From Toronto -1, Encounter to a ‘Wikinomics’ figure

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As reported in my last posting, I am in Toronto working with University of Toronto for our collaborative program with GRIPS from early this year (Ref.1).

After my session at Munk Center, I was invited to dinner reception for the 50th anniversary of the Gairdner Award hosted by Rob McEwen, a major business leader of Canada (Ref.1), and a significant figure in the Wiki-age business as I will explain to you below.

His huge house is located in the most exclusive area of Toronto, as you may expect, as I know him one of major supporters of medical research and education. He founded McEwen Center of Regenerative Medicine focusing on stem cell research, at Toronto General Hospital, an affiliated hospital of the University of Toronto. I knew his support of medical research, thus he is particularly pleased to meet Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University (Ref.1),  one of this year’s Gairdner Laureates; Dr Yamanaka made a landmark discovery of iPS, reprogramming of skin and other cells to stem cells, bypassing ethical issues of using embryonic stem cells.

Img_1913 Photo; with Rob McEwen

As I discussed with Rob various issues of mutual interests including his business, suddenly it occurred to me that he MUST be a person who appeared as a major innovator entrepreneur on Open Innovation in a book ‘Wikinomics’, in its Chapter one. I asked him ‘Is that YOU?’’ and his reply was’ Yes.’ In my recent speaking engagements I often cite him as a most remarkable ‘out-of-box’ thinker which saved and led to his gold-mine company, Goldcorp. This was a huge success as one can imagine based on the performance of the company. We had quite an enjoyable chatting session over how he thought of it and how he did it.

It is always fun to encounter unexpected encounters enriching your own thinking as I often posted in my blog posting. So I say “Think and Act Global, it a lot of fun.’

Ottawa, on Global Health, and Toronto, on Innovation

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Canada will host G8 Summit next year (could be the last G8 and first G20). Naturally, as part of effort to make Global Health as a major agenda for the Summit, various efforts, negotiation, processes must have been taking place among various sectors of Canada.

CCGHR hosted one of such meetings (October 25th). The meeting is more research oriented, with about 150 member attendance with 25% being members abroad and I was invited to give a keynote. It was full of enthusiasm and I joined a couple of workshops, its board meeting as a guest, and a private session for Canadian perspective for G8 agenda setting. It was a very interesting and learning day getting to know many new friends and colleagues.

Ottawa in late October is reasonably cold, but weather was nice. I met a Japanese scholar, a woman, well educated undergraduate at McMaster and at MS and PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill; she lived only several years when she was very young, now studies as a post-doctoral fellow in South Africa participating a joint project with UK on Mental Health and Poverty Project in Africa. A challenging mission!

Next day, I flew to Toronto as my re-visit (Ref.1)  to join a few activities. Munk Center of the University of Toronto was kind to host a dinner in honor of me at Massey College. Next day, a panel was held at Munk Center on ‘Innovation, Globalization and the University’; after my brief keynote, the panel session was quite lively and constructive. It seems everyone agree that leading universities must become an open ground to nurture, connect, and prepare future leaders in more and more interconnected world. We must realize that problems of the developing and underdeveloped countries and the regions are not theirs, but ours as well in interconnected global world. There, I met another women medical doctor radiologist from Tokyo Woman’s Medical College, just began her study on Medical Education Research as resident junior fellow at Massey College. Such is a valuable opportunity to widen her vision and scope for her career.  University of Toronto is a great institution which is characterized by heterogeneity, diversity and a wide spectrum of programs and courses.

Two Executive Sessions; Thoughts on Leadership, Innovation and Women Power

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Recently, I have experienced two executive sessions, one in London for top Global company of one major business sector on its global strategy; the company just underwent successfully a merger acquisition.

The member was extraordinary in that of its total 10 members from 10 countries (one woman), many have held very high positions for the government or administrative arms, eg, Minister, Supreme Court judge, Congress member, of their country and the region (eg, EU). They include, for example, Pat Cox, Chair of our panel, President of the EU Parliament (2002-04), and Chuck Hagel, Republican Senator for 12 years until this January. After some conversation with Mr Hagel, I firmly felt he is a very thoughtful and good politician gentleman. He is well known as the most outspoken critic of President Bush’s policy to Iran. I knew he assumed Chairman of the Atlantic Council, a powerful ‘Think-tank’ based in Washington DC, as I reported earlier this year. He told me that he was just invited by President Obama to Co-Chair the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, a very good news, indeed.

