In 2018, SEGA SAMMY consolidated the functions of the Group’s head office, which until then been scattered across Tokyo, at Sumitomo Fudosan Osaki Garden Tower. Currently, about 6,000 employees from 20 Group companies work here. SEGA SAMMY christened the head office “GRAND HARBOR,” a name based on the concept of a “harbor signaling the beginning of a grand journey.”

One effort being made here to draw out the potential of SEGA SAMMY’s human capital, enhance their creativity, and create synergies within the Group is the creation of a conducive office environment. We spoke with Mr. Kei Osawa, Ms. Saiko Uchida and Ms. Emi Ito, from the General Corporate Administration Division’s Employee Communications Department to find out more.

――In 2018, the SEGA SAMMY Group consolidated its head office functions, previously scattered across Tokyo, here at Osaki. Why did it do this?

Osawa

It wasn’t just about physically consolidating everything into one location, but also about fusing the Group’s companies together. Prior to the move, they were spread out across Tokyo. This created a lot of travel time between them and made it a chore to schedule opportunities to talk face-to-face. SEGA SAMMY wanted to foster organic communication by eliminating that physical distance. The idea was that creating opportunities for communication would stimulate interaction among SEGA SAMMY’s human capital, which are the source of the Group’s competitive strength. This in turn would lead to better collaboration between our businesses and the creation of synergies in the Group.

We designed the post-move head office to embody the promotion of communication and synergy creation. Each floor has around 5,290 ㎡ of space. To inspire interaction between executives and employees, we designed each space with a minimum of walls, and we located executives’ seats in the open office space instead of in their own private offices.

Closing the distance between people also broadens their minds. Our concept was that the workspaces here would become the soil for that creativity. Looking back, collaboration and communication between Group companies has become so effortless that it doesn’t even compare to the way things were before 2018.

――The first “face” that visitors encounter here is the reception area. What’s the concept behind it?

Osawa

The reception area’s concept is “a harbor signaling the beginning of a grand journey.” Being based on the ocean and pier motif, the space was designed to appear like a ship’s cabin welcoming visitors.

The visitor meeting rooms are named some famous international port city, with the initial “A” through “Y,” to reflect the SEGA SAMMY Group worldview. There’s no meeting room starting with “Z,” which signifies that the journey is never-ending.

“A new journey begins here”: That’s what GRAND HARBOR symbolizes.

――So, with this concept of a “never-ending journey” you’ve created an environment where those working in it are continually reminded to be constantly creating in their day-to-day work as well?

Osawa

That’s right. I feel this concept isn’t just the basis for the design of our office but also expresses our very attitude towards our work. SEGA SAMMY’s goal is to constantly create captivating experiences, and that requires us to always be making new value: The jobs we do aren’t one-offs.

We’ve also incorporated this “never-ending journey” worldview in the rest of the office to get employees to feel that this mindset is a normal, natural thing. My sense is that embodying this as a space is also influencing employees’ awareness about this.

When talking about the head office, an iconic space that deserves mention is the nearly 480-seat employee cafeteria, “JOURNEY’S CANTEEN,” which is used by around 1,500 employees every day. Open from eight in the morning to nine-thirty at night and offering everything from breakfast, lunch and dinner to café fare and a bar, this space at the head office can be used in a variety of ways throughout the day.

The employee cafeteria at the SEGA SAMMY Group’s head office has been designed to fulfill a variety of functions beyond just being a place to eat. There are a variety of features found throughout for encouraging natural interactions between those who use it.

In addition to decorations and events intended to impart a seasonal feel, JOURNEY’S CANTEEN also offers collaboration menu items for employees to celebrate the anniversaries of Group companies’ products and services. These are meant to serve as chances for those working at SEGA SAMMY to gain a better understanding of the content offered by other Group companies through food. Photos of these items and events are also introduced on the official social media accounts of Group companies to also present SEGA SAMMY’s products and businesses outside the company and communicate with fans.

――What’s the intent behind the collaboration menu items?

Ito
Their aim is to make people familiar with the products and services of SEGA SAMMY Group companies. Menu items are also offered to coincide with anniversary events and the release of new titles, and at present we do more than 20 collaboration events every year. These include tie-ups with the sports teams managed by the SEGA SAMMY Group. We’ve also offered menu items that introduce the content and characters of overseas companies that have joined the Group, and to also as act as a gesture of welcome. These collaborations are being used to encourage communication between employees and within the Group by learning about new things through “delicious experiences.”

――Tell us a bit more about the seasonal events.

Uchida

We also carry out a variety of events in the cafeteria that match the seasons and other special days.

The Halloween event uses the opportunity for everyone working here to dress up in costumes to facilitate interaction that goes beyond departmental boundaries. Communication unfolds naturally as members of management also take initiative and join in. While originally only held here at the head office, other Group locations now join the event online. This is one opportunity for interaction that events allow.

The SEGA SAMMY Group has received certification for its efforts related to promoting the participation of women. So, we’ve held internal events from 2022 as part of laying the groundwork for that. Though these started from town hall meetings that facilitated direct dialog between management and employees on the theme of women’s participation, they’ve expanded to include International Women’s Day inspired events and menu items. These kinds of initiatives are evolving into events that even more employees can take part in. While they primarily targeted women in the beginning, we’re currently broadening our perspective to make it easy for men to be involved, too. I feel that there’s a natural deepening of diverse mutual understanding taking place with employees from various walks of life taking part in events like these.

