The world's first ocean thermal energy conversion, whose development is being jointly conducted with Saga University, has a great reputation as an environmental technology. What motivated you to stake everything you have and the future of the company on an environmental business venture?
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which occurred in January 1995, changed my attitude toward life. When I was walking in a rubble-strewn town, a notice in Nada Kobe Co-op caught my eyes. It said, "an urgent request for assistance will shortly take place in Kobe, and we need to remember that the request comes from the victims of the earthquake." Seeing the notice, I shed many tears and, at the same time, I was ashamed of my momentary thought that I would work again and continue to do business by rebuilding a previous company. The experience of the earthquake changed my view of the future, and I decided to make a new start, just as Kobe was doing. In October of that year, I met Dr. Haruo Uehara, a former professor of the Science Faculty at Saga University and a leading expert in the field of OTEC research. That meeting was the decisive factor in determining me to devote my life to protecting this beautiful earth. I was 50 years old at the time.

Xenesys Inc. has expanded its business to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and been developing international activities.
Japanese business emphasizes having a track record, and there is no business climate suitable for launching a new business. I once thought of naming our company "Track Record" in order to gain trust in the business world. As Japan has many detailed regulations, I encountered obstacles in the course of making further progress. In contrast, cutting-edge technologies and credible plans are the keys to success in business overseas. What is needed for successful business abroad is to have persuasive explanatory skills. I have been building a network of connections with "super rich people" in the Middle East, and this activity has expanded into a business opportunity for the company of Xenesys Inc. A comprehensible and truthful explanation is enough for people who are open to new ideas. They see me and give me a hug, saying "charming!" I will strive to make a track record overseas in the near future and then expand our technologies to Japan in the innovative spirit of commodore Perry. When the time comes, I might change the name of our company from "Xenesys Inc." to "Here We Are!"

Are the odds in favor of Xenesys Inc.?
A blind spot of capitalism is that there is no one who attempts to launch an unprofitable business. Predictable income is no longer interesting for me. Harnessing one's mind to overcoming an unprofitable situation is, I think, the real meaning of human wisdom. When I decided to wind up other small but steady businesses and launch a business venture with OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion), a certain amount of recklessness and foolishness was needed. I have confidence in man's spirit of adventure, which concentrates one's hopes on something unrecognized and unpredictable, but my wife's perseverance, which has supported this adventure, is even more important than this spirit. I always try to tell all the members of the company that the understanding and support of a family is our first priority. For the past 10 years, we experienced disappointment again and again as a top competitor in the ocean electricity generating industry, but nurturing the business from a small seed by hand is the best part of fruition for me. Anything that I can achieve easily is, in some ways, hollow for me.

Looking back on the past 11 years after the earthquake, would you tell us about your feelings about Kobe or other cities in Kansai?
People all over the world who watched the images of the great earthquake were amazed at the orderly behavior of the earthquake victims. Many volunteers were in the town, helping, supporting and caring for the reconstruction of Kobe. In the process of the earthquake disaster reconstruction, I think there was also the ability to endure such an ordeal in the nature of the locality as well as in the people. The word "mottainai", meaning "reduce," "reuse," and "recycle," represents the spirit of Kansai, and this word is now becoming a global word. I am really proud of having such a culture and tradition. In the vocabulary of technology, we recognize that software is the United States and hardware is Japan, so considering this, I would like to say that "socialware (structure of society)" is Kansai. I see there are many seeds that make people lively there.

How about Kansai's industrial recovery?
First of all, the basic infrastructure of the manufacturing industries is extremely solid. As there are very few places like Kansai around the word, people abroad tell me that they envy Kansai. I think that tourism, finance and entertainment, including food culture, are business fields that have possibilities of further development. In Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, consolidation of the basic infrastructure as a financial center has been aggressively carried out, and Saudi Arabia is planning to follow their lead. As Kansai already has the necessary infrastructure, we will be able to bring people from all over the world through implementing the development of legal systems for globalization and improving the quality of services.

Do you have any suggestion for the Kinki Regional Development Bureau?
How about adopting such an idea as "Kids Correspondents," relying on the good sense of the younger generation? I think they can report information about communities such as local sightseeing, including indicating a good spot for cherry-blossom viewing and areas of food production, and emphasizing the importance of controlling food safety. They are really good at using the advanced mobile phone system, so that they will send interesting information and pictures of communities from their point of view. Isn't that really fun? Seeing happy smiles on people's faces is a source of energy. Kids are the youthful pillars of the community and they are also consumers and founders in the near future. I would like to develop many small "socialware seeds," which have great potential for the future.