In the previous blog, I said that I celebrated my 83rd birthday in the United States. If I were asked “how I feel right now”, the honest answer would be that “Nowadays, we are in an era where life spans 100 years. I still don’t feel like I have entered old age. Instead, I feel like I am finally entering the prime of my life”. I intend to continue paying attention to my health so as not to trouble others, while being mindful of becoming a troublesome elder, and maintain some form of connection with society as long as I am healthy. I look forward to your continued support.
By the way, I visited Aomori and Iwate prefectures at the beginning of this week, and travelled around Oirase Gorge and Hachimantai, Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The Oirase Stream, surrounded by deep green (with many evergreen trees) is a place I visited about 10 years ago. Once again, under a wonderful autumn sky, I was able to fully enjoy the clear stream rushing energetically through the silence and the refreshing mountain scenery. After I went part of the way (the Kumoi Waterfall) by car, I walked along the streamside promenade for about an hour and reached Lake Towada, the source of the river. After that, I boarded a sightseeing boat and spent about an hour cruising across the lake in deep autumn. And that night, I stayed at a hotel in Appi Highlands and enjoyed Japanese cuisine made with local ingredients and local sake. Aomori Airport has direct flights to Taiwan, so tourists from Taiwan were noticeable everywhere. The next day, I visited Hachimantai and in contrast of Oirase, the colorful autumn leaves were magnificent and in particular, the view of Mount Iwaki from the summit was truly panoramic and breathtaking. And after Hachimantai, I headed to Hanamaki Airport via Morioka City. After an hour and 10 minutes flight, I arrived back to Itami Airport, where there was a temperature difference of more than 10 degrees. Lately, I had been traveling abroad, but this time it was an enjoyable journey rediscovering Japan.

■■What I have recently thought and focused on:
■The Osaka-Kansai Expo has ended:
The Osaka-Kansai Expo, which was held over a period of 6 months since April 13, concluded on October 13. First of all, I would like to express my heartful respect and joy to all those involved for their dedicated efforts, which made it possible to conclude without any major accidents or disasters.
On January 1 last year, during the preparatory stage for the Expo, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 and a tsunami occurred in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture. Due to the need for support in response to the extensive damage caused by this, there were times when the pros and cons of holding the Expo were questioned. And the construction of the facility and funding for operations were also major concerns, and there was also an intense negative campaign by the media. It is said that “a child who is difficult to give birth to grow up well”, as they have overcome such difficult circumstances. The number of participating countries was a record 158, the highest ever in Japan, and the number of visitors was 25.58 million. And it seems that the much-anticipated balance of payments is expected to be a surplus of 23 to 28 billion yen. Incidentally, according to the government’s estimate, including surrounding and related infrastructure, the construction funds invested by both the private and public sectors bring the total project cost to over 10 trillion yen. Therefore, the future challenge is how to make use of the legacy left by the Expo.
During the event period, I visited the venue twice. It has been 55 years since I visited the last Osaka Expo (from March 15 to September 13 in 1970) when I was 27 years old, and the number of visitors at that time was about 64.21 million. I still wonder how so many people managed to gather. Incidentally, technological advancements (information, communication, video, architecture, AI, and IT) between 1970 and 2025 are astonishing. Internationalization has also progressed rapidly. At that time, the number of foreign visitors to Japan was 500,000 to 520,000 per year. Based on the results from January to September this year, it is probable that the annual total could reach 40 million. It is an astonishing 80 times larger in scale. For your information, the Tokaido Shinkansen, a symbol of economic growth, opened in 1964 (the year of the last Tokyo Olympics), and Narita Airport, the gateway to overseas, opened in May 1978 and Kansai Airport opened in September 1994.
By the way, I was able to visit the Italian Pavillion, which was said to be the most popular at this year’s Expo. When looking at the marble sculpture, “the Farnese Atlas” (a work at around 150 AD) among the exhibits, I felt the suffering of Atlas, the Titan giant, who bore the role of “holding up the heavens”. In response to this, it is rather rude, but the current statements and actions of President Trump give the impression of a professional soccer player toying with the ball (the Earth) with his feet.
■My thoughts on the recent domestic political situation:
Following the resignation of LDP President Ishiba on September 7, the LDP presidential election was held on October 4, and Sanae Takaichi was elected as the 29th president. But the subsequent political turmoil is nothing but shameful. The reason is that the new party leader, Takaichi, and her entourage lacked risk management. They mocked the Komeito as “snow stuck under a geta sandal” and prioritized contact with the other party. This is a sign of LDP’s arrogance and self-conceit, and “a brilliant move can turn into a bad one if the steps are executed incorrectly”. Therefore, the political outlook has become uncertain.
As long as someone possesses the qualifications for Prime Minister of Japan, it does not matter whether Prime Minister is male or female. However, even if Takaichi were to become Prime Minister, amid the tug-of-war over party interests between the minority ruling parties and multiple opposition parties, I have to say that it is not easy for LDP to implement policies that are truly unique to itself. In such chaotic circumstances, if a major disaster like a Nankai Trough earthquake or an earthquake directly beneath the capital occurs, or if a conflict breaks out in Taiwan, what on earth will happen to this country? Coupled with the increasingly complex international situation, just thing about it is terrifying. Japan has lost that much of its ability to act independently. In the end, she will have no choice but to dissolve and seek the will of the people.
■New business:
What I once again felt through this Expo is how difficult it is to get a new business on track and lead it to success.
For companies to survive the intense struggle for existence and aim for growth, constant “innovation” is necessary, and this requires taking on new business “challenges”. Although the scale is different from this Expo, I also have experience launching new businesses several times. What I want to convey the younger generation through such experiences is as follows.
1)Starting a new business is, so to speak, like starting “a war”. In other words, “a cause” is necessary for a war, and it is necessary to clarify clearly “what you are fighting for” (purpose of the new business), hold firm beliefs, and persuade and convince those around you. People will act if they are convinced. What one person can do is limited, and having understanding and cooperative allies is essential.
2)It is normal for people’s attitude toward a new business to be cold. In other words, there are many cold attitudes that “assume it probably will not go well”. In such a situation, it is like the person involved is trying to move a locomotive standing completely still. Moreover, there is no guidebook, and you feel uneasy wondering whether if you keep going straight ahead, you will actually reach a mountain of treasure, or end up at a pile of junk.
3)Even in such tough situations, it is important for the person involved to take on challenges with fiery determination. When you work desperately and put in your best efforts, it is like the ripples created by throwing a stone into a pond gradually spreading out. People around you “somehow starts finding it interesting” and gather around. It is the moment when the heavy locomotive started to move with the clatter. If it comes to this, you “have got it”. But it is difficult to get it this far.
4)I like NHK’s Project X and always watch it. Turning a new business from “zero” to “one” is far more difficult than expanding it “from two to five”, or even beyond. And to sow the seeds of a new business and grow them into a thick trunk requires a considerable amount of time and immense energy. “Rome was not built in a day”. And above all, what is most important is strong leadership, along with the belief and passion of the person involved, as well as patience and determination. You can’t achieve your goals with a half-hearted attitude.