Pat Cox’s chairmanship of our session was outstanding, being very smooth and affirmative, and managing the entire meeting session with presentations by the corporate leadership followed by various questions and suggestions, taking notes even on seating and each members and corporate officers. I always feel privileged when I get to know peoples with such distinguished career through discussions and private conversation. I cold learn so much from them. Incidentally, a half of the corporate representation was women including its chair.

Upon return to Tokyo, I was in another executive session for one of global brand company of Japan whose sales in Japan accounts for about 25% of total annual revenue. The team headed by its CEO worked hard and developed issues for us to discuss. I enjoy the session very much with unusually lively questions and debates. This is because our members are pretty much out-of-box type individuals, for example, Natsuno-san (Ret.1) who invented iMode. It is amazing to see only one woman among total of about 15 members from the corporate side, not to mention none in its executive level.

The ideas of this company, in my view, are somehow derived from and targeted to men-thinking. Thus, one of my questions has been the fact that daily and major decisions for purchases are made by women as described in ‘The Real Emerging Market’ of my blog posting with a photo of the cover of Newsweek and in a more recent special report in Time (US version), Oct 26th, 2009, ‘What Women Want Now’ (Ref.1).  Mind you, the products may be targeted primarily to men, but the decisions to buy are made by women more often than one may imagine.

This gender issue is everywhere of Japanese society which needs a fix fast, which could serve as ‘Change Agent‘ of Japanese society and economy as I repeatedly insist in this website and recently in my interview in Japan Times.

Another thought occurred to me in these two sessions was the impression that somehow these high ranking officials in both companies may not have much of sense of what may be happening in this rapidly flattening world, ie, ‘Open and Demand-driven Innovation.’ This is becoming a very important core perception of every business sector in the global world.

How Japan can regain its vitality

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My interview ‘How Japan can regain its vitality’ (URL, PDF file) recently appeared in its October 18th, 2009 issue of Japan Times. The core messages are consistent with what I constantly preach which you find in many postings of this website, eg, change in leading political party, globalization, Japanese strength and weakness, innovation, university reform and lagging gender empowerment.

Media like Japan Times is another important means to reach out and share my view with many non-Japanese friends of Japan. Afterall, Japan seems still need of ‘Gai-atsu’ or ‘Black ships’ led by Commodore Perry for Change.

I hope you enjoy this interview.

D-Lab of MIT, starting businesses with students

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In my recent posting I wrote about D-Lab of MIT.  Mr. Endo, a student at this Lab, came to visit me upon his travel to Japan.  I asked Dr. William Saito who is helping me with research on innovations and educational activities to join and we all had nice conversations.  Mr. Endo is currently enrolled in PhD course at MIT, working hard on his research while participating also in D-Lab. He had his undergraduate and master’s education at Keio University.

The theme that Mr. Endo and his group is working on at D-Lab is prosthetics (artificial legs, arms, etc.) ? to provide affordable and good prosthetics to people in need at developing countries.   There are many people who suffer loss of their limbs through traffic accidents, wars, or land mines.  Prosthetics made in developing countries are often not so useful because of low qualities, poor fitting, tendency to break easily, etc.  Such weaknesses are understandable if you think about the infrastructures or technologies they have at hand in these countries.  So Mr. Endo came up with this great plan of developing good prosthetics and providing them to people in need to help them become more independent ? financially and physically.  It is a wonderful project.

Img_1889_top_2 Photo: From left Dr. Saito, Mr. Endo, and myself.

Many of these projects expand into social activities or businesses but then quite a number of them will fail and disappear, which is very understandable.  However, those listed here  are still continuing meaning 26% of projects that deveoped into businesses are still alive.  Dr. William Saito responded immediately saying “This is an astonishingly good rate!”  I totally agree with him.  Dr. Saito himself launched a business when he was a student at U.S. and made it a great success. 

I understand that Mr. Endo is also involved in development of high quality prosthetic legs that have potentials for enabling the atheletes to break world records. Apparently he has high goals and broad views.  Mr. Endo also said that he has an experience of having worked with Dr. Hiroaki Kitano in the project on AIBO at Sony Computer Science Laboratories Ltd. when he was studying at Keio University.

Summer Davos at Dalian: ‘D.Light’ and other flourishing Social Entrepreneurs

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As at elsewhere, ‘Social Entrepreneurs’ is in the spotlight at Summer Davos also.  Japan as a high tech country tends to see the world just from her perspective making international contribution with philosophy or products that lack ‘knowledge or sensitivity to the local situation’ or having ‘too much focus on cutting -edge technology’ – both being the ‘weakness’ that Japanese must recognize.

The D-Lab of MIT which I have introduced to you in my blog is a good example of the project that started with consideration to these points.

