or yellow, though my daughter always scolds me and tells me to stop because she finds it embarrassing (LOL).
Inomata:
Thank you for the enjoyable conversation(interview)! If you have any requests or suggestions regarding GOODWORK’s facilities or service, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We would once again like to thank you for your using GOODWORK and hope for your continued patronage of us.
Mr. Koushima:
I truly appreciate being able to do various things in such a calm space. Thank you very much and I look forward to the continuous use of GOODWORK.