Recently, I've been thinking about how to somehow overcome the current situation where the goats I keep are so aggressive that no one can handle them, and they're completely useless for weeding.
Well, I went to Okinawa for the first time in two years. As always, when I arrived, I filled my stomach at Uruka Soba in Naha. It was close to the airport, reasonably priced, and delicious.
Visiting a nursery school in Okinawa
There are many customers in Okinawa who use Nakayoshi Library products. Since I had to make some deliveries, I visited the nursery schools that I could visit.
Onna Village Olive Nursery School
The room divider furniture that we made but never got to see was neatly arranged. It is furniture to separate the eating space from the activity space.
The front and back can be used for storage.
This is our main facility, Olive Nursery School in Onna Village.
I couldn't go to Okinawa to have it installed, so I asked the teachers to do it for me, and they did a very nice job. I'm glad that they are using it comfortably.
Nakijin Village Amesoko Nursery School
About two hours by car from Naha, we delivered picture book stands to a nursery school surrounded by nature, with plants we'd never seen before.
Even though several years have passed since the school opened, the school grounds are still being renovated, with new trees planted to commemorate graduations and new playground equipment being installed. There is an elementary school next door.
The assistant principal loves books, so Amesoko Nursery School has a library. They ordered an additional picture book shelf for this room. I'm so happy.
Kitanakagusuku Village Midori no Hidamari Nursery School
On the way back from Nakijin Village, we went to a nursery school run by a dentist.
The prefabricated mini-houses are used cleverly as partitions. When the 0-2 year olds eat, they all eat together inside these.
When not in use, you can conveniently store the chair under the desk like this.
Uruma City Wakuwaku Nursery School
Wakuwaku Nursery School in Uruma City just opened in April this year. Nakayoshi Library has delivered a lot of shelves, chairs, tables, play equipment, etc. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trapezoid tables are now facing forward to avoid eating facing each other.
We delivered this staircase toy for 1-2 year olds. We quietly placed it there during their nap time. We hope they use it a lot.
Making the childcare environment comfortable
Aside from taking photos, I also visited the nursery school that I am grateful to. I met some teachers for the first time in a while, and some teachers for the first time, even though I have delivered products to them. I haven't been able to visit nurseries on my own much recently, so it was a lot of fun.
And at the end of the visit, I left behind an aura of "I want some orders!!" I was also consulted on some things that I wanted to improve in the childcare environment, so I'll try my best to make some good suggestions when I get back.
Hints from the field
During my stay in Okinawa, I visited many nurseries. Although Nakayoshi Library furniture and play equipment are used, most nurseries use wooden nursery furniture from other manufacturers.
When I look at nursery furniture made by other manufacturers, I think that today's nursery furniture is of high quality and designed with children in mind.
"The height of the risers of the playground equipment should be like this!" "By sticking a black sheet on the furniture, the toys will stand out!" "It doesn't really matter if there are knots or not."
In product development, we must think about what will make people happy and what will help the people in the field. If we don't listen to what people say and see the actual situation, ideas won't come to mind at the office desk, and even if they do, they won't be needed. This creates a mismatch.
Product development has come to a halt recently! The clues are definitely there in the field.
With these thoughts in mind, I returned from Okinawa with a heavy heart.
Now, let's think about new furniture!! Well then...
