Japan as Only 1

 I’ve written this before in Hattori Way and mentioned it a few times in my blog, but I’d like to share it again, because I believe it’s one of the most important truths in life. We often wish we could change other people or fix the past. But the more we focus on those things, the harder it becomes to stay positive. Why? Because we simply can’t control others. And we can’t erase what has already happened. There are only two things we truly have the power to change: Our future and ourselves. That’s it. If we want a better future, we start by changing our own actions today. Yes, I also wish others would change sometimes—but change always begins with ourselves. When we take action, people around us will start to respond. Slowly, their actions may begin to shift too. Worrying about things outside our control only brings stress and anxiety. Instead, we can focus on the actions we can take. That small shift in mindset makes a big difference over time. Step by step, this ap...

Recently, I noticed that the pachira plant in my office was looking unhealthy. After some reflection, I realized what had happened. I had been warned not to overwater it, but back in December, I forgot to water it once, and it almost dried out completely. In an attempt to revive it, I started watering it more frequently than before. Feeling concerned, I checked the roots— they were rotting. I was honestly shocked. When I consulted one of my team member , who knows a lot about plants, he advised me to cut off the healthy parts and replant them. Although my intention was to help the plant recover, my actions ended up causing more harm instead. Good Intentions Don’t Always Lead to Good Results This kind of situation happens in business as well. We often make changes, point things out, or take action with good intentions , only to find that our efforts upset others or lead to unexpected negative outcomes. Just because our intentions are good doesn’t mean everything we do is acce...

 March marks a time of transition. Schools are wrapping up their academic year, and at Hattori Group, we’re reaching the end of another half-year cycle. On a personal note, my eldest son is graduating from kindergarten tomorrow. I’ve also recently completed my term as a branch leader of an industry association, and a few other long-running commitments are coming to a close. It feels like a season of milestones, both professionally and personally. Whenever I reach a turning point—whether it’s a graduation, a resignation, or stepping away from a role—I remind myself of one simple principle: Always end with a smile. No matter what challenges, frustrations, or hardships we’ve faced along the way, the final moment should always be one of gratitude and positivity. The Importance of How We End Things We all go through major transitions in life—leaving a company, graduating from school, stepping away from a team or organization. But how we end things matters. If we don’t close a chapt...

  Acknowledging Mistakes: The Key to Growth When we hear the phrase "acknowledge your mistakes," it’s easy to assume we’re already doing it. But are we really? In reality, memory is unreliable. We often convince ourselves that we definitely said something, that the other person misunderstood , or that we didn’t mean it that way . Yet, our recollections are often distorted by our own biases and emotions. Even in my 30s, I frequently catch myself in these misconceptions. And if this is the case now, it’s unlikely to improve with age. Instead, I must accept that mistakes, misunderstandings, and lapses in judgment are inevitable. This means that any system or structure I create—whether as a CEO, a parent, or an adult—must be built with the assumption that I will make mistakes . Being in a position of authority does not grant immunity from error. Accepting Mistakes Doesn’t Mean Devaluing Yourself Recognizing our mistakes is not an admission of weakness or incompetence. Eve...

 I always try to think about many things, but that doesn’t mean I completely understand myself. Sometimes, what seems tough to others doesn’t bother me at all, while minor things can make me unexpectedly upset. Lately, I’ve been wondering if one of life’s purposes is to truly understand oneself. From the end of February to early March, I came to realize a particular trait of mine: I absolutely cannot tolerate "late-stage reversals" —when someone says something vague or misleading at first, only to reveal their true intentions later. Looking back, I’ve always reacted strongly against this, whether it was dealing with reprimands from bosses or seniors, business partnerships, or management practices. Every time I’ve encountered such behavior, I’ve fought against it furiously and, in many cases, completely cut off further engagement. Not revealing your true intentions upfront and only disclosing them at the final stage robs the other party of valuable time to think. From the pers...