Learning the Joy of Business by Watching My Parents

My fingerprints are faint. My family runs a souvenir shop on the approach to Chusonji temple, a famous World Heritage site, which has been in business for over 60 years. As a child, I helped make “Odango,” Japanese mochi sweets, repeatedly burning my fingertips until my fingerprints faded. However, this experience taught me the value of money and the basics of commerce. I learned the importance of cherishing each and every customer and the joy of doing business through firsthand experience.

Our shop attracted many visitors, including university students cycling from Tokyo to Hokkaido and international travellers backpacking around the world. Listening to their stories about Tokyo and foreign countries, I was excited to imagine the unknown world. “I want to go out into the wide world, see it with my own eyes, and feel it on my skin!” I was a curious child, naturally led to embark on journeys around Japan and eventually around the world.

From Embracing “Authenticity” to Fulfilling a “Role”

Even after joining the advertising agency, I valued not just learning from business books but also going out, observing, and feeling things for myself. Being involved on-site in events like the Masters Tournament and the Indianapolis 500 was a great experience.
Back then, I was truly fearless. I was given significant responsibilities and opportunities to engage in new businesses and exciting challenges relatively early in my career. I would like to thank the entrepreneurs who enjoyed my curiosity and courage to act, the supervisors and seniors who nurtured my curiosity without stifling it, and the clients who supported me. However, merely making proposals wasn’t satisfying enough. I wanted to engage with business ventures more responsibly, so at the age of 35, I transferred to a business manager role in a publicly listed company.

There, too, I delivered results in the business ventures I was entrusted with, and my compensation increased. However, as my scope of responsibilities widened and the organization grew, I was given a formal title. Naturally, I was expected to fulfill those roles, which eventually came to occupy 70 to 80 percent of my job. While this signified my growth as a businessman and had its rewards, I gradually began to feel it wasn’t true to myself. After all, the excitement I once felt was dwindling. Moreover, I was growing increasingly disheartened by the prevalence of leaders and consultants who seemed content to mimic other companies or textbook strategies, neglecting the voices, curiosity, and diversity of values from the field.

What’s Needed is the Courage to Decide and Act

I had started to question the very essence of holding a title. Ideally, a position comes with authority, which in turn carries the responsibility to drive business forward. However, in Japan, there’s a prevalent desire for recognition and a safe harbor in titles, leading many to covet positions. This results in a competitive scramble for a limited number of spots, akin to a game of musical chairs, causing one to forget the original intentions and aspirations that led them to join the company in the first place.

Despite holding positions of authority, there’s a tendency to depend on the company, delay changes, lean on consultants or others’ theories without voicing personal opinions, and ultimately dilute decisions through majority rule. Some are more concerned with watching others’ reactions or undermining them than creating opportunities and accomplishing something. This is wasteful for both the individual and the company. The shortcut to success is to make decisions, clarify responsibilities, and take action. What’s essential in this era is the “courage to decide and act.”

No matter how good the car you own is, you are the one who decides where to go. Misunderstanding the role of what you’ve been given can lead to discomfort, like using a sports car for camping. It’s vital to know and, if lost, reclaim your true self. I, too, have experienced losing sight of myself. Various experiences have brought me full circle, back to my original self.

Listening to My Heart

If my parents’ example is the origin of my work ethic, then “excitement” is its foundation. As you know, management involves various skills, including managerial accounting and marketing techniques. These are meaningless unless used to discover possibilities, identify risks, and create growth or challenges. I utilize these skills to explore all possible options based on feedback from the field. Then, I narrow down the choices, but ultimately, the decision is mine to make, and I follow my heart, guided by feelings of “excitement”, for instance.

Following my heart means being guided by knowledge, experience, and self-dialogue, not just whims. It’s important to ask yourself: Do I want to do this? Will I have no regrets? Am I prepared and passionate enough to see it through? Will I enjoy it? It’s crucial to confirm these with oneself. I believe the future requires us to calmly highlight problems, think logically, and passionately address these issues, embodying both stillness and motion. “The intellect of a scholar, the sensitivity of an artist, and the curiosity of an adventurer” – I believe this is the business style needed for the future.

Believing in What Your Heart Feels and Taking That Step

Having been responsible for new and overseas businesses, I’ve been exposed to various values and decision-making processes, for which I am grateful. However, some would line up reasons to delay decisions, such as the lack of precedents, demanding evidence of success, or criticizing unconventional methods. Business isn’t always quantifiable or predictable. Decisions made by managers who haven’t seen the situation firsthand often lead to confusion and mistakes on the ground.

Initiating change or starting something new is challenging and comes with responsibilities, but taking that step allows for growth and the opportunity to enjoy such personal development. Going forward, in addition to academic learning and real-life experiences, satisfying one’s heart through “individuality,” “WILL,” and “self-awareness” will become increasingly important. I hope everyone currently striving in their work continues without losing their individuality. To those in their 40s and 50s who feel overwhelmed by the “ideal” they’ve set for themselves, I wish for you to rediscover your identity.

Currently, I leverage my accumulated knowledge and experience to develop new businesses and services, invest, and incubate. I aim to further expand my activities by following my heart’s desires and curiosity honestly.

One of these activities involves redesigning Japan’s traditional culture and revitalizing local industries. The 3.11 disaster (Great East Japan Earthquake) forced the closure of my family’s business, which was the starting point of my career. I also witnessed the disappearance of the beach where I had my first seaside experience. This made me deeply appreciate the environment and society that raised me and the support of those around me, motivating my desire to give back to society. Additionally, I aim to contribute to the future by nurturing young talents and creating opportunities for them to thrive.

When I first met DK Sugiyama, I thought, “What a passionate and creative person.” Over drinks that day, I was impressed by his confidence and ideas, stemming from his experiences and learnings. After reading “The Courage to Act　(Kodo suru Yuki),” I resonated with the need for “sensitivity,” “curiosity,” and “action” in today’s business.
We found much in common during the interview, and it was so enjoyable that we spoke at length. Please continue to work hard with “individuality” and “passion”.

Catalyst | Business Creator
Hiroshi Yaegashi

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I met Mr. Hiroshi Yaegashi in 2018 during the “My Philosophy” Fukuoka series, thanks to an introduction by a senior colleague, and we instantly got along (laughs). While I tend to talk too much about myself when meeting someone for the first time, Mr. Yaegashi is an excellent listener. He’s not just passively listening; he practices what’s known in English as “Active Listening,” engaging while he listens, which I admire. His business success can be attributed to the listening skills and execution ability developed through his experience handling numerous projects and businesses.
Since our meeting, Mr. Yaegashi has given me various advice on business, emphasizing the importance of valuing “individuality” and creating an environment where one can freely express “authenticity” without overextending, which is vital for mental health. This interview provided many insights, and I look forward to exploring how my passion can energize Japan!

“My Philosophy” Editor-in-Chief, DK Sugiyama

February 2020, at a hotel in Tokyo. Writer: Kyoko Ayukawa. Photography: Akane Inagaki