At IdeasLab, the session on social entrepreneurs, many examples were introduced but I would say Ned Tozan of ‘D.Light’ (Ref.1) caught most attention.  In India and Africa, many places are without electricity so some people burn kerosene at night.  This is apparently dangerous, unhealthy, and costly for poor people.  What can we do about it?  Their work starts from this question.  Their enthusiasm was felt to all who listened.

Other examples included:  1) Activities to provide modest education and skill training to migrant workers for their possible career opportunity after their return to homeland. 2) Helping people with only small land to be financially independent 3) Helping young women forced in prostitution in Cambodia and other lands to become financially independent.

I asked Mr. Tozan ‘Did your project stem out from D-Lab (Ref.1) ?’ and his answer was ‘Yes’.  Recently I posted a column on D-Lab, a wonderful new course that started at MIT.  I was told that this activity spread through the alumni and heard about a successful example of a Stanford student.  I had a feeling that D.Light was it, and correctly so.  Just looking at the background of Sam Goldman (Ref.1), CEO and founder of D.Light, you will see how American youth are aware about the world affairs, have energy and vitality to do something about them.  I also admire from the bottom of my heart the innovative ways elite universities of America treat the students and their ambitions.

I think that more social entrepreneurs would emerge from Japan if more Japanese business people or youth see global issues through their own personal experience. Letting them pass time in ‘Hikikomori (Social Withdrawal)’ is ‘mottainai’.  I wonder whether young people in Japan find it difficult to draw a bright picture of future when they see people 20-30 years older and think to themselves that those kind of life are their only options.  But they are so wrong!

In order to open up Japan to the world, it is crucial to ‘let young people experience and see more of the outside world’ (Ref.1, 2, 3).  It is now almost my mantra, but once again, I confirmed its importance.  The world is big.  As Steve Jobs puts it, ‘Don’t Settle, Keep Looking’(Ref.1)

World Economic Forum Japan meeting in commemoration of the opening of Tokyo Office, then to New Dheli, Taipei, and Summer Davos in Dalian

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WEF annual meeting in Davos may be described as the world famous place for the so-called “Track II” dialogue by members of the global society.  On the year of its 39th anniversary WEF opened Japan Office in Tokyo.  I understand that the Tokyo office is the fourth office of WEF in the world.  How exciting!  But then, why?  Might it be because of their high expectations for Japan?  Then, we certainly must do our best.

On September 4th and 5th, a meeting to announce the opening of Japan office  was held in Tokyo.  Large number of people gathered making this meeting very lively.  As the election of the Shugi-in (i.e. House of Representatives) just ended with the implication of the possibility of establishment of historical new administration, Mr. Hatoyama, the head of Democratic Party of Japan (and Davos meeting caucus)  joined to deliver a reassuring message.  I also participated in the panel afterwards.

New_delhi_20090905_dsc_6473_2

In the afternoon of the opening day of this meeting I left for New Delhi.  Arriving early next morning via Singapore I went straight to the meeting titled “India and Japan of Clean Energy Technology”(Ref.1, 2).  The conference opened with the keynote lectures of Dr. Pachauri of IPCC (it’s been a year)  and myself followed by a number of presentations from Japan introducing ecological technologies through which they seek “Win-Win” partnership of India and Japan. Ambassador Domichi also came to greet, and we had an honor of having him at the reception party in the evening.

India has a population of 10 million with expectation of annual 6-8% growth in economy for many years to come, but to my regret, Japanese business people residing in India are only 3,300 in total.  Isn’t this sad?  Although high potentials for establishing “Win-win” partnerships exist, we have such few Japanese doing business in India.  I think this is such a waste of opportunity, as I always say. (Ref.1)  Chinese and Korean industries are making quick moves into India.  I did point this out clearly to people participating from Japan.

Img_1815_2 At Sotokufu, the office of governor-general of Taiwan. The bust behind us is Sun Yat-sen.

Next day, I went to Taipei to join in with my colleague at GRIPS, Dr. Sunami and others.  Here again, the topic is “Japanese clean energy technologies” but it seems that the world does not know how good Japan is in this field.  Japan’s existence is not prominent.  Why?  I discussed on this, too.  In this global age, it is important to recognize your advantage or weakness about global issues and collaborate with others so that you can quickly spread into the society or the world.  This “Creation of new social values.” is what the innovation of the 21st century is all about. 

After Taipei, I went to Dalian via Shanghai to participate in the “New World Champions”, the so called ‘Summer Davos’ organized by WEF.  It’s a bit busy travel, but this is diplomacy, making friends world wide.  The first New World Champions took place in Dalian,   the second in Tensin. Participants included many young business people so naturally the event was quite energetic.

