Home Region
Tokyo, Japan
Undergrad Education
Stanford University, 2018
Previous Experience
ANA Holdings, McDonald’s Holdings (Japan)
HBS Activities
Section I International Rep
“Coming to HBS is like being a member of an orchestra led by a world-famous conductor. ”
Coming to HBS is like...
Being a member of an orchestra led by a world-famous conductor. The case method is such an integral part of the HBS experience and there’s nothing quite like it. Just like a conductor, our professor masterfully guides the class discussion forward and challenges each of us to perform at our highest potential. In response, we contribute to the collective learning by bringing our own unique experiences and perspectives to the table. The result is an orchestral masterpiece with a dynamic melody.
What is your most memorable classroom moment?
As part of the Rakuten “Englishnization” case in LEAD, my Japanese classmate and I engaged in a role play where he answered the professor’s opening cold call in Japanese and I responded to his points in Japanese as well. Our back and forth went on for the first 2-3 minutes of class and my 90 other classmates (who weren’t in on the role play) were totally shocked! The exercise was a great way to give people a sense of what it might have felt like that first day Rakuten held its board meeting completely in English.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
When I was five, I challenged Musashimaru, a grand champion sumo wrestler in Japan, to a swimming race in a 25-meter pool. I started off with quite a lead, but before I knew it, I could feel the waves generated by his massive strokes and we were neck and neck. As we neared the finish line, I held my breath for successive strokes and mustered every last bit of strength I had in me. It was close... but I won!
What is the best thing about your home town?
The collective spirit of Japan which manifested itself in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Despite having lost so much in the tsunami, the people of the Tohoku region looked out for others before themselves and even continued to form lines at unstaffed convenience stores in order to leave money on the store counter. I try to embody this spirit in my life and in the way I treat others.
What has changed about your understanding of leadership?
Several cases in LEAD highlighted that even the best of leaders have areas of weakness. The key is that they are aware of these weaknesses and actively look to others to augment them. These highly self-aware leaders we studied also sought frequent feedback from others about their performance and were not afraid to ask for help when they needed it. Upon further introspection, I realized that in the past I had viewed asking for help as a sign of weakness, but this class certainly changed that perception.