The article is a Japanese‑language interview from the “千人回峰” series featuring Associate Professor Yasuhiro Yamakawa of Babson College. Conducted by journalist 奥田芳恵, the conversation explores Yamakawa’s formative years living in eight different countries, the linguistic and social skills he developed, and the influence of his geologist‑mountaineer father who encouraged a “just try” attitude (illustrated by Yamakawa’s sudden entry into a Canadian ice‑hockey team). The interview traces his academic trajectory—Keio Law degree, MBA at Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Ph.D. in International Business at Texas A&M‑Dallas—and his long‑standing role at Babson, where he teaches entrepreneurship, failure studies, and strategy. A pivotal mentorship by Hirotaka Takeuchi (then president of Hitotsubashi University) is recounted, highlighting a phone call that opened the path to Babson. Yamakawa shares his philosophy on failure, emphasizing that teams should define acceptable loss, view failure as normal, and use it as energy for the next venture. He discusses the importance of cultivating “change‑makers” in the AI era and reflects on the broader “千人回峰” concept of meeting 1,000 insightful individuals as a lifelong journey. The piece concludes with reflections on the value of personal connections, the role of failure in entrepreneurship, and Yamakawa’s future aspirations to nurture high‑quality entrepreneurs who can solve societal challenges.
Topics
Multinational Childhood: Language Mastery and Social Resilience
Yamakawa recounts living in eight countries, frequent relocations, rapid language acquisition, and the development of non‑verbal communication skills through sports and body language.
Father’s ‘Just Try’ Ethos and the Ice‑Hockey Anecdote
A story of Yamakawa’s father urging him to join a Canadian ice‑hockey team despite no prior experience, illustrating a hands‑on, trial‑by‑action parenting style.
Academic Path to Babson: From Keio to MBA, Ph.D., and Mentorship
Chronology of Yamakawa’s education—Keio Law, MBA at Peter Drucker, Ph.D. in International Business—plus the decisive phone call with Hirotaka Takeuchi that guided him toward Babson.
Philosophy of Failure: Defining Loss, Team Alignment, and Learning
Yamakawa’s view that failure is inevitable and useful; importance of pre‑defining acceptable loss, unifying team definitions of failure, and leveraging setbacks as energy for next steps.
Vision for Change‑Makers in the AI Era
Goal to cultivate entrepreneurs who can address societal problems, especially as AI reshapes knowledge work; emphasis on courage, curiosity, and continuous learning.