第２９３回 Workshop報告（１月１7日）

≪FIRST HALF≫

New Year, New You? Traditions & Reality

A new year has just started.

How was your winter vacation? I had an 8-day holiday, which passed in the blink of an eye.

I happened to see a piece of news about some people quitting their jobs on their first day back at work, saying things like, “Happy New Year, Boss. I quit. Here’s my resignation letter.”

It is common for most people to feel reluctant to resume working after a long break. However, how do you overcome it? Even after just 2 days off, you might have experienced such feelings. What motivates you to work in such tough situations?

Also, have you made your New Year’s resolution for 2026? What is it? I haven’t decided mine, though.

I visited a shrine near my parents’ house with my family on New Year’s Day, and also visited Osaka Temmangu Shrine on January 4th.

After praying to the god, I bought a lucky charm and drew a lucky lot (omikuji). Even though the result was “misfortune”, I do not care about it at all. Moreover, I am fully satisfied with the good start of the year.

Today, please share how you spent your New Year holidays and your ideas about Japanese traditions especially around this season.

  <Questions>

Q1. Please discuss your first shrine visit of the year.

1-1) Do you usually visit a shrine during the New Year holidays? Why or why not?

1-2) Which shrine do you visit? What do you do at the shrine?

1-3) Do you buy any food or lucky charm? Do you write your ambition on the wooden tag (ema) hoping it will come true?

1-4) How much money do you usually offer to the gods?

1-5) Can you explain how to pray in front of the shrine building?

(If you do not visit any shrine due to religious reasons, please answer the questions assuming you are a typical Japanese person).

Q2. Please discuss your activities related to other Japanese traditions around the year-end and New Year holidays.

2) Other than visiting a shrine, do you follow any Japanese traditions, such as sending New Year’s cards, making a New Year’s resolution, or eating traditional New Year’s food? Why or why not?

Q3. Please discuss why some people love omikuji and fortune-telling.

3-1) Do you like to have your fortune told? Do you change your behavior depending on the result?

3-2) What do you think are the benefits of fortune-telling for a person who is non-religious or skeptical? Why do you think there are bad results included in the lucky lots at shrines?

3-3) What would you do when you receive a bad result? Do you have any good advice for a friend who has drawn a “misfortune” lot?

≪LATTER HALF≫

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work.

AI technologies such as ChatGPT and automation tools are transforming industries worldwide. According to recent studies, sectors most exposed to AI have seen three times higher growth in revenue per employee, and workers with AI-related skills earn on average 56% more than others. At the same time, projections suggest that by 2030, 30% of jobs could be fully automated, while 60% may undergo significant task-level changes.

This rapid evolution brings both opportunities and challenges. Surveys show that 52% of workers feel worried about AI, while 36% feel hopeful. These mixed feelings highlight the importance of discussing how AI will impact our careers, skills, and daily work.

During the workshop, we will explore:

How AI might change your job or industry in the next five years.

Whether AI improves work quality or creates more risks.

Which skills will matter most in the AI era.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and engaging in a lively discussion!

<Questions>

Q1.  Do you use AI for your Work? If Yes, please share your experiences.

Q2. How do you think AI will change your job or industry in the next 5 years?

Q3. Do you believe AI will improve the quality of work, or create more risks? Why?

Q4. What skills do you think will be most important in the AI era? Let’s agree on the top three as a group.

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私たちと一緒に英語コミュニケーション能力を鍛えませんか？

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よりお申し込みください。お待ちしています。

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