During their inspection tour in Japan, employees from an overseas company experienced team building through Japanese culture. In this article, we interview Ayaka and Asami, the planners behind the program, who share their insights and reflections from the event.
Customer Requests and Background
This project began with a request from a leading dairy company, seeking a team-building style experience for their employees as part of a tour of the company-owned arena and factory.
With participants ranging from seasoned Kendo practitioners to complete beginners, we carefully designed the program to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Schedule for the day
- 14：30 ~ 15：30 ｜ Introduction to Kendo
- Etiquette and bowing
- Kendo demonstration (observing a match between instructors)
- How to hold the bamboo sword (shinai) & warm-up exercises
- Experience of Nihon Kendo Kata (traditional forms)
- 15：30 ~ 15：45 ｜ Pair practice
- 15 : 45 ~ 16 : 15 ｜ Team-building activity with paper balloons
Memorable Activities and Participant Reactions
From your perspective, was there a particular activity during the event that left a strong impression on you?
What I found most enjoyable was the game where we attached a paper balloon to the instructor’s head, and participants had to burst it using the techniques they had just learned. After spending about an hour practicing different movements, everyone was able to put everything together in this final challenge. It combined a sense of achievement with the fun of a game, and the atmosphere became incredibly lively.
Kendo allows participants to experience the solemn atmosphere of a traditional martial art. At the same time, the unique challenge of bursting a balloon placed above the instructor’s head—without actually hitting them—added an extraordinary sense of fun that one would never encounter in everyday life. The blend of tension and enjoyment created in that moment was one of the event’s greatest highlights.
What Only MOTENAS JAPAN Can Offer
What do you think are the strengths of MOTENAS JAPAN compared to other countries and cases implemented by other companies?
This point is not limited to this particular program, but many of those who reach out to MOTENAS JAPAN are, of course, guests from overseas. Managing a program smoothly in front of participants of different nationalities and languages is never an easy task.
In the recent Kendo experience, for instance, there was only a Chinese-speaking guide available. Creating an enjoyable environment for such a diverse team required meticulous preparation and careful selection of staff behind the scenes.
Many people are involved in creating an experience.
(1) Clients
(2) Instructors
(3) Persons in charge of the agent company who request our services
(4) Outside partners
(5) Venue facility personnel
In every program, it is essential to create an experience plan that satisfies a wide range of stakeholders. On-site irregularities are part of everyday reality, but at MOTENAS JAPAN our concierges have cultivated the adaptability to handle such situations directly.
This capability, backed by well-established expertise, allows our clients to feel confident in entrusting their events to us.
It is precisely because of our years of experience and the trust we have built that MOTENAS JAPAN can deliver the kind of attentive support and thoughtful insights that no other company can provide.
MOTENAS JAPAN : Crafting Truly Unique Moments with a One-Stop Approach
MOTENAS JAPAN designs truly one-of-a-kind experiences tailored to each client—from large-scale corporate events to exclusive programs for VIP guests. Through Japanese cultural experiences such as Kendo, we create opportunities that bring teams together in a powerful and memorable way.
Even if your idea begins with just a simple thought—‘Could this be possible?’—we welcome your inquiry. Share your vision with us, and we will transform it into an unforgettable reality.
For those who want to know more about our services and the implementation process.
Our dedicated concierge will be happy to guide you through the process.
We are working day and night to spread Japan’s unique hospitality culture to people around the world. Please feel free to contact us for any inquiries regarding the reception and hospitality of guests visiting Japan.