From the very first day I attended 3 sessions.  I was happy to hear that as many as 80 people came from Japan and was participating actively.  I saw many friends from the day 1.  Dr. Yoko Ishikura’s Blog  also reports on this event so please take a look.  Premier Wen Jiabao of the People’s Republic of China delivered a speech as in the first and second meetings.  He talked about the policies China took to respond to this global economic crisis, explaining how their outcomes were, how the current status is, and sent out strong confident message that China is ready and willing to continue taking up responsibilities.

In the evening, I attended several receptions including Japan dinner hosted by Taiyokeizai no Kai.

Democratic Party of Japan has won the election and?

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On August 30th, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a historical and land-slide victory over Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the political party that held political leadership since 1955 building so-called ‘Regime 1955’ and ‘Iron-Triangle’ structure of Japan Incorporated (a brief break by Prime Minister Hosokawa lasted less than one year, but the Regime ’55 did not change a bit).

The result has far-reaching implications on the future of Japan. The results may not indicate the public at large tried to punish LDP for economic downturn, rising unemployment, and widening of income disparity or ‘Kakusa’, a view popular by the media here and there. Rather the results may indicate a rising awareness of the public’s thirst for ‘Change’ and realization that JDP cannot Change of resistance from heavily tied ‘establishments’ and ‘stakeholders’ of the ‘Regime ’55, eg, centralized powerhouse of bureaucrats-run ministries silos, big corporate establishment, farmers, civil construction and other interest groups.

This view which I portrait above seems consistent with the views of other opinion leaders outside of Japan who have watched and closely worked with and in Japan.  An Op-Ed appeared in September 7th of New York Times by a well known author of Japan, Ryu Murakami, ‘Japan Comes of Age’ also portays the public perception of reality of Japan.

The Economist, September 5th and other issues, for example, provide several pages of coverage such as ‘The vote that changed Japan’  , ‘Lost in transition’, ‘New bosses’ and ‘Banzai; A landslide victory for the DPJ Japan’ . Other media and presses abroad share similar commentaries.

In Huffingtonpost, a liberal on-line news and blog, which President Obama is one of frequent contributors, Dr Sunil Chacko (Ref.1), another frequent contributor and a friend of mine, also wrote on the DPJ victory with a title ‘Japan’s New Era’.

A writer, journalist, and a well know observer of Japan, Bill Emmott sent me an email in February saying ‘I also wrote a quick column for The Guardian the same evening I bumped into you for their online version with a title ‘A silver lining for Japan; The economic suffering here has been harsh and long, but at last political change is coming’.

When you read his column, it is of particular interest to note its concluding sentence (underlined) of the last paragraph, precisely the pointing to our democracy as I have been often pointing out in my speaking engagements and writings （Ref.1, 2, 3) (the sites are in Japanese except Ref.2). The paragraph reads as:

‘It is a country, in other words, that is in desperate need of a change of government, and the election of a party dedicated to repairing broken social services as well as shaking up the economy. No doubt as and when the DPJ wins power, it will bring disappointments and its own occasionally shambolic ministers. No matter. The important thing in a democracy is to punish those who have failed and to bring in a new crowd capable of making new mistakes. Japan has waited far too long for that.’

Be aware, Japan remains still second largest economy of the world, thus Japan must and is expected to carry its own responsibilities in the world affairs even in ‘The Post-American World’. Indeed, Japan has lots to offer to the global challenges, but not much signs of proactive action and engagements matched to its own economic power, at least to me.

SteLA, K-RIP and Grameen Change Maker Program

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Last week, I had very enjoyable three unique encounters, SteLA, K-RIP and Grameen Change Maker Program

STeLA stands for Science Technology Leadership Association which began two years ago by and for the graduate students between University of Tokyo and MIT  (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This is its third annual meeting and was held in Tokyo with participation of about 90 students from Japan and USA, and, in addition, students from China and France. They spent about 10days in Tokyo and I was invited to give a speech and sit on the jury panel of their contest. It was such a fun and joy to see collaboration by science, technology and engineering graduate students for global agenda focusing on the benefits and risks of such technologies as nuclear, biotechnology. I fully endorse and enjoy such initiatives by the young leaders-to-be of the global age.

