I had a conversation with Shusaku Hirota (CEO of Henge Inc.) at a salon off-line meeting of Naoki Sakai, a conceptor.

Starting today, you don’t even have to wear a mask.
The after-corona, which has long been available in Europe and the United States, has finally opened in Japan, although it is about a year late.

My prediction (expectation!?)
The year 2023 will be 1989.
On the eve of the bubble economy. The weak yen has revitalized tourism, global companies such as Uniqlo have achieved record earnings, tax revenues are at record highs, and wages are up across the board at major companies. Inflation is a concern, but it is nothing compared to other developed countries. In fact, Japan has suffered from a long period of deflation, so some inflation is necessary. Japan’s GDP is twice that of the UK. Unemployment is low and employment was increasing in the years before the corona.

Although there are many challenges, such as the lagging DX, the country is expected to be a role model as a mature adult nation with a declining birthrate. I don’t know why we need to have as many children as we did after WWII. Japan should be a mature country. Robotics and immigration policies can cover the labor force. The global population growth has been contained by the corona, and it is time to calmly think about 2023 and beyond. With food security, improved medical policies, etc., Japan’s population may only need to be half of its current level of 60 million. Then there would be no crowded trains and room for the development of livable rural areas. Safety and security, economic stability, and population stability will give birth to new innovations.

Pleasureism cannot be done when one is frantically pursuing something. Pleasure can only be pursued by adults who can afford it, in situations where they can afford it. It is with this in mind that I enjoyed my discussion with Mr. Hirota. Please take a look.

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special dialogue
Guest: Jun Fukuda (CEO, Speedy, Inc.) x Shusaku Hirota (CEO, Henge Inc.)
Dialogue Topic ：Business Outlook for 2023
Subtitle: The Future of Happiness – Marketing Trends in Mental Health, Pleasure and Community
Release date: 3/1/2023

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Atsushi Fukuda
Serial entrepreneur, born in Osaka in 1965. Graduated from Nihon University College of Art.
Founder, Sony Digital Entertainment
President and Representative Director, Speedy Inc.
Visiting Professor, Yokohama College of Art, Visiting Professor, Kanazawa Institute of Technology
Talent agent for actress “Nonn” and others, Los Angeles-based art gallery management, vacation rental business, resort hotel management in Okinawa, large-scale farm development, digital content development from Estonia, startup investment, and more. He has been involved in a wide range of activities, including the development of digital content from Estonia, startup investment, and more.

Mr. Shusaku Hirota
CEO/Director, Henge Inc. born in 1980. After working as a director at a broadcasting station, marketing at an advertising company, and new business development and brand consulting services, he became independent in August 2018. He founded Henge Inc. specializing in corporate brand development. He is the Japan chief of Stylus Media Group, an innovation research firm based in London, UK. With his unique brand development methodology, he has assisted various companies in developing their brand strategies and participated in many innovation projects. His publications include “SHARED VISION” (Senden-Kaigi).