June.30.2024 KIP Forum "‘Political and Economic Situation in Hong Kong and Asia’ & ‘Working Abroad’ "

Mr. Hidenori Yui, a portfolio manager for Japanese equities.

Mr. Yui shared with us the positioning of Japan and China in the world and strategies for creating a career plan based on future social conditions. He gave us hints on how to determine our life path with a global perspective while continuing to wonder about it.

【Speech and Q&A】

First, Mr. Yui gave a presentation on the strategy he had in mind when he created his career plan in 2009, when he graduated from university. The core of his strategy was "what to devote your life to". This determines both the theme of your life and the amount of effort you will put into it, which determines half of your life. Therefore, it is important to think strategically, not to make decisions easily, and to persistently work hard without giving up. That's what he was focusing on.
Next, we exchanged views on the characteristics of China and Hong Kong as well as the strengths of Japan, which have suddenly become the focus of much attention. During the Q&A session, he explained the changes within Hong Kong due to the attraction of foreign companies, going back to the period under British rule, which deepened my understanding of the Hong Kong economy. I thought I would have comparable knowledge of the global economic situation, but I was overwhelmed by the high level of discussion.

【Ground discussion】

What are your career paths based on the projected social situation in 2040? Each participant spoke briefly about this framework. Some discussed their interests based on their respective specialties, such as media, content industry, agriculture, and robot design. Others talked about their future lives using air delivery and smart home appliances. Some spoke specifically about the changes and difficulties that new technologies will bring, such as the coming era in which expertise will be required in addition to being able to use AI, and the fear of a future decline in the demand for system installations.
After the participants' comments, Mr. Yui gave his advice, followed by a Q&A session. Questions were raised about whether one should have more than one "mountain" as goals for professional development or just one, and what to do if one misjudges the mountain to climb.

【Personal Opinion】

It will be 2040 when current KIP students will be the same age as Mr. Yui, a first-generation KIP student. The theme of this year’s event was society at that time and our careers up to that point. The moderator’s words, "Be the next role model," showed the depth of the KIP that transcends generations. It was very interesting because every participant talked about their careers, areas of interest, and social trends they are focusing on. I was impressed by Mr. Yui’s response when I asked him how he balances the need to give all in his work while also having to think about his career plan from a broader perspective. "Opinions change every day, so don't be afraid to change your mind and don't jump to conclusions so easily," he said. This was refreshing for me because I am at a crossroads in my career path, and my worries remain.
Through this forum, I learned the fascinating personality Mr. Yui has. He has three goals: "professional mountaineering, family mountaineering, and mountaineering as a hobby," and he said, "I learn from each of them, and they all benefit from each other." I was impressed by Mr. Yui’s strong drive to improve outside work, even though he is a top-notch professional. I was also convinced by his statement that, in addition to expertise as an individual, "It is good to be loved as a Japanese person" as a condition necessary for a person to be on the global stage. On the premise that they should be able to talk about the current social situation in Japan, he said, they should be able to have interesting conversations and be positive people to work with. In the end, attractiveness as a person is appreciated is very convincing to me personally.

Tatsuaki Kato, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science,

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