Japan as Only 1

 Since the start of 2025, many new initiatives have been set in motion one after another. Exhibitions in India and Dubai, sushi robots, sales support, OEM production in China, agriculture… Last week, in particular, was packed to the brim. When I analyze myself, I realize that many ideas come to me or are brought to me, and if something catches my interest, I always take at least the first step. If I’m interested, I set up an appointment, meet someone, send an email, or make a phone call. Then the other party responds. Of course, there are plenty of times when their reaction is underwhelming. In those cases, the process may stop there. But in some cases, they give me opportunities to take the second and third steps. Before I know it, things progress to the next stage without requiring much effort on my part. So, the key is to take that first step—knocking over the first domino—as quickly as possible through my own actions. Sometimes the dominoes stop falling further down the line. B...

 In life, when we look at things as single points, it’s often clear what is good or bad. However, when we take a step back and view them as part of a longer line, it’s not always easy to determine if those moments were truly good or bad in the grand scheme of things. Of course, turning a bad moment into a positive outcome is essential. For example, as I often say, experiencing failure and using it as a lesson for the future is something we should always keep in mind. Personally, this is a mindset I try to stay conscious of, and I often encourage others to do the same. On the other hand, something that seems good in the moment can sometimes lead to negative consequences over time. This is much harder to notice and be aware of. Winning the lottery, experiencing rapid business growth, getting accepted into your dream school, receiving praise—there are countless examples of things that make us feel incredible at first. But there are also many stories of people whose lives took a downtu...

During the busy New Year period, I forgot something important—the pachira plant in my office! When I entered the office on Monday, the first thing I noticed was the wilted pachira, looking as droopy as withered spinach. While I gave it plenty of water immediately, it has noticeably regained its vitality. It seems to have more energy before this accident happened. I’m glad I noticed before it was too late. This experience reminded me of something universal: we, too, are bound to make countless mistakes as we move forward. In 2024, I often recited the mantra, “Learn from every experience and use it for the future.” The same applies in 2025. Whether it’s a mistake or trouble, humans have an incredible ability to turn any experience into something valuable. What’s even more remarkable is that we can learn from others’ experiences as if they were our own. This ability to leverage the lessons of others is a uniquely human trait. Other animals may learn from their own experiences, but only hu...