Let's hear your words of encouragement for new professionals! We are accepting submissions for the theme project "#ToMyFirstYearSelf".
What words would you send to your "first-year professional self"?
Everyone feels anxiety and hesitation when taking their first steps as a professional. Perhaps there are things you can tell your past self precisely because you have a few years of experience now. Or perhaps you are holding onto a word of advice from a boss or mentor that saved you.
As a place to share such down-to-earth words, we are accepting submissions under the theme "#ToMyFirstYearSelf", sponsored by "Korekara Lab", a co-creation project where managers of owned media cross corporate boundaries to think about the "future" together.
Please post your "message to yourself" born from your real experiences, such as how you dealt with anxiety, what you realized while taking detours, or work tips you learned from failure, on note. We look forward to words that sound like you are speaking to your first-year professional self.
The format is up to you, including columns, essays, photos, as well as manga and illustrations.Please be sure to add the hashtag "#ToMyFirstYearSelf".
Submission Overview
■Submission Period: April 17, 2026 (Fri) 11:00 to May 17, 2026 (Sun) 23:59
Submitted works will be read by the companies participating in "Korekara Lab", and works that members find particularly interesting will be introduced on the official "Korekara Lab" note. In addition, we will post articles related to this theme from each company's official note to liven up the theme together.
Companies participating in "Korekara Lab" (as of April 1, 2026) *In Japanese alphabetical order
IG Consulting, Ajinomoto, NTT Docomo, OM Digital Solutions, Otafuku Holdings, Kaonavi, Casio Computer, Calbee, Kawaijuku Gakuen Dalton School, KIRIN, CAC Holdings, JTB, Sharp, Studio, StoryHub, Sekisui Jushi Group, Sony Network Communications, Teoria Technologies, TENTIAL, Kewpie, Toshiba Tec, Japan Post, Haseko Anesis, Harisley, freee, Poplar Publishing, Mynavi, Macromill, Marui Group, Mori Building, Uzabase, LION, Lifenet Insurance, Rheos Capital Works, Rohto Pharmaceutical
How to Apply
(1) Create a note account or log in
(2) Follow the official Korekara Lab note account
(3) Post an article with the hashtag "#ToMyFirstYearSelf"
・Please make your submission "public" for free.
・You can also submit past articles by adding the hashtag for this project.
・You may submit multiple works.
Message from the sponsoring companies
We received comments from the managers of Korekara Lab regarding the launch of this theme.
April has arrived, and many of you may have started a new life.
First jobs, new environments, relationships with people—.
It is a season where the heart is busy and swaying amidst such changes.
In this project, we would like you to write like a letter, expressing the words you want to say now, while thinking of yourself in your "first year of work".
Things you didn't notice at the time.
Days when things didn't go well, times when you stood still.
Looking back, the path was not a straight line, but all of it leads to the present—.
I am sure you all have that realization.
From your current self to your past self.
"I wanted to say these words to you."
We would be happy if you could put those thoughts into words.
As a result, it might become a word of encouragement that helps someone else who is currently in their first year of work to relax a little.
The messages sent by the participating companies of the lab will be posted on each owned media and the lab's account along with the hashtag "#ToMyFirstYearSelf". Please take a look.
Regarding the use of submitted content
Submitted content may be introduced on the official Korekara Lab note, website, or social media. We will also introduce them on note's official social media.
In addition, we are planning to hold events related to this theme, mainly for those in their first year of work. Details will be announced on the official Korekara Lab note.
We look forward to your submissions!
<Notes on submission>
■ Regarding submitted works
・The copyright of the submitted work belongs to the creator.
・Please post content that complies with copyright law. Please check "Copyright concepts that support creation".
・Please refrain from posting works that have won awards in other contests held by note or other companies, or works similar to them.
・The note management team may remove hashtags from articles that are unrelated to the recruitment content or from paid articles.