Japanese startups ease the loneliness of working from home

New services offer teamwork exercises and tools for fluid communication

20200619 Japan work home AP_20100574986790.jpg

Working from home and being cut off from the visual and other cues co-workers give and take every day can cause stress, but online services are popping up to help colleagues reconnect. © AP

AMI YAMADA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- It's Friday evening, early June, and the employees of Uridoki, a dealer of secondhand items in Tokyo's Shibuya are having drinks together. At least they would be if the pandemic never hit. But COVID-19 is a reality, one that chased these workers out of their office and into their homes, so their bonding session is being held over Zoom. Crayons are involved.

They are taking part in a picture-drawing workshop. As an emcee guides them along they draw pictures about something delicious they recently ate, what they imagine while listening to their current favorite songs or how they while away their stay-home time.

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