Title: “Taking Action for Japan’s Future – Starting Now”
Hello everyone. My name is Seiichiro Watanabe, and I’m the CEO of JobHeart Inc., a consulting company based in Shizuoka, Japan. I have worked in the HR and staffing industry for over 16 years, and I founded my company on September 3rd, 2018. This year marks exactly seven years since our founding.
Our company specializes in helping small and medium-sized businesses in Japan with their workforce challenges, especially by supporting the employment and daily lives of foreign workers through the Specified Skilled Worker program. We act as a registered support organization, building bridges between companies and talented foreign workers.
Before I speak about the future, I want to be clear about the reality we face.
Japan is currently the only developed country that has not grown economically in the past 30 years. Our GDP has fallen behind Germany, and while other nations have moved forward, Japan has stagnated—or worse, declined. This is not a personal opinion. It’s a fact, based on numbers. We must realize that the way Japan has been operating is no longer working. It was a complete policy failure. We, the people living in Japan, also need to understand that what we’ve learned in the past is no longer enough to succeed in the future.
Right now, Japan’s population is about 120 million. But experts say if it drops below 100 million, many industries will collapse. This used to be a concern for 25 years in the future—but now, with the rapid decline in birth rate, some predict that we could face social breakdown in just 15 years.
We cannot ignore this any longer.
Change is urgent.
That’s why I don’t just talk. I act. I believe that just criticizing without doing anything is the same as doing nothing. I’ve been taking action every day.
In the short term, I focus on improving productivity by helping businesses bring in skilled foreign workers. This helps delay Japan’s economic decline. But in the long term, we need to create a society where people can have and raise children without giving up their careers.
One idea I strongly support is the creation of a government-funded babysitter system, where public servants work as childcare professionals so parents can continue working with peace of mind. This would be funded by taxes.
And yes, I must say this honestly: for those who choose not to have children, I believe it is fair to ask for higher taxes. If you don’t have at least two biological children, your taxes should gradually increase. Not as punishment, but to share the responsibility of supporting the children who will carry our society forward. This is not discrimination. It’s about building a future together.
Children are national treasures, and we all have a duty to create a society where they can grow up strong. The future belongs to them, and they should not have to pay the price for our inaction.
We also need to be honest with the next generation. The world they will grow up in will be much harder than ours.
Doing what their parents did won’t be enough.
They must learn more, do more, and work harder to survive and thrive.
We must tell them the truth, and prepare them—not protect them with false hope.
Now, let me share my own plans for the next four years.
In the next 12 months, I will begin with the most realistic and achievable projects. For example, I plan to export high-quality oranges from Shizuoka—called “Jutaro Mikan”—to health-conscious countries overseas. I’m also working to support foreign workers who dream of starting businesses in their home countries after their time in Japan. And I want to support Japanese people who go abroad, by offering not just jobs but full living support. These aren’t just ideas—I have a real timeline and I’m committed to delivering results.
To prepare, I’m studying English now at AEON, and my goal is to speak English fluently within the next four years so I can communicate globally without barriers.
Shizuoka, where I live and work, is known for its traditional and conservative culture. New ideas are often rejected. But that’s exactly why I want to start this transformation here—because if we can make change in Shizuoka, we can do it anywhere in Japan.
I’m not just a dreamer.
I’m a doer.
It’s easy to talk about the future. It’s much harder to take action.
But I believe that step-by-step, with courage and honesty, we can build a better Japan.
Thank you very much.
色々な所で発信して私もやり続けます
皆様に伝わり、皆様が自分の為には勿論の事
他の人の為に少しでも、動き出してくれれば幸いです。
