In the recent years, AI (artificial intelligence) and other cutting-edge technologies have been introduced in the financial world, limiting the things that can only be done by humans. Even jobs that require experience and know-how that our pioneers have acquired for about 10 years, can now be achieved by young people nowadays in tremendous speed.In order for me, who has become part of the so-called veteran generation of the finance world, to survive, I would like to provide an environment for the young to be able to accelerate further rather than slowing them down, and for me to be to continue mastering my craft with a humble attitude. In order to move forward, I must remain humble. Otherwise, they may no longer need me tomorrow. I put that sense of danger in consideration as I do my job. And in order for one to remain in demand in the society, it is important to continue trying new things. It is because a person can grow regardless of his age.

I was in elementary when we relocated to a state near Michigan in the US because of my father's work. I spent about three years there. That was the first overseas experience I had in my entire life. I returned to Japan after that and spent my junior and senior high school days playing tennis. Then, during my university days, I dedicated myself to stage design. I also thought about going abroad after finishing school, perhaps because of the experiences I had in the US when I was younger.Because of that, I targeted foreign capital-related companies during my job search and applied to financial institutions where I was particularly interested in working with.

As I have desired, I decided to join the JP Morgan Bank and made my promising start in my journey as a member of the society. Foreign capital companies also have a unique work environment. Even if you are young, you will be given more chances if you make yourself clear on what you want to do. I believe that I was really blessed with that kind of working environment. Conversely, it is very common for these companies to give huge responsibilities to the young. I have also experienced a lot of stomachache because of failing in huge tasks that were assigned to me. These experiences also contributed to my growth, and I have mustered courage out of it. I believe that it also gave me a chance to know my limits and to see things objectively.Also, I have also learned about Barclays Securities during my stay in JP Morgan. At that time, Barclays Securities, Ltd. was drawing attention as a budding financial institution. Since they had a strong momentum, I felt that it is the perfect company for me to fully demonstrate my experience and know-how. I took action first before thinking about it. Soon enough, I decided to change career and transferred to their head office in London. However, just when I joined Barclays Securities, Greece, Ireland, EU, and the entire Europe was in the middle of a financial crisis. I threw myself in the midst of difficulty and gained a lot of worthwhile experiences working with the financial bureaus and financial instutitions of these countries. I believe that it became the foundation of what I am today. As a Japanese with this unique position, I would like to get involved in projects related to the financial affairs of Europe and tackle their financial crisis head-on. In my case, my experience in projects related to tackling the Asian currency crisis became very helpful. I was able to look at the situation calmly with a different standpoint from our European counterparts. The company appreciated my achievements in London, and in 2016, I was appointed as the President of our Japanese subsidiary corporation. My experience and the sensibility that I have developed in my years of work experience overseas has become my weapon even in Japanese finance. That is why, I keep telling my employees here in Japan to continue working as a part of the global company, not just as a staff of a branch office in the Far Eastern borders. Global perspective is required, particularly in
the finance world, so I want my employees to constantly communicate with the headquarters in London and in other countries, and to know the importance of consulting and discussing with them instead of just focusing in the Tokyo market.

While you are young, it is best to seize whatever opportunity there is, get results, and then repeat. That way, you will achieve immense growth as a person and as a professional. The journey is tough, but I would like to you to enjoy the accomplishments that you make along the way. And I believe that it is my job to give you that opportunity and to be always at your back for support. Also, I would like you to have more experiences abroad while you are young. If you go abroad, there will be times that things will not go as you think it should, and there will be times that you will not be able to understand yourself. You will also become disappointed several times, but there will come a time that you will realize the importance of overcoming these obstacles.