“A founder of a Japanese startup, Hideki Ota is leaving Japan and his company for the world.” This sensational piece of news came out this January when Ota started a new project called the Samurai Backpacker Project. So what is this project? And why does he have to leave Japan? when his business is doing so well? As he had just returned from three months of extensive English study in the Philippines, I was able to get in touch with him and find out more about his new project.
Born in 1985, in Miyagi prefecture. In 2005, while in college, together with a friend he started a service called “Tadacopy”, which eventually became Oceanize Inc. Ota announced this January that he was leaving his company to start the Samurai Backpacker Project.
10ten Magazine: I was a bit surprised when I heard that you were leaving your company for a round-the-world trip, especially given that your company is such a success. Why now?
Hideki Ota: I’ve always wanted to go out and see the world. It became an actual plan when I turned twenty-five and made a “5-year-career plan.” If I wanted to be the person I pictured myself at thirty, then this would be the time for me to learn about business and life outside of Japan, and also learn to speak English.
A 5-year-career plan! So you pictured yourself at thirty? What is this guy going to be like?
Nothing is concrete yet, but I’ve always wanted to be a globally competitive businessperson that could set up a new service or business on an international scale. To reach that dream I need to see the world and learn how to communicate with people outside of Japan, as well as to speak English. So this coming year or so will be my training period.
So that’s why this project is named Samurai Backpacker Project! A samurai is very much like a competitive businessperson. Can you tell us more about the project?
Sure. I’ll start my travels out in the States, South & Central America, then on to Africa, Europe, and finally to Asia. It’s going to take a year to a year and a half. The main purpose of this trip is to interview Japanese “samurai entrepreneurs” working in different countries and introduce them to young Japanese people through my website. I hope it will give people in Japan an opportunity to learn about successful Japanese overseas.
It sounds quite different from what we imagine from the words, “round-the-world trip”.
Right, that’s actually another thing I’m trying to do. I’d like to bring a new meaning to the idea of round-the-world trip. It can also be for practical reasons that will eventually prove good for your career, not just fun, you know. It’s such a shame that those who want to go out and explore the world and learn new things hesitate to do so because they are afraid of “time gaps” in their careers. In Japanese society, it’s all about “keeping up with your career and never straying from the path you set,” having time gaps on your resume always seems to be bad for your career. So, if both eager businesspeople and those who are in the hiring position could share the idea that travelling abroad was a good career move in the long term, it could open up a lot of windows.
That’s brilliant. If that kind of notion became more commonplace, a lot more people would be able to say, “I’ll go to three countries to see how advertising businesses are run in each country,” without having to worry about their career.
Exactly, but it’s important that people have a clear purpose in their travels, not just a desire to ‘see the world’. Having a purpose is most important.
So you say your project is targeting younger generations. What ages would they be?
Current college students to professionals in their twenties. When these people choose their first jobs or change jobs, I want them to have the ability to widen their choices and include the entire world.
When did you start having an interest in global business?
At first it was more like I felt global business was a threat or something; I got to know this business consultant a few years ago and I was shocked to realize how little I knew about doing business outside of Japan. Then it happened again when I went to Hong Kong on business, the feeling of shock. This time I realized that my lack of English abilities left me feeling helpless… At business dinners I just sat there and did nothing! So these two incidents always stuck in my mind and I knew I had to do something, sometime. I was only waiting for the right time, and that time happens to be now!
Why do you think younger generations are less eager to leave Japan? We are already in the era of internationalization, right?
Actually, I don’t think that they aren’t interested; they just haven’t had many opportunities to explore internationalization. They read and are told that internationalization is coming but until they see it literally in front of them, it’s not really a part of their reality. I think what people need is a message that shows the positive side, instead of just warnings and threats.
For example, if you play sports, you have Ichiro for baseball or Nakata for football/soccer to look up to as examples. Sure, not all athletes can be like them, but at least people are aware of a potential future. But if you are just a businessperson working in Japan, you don’t really have the chance to know of any “Business Samurai” doing amazing things on a global scale. That’s where my Samurai BP comes in ? for me to meet those samurai in the world ? possibly from all kinds of different fields ? and introduce them to Japan!
Great! But it must be hard to find interviewees in so many different places. How are you expanding your network?
Right now, I’m only going through people I know. I have some people to interview in the US, but I definitely need some interviewees in South and Central America. If 10. Magazine readers could post any information on our website, that would be great.
And the interviews are going to be on your blog?
Yes, mainly on my blog. And I have some online media offering to post my articles on their sites too.
What are the goals for Samurai B.P.?
If someone, somehow, becomes motivated by this project to take a new step?that would be wonderful. They don’t necessarily have to leave Japan but maybe start with something like taking conversation lessons. As for myself, my first goal is to acquire a decent level of English speaking skills and come back from my journey with enough resources to start something new in Japan.
I see! You already are a samurai who can inspire the young crowd in Japan! I heard you just came back from the Philippines after three months of English study before the official start of your project. Why did you pick the Philippines?