There’s also a growing number of culturally diverse human capital* working at Osaki who currently come from over 30 different countries and regions. To make it easier for these employees with diverse backgrounds to interact, we also plan events themed around their home countries and cultures as well as communication activities that encourage face-to-face interaction. For example, we’ve held gatherings that used regional foods and culture as kick-starters to stimulate conversation. These came about by planning events from a perspective of finding ways to make communication easier between people from different countries and companies within the Group, even those who may be meeting each other for the first time.

――How are events planned?

Ito
We hold weekly planning sessions where we discuss event content, with about 20% of the plans presented being adopted.

Osawa

Just after we moved to Osaki, the Employee Communications Department planned most events. However, among the events held to date, some have been based on proposals received from Group companies, and others have even been held by Group companies and employees themselves. As a result, as of last year the number of events that make use of the employee cafeteria has grown to 160 annually.

――It seems SEGA SAMMY’s culture has evolved to where measures to encourage communication come about spontaneously.

Osawa

It has. In response to that, we made renovations to the cafeteria in 2025 so its facilities would be more conducive to holding events. These included switching out the chairs and tables for ones that are easier to move around and making projectors and screens more convenient to use.

FREEPORT was created in anticipation of post-COVID work styles and employees’ needs in light of the various kinds of work styles that have been taking root following the pandemic, including working from home and hybrid work. The space was redesigned with the purpose of inspiring face-to-face communication, something that was lacking during the pandemic.

FREEPORT has been developed into a space mostly made up of counter seats where employees can casually stop in at any time without needing a reservation. With hot coffee and flavored water available for free, it is a place for coffee chats and casual meetings. This has become incentive for employees to casually stop in, with an average of 690 drinks consumed daily, and FREEPORT is establishing itself as place that facilitates everyday communication.

The space also has its own “crew,” or dedicated staff, who are not only in charge of its operation, but who also serve as a nexus connecting employees using the facility.

Osawa
A lot of trial and error was involved in the completion of FREEPORT. We considered various ideas, such as filling it full of greenery, making it look like a jungle, projecting video onto the ceiling, or making the ceiling look like the sky. However, after a lot of thought, we ended up with a design that focused on making it an inviting, practical space instead of something flashy or unusual looking. We wanted it to be a place people would naturally want to drop in.

Today, it’s used for after-lunch meetings and to hang out with others in the evening, among other things. Sometimes a president from one of the Group companies even stops by. Encounters like these spark casual conversations, and these kinds of everyday face-to-face chats are creating bonds that tie the Group together.

Ito
Next door to the FREEPORT communication area is an “inspiration area” for employees to broaden their creativity. In making entertainment products and services, ideas and creativity are essential, as expressed by SEGA SAMMY’s Group value: “Creativity is Genesis” × “Always Proactive, Always Pioneering.” The inspiration area was designed with a relaxing and quiet atmosphere to enable these ideas and creativity to manifest naturally. Besides individual booths with chairs that are both stylish and functional, there’s also a library space where employees can freely peruse its collection, which includes books, picture books, comics, photo books and a variety of other genres.

Ambient sounds also play in the background, and we’ve given thought not only to sight but smell as well, with fragrances wafting in the air to help visitors unwind. Overall, we’ve created an environment that enhances employees’ creativity while they switch gears mentally through the stimulation of their five senses.

In contrast to these spaces that foster communication is ANCHOR, a “high concentration area” arranged so employees can focus on their work.

Osawa

It’s said it generally takes people around 20 minutes to enter deep concentration. However, it’s not uncommon to have that process interrupted well before then due to phone calls and conversations when you’re at your desk.

In practice, we’re seeing a growth in a working style were employees use different locations based on what they have to do, such as going to ANCHOR for a short period of time to prepare materials. This way of working is similar to “Activity Based Working (ABW),” where you choose the best place for a particular task, whether that be one that facilitates communication or assists with concentrated thinking. Offering both kinds of spaces gives employees the freedom to choose their work environment depending on the conditions.

――The Osaki office not only encourages communication but also has an influence on employees’ creativity and improving their performance. In conclusion, do you think that it will continue to evolve?

Osawa

SEGA SAMMY’s head office will never be perfected. Workspaces also need to constantly evolve as work styles and technologies continue to change. Even as AI and other technologies advance, the value of communication that comes from face-to-face interactions between people will never change. We want to keep this an environment that fosters new ideas and conversations between employees.

――Thank you for your time.

The many employees at SEGA SAMMY’s Osaki office tirelessly give life to new ideas through the communication they carry out in its spaces every day.

“SEGA SAMMY’s head office will never be perfected.”

True to Mr. Osawa’s words, GRAND HARBOR is a place that will continue to evolve.

The encounters and dialogues that take place here will lead to SEGA SAMMY taking on new challenges.

GRAND HARBOR is the starting point for all of that.

The journey to the next captivating experience starts here, at this port.