In October 2021, Asahi Kasei Corporation hosted a one-day online training program titled "Long-Term Thinking Through the Concept of 'Good Ancestors.'" This initiative is part of the company’s six-month leader development program designed to nurture the next generation of management leaders. The primary goal of the training is to cultivate essential business conceptualization and leadership skills for future leaders. The program was facilitated by Mr. Shoukei Matsumoto, a contemporary Buddhist monk, who guided attendees in exploring the concept of Deep Time to enhance their creativity.

The training program was divided into two main sessions:

Program Structure (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Session 1: Long-Term Thinking Through the Concept of "Good Ancestors"

Session 2: Considering Asahi Kasei 100 Years from Now and Utilizing Backcasting for Future Planning

This article focuses on the insights shared by Mr. Shoukei Matsumoto during Session 1, "Long-Term Thinking Through the Concept of 'Good Ancestors,'" and includes feedback  from participants after the training.

Insights from Session 1:  Long-Term Thinking Through the Concept of "Good Ancestors"

Lecture by Mr. Shoukei Matsumoto

As we celebrate the remarkable milestone of Asahi Kasei's 100th anniversary this year, I would like to extend my congratulations to all of you. Reaching a century as a company is truly an extraordinary achievement.Over the past 100 years, Asahi Kasei has successfully diversified its operations, covering a wide range from materials to healthcare and beyond. It is indeed rare to find someone who hasn’t benefited from the contributions of Asahi Kasei in some way; people around the world have experienced the positive impact of its innovations. In Buddhism, we refer to this benefit as "Goen," which signifies the interconnectedness we share. The fact that we are gathered here today is a testament to those very connections. In today’s landscape of multi-stakeholder capitalism, I see myself as one of those stakeholders. That is why I choose to refer to your esteemed company as "Asahi Kasei," rather than the more formal "御社" (your company).

You stand on a foundation built over a century, and you possess the potential to make a significant impact on humanity through your work. You are uniquely positioned to shape the future of Asahi Kasei’s endeavors. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a broad perspective and maintain a long-term vision as you move forward.

In the book Good Ancestor, which I, Shoukei Matsumoto, recently translated, there is a diagram on page 19 titled "The Tug-of-War Around Time." In our daily lives, we often find ourselves drawn into a mindset of "short-term thinking," and there is a constant competition for our time. We are living in an era characterized by high uncertainty due to interconnectedness. Additionally, we encounter the concept of "eternal progress." In a corporate context, this manifests as the expectation that "business must always be on an upward trajectory." As a result, employees are pressured to innovate faster and more reliably. However, the reality is that there is no such thing as a 100% guaranteed innovation. True innovation cannot merely extend from our current way of thinking. Much like in the movie The Matrix, we often find ourselves locked into existing systems and paradigms, making it challenging to achieve genuine innovation. While these existing systems are important, there has never been a greater need to reassess our perspectives and embrace different ways of thinking.

I come from the world of religion, where institutions can often become insular. This insularity can lead to rigidity and stagnation within religious practices. Therefore, I firmly believe that we need border-crossing leadership at this crucial moment.

As a stakeholder in Asahi Kasei, I took the opportunity to research the company and came across an insightful interview with Honorary Fellow Mr. Yoshino, the developer of lithium-ion batteries. Mr. Yoshino stated the following in the interview article: 

As discussed in Good Ancestor, we must commit to work that requires long-term dedication, perseverance, and focus. However, in an age dominated by short-term thinking, finding individuals capable of driving long-term innovation can be challenging. True innovation cannot be achieved through superficial, quick fixes; it emerges only when a company has built a solid foundation, leading to unique advancements that others cannot replicate.

Thinking long-term is not easy. So, how can we cultivate this mindset? The answer lies in training. One effective approach is to focus on the "generations yet to come." When we compare the past 50,000 years to the next 50,000, we see that while 7.7 billion people are currently alive and around 10 billion have lived before us, it is estimated that 70 trillion people will be born in the future. What legacy can we leave for them? We stand at a crucial juncture, passing the baton from the past to the future.

Imagining either the distant past or the far-off future can be daunting. Therefore, it may be beneficial to start by connecting with those around us.

In Japanese Buddhism, we have long placed great importance on our ancestors. Each of us has parents, and those parents have their own parents, creating a lineage of blood connections. If even one person in that lineage were missing, I wouldn’t be here today.

How far back can you trace the names of your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents?

While we may not know the names of all our ancestors, we still live in the present. Tracing our bloodlines is one way to engage in long-term thinking, a practice that has been a cornerstone of Japanese Buddhism for centuries.

However, what we inherit goes beyond just our bloodlines. We carry forward many legacies. For instance, the scientific advancements we enjoy today are built upon the work of countless scientists who came before us. Their collective efforts have paved the way for the conveniences of modern life.

In his book How Shall We Live?, independent researcher Mr. Makoto Morita states the following: 

How can we become good ancestors ourselves? Rather than just living our short lives, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we choose to live. A hundred years from now, none of you who are participating in this training today will be here. How will future generations remember us? Will they say, "They left us a wonderful world," or will they ask, "What kind of world did they leave behind?" This is an important way to consider our legacy.

Focusing solely on avoiding punishment from future generations can feel discouraging. Instead, let’s start by recognizing the blessings we have received from our ancestors. By appreciating those gifts, we can gain a clearer perspective on our role in shaping the future.

(Following this discussion, participants reflected on the blessings they received from their ancestors. In the afternoon, the training shifted to "Envisioning Asahi Kasei 100 Years from Now and Backcasting from the Future”.)

Analysis of Training Survey Results

After the training, we conducted a survey to gauge participants' perceptions of the program.

When asked about the program's benefits, 94% responded positively, indicating they found it valuable, with many choosing options like "very much so" and "somewhat so."

We also invited participants to share detailed comments on how they benefited from the program. A text analysis of their responses revealed that the words "めぐらせる" (to circulate) and "長期" (long-term) prominently featured in the word cloud. Additionally, terms such as "意識" (awareness), "普段" (usual), "視点" (perspective), and "長期" (long-term) appeared frequently. This indicates that many respondents felt the program encouraged them to consider long-term thinking and perspectives that they typically do not reflect on.

Overall, it indicates that the program successfully fostered creativity among participants.