What was the primary goal of this event?

The purpose of the President Awards (our annual company awards ceremony) is to create a space where recipients could feel truly celebrated by their colleagues. With many of our employees working remotely or on shortened hours due to work style reforms, we wanted to implement a format that allowed everyone to participate—by combining both in-person and online elements.

Why did you choose GP to produce this event?

The main reason was their outstanding planning capabilities. The proposed concept was very appealing, and we felt that holding it with support from the GMO Global Studio would allow us to take on the kind of challenges we were expecting. Also, the speed and reliability of their staff gave us a strong sense of confidence.

What was the most important aspect of this event?

We prioritized ensuring that award recipients participating online could genuinely feel that they were being recognized. When watching from a screen, it’s easy to feel like a passive viewer, so we were very intentional in crafting a production that made online participants feel as though they were sharing the same space as those attending in person.

What was the most difficult part of organizing this event?

We tried several new things on the online production side, so until the day of the event, we were worried about whether we had truly achieved what we were aiming for.

We also faced some challenges during the creation of the opening and ending videos—particularly in communicating our ideas and coordinating during the production process. That’s why it was especially gratifying when we finally received a video edit that made us think, “This is it!”

What left the biggest impression while working with GP?

Their ability to involve everyone. GP didn’t just communicate with our company’s point of contact—they brought in the production and design teams as well, fostering a collaborative atmosphere that made it feel like we were building the event together.

How did participants respond?

According to our survey, 95% of participants said they were satisfied.

Some examples of comments we received are as follows: “It felt like a next-generation evolution of the awards ceremony, thanks to the unique hybrid format,” and “Seeing real-time comments from participants displayed on-screen during the ceremony made me feel like people were truly watching.” Online attendees also said things like, “I enjoyed the camera angles from above—something only possible with virtual participation—and I could really feel the atmosphere of the awards ceremony.”

Do you feel thayou achieved your goals?

I think we were very close to a perfect score. If I were to be picky, then I think that it might have been nice to include more recipient speeches, or moments where they shared insights and experiences—something that would resonate even with those watching the archived version later.

How would you like to evolve this event in the future?

We’re thinking about incorporating something into the ceremony that contributes to recipients’ personal or professional growth. However, we don’t want it to feel like a training session, or extend the event unnecessarily, so we’ll need to find the right balance.

Were there any efforts made toward sustainability in this event? (Including unintentional outcomes that resulted in sustainability)

For a company to grow sustainably, its people are crucial. We encourage diverse working styles so that people feel, “I want to work here,” while considering the varied circumstances of our employees.

By adopting a hybrid format, we believe the ceremony became more inclusive for people with different work styles. In that sense, the hybrid format itself could be considered a sustainable approach.

Also, while we didn’t use any physical panels or decorations at the venue this time, the use of LED screens and other technologies created a photogenic event. By leveraging technology, we were able to address both environmental concerns and support diverse work styles, making it a truly sustainable event.