Seeing the atmosphere of fashion shows where people gather to enjoy extraordinary outfits with confidence, I thought it would be great if we could live in a society where everyone could freely enjoy clothes. Then, by chance, I saw a TV program where I learned that people with xeroderma pigmentosum, an incurable disease that prevents them from being exposed to ultraviolet rays, wear UV protection clothing. These two experiences connected, and the idea of wanting to help everyone to freely express themselves through fashion was born.

Thank you. Nakahashi-san, I understand that you work in product planning, but what kind of products are you in charge of?

You have worked on a wide variety of products so far, but what do you think is the key to determining whether a project is successful or not?

I want to work in the apparel industry, but I'm always wondering how I can compete with so many brands and big companies dominating the market.

I saw the news that Sony has developed a musical instrument that even people with hearing impairments can enjoy. This may be an excessive worry, but by making a product specifically for people with disabilities, won't some consumers feel that the product is not for them, and lose customers?

That's the perspective of universal design. So, what do you consider most important when working on planning projects?

On a personal level, I am interested in everything, and I try to check as much information as possible not only from Japan but also from overseas through social media. The company has a budget set aside for research into consumer awareness and behavior. A recent example from my department is working with Fordham University in New York, visiting the university once or twice a year to research the awareness and trends of American college students. Reports from consulting companies are important, but there are also deeper insights that can be gained by meeting and talking face-to-face, so I am always conscious of obtaining first-hand information.

That's right. We are receiving cooperation from Aogaku, so please do join us next time (laughs).

I think that's important. Good luck.

The importance of communicating well with people. When I was in sales, it was important to have discussions with clients, and when I was in marketing and creating advertising tools, it was essential to have multiple conversations with production companies and other parties to align our goals. Even now, communication with designers and engineers is essential.

Our goal in work is to "make good products and make our customers happy." For example, when faced with a challenge in product development, some people may want to tackle it head on and overcome it, while others may want to take a roundabout approach, but we often talk about how we "never let our goal waver." Because of this premise and shared understanding, we do not have a culture of dismissing people who take on challenges with passion, saying, "I absolutely want to try this!" And I have never experienced such a culture. It may sound like a gutsy argument, but from my own experience, I feel that what ultimately leads to success is the strength of "how much you want to do it."

One of the things I'm glad about working at Sony is that I was given a variety of tasks from a young age. For example, I once had a meeting with senior management at a major music label at their headquarters in Los Angeles. In those situations, I sometimes had trouble sleeping due to tension or jet lag, but the way to deal with it is to anticipate the questions I might be asked and prepare thoroughly so I can answer them immediately. Once I've prepared that much, I try to enjoy the new scenery that unfolds after the important meeting.

What I can say is that there is no standard for what you are doing at what age. I joined Sony hoping to work overseas, but I was first assigned to the Yokohama sales office, where I was in charge of sales for electronics retailers. On the other hand, some of my peers were going on overseas business trips from their first year, and there was a time when I thought, "I shouldn't have joined this company." However, when I was 28 years old, I was assigned to the United States, and when I got there, I found that my experience at the sales office was useful. At the age of 22, I thought the path I was taking was wrong, but at the age of 28, I was able to make it the right one. If you're always worrying, "Is this the right one?", you'll get tired. No matter which one you choose, as long as you make the path you choose the right one for yourself and keep your eyes on the goal, I think you'll be fine.

Because I chose a marketing seminar, I was able to use what I learned at university when planning promotion strategies as a marketer. It felt like I learned basic theory at university and applied it in society. Also, most of the business books on management and accounting that sell well around the world are written for the general public, based on theories written in School of Business textbooks. There is no harm in accumulating accurate theories from specialized books while you are a student. If Shimokawa-san wants to be a manager, I think it is important for him to have a grasp of the basics of management, such as marketing, accounting, and organizational theory.

I entered Aogaku in the senior high school division, where we had daily worship services and became familiar with the Bible. Words from the Bible such as "Ask, and it shall be given to you" that epitomize the society in which asking is given remain in my mind even now. I am not religious myself, but because I attended a Christian school and was close to people who valued the Bible and faith, I was able to naturally converse with people of various religions while stationed in the United States without feeling awkward, saying "Oh, so that's the religion they have." I feel that it was a good experience for me to study at Aogaku.

I love sports, and in college I did an internship at a professional baseball team. But in the end, I felt that I preferred watching baseball to working there. If you are interested in the apparel industry, I think you should jump in, no matter what the form. As a result, like me, you may think, "this isn't it after all," or you may be convinced that "this is the path I want to take." If you look from the outside and feel like you want to try it, but end up taking a different path, I think you will end up regretting it.

Rather than thinking about what you "have to do," shouldn't you value what you "want to do"? Try to value the positive intuition that tells you "this is what I want to do," such as the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up in the morning, or the things you suddenly find yourself thinking about. There may be times when you think, "I wish I hadn't given up on that," but that regret will be resolved depending on how seriously you worked on your choice. I think you'll be able to spend your time fulfillingly by immersing yourself in it.

Like Shimokawa, I think there are many people who worry about which path to choose. I will repeat, the important thing is the process of how to make the path you have chosen the right one. Even if you face an unexpected situation, you should accept it as a necessary step towards your ultimate goal. I hope you will proceed with confidence on the path that you think is "the one!"