“Mr. Nomoto, what do you want to leave behind in this world?”

An entrepreneur asked me this during a dinner meeting. I was a bit taken aback and, without really thinking about it, replied, "Concepts." I remember feeling a bit embarrassed, yet oddly satisfied with my answer.

I write books to share my ideas with the world. I take photographs to show beauty from my perspective. Even when cooking, I enjoy highlighting ingredients in my own way.

Instead of creating something entirely new, I have a passion for rediscovering and reinterpreting what already exists. Perhaps I got this from my grandfather, who was a historian.

New concepts can change how we see the world. Historically, the idea of “human rights” transformed society. More recently, the concept of “startups” has revitalized industries. In my career, I hope to discover new concepts with entrepreneurs who can have a similar impact.

As an aside, the dinner with that entrepreneur went well. I ended up investing in their venture.