We started an In-House Nursery School by obtaining approval from the local authority

At Namics, the project to make a nursery school to look after employees’ children as a fringe benefit for employees dates back many years. To provide an environment where employees could have peace of mind to work was an idea dear to the hearts of both the current President Odajima and the previous President. When the new child support system for raising children in Japan was introduced by our government in 2015, the project gathered momentum.
Adopting this system, in spring 2016 “Ebigase Nursery School Amic” was opened as an in-house nursery school. In this system, this facility not only looks after the children of employees but also children from the local community. Through childcare, a new business that contributes to the local community was launched.

An initiative to reduce the burden on guardians who work

The nursery school takes its name “Amic” from the Latin word “amicus” and its various derivatives such as French “ami” and Spanish “amigo” meaning “friend.” It is located in Ebigase in Higashi Ward, Niigata City. Children aged under one year to five years old are put in classes according to their age, but since we also practice team daycare, the children live up to the name by playing together and spending time with children from different age groups. We want to create a fun nursery school where children are keen to go to play every day.

Contributing to the local community by supporting the child-raising environment

When the nursery school first opened, the local child quota was restricted to local children up to the age of two. However, the system was relaxed in 2020 and now all children up to the age of five are welcomed. This means that the number of children doesn’t change due to age and leads to closer relationships among the children. In 2020, a total of eighty children used the center. Of these, 45 were from the employee quota and 35 from the local community quota. By fulfilling the role of an outlet for local children and supporting the expansion of the child-raising environment, the nursery school contributes to regional development.
Our daycare business is just one of Namics’ many initiatives to promote sustainable development goals and corporate social responsibility. Together with the local community and for the sake of the people who live there, we will continue to expand such initiatives in order to advance towards the goal set out in our corporate philosophy: “to achieve happiness for everyone and cause nature to prosper through creativity and innovation.”

Comments from Staff of “Amic”

I want to give peace of mind to the local children and to my colleagues.

Ebigase Nursery School Amic Nursery Teacher Mrs. Nakamura
I have the honor of looking after the precious lives of the children of those who work at Namics so that they can work with peace of mind. One advantage is that Amic Nursery School is located near the company, and combined with the fact that the parents work for the same company, it makes it easy to build relationships and discuss parenting or give fun updates about what we accomplished that day.
Since we also look after local children not related to the company, it’s wonderful to feel like I am able to contribute to the community through doing my job at the nursery school.

For a healthy future for children

“Amic” is a nursery school where guardians can leave their children in total confidence. It was established to enable guardians to work and raise children at the same time. When “Amic” first opened only four employees needed daycare. It was President Odajima’s idea to turn it into an “open nursery school” with room for 100 children which could be used by local people as well as employees. Therefore, it is also open on Saturday, Namics’ day off, for the sake of the local community.
“Amic” doesn’t just look after children. The facilities and the curriculum were designed to encourage children to grow and develop through many different types of experience and learning in a pleasant environment. A big playroom, and bouldering or free climbing area, and four different extracurricular activities are just some examples of what we offer. We will continue to help employees and local people by listening to their needs and further user-friendly of the nursery school.