Japanese company says life’s a beach at work

The sound of waves and the crunch of sand beneath one's feet—those are not sensations you expected to have at the office.

However, Bizreach, a Japanese venture company in Tokyo, did just that in the hope of luring its employees, visitors and potential clients into believing that, at least here, life can be a beach at work.

Using a carpet of sand, speakers and a 3D projector, the firm has recreated a tropical beach in the very reception area they also use as their employee meeting space and staff lounge.

Some of the employees who use this space joke that they feel they've already gone off on summer holiday.

"Obviously I cannot enter the water, but the sound of waves comforts me. I don't think I need a vacation this summer as I'm already refreshed," said Kurumi Nishi, a 27-year-old sales representative.

Another employee said the sound of the waves was actually soothing and helped her work.

"It's air-conditioned in here, so it's a bit different from the hot summer beach, but other than that I feel almost like I'm working on a beach. And the sound of the waves help me concentrate," said 28-year-old Ayami Oda.

The company CEO, Soichiro Minami, who was ready with beach party goods of beer, watermelon and even a guitar, nevertheless said such a working environment had real benefits for his 310 employees.

"I want our employees to use this space not only as an showcase to visitors but also to use it for their daily meetings, so that they can think more freely, become more creative, and come up with more unique ideas. At very least I want them to make use of this here," Minami said ahead of a reception party to show off the company's new layout.

Although the water, waves and sea life are an illusion, the sand certainly is not. The firm brought in two tons of it to form the beach for that extra hint of realism. — Reuters