The main reason was financial. In Japan most people who study English abroad go to the States or the U.K., but in Korea and China, the Philippines is their first choice. For a month with room and board, plus six hours of private lessons a day, costs only something like 100,000 yen!
100,000 yen for a month. That’s amazing! If you think about the high rent in Tokyo…
I know! And there are already hundreds of English schools there, too. The fact that Filipinos speak English isn’t well known in Japan, yet. But I think in the next few years studying abroad in the Philippines is going to be very popular and common in Japan.
So you were in the Philippines for three months, but doesn’t it scare you at all that you are going to be by yourself travelling around the world for more than a year?
Well, not really. (laughs) I mean, I’m kind of worried about if I will be able to find enough interviewees or not. But other than that I’m more excited than scared. I’ll tell you this? when I took a mental stress test at my previous company, I had the strongest tolerance level against stress. Even when something bothers me a lot, I sleep for one night and the stress is reduced by fifty-percent!
That’s something! (laughs) Where does your mental strength or courage to start your own business come from? Do you have anyone who deeply influenced you or that you admire as a role model?
I have been asked this question before, but I can’t say anyone in particular. I respect every person for some aspect, but a role model? Not really. If I had to choose one person though, I’d have to say my grandfather. He started his own gardening shop and nursery and he still works regularly at the age of eighty. He’s very young-spirited, open-minded and not afraid of taking on the challenge of new things. I don’t know if he had any direct influence on me, but I admire him.
I see. A very powerful eighty-year-old grandfather! I can kind of see him in you. But besides that, you seem like you always have your own things going on, like you are living by your own philosophy. If possible, could you share 10 aspects of “Ota’s Philosophy” with us?
My own philosophy? Let’s see… I think I can but they may be a bit ‘heavy’. I hope you are ready! (laughs)
1) Have a free mind, not free time: being free is not about having lots of free time, but to have a free mind and be able to do what you really want to do. So I’d like to be free in this way and I’d recommend this to the people around me, too.
2) Never settle with “whatever”: when I need to make a choice, I never want to settle with just “whatever” without comparing all of my options. “Whatever” means that “I’m not thinking.” I want to always be conscientious with my thinking and make my own choices.
3) Being “topnotch” at something is about creating your own work: whatever you do, I think a person can only be topnotch if they create something themselves. In business, you have to take a big picture view about your work, think for yourself, and create your own opportunities.
4) Feel the fate in everyone you encounter: treasure every chance you have to meet someone and always think, “what can I do for them,” as well as “what can I learn from them.” I think this kind of thinking can really help us enrich our lives.
5) Life is like relaying a baton: whenever you receive something good from someone, you pass that along to someone else and don’t worry about getting something passed back to you; it’s like a baton in a relay race. This idea was shared with me by a very helpful person.
6) Don’t kill your own possibilities: in a lot of cases, the matter of “possible or impossible” is just a matter of trying or not. Especially while we are young, we should believe in ourselves and try whatever we want, so that we don’t end up “killing” our own possibilities.
7) When you are explaining something, don’t just speak at people but talk to their hearts: to get people to agree with you or accept your ideas, you have to be sure that what you meant (your message) was correctly received. In cases where you have to tell your employees something that isn’t going to be well received, you really have to speak honestly and persuade them with the earnestness of your heart.
8） Blame yourself before anybody else: never blame someone else without first looking at yourself and how you handled your own responsibilities. It’s always easier to find blame in someone else.
9) Judge and decide: in a lot of cases, we can judge important matters by comparing them to decisions we’ve made and the results we were given in the past. But there are times that you simply can’t find similar elements for comparison and can’t really judge, but just have to decide. The important thing here is that to make sure your decision was a good one, you’re going to have to work your ass off to make your decision “the right one”.
10) Walls are doors: when you feel that there’s a limit or boundary in front of you, don’t just run away before trying anything. What might look like really tall walls blocking your way can often turn out to be doors that lead to lots of opportunities. You have to at least see if the walls are really walls, or if they are doors.
Wow, 10 very serious answers! Very you! (laughs)
Yes, I know! I’m tired from just thinking about them, too. But in all honesty, I kind of like thinking about things like this…
Well, it was so much fun and very inspiring interviewing you today! Thank you very much and please take good care of yourself while you’re on your travels!
Thank you, too! Here I am, going off to see the world!
interview: Natsuki Yamada
photography: Ikumi Mochida
More about Hideki Ota
Ota began his trip on September 15th, and is now in the US (West Coast). If you have any information about potential Japanese entrepreneurial samurai overseas that can be interviewed, please post them on the official website of the Samurai Backpacker Project. (The website will get an English version soon).
His project is also featured on Asiajin. Read his interview from here.
●Hideki Ota on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MOHIDEKI
Interview coducted at:
■ Shop Name: LIFE Kitasando ■ Address: 3-30-9-101 Sendagaya Shibuya (google MAP)
■ Phone Number： 03-5474-8204
■ Open: Lunch 11am-4:00pm / Dinner 4pm-11pm (closed on Sunday and National Holidays)
■ HP: http://www.life-kitasando.com ■ Twitter： http://twitter.com/lifekitasando
