Photo by © Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc. via
Spoon & Tamago
Vocabulary:
- greenery /GREE-nuh-ree/
[noun] green plants or branches, especially when cut and used as decoration
They ordered some greenery to brighten up the new area in the hospital.
- for good measure /fawr good MEZH-er/
[idiom] something that is given or done in addition to other things
Why not try calling his parents or brother for good measure?
- suspend /suh-SPEND/
[verb] to hang down from something
It was rather strange to see some lights suspended from their front door.
- akin /uh-KIN/
[adjective] having some of the same qualities
Softball has numerous concepts akin to baseball, though they have important rule differences.
- advocate /AD-vuh-keyt/
[verb] to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something
Most experts advocate rewarding children for their good behavior in order to encourage them.
Japanese corporations that include greenery in their offices are growing in number, claiming that it is a fine idea to decrease stress among employees. They also find it as a way to attract applicants as such activity can promote their businesses for good measure. An information technology company in Tokyo has a vine tree suspended from the office’s entrance ceiling. Moreover, a tree named “everfresh” located in the office’s lounge, which survived a storm in an Okinawan forest, serves as the company’s symbol of vitality. Akane Hosokawa, a 34-year-old public relations officer, said, “Greenery helps employees feel refreshed and improves concentration”. She also said that a first-time visitor usually talks about the greenery in the office as the first topic of the conversation.
According to the result of an experiment by Kahori Genjo, a professor at Nagasaki University’s Graduate School of Engineering, indoor greenery plays a vital role in easing people’s discomfort or fatigue. Genjo even prompts corporates to use low-cost artificial plants that have benefits akin to real ones. Since December 2015, companies have been focusing on the status of their working environments as it is mandatory for screening purposes on stress-related ailments. Companies consider advocating employees’ welfare by adding greenery to workplaces that boost productivity and, at the same time, weakens stress.
True or False:
- Japanese companies decreases greenery in the workplace.
- According to Akane Hosokawa, customers often talk about the greenery in their office whenever they pay a visit.
- Professor Genjo does not advise corporates to use artificial plants in their offices.
- “Everfresh” is a tree that survived a storm in a forest in Okinawa.
- Most Japanese companies consider adding greenery in their offices as a way to attract potential applicants.
Discussion Questions:
- In your opinion, will the company mentioned in the article have more employees moving forward due to the greenery it has? Please explain your answer.
- Do you think artificial plants can replace actual ones when it comes to providing stress-relieving benefits? Why or why not?
- Should greenery be mandatory to be put in other establishments such as schools and malls? Why or why not?
- How do you think plants can help in alleviating stress among employees? Kindly elaborate.
- Aside from relieving stress and fatigue, what other benefits do you think trees or greenery have? Please elaborate.
Express Your Opinion:
- “It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” – Hans Selye
- Trees will not determine the outcome of one’s health.
- The only way to develop the working environment of companies is to have greenery in their offices and nothing else.
※レッスン教材に関するアンケートのお願い
[noun] green plants or branches, especially when cut and used as decoration
They ordered some greenery to brighten up the new area in the hospital.
[idiom] something that is given or done in addition to other things
Why not try calling his parents or brother for good measure?
[verb] to hang down from something
It was rather strange to see some lights suspended from their front door.
[adjective] having some of the same qualities
Softball has numerous concepts akin to baseball, though they have important rule differences.
[verb] to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something
Most experts advocate rewarding children for their good behavior in order to encourage them.
According to the result of an experiment by Kahori Genjo, a professor at Nagasaki University’s Graduate School of Engineering, indoor greenery plays a vital role in easing people’s discomfort or fatigue. Genjo even prompts corporates to use low-cost artificial plants that have benefits akin to real ones. Since December 2015, companies have been focusing on the status of their working environments as it is mandatory for screening purposes on stress-related ailments. Companies consider advocating employees’ welfare by adding greenery to workplaces that boost productivity and, at the same time, weakens stress.