A Way of Life That Lets Go of Stereotypes

“Perhaps one reason is that I was able to let go of my pride.”
This was his reply when I asked why he is so polite and humble to everyone, regardless of their age.

Even if you decide to let go of your pride, it is not something that can be discarded easily. Many people might feel irritated when treated arrogantly by a younger subordinate, wouldn't they?

It takes courage and resolve to let go of pride. He had the kind of intense life experience that allowed him to do so.

*This article is based on an interview conducted in January 2022.

The Roots of a Life of Bold Challenges

Minoru Hachisu is currently 54 years old. Hachisu and I were classmates in the “Editorial Writer Training Course,” which we attended for six months starting at the end of July 2021.

We were in different classes and didn't have the chance to talk, but we spoke for the first time at a year-end party in December. There, I heard that he had retired from a major company in March 2021, graduating from 31 years of corporate life to start his own business. I felt an atmosphere that suggested he was no ordinary person, and he has been the focus of my attention ever since.

Hachisu was born in Tokyo and is the eldest of three siblings. During his university days, he belonged to the mountaineering club and overcame rigorous training. In his fourth year, he went to Africa alone and succeeded in summiting Mount Kilimanjaro at an altitude of 5,895 meters. At the age of 26, he participated in an expedition to an unclimbed peak in the Himalayas and climbed to 7,005 meters.

After graduating from university, he did not join a typical company but instead found employment at a foreign-affiliated IT venture. Initially, he worked in sales for corporate servers, but he transferred to the sales planning department and later demonstrated his true potential in the logistics department.

At 31, he married a woman he met through a senior colleague, and their only son was born three years later.

At 35, through a connection with a former boss, he changed jobs to a major beverage manufacturer. In the logistics department, he was in charge of SCM (Supply Chain Management) operations and raw material supply planning. At the foreign-affiliated company he moved to, he was expected to deliver results and had busy days, but he worked with a sense of purpose.

Becoming a Single Father at 43

The first turning point came when he was 43. He lost his beloved wife to illness. His son was only 8 years old, having just started the third grade of elementary school.

Life after that left no time to catch his breath. To ensure his son's school life was not affected, he carefully read through all handouts and communication notebooks from the school. He handled everything that needed to be done, such as ordering teaching materials and tools like paints, recorders, and calligraphy sets, doing needlework, and making bibs for sports festivals.

While carrying out his grueling work at the company, he played a dual role, also acting as a homemaker. He would wake up at 5 a.m., make breakfast, and send his son off. He also made bento lunches every day until his son reached high school. He did not use his disadvantageous situation as a single parent as an excuse and, thinking of his son's future, he never cut corners on his education.

In the midst of such a life, he experienced his stereotypes being broken.

When he went to his son's class observation, he was surrounded by mothers. He received everyone's attention. There was a concept there that “child-rearing is something mothers do.” Without being intimidated by his position as a single father, which is rare in society, he thought about how he could blend in with the mothers.

As I gained experience in housework and child-rearing, a feminine perspective and a maternal consciousness began to sprout. As I talked with other moms and frequently attended drinking parties as the only man, it eventually became normal.

"Honestly, balancing work and family was tough," Mr. Hachisu says, looking back on those days.

There were times when my son refused to go to school. I also collapsed from overwork and stress and was taken away by ambulance.

The foreign-affiliated company I worked for was a cold world. Just because you achieved good results this year doesn't mean your position for next year is guaranteed. Unlike many Japanese companies, long-term employment is not a given.

In society, while there is understanding and support systems for single mothers, it is difficult to gain understanding for the very few single fathers. Even with public subsidies, there are systems that single mothers can receive but single fathers are excluded from. I felt the absurdity of a world with little consideration for minorities.

Graduating from the company

I started thinking about graduating from the company when I was 48. There was a turning point. Either resign or stay with a significant salary cut. Although I swallowed my pride and accepted the salary cut, clinging to the company, I keenly felt the need to break away from a life dependent on the company.

After that, I started attending seminars and reading books, beginning to think about the path from being "someone employed by a company" to becoming a business owner. I also studied asset formation and investment. I wrote a blog and even tried my hand at selling goods.

I even got caught up in a scam-like business. Although I failed, by pursuing self-improvement, I felt the possibility of living without relying on a company.

And in March 2021, at the age of 53, I finally resigned as I had long desired. My son was still a student preparing for entrance exams, and it would take at least four more years until he graduated from university. Even so, why now?

"As I get older, I feel the importance of time. The time I have at 60 is different from the time I have at 53. There are many things I can do now that I won't be able to do in 10 years, and the times change as well. To live a life without regrets, I decided to create my own life."

Since leaving the company, the thing I feel most is that I have become "mentally and physically healthier." That is how much mental strength and physical stamina it takes to endure working in an organization.

After resigning, while there is the style of being a freelancer, I dared to establish a company and start a business. To keep risks low, I started the business alone without hiring employees. I chose the form of a limited liability company (LLC), which also keeps costs to a minimum.

"By starting a business, my mindset has changed." In the actions of Mr. Hachisu, who says this, one can feel a strong resolve that is different from other people.

Living as a writer

Mr. Hachisu has decided to make a living by starting a business and writing documents from now on.

During my time as a company employee, my main job was not writing, but rather logical tasks such as numerical management. I wondered where the connection to being a writer came from, but that doubt was dispelled when I read his writing.

The writing is outstandingly good. He liked reading books since he was a child, but he says he wasn't particularly good at writing back then, and his grades in Japanese were average. However, when writing for work, the one thing he kept in mind was to make the writing "easy for the reader to visualize and easy to understand."

Hachisu-san's writing is crafted to be easy for the reader to understand. She smoothly adds explanations for somewhat technical terms. Her scene descriptions and word choices are so skillful that they remind one of a novel.

Within that, one can catch glimpses of a unique, logical perspective. A logical writing structure and exquisite word choice—I feel this is the essence of Hachisu-san.

Regarding the direction she aims for as a writer, Hachisu-san says, "I want to connect people with words. I don't want to write stock or flow content, but rather writing that acts as a trigger."

She aims for writing that is not just stored as information or skimmed over, but that moves the heart, acts as a trigger for the reader, and leads to new actions. Focusing on and sharing with the world the people, companies, and organizations that act with high aspirations also has strong social significance.

She covered the NPO Second Harvest Japan, which conducts food bank operations (distributing food for free to organizations and individuals in need based on donations from companies and individuals), in her graduation project for an editorial writer training course, where she also had volunteer experience.

Discarding stereotypes broadens your perspective.

Hachisu-san writes on note (a posting site for creators), "I am a student. Everyone except me is a teacher." She honestly follows and absorbs information obtained from those around her.

However, she also possesses the ability to take action, judging things by trying them herself rather than making assumptions without doing so.

Absorptive capacity and the ability to take action.

Seeing her discipline herself and move forward without being ordered by anyone, I sincerely feel grateful that I was able to meet Hachisu-san. She demonstrates action herself and influences those around her. When I talk with Hachisu-san, I feel stimulated and want to take action.

Hachisu-san says, "I think having high pride comes from being trapped by 'preconceptions' and 'stereotypes' such as 'elders should be this way' or 'men should be this way.' I think I am who I am today because I spent time in an environment where I had no choice but to break those concepts. I believe that things like being male or seniority-based systems are not cool in this day and age."

Indeed, in Japanese society, there are many situations where one feels peer pressure, bound by past stereotypes. We tend to unconsciously judge people's actions based on the concept that 'so-and-so should be this way.'

If Hachisu-san, who has lived a tumultuous life for 54 years, were to dare to pass something on to her juniors, what would it be?

"To discard stereotypes, I think it is good to gather information with a broad perspective. For example, when you hit a wall at work and are considering a career change, I want you to know that changing jobs is not the default (standard), and that there are many other options."

There are not a few people who feel 'difficulty in living' in today's society and try to live steadily. However, is Japan really such a dangerous country?

As Hachisu-san says, 'Unlike the past, we are not bound by a class system. Safety nets (social security) such as pension systems, unemployment insurance, health insurance, and public assistance are also in place. The internet society has evolved, and anyone can earn an income without spending money. There is little risk of being exposed to the brink of life or death,' perhaps we are being too cowardly about living.

Discarding stereotypes and creating one's own life.
In a society where peer pressure is still strong, one cannot take their eyes off Hachisu-san's future as she continues to stick to this style.

(End)

Click here for Minoru Hachisu's note

Thank you for reading until the end.