I’ll show you I can change one or two worlds. I like a world where people say such wild things.

I find myself wanting to take on challenges. I can't help but want to overturn something. In reality, how is that viewed by society? What meaning was given to it?

Few people thought, 'Let's take on a challenge.' It was on a steady decline. In previous eras, I understand the feeling of not overreaching for one's potential. Moreover, I also understand that the world as it is now is sufficient to satisfy life, and there's no particular need to take a step forward.

However, for myself, the desire to keep challenging something continued to smolder. Even if I'm just a small force now, I continued to have impulses like 'I want to change the world' or 'I want to deliver a decisive blow to solve the problems and issues right in front of me.' That's why, regardless of whether it was possible or not, I always initiated things from new concepts. I started an overseas business, which was even dismissed as a pipe dream by my colleagues, simultaneously with my first startup.

However, from the perspective of previous eras, it was probably nothing more than a simple 'hobby or preference.'

From the perspective of Japanese society until now, wanting to 'change the world' or 'introduce exciting services to the world' was simply something one did because one 'wanted to do it.' It was fundamentally not much different from material desires like 'I want this, I want that' or sexual desires like 'I want to have sex with that person.'

Because it wasn't necessarily essential for living.

Something one could live with or without. I think that was the true nature of challenges. It was, after all, merely a 'hobby or preference' for someone who endlessly wished 'I want to live that kind of life.' Despite the fact that their livelihood was actually supported by that challenge.

Those who want to do it can do it as they please. If you consider it a hobby or preference, it makes sense that there are people who don't want to do it, and people who don't particularly desire such things. I heard stories countless times like, 'Even without challenges, if I can live peaceful and calm days, that's enough. There's no need to force anything.' Until recently, people who tried to change something were often viewed with cold eyes.

Furthermore, a hobby that even carries 'risk' and 'fear' is too abnormal a realm to be an object of interest. In other words, the more rational people become, the more naturally they desire peace.

Such an abnormal hobby would only be in the spotlight on stage when peace is disrupted. When peace is disrupted, everyone realizes they must do something and begins to rise up. Such a historical background is precisely the moment when words like 'challenge' receive the spotlight. Therefore, a world where people are not particularly interested in challenges is a peaceful one. I'm sure Japan until now has been a good era.

However, if everyone desires peace, it's clear that decline is inevitable. A world where everyone has a hungry spirit and thinks, 'I will definitely build a position that influences society,' would also be problematic in its own way, but it's essentially a matter of balance. It's also not good if such aspirations are too few.

Well, even if it was a period of stability until now, what about Japan at this very moment?

It must be a turning point.

Many people, having been left behind for too long, are starting to move, thinking 'Let's change.'

I feel such a turning point in the era.

Large corporations are increasingly starting to take on challenges. Seeing that, I felt my heart pound. Toyota invested 120 billion yen in artificial intelligence. This might be a precursor to embedding AI in autonomous driving and cars.

Sony is also rapidly creating VR headsets and is about to release them ahead of the world. SoftBank, as is well known, started selling collective intelligence robots for the first time in the world. Nissan also, before we knew it, announced an EV capable of autonomous driving. Sharp, frankly speaking, is too mysterious, but they've released something called a robot phone.

And in fact, surrounding small and medium-sized enterprises are also starting to take on challenges. I felt that Japan, which missed the era of smartphones and wearables created by Steve Jobs by 'waiting to see,' is gradually starting to challenge itself.

At that fact, I felt my heart simply pounding. Something seems about to happen; perhaps interesting things will emerge from where I am. Am I not living in such an era? Inspired by corporate activities, I feel excited.

This can't go on. If we don't challenge something, Japan will only continue to decline.

I feel that society is changing into one where challenges are accepted with such awareness.

After all, I like this kind of challenging world.

Simply put, the fact that my home country lacks momentum, and when I talk to people around the world, I feel that they are not as interested in Japanese technology as they used to be, was frustrating in many ways. However, saying 'Goodbye Japan' and going abroad also felt wrong in its own way.

Since human happiness is diverse, perhaps it's fine if Japan declines as long as people are happy.

But is that really okay? For example, if Japan's economy declines and loses its influence. If Japanese people are employed for lower wages than in other Asian countries, and all those who are active are non-Japanese. Would you be satisfied with that? Foreigners are the ones spending more and more money in Japan and developing society. Is that okay?

I thought I couldn't quite accept such a world. I felt frustrated. It's a matter of feeling, a matter of pride. I didn't think I had such patriotism, but I was still frustrated. So, I acted.

Amidst this, I felt an era where both large and small businesses are starting to move, taking on risks, each trying to be first. Somehow, I became incredibly, overwhelmingly happy. Surely, Japan can still do it. Immense potential is dormant. I feel that such an era, overflowing with excitement, is just around the corner.

I felt that the definition of 'challenging' had changed from a mere hobby or preference to an absolutely essential element for future society. Therefore, I thought I couldn't afford to lose. If it comes to this, I too, no matter what, will deliver a decisive blow and add something to it. And I will change the world. Such excitement is now swirling within my heart. After all, I like a society that is moving forward in this way.

I hope that, by continuing to take on more and more challenges, a society that leads the world, as it did in the past, will thrive in Japan. I, too, cannot just stand by and watch. Absolutely, no matter what, I will play a part in it. With that conviction, how society actually perceives challenges is something that doesn't really need to be considered, but still.