{"id":234238,"date":"2020-04-21T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/?p=234238"},"modified":"2022-06-29T07:34:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T14:34:43","slug":"learning-from-customers-microsoft-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/blog\/2020\/04\/21\/learning-from-customers-microsoft-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from our customers in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"
As the COVID-19 crisis evolves, we\u2019re proud to help our customers adapt to remote learning and remote work. From Italy<\/a> to the Greater China Region<\/a>, customers in impacted areas are discovering so many new ways to keep work, school, and life moving at this challenging time. And we\u2019re committed to sharing their stories with you.<\/p>\n Today we look to Japan. Since April 7, Japan has been under a state of emergency that\u2019s expected to last until at least May 6. Some spring traditions, like the hugely popular nationwide spring high school baseball tournament, have been canceled. Others, like March\u2019s grand sumo tournament in Osaka, have taken place without spectators. It\u2019s also cherry blossom\u2013viewing season in Japan, when families, friends, and work colleagues traditionally gather in parks to hold blossom viewing parties. This year, the government asked them all to stay home.<\/p>\n The Microsoft Japan team, led by my colleague Yoshihiro Yamasaki<\/a>, has learned so much from this experience. \u201cWorking from home can undoubtedly improve efficiency\u2014by eliminating commutes, for example,\u201d says Yamasaki. At the same time, switching between work and life is tricky, with long hours online leading to overwork. To help, the team reduced average meetings from 60 to 30 minutes and is meeting for virtual coffee breaks to relax and talk about anything other than business.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how some of Microsoft Japan\u2019s customers are adjusting to this new normal.<\/p>\n On February 27, Japan\u2019s Prime Minister requested that schools close, and it\u2019s likely they will remain that way until early May. Chiba University Faculty of Education, Affiliated Elementary School<\/strong> quickly brought learning online by creating virtual classrooms in Microsoft Teams. Everything from fifth grade cooking class to first grade drawing are now taught online. Students even connect during virtual lunches and homeroom sessions. And according to Mr. Koike, the teacher who moved the school online, remote learning is opening up new opportunities for students who are usually quiet in class to participate more.<\/p>\n As with schools around the world, many Japanese graduation ceremonies have been either cancelled or carried on without guests. Ritsumeikan Primary Schoo<\/strong>l in Kyoto had a graduate-only ceremony, but were able to virtually include parents and guardians with live events in Teams<\/a>. With the technical support of Microsoft Japan, the school streamed the graduation ceremony live, so that families could experience this important moment.<\/p>\nEducation<\/h3>\n
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