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Shibuya of future talks about the KEY PERSON key person

Long interview of [key personnel] to be active mainly in the Shibuya. Place a "Shibuya of appeal" through their words.

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1970, Yamaguchi Prefecture, was born. After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, a job at Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. fire. After passing through the work experience of 5 years in the Corporate Planning Department, retired in 2000 with the aim of venture in the long-cherished dream. After obtaining the Tobei to thunderbird Graduate School Master of Business Administration (MBA), expand the hands-on business to support technology-based ventures in Silicon Valley. After returning home, he foresaw the growth of the early EV field, founded EV venture "Terra Motors" in 2010. In the future, the Shibuya as a base, contemplates Asia, to expand into the world.

Depletion of fossil fuels, against the background of global warming, worldwide movement to the EV (electric vehicle) of advance. Under these circumstances, Toru Tokushige of Terra Motors representatives, Shibuya departure of young venture entrepreneurs one of which aims to spread continue the struggle of the "electric bike". Taking advantage of the experience in Silicon Valley, open the air hole in the way of traditional Japanese companies, feed the fresh air on the Japanese economy that cooped-up feeling drifts. Also from gasoline shortages and soaring due to last month occurred the earthquake, that this one month was recorded three times the sales of normal life. Now the future, "electric bike" in which, such as power shortage is a concern whether going to fix, and ... and the chances of success.

Birth to employment and growth in Japan, there is no venture companies such as towing the country

- Quit the leading non-life insurance company, but is so went over to America and the initiator determined purpose ...

But after graduating from college he served five years in Sumitomo Insurance, retirement from the strong feeling that "I want to do a venture company!". Just 29 years old, was the time that was said to be "Shibuya bit Valley". So to get an MBA to visit the United States and I began to work as it is in Silicon Valley. At that time, as a venture of technology-based, was doing Toka algorithm of audio and video of digital broadcasting, security encryption things IT and core also different, such as. Toka one president in Silicon Valley, because engineers were many business Toka, such small company by one person, as a hands-on support of the venture, I also worked penetrate most as one of the employees.

- Were there any differences in Japan and the United States of the venture?

Although I have a lot venture in Japan, I wonder if I say, I do not have companies such as to lead the country birth to employment and growth. However, in the Silicon Valley, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Apple, Yahoo! (Yahoo!), such as Google (Google), only companies such as representative of the other world. Well even Facebook (Facebook) in the recently. Toyota, a place called the large companies that have matured, including Sony, but there is also in Japan, problem thing is there is no venture companies that are growing radical. We are not born and employment and not Ika in creating that kind of company, we feel like something sense of stagnation have begun to drift in the entire Japan.

- Is from the time when was interested in entrepreneurship?

"Shunan industrial complex" of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan's leading petrochemical complex zone

From high school, it what Akio's Toka Toka Soichiro Honda Morita, was reading a book written by Mr. Tokuji Hayakawa of Sharp (laughs). It will do grandfather of which is blood was entrepreneur surely. By doing the timber industry, it seems to have gone bankrupt in the flow is changed to oil from coal. Just seemed father was in a helluva eye in middle school, so I since I was a kid "Absolutely, do not are doing things like cause business" has been said that (laughs). Anyway good university, good company, and go to large companies. It was college Applied Chemistry, not'm apart from not chemistry was carried out at love. Local, it was reluctantly decided in the intention of the parent that it is advantageous to employment in many chemical companies in Yamaguchi Prefecture. That said, because I was not at all Nante willing to shake the test tube at work, eventually the "Osaka" not a local overseas at the end there was one quarrel, contrary to the intention of the parents to real intention, "the financial system It was a job to. " It was a half-hearted Well. I'm I'm twisted twice under the influence of parents, also to's right college, also employment. But even after the job is in the midst of the always head, "Do not you something different" (laughs). Job Description is I was never bad, but in the end that worrying about a year "that he likes, trying to do that I think I want to do sincerely" to determine that, I decided to leave the company.

- Why, I do not remain in the United States, did you thought Attempting to Launch venture to return home?

Japan but I went over to America disgusting, but might do so even Toka Ichiro, rather I think I patriotism is born (laughs). So look at the people who succeed in Silicon Valley, is not or regretted something. But Japanese've got there is a potential, everyone becomes Funny gone to large companies. "Toka incubation, do not to be allowed to grow the venture industry" is in but I also have people that, most not the practitioners. For example, in just make money (laughs), that or that person and not be considered a large country, or I've been various thinking of country, Made up does not know at all is that of the venture. I Which Kana do. Because I know both the time being, or rather its Enough for has changed, I think the kana unique to.

I'm want to "Designed by TerraMotors in Shibuya"

- Why was the EV business?

Aim is to create a company that can compete with the world from Japan. But it had been stuck to the originally Japan's core technology, for such a field generally is doing is like a technician university professor, I'm not in the business. "Now, what you're doing?" To the guys in Silicon Valley in that time I asked, is about three years ago, but the voice that is doing the "EV business" was noticeable from the time. Honest, but initially did not come with the pin, I have the feeling that has been infested is the interesting and interested in one used to find out a lot.

Please tell me the charm of --EV.

Simply put, it is like analog camera is digital. Before about 10 years, the film company was a super blue-chip companies for us Applied Chemistry graduates. But currently, it changes mostly in digital. What film company until now was by far is, about 20% Toka 30 percent had changed Goro' and players. So-called, in what is referred to as a "disruptive technology", this is for the newcomer, it's such that there is a very chance. For a long time, the automotive industry has a high industry barriers, such as engine technology, there was no new entrants company that was listed in Europe in the United States. In short, only do such for performing a product development, production and sales type called "rubbing alignment of the vertical integration" is the mainstream in the group companies, but this is not needed at all know-how when it comes to EV.

For example, Honda, Toyota, professional who have been involved in the design and engine development out to the graduate school of mechanical engineering would be no longer necessary. Further sales channel is also not only in the automotive dealers, such as consumer electronics retailer, will have changed to the point where sell. After Toyota Toka Honda, this is should be awesome threat. But, considering the assets and human resources that have been accumulated up to now, in the simple not afford to not migrate to EV. However, in the Silicon Valley and China have expressed their EV entrants one after another venture company, I'm sure after a few years I'll be coming out of the great companies in this. Well, speaking of whether Japan's large companies, if there about 10 years, Toka increase the electrical system by reducing the mechanical system, but employment can also adjust, era is not you been waiting 10 years. Then even the automotive industry that Japan has a world market share, is why there is enough possibility that would have been done in China Toka American company in the meantime.

- Is Both production plants?

EV rather than the conventional "rubbing alignment of the vertical integration", is a "horizontal division of labor" is the main. Typical of the personal computer. CPU from Intel, OS from Microsoft, the horizontal division of labor because she can if it to the package. Winners in there Dell and Acer, Toka Compaq, also is Apple in recent years. Therefore, the Company is also not have our own factory, has a China cooperation factory in the fabless like a form. There Technician dispatched about two people, the general public in China factory, business has been manufactured in Japan. So, rather than a "made in Japan", might be "Made by Japan". Is me when talking to people I'm showing well iPhone, the back of the iPod, but there is I wrote that "Designed by Apple in California." In addition, "Assembled in China". Of which is I've been I want to do this in the "Designed by TerraMotors in Shibuya" (laughs). It is I'm a brand.

- Everywhere make, that barriers to entry is low, on the other hand it is expected that the rival company comes with many occurrences, do you believe that going against as copper?

IT of things like Groupon in the world, to introduce how quickly, or go well with more and more heard the voice of the audience, is the speed that. Because of course EV is a thing run, Toka Toka maintenance quality, it is also important that kind of thing that we do with the tightly to. The former is the conventional major car company, the latter is the height of the quality management of Japanese unique to compete with China urging says things. Yet another is an image. Next model to announce from our company, design, in the care of the brand, we're going to ride with more innovative and future sense. In other words, out there worth headquartered in Shibuya. Toka young, fashion Toka, gal Toka, is not it a lot of that kind of image in Shibuya or. Shibuya girl of fashion, then it has been attracting attention also to the people of Asia. Toka is taking the market in Japan, that are popular is, we believe that very a value.

- Whether the reaction of the market is how?

Currently new curious early adopters is the main. Is not there a place where you can still test drive, but when I am riding the good you should get to fully understand. There is no sense of discomfort to the comfortable ride even in comparison with the conventional gasoline bikes, the sound is quiet and clean. In recent years only through the previous moped bike eyes, it has become sensitive to the sound around can not be helped anymore annoying (laughs). Then in the commercial it is likely to spread the demand for the newsagent. At 4 o'clock in the morning, because the delivery of five o'clock, I think because there are many people who still care about the sound. In addition to Yodobashi Camera's and big camera's electronics stores such as, also started to move gradually development of these sales channels.

Electric bike, which is display along with the consumer electronics in Yurakucho Bic Camera "SEED"

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