Reflections on the Third Session of the 6th Chichi Human Studies Certified Coordinator Training Course

Learning from Inshitsuroku and the Power of 'Inquiry'

Today, I attended the third session of the 6th Chichi Human Studies Certified Coordinator Training Course.

The content for this session included presentations of reflections on 'Reading Inshitsuroku,' key points for facilitating book clubs as a coordinator, and a presentation of my own 'Kakubetsu Chichi' (attaining knowledge through investigation) experience.
While there is much to learn each time, what particularly resonated with me this time was the importance of 'thinking about questions.'
When people think of book clubs, they often imagine a place to understand the content of a book or share their impressions. However, through this course, I felt that the true value of a book club lies in deepening each participant's thinking through 'inquiry.'

Even when reading the same book, everyone feels differently

This time, there were presentations of reflections on 'Reading Inshitsuroku.'
Even when reading the same text, the parts that resonate with people are completely different.
Some were moved by the importance of 'accumulating hidden virtues,' while others empathized with the 'attitude of doing good deeds without seeking recognition.' I was also able to gain new insights by hearing perspectives and interpretations I hadn't noticed myself.

Through today's learning, the term 'Inshitsu' (hidden virtue) remained in my heart once again.

Inshitsu means accumulating good deeds without anyone knowing, that is, repeatedly doing the right thing without seeking any reward. It is not flashy, and the results are not immediately visible. However, I felt that in the workplace, the accumulation of such daily, sincere actions fosters trust and leads to a workplace culture where people can work with peace of mind and the building of a strong organization.

Greeting others, expressing words of gratitude, subtly supporting a colleague in trouble, and sincerely fulfilling one's assigned role. None of these are extraordinary things. However, continuing such actions without being told by anyone will eventually become trust from those around you and, I believe, will become the strength of the organization.

As a labor and social security attorney, I am involved in consultations for many companies and welfare facilities. What I feel in that process is that workplaces where it is easy to work and where people stay are always home to such 'people who accumulate hidden virtues.'

Systems and rules are essential for organizational management. However, a good workplace cannot be created by those alone. I believe that systems and mechanisms only come to life when there is a foundation of mutual consideration, a heart of gratitude, and the accumulation of sincere actions.

A book club is not a place to search for the 'correct answer.' It is a place to share each other's realizations while bringing in our respective life experiences and values.

That is precisely why there is great significance in presenting one's reflections. I felt once again that it is not necessary to speak eloquently, but rather that it is important to honestly put into words what moved your heart.

The 'Power of Inquiry' required of a coordinator

In this course, we also learned about the points to keep in mind when facilitating a session as a book club coordinator.
What left an impression on me was that a coordinator is not a 'teacher,' but a 'person who draws out thinking.'

We tend to want to share our own knowledge and experience. However, in order to deepen the participants' learning, it is more important to ask good questions than to provide knowledge.

For example,

'What did you feel when reading this text?'

'Which sentence stayed in your heart?'

'How would this content apply to your own work or home life?'

Questions like these draw out that person's own experiences and values.

A good question has the power to open people's hearts and create an opportunity for them to think for themselves. I believe it is precisely because of such questions that dialogue among participants is born and learning is deepened.

Human studies and the work of a labor and social security attorney are connected

The power of 'questions' that I learned about this time is also relevant to our work as labor and social security attorneys.

When receiving consultations, providing immediate answers is not the only form of support.

"Why do you think that way?"

"What do you truly want to become?"

"What is the background to this?"

Helping the other party organize their thoughts and realize the essential issues through such questions is also an important role.

I usually tell my clients that 'prevention is more important than dealing with labor disputes.'

For prevention, not only systems but also the building of relationships between people is essential. I feel that the study of human studies is the foundation for that.

Summary

What I felt again through the third session is that 'questions nurture people.'

A good question gives people the opportunity to think for themselves without denying them. And through that question, dialogue is born, learning is deepened, and it leads to personal growth.

There is no end to the study of human studies.

Questioning, thinking, discussing, practicing, and questioning again.

I believe that in that repetition, people are polished little by little.
I would like to continue to connect my learning to daily practice without letting it end as mere knowledge, and use it to support 'management that makes the most of people.'