From a Single Cup of Coffee: A New Form of Communication at Seven Bank–Job Exchange Program Vol. 4

One afternoon, just after lunch, when the conversation still felt unfinished,a message arrived for Mukouyama from the Communication Strategy Office at Seven-Eleven Japan (SEJ).

“Would you like to join us for ‘Coffee Time’ at Seven Bank?”

The fourth edition of the Job Exchange Program was set to take place at the headquarters of Seven Bank, the company behind the familiar ATMs in SEJ stores.
Although part of the same group, SEJ and Seven Bank are located in different buildings, making everyday interaction between employees surprisingly rare.
That’s why this visit was such a unique opportunity. The event, Coffee Time, is held nearly every month to encourage employee connections—and this time, it was led by none other than Seven Bank’s newest recruits.

Seven Bank might seem close yet distant—a place familiar yet full of unknowns. Now, Mukouyama’s exchange begins, diving into employee-led internal communication.

This time, the setting was the headquarters of Seven Bank. It was just moments before Coffee Time was about to begin.
Today’s exchange experience is a bit of both—a work assignment and a refreshing break—as Mukouyama takes part not only as a guest, but also helps support the event’s operations.

Greeting the slightly nervous yet excited Mukouyama was Ishimatsu from Seven Bank’s Brand Communication Department.

Mukouyama was guided to a lounge where people moved busily around the tables. The new employees were bustling—yet clearly enjoying themselves—preparing coffee and snacks. Though their seniors would arrive soon, there was no tension in the air. Instead, the lounge was filled with cheerful voices and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Seeing how many come must mean this time is something they truly look forward to.
Even before Coffee Time began, Mukouyama could already sense that atmosphere.

With the lounge ready, Coffee Time finally began.
One by one, Seven Bank employees entered the lounge.
After picking up coffee and snacks, they naturally made their way to the tables.

The new employees found open tables and took their seats. This Coffee Time was set up for them to interact with more experienced colleagues. From self-introductions to everyday work stories, lively conversations sprang up all around, and the lounge quickly filled with energy.

Mukouyama’s role on the organizing side was to hand out the snacks. At first, she felt a little unsure, but as she kept passing them out, she gradually began to relax. Glancing around the lounge, she noticed that nearly every table was full.

With a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, she headed toward the table.
And so, her Coffee Time experience began.

On the table were handmade booklets created by the new employees, introducing themselves with photos, along with their names, hometowns, and hobbies—making it easy to start conversations even with people they’d just met.

The table Mukouyama joined included both new employees and second-year staff. At first, they flipped through the booklets and enjoyed chatting about hobbies and hometown stories.

As the conversation continued, it eventually shifted toward Mukouyama, who, despite being from a different company, was seen as a more experienced professional, and someone the younger employees could turn to for advice.

“How can I fit in quickly and be liked at work?”

It was a casual, honest question—one only a young employee might ask. And perhaps it was precisely because Mukouyama was from a different company that they felt comfortable opening up.
At first, the unexpected question made her smile, but as the conversation deepened, her expression grew more thoughtful and sincere.

As they spoke, Mukouyama felt their thoughts becoming clearer. Maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere of the Coffee Time, but even serious topics felt surprisingly easy to talk about.
Savoring that comfortable feeling, Mukouyama moved on to the next table.

This time, she joined a group of people who had previously worked at other companies. Once again, the conversation started with light small talk and gradually shifted toward work-related topics.

What stood out most was someone saying, “It’s such an easy place to work.”

Mukouyama didn’t know much about the workplace at Seven Bank. But after experiencing this kind of casual employee gathering firsthand, she found herself nodding in agreement.

Even as the conversation continued, a thought began to take shape in the back of  Mukouyama’s mind:
“What would it look like if we did something like this at SEJ?”

“Coffee time” might sound like just another casual phrase, but with a little creativity, it can become a space where communication flows naturally. That’s what this brief exchange program experience made her realize.

What helped create this friendly environment were the games planned by the new employees. Prompts like “Who’s wearing white today?” or “Who did ___ during their student days?” naturally sparked conversation and connection.

The words shared over coffee quietly sparked a change in Mukouyama’s heart.

The next invitation for the “Job Exchange Program” just might arrive for you.

This text has been translated using an automatic translation tool.