SPECIAL

Making changes in the world and myself ―Interview with Kosuke Omune, a pioneer of hospital clowns in Japan

Mr. Kosuke Omune – The clown of the year (March 2021) The founder of Pleasure Planning company, Mr. Kosuke Omune has been spreading positivity and joy to the sick children in hospitals. In 2004, Mr. Omune initiated the hospital clown activities with fellow clowns that share his same mindset. There are two main leadership qualities that make Mr. Omune a successful pioneer. First, he successfully balances between completing tasks and connecting with employees. For example,...

Introduction of Rakuten, Japan’s unique internet related company

The landscape of business has changed recently due to Covid-19.   We often hear the winners and losers of business. It is generally categorized that the winners are internet related business including online shopping and IT business while apparel, airlines and railroad companies and oil companies are the loser groups. We often see the name of Softbank and Rakuten at the side of winners in Japan as they are in internet related business. I would like...

Japanese EdTech startups rapidly growing

Have you ever heard of the word EdTech? EdTech is a combined word of education and technology, and is a general term for businesses, services, start-up companies, etc. which brings technological innovation by incorporating technology into the education field. The area of EdTech is very wide.  It includes  ICT, e-learining, and MOOC  and it comes with the form of apps and services that are used at schools and cram schools, and online services where you...

Global Talent: What does it mean for the Japanese ?

We hear the word of “global talent” often these days in Japan.  What is actually global talent for the Japanese ? I would like to explain the background of global talent development in Japan and what does global talent mean for the Japanese.  Finally I would like to share 3 examples of Japanese companies implementing global talent programs.  From the examples, you can see Japanese companies are working to change their work environment to accept...

Career development for graduates of Japanese Universities : What can be learned from a model case

More and more international students are choosing to study at Japanese universities in recent years. Traditionally the universities in English speaking countries such as the USA, the UK, and Australia are popular destinations for international students to study abroad.  But only limited international students with the financial means can study at the prestigious universities of these countries, as their tuitions and accommodation cost are almost extortionate from the Asian standard, where only limited source of...

Our future with quantum computers vol.2 – Interview with Terabe Masayoshi

What kind of attitudes should the students, including the international students in Japan, take toward their studies? I want to make it clear that it is my opinion, but I want them to be the people who can create something that only they can do. In order to be this kind of person, I think it is very important to make your own field combining some different fields. In this context, for example, if you...

Sociarise

Sociarise is a company that helps foreigners to work in Japan whose motto is “difference is value”. The CEO of Sociarise came up with the idea of this business when he was a university student because he had seen so many talented international students having difficulties when job-hunting. Even though those students made so much effort to get a MEXT scholarship, struggled through studying in Japanese in order to acquire bachelor or master degrees and...

Our future with quantum computers vol.1 – An Interview with Terabe Masayoshi

Today, we interviewed with Terabe Masayoshi, who is the author of  “Our future that quantum computers change”. He is the leading person of practical use of quantum computing field. In 2007 he obtained a master’s degree in quantum technology.Since 2007, he worked in auto industry and dedicated to onboard communication development, standardization acts in Germany, and sensing technology development for autonomous cars. He is also known as a person who created many world’s first  projects...

Amabie Providing Hope in Coronavirus

As coronavirus cases continue to rise in Japan and around the world it is difficult to know when and how life will return to normal. In some ways, we have started returning to a more traditional way of living with no flights, staying home and spending lots of time with family. In Japan, some people have turned to a traditional Japanese legendary creature – Amabie – for hope.The Amabie is said to be a creature...

Keeping positive during the coronavirus crisis

The coronavirus has spread throughout the world, infecting a staggering number of people, causing financial hardships to many people, and changing the way we all live our daily lives with no end in sight. Just this past week, much loved Japanese comedian Ken Shimura passed away after contracting COVID-19, and Prime Minister Abe declared a month-long state of emergency in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka. During this very scary and uncertain time,...

Ingenta inc.

Pilot-Japan had the wonderful opportunity to talk to Dennis Hsueh, the CEO of Ingenta – an AI startup specialising in customised AI engines. AI is an extension of statistics that utilises data to make categorisations and predictions. Ingenta employs AI scientists and hardware and software engineers to work closely with clients to optimise business based on insights uncovered from data. Born and raised in Taiwan, Mr Hsueh founded Ingenta after completing his education in the...

Borderless Japan

“Social Business” Is Our Conclusion Establishment History Borderless Japan was established in 2007 by current board members Taguchi and Suzuki. Taguchi was moved by a documentary program he saw in his school days and wanted to help children in poverty. Initially, the real estate business was started as a means to use 1% of sales to help end poverty all over the world. At that time, rental businesses for foreigners was not yet active in Japan....

teamLab

Have you ever been to a teamLab exhibition? If not, you’d be in the minority. teamLab Borderless in Odaiba, Tokyo recently became the most visited single-artist museum in the world. You’d be hard pressed to wander around Tokyo for a day without seeing the vibrant advertisements for teamLab’s exhibitions or to miss the impressive impact the collective has had on the art and tourism world. So, what sets teamLab apart and makes them such a powerful...

MIRAI SOUZOU

What does Mirai Souzou do? This week I had the chance to sit down with Mr Kaneko, the founder of Mirai Souzou, to learn more about the technology world in Japan. Mirai Souzou is a venture capital investment fund of 3.3 billion yen founded in 2014. The fund is based in Tokyo, with an office overlooking the lush Imperial Palace, but has expanded to a virtual office in Malaysia, too. Mirai Souzou uses its strong connections...