In Nagasaki, I participated K-RIP meeting in Nagasaki University and delivered a keynote speech (this site is in Japanese). Chair of the program  is one of leading business leaders of Kyushu, Yutaka Aso, a brother of Prime Minister Aso, who lost two days earlier the Lower House Election in a major way to the Democratic Party of Japan.  But we spent a great day with many college students and graduate students. I enjoyed speaking and discussing various issues of innovation emphasizing potential distinction of Kyushu in the flattening global world. I enjoyed the day very much engaging and discussing with students on their potentials. In the evening, Mr Aso and senior members of the program shared a pleasant dinner.

Yunusu1 Yunusu3

Photos; Professor Yunus and Japanese college students to Bangladesh

Upon my return to Tokyo, I had a visit to my office by Daisuke Miyoshi (this site is in Japanese), a leader of Grameen Change Maker Program, (Ref.1) and two students who participated this program. They just returned to Japan after three weeks in Bangladesh. Two students are college freshmen and this was their first travel abroad, for the first time they held and saw their own passport. It may be quite unique for young Japanese in these days. They truly enjoyed their experiences, such as no bath tab but instead bathing in the river, diarrhea, and many fun and learning of the differences, heterogeneity, diversity, reality of poverty. One of my former students and a medical doctor from Bangladesh, Dr Jamil, was very helpful for sickness. Before leaving Bangladesh, they could meet Professor Yunus 、(Ref.1) of Grameen Bank who spent almost three hours with these young boys and girls from Japan.

This one week was quite gratifying and enjoyable to associate myself with many young Japanese seeking and looking for their each future possibilities.

Sony’s magic lab ? a place where geniuses and super-talents pop up

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This is a title of a book that was recently published. (in Japanese)

The book was written by “Mario Tokoro and Nobuko Yuri”, and on the Obi (a belt like sheet of paper over the cover of the book) it reads: “A secret of the ‘wonder lab’- The Sony Computer Science Laboratories Ltd. – home to Hiroaki Kitano, Kenichiro Mogi, Hideki Takayasu, and Jyunichi Rekimoto ”, “Haven’t you heard those names somewhere before?”

“Hiroaki Kitano is….. one of the inventors of pet dog AIBO…..founder and top scientist of the new field of “system biology” …. Kenichiro Mogi is known for analysis of the function of brains such as “Qualia”, “Aha experience”…..original point of view and keen observations, fluffy hair, calm baby-face…….idol of media, books, TVs, games…..Hideki Takayasu is…..a best-seller author by his book “Fractal”…. started “Econophysics”, a field that is currently spreading throughout the world.  Junichi Rekimoto ……has developed a series of technologies that smoothly connect real world and the virtual world .. … these four were co-workers at one laboratory…. (Chapter one,  p.11)

This book is describing the 20 years of “Sony Computer Science Lab. (SONY CSL)”
since its foundation.  It is also a story about Mario Tokoro who devoted himself to the opening of the lab that produced number of geniuses and great talents.  Dr. Tokoro is by himself a “great talent, out of box type” but he is also a wonderful manager and a very attractive person.  His “out of box (henjin)” character was clear even from his childhood that his friends used to call him “Tokoro-henjin-Mariops”  (Chapter one, p.78)

SONY CSL – a laboratory that produced so many “henjins” who helped starting of a number of epoch making new fields, presenting new concepts to the world-, is but a small institute with only a little over than 30 members including administrative staff. And those 5 described above are not the only unique people that this lab produced.  There are many others.

I have had the privilege of working with Drs. Tokoro and Kitano in many ways for these several years (Ref.1, 2, 3)

Although the topics we talk about are quite serious, I always enjoy talking with them.  This book tells us that there are so many young people with great possibilities (including Tokoro and Kitano), the importance of setting up a “place” to nurture their talents, that in such place one can find the essence in things, create true values, and feel the excitement and challenges that are accompanied with discoveries.  The stories in the book are wonderful – it is truly an attractive book.  Partly this is due to the deep philosophy Dr. Tokoro and the extraordinary quality of his management skills.  Also Yuri, the co-author, contributes by her splendid talent on story telling and writing.

The content of the book is as follows:
1. It all began with a draft written in one day.
2. Working at the cutting edge of computer science
3. What is the essence of research management?
4. Escape from computer science
5. Broader, deeper
6. What the SONY CSL means to me
7. The future of science and SONY CSL

Chapter 2: “Tokoro says; ‘There are only two things that I do.  One is to decide the direction this lab must go.  Another is to manage human resources; hire those who fit in, help those who graduate, and ask anyone who seems to be a mismatch to leave.’” (p.62)

Chapter 3: “Most important is to open a new field of science, make a new culture.  If we succeed in this, it would not just skyrocket the brand value of Sony but will be without doubt an immeasurable contribution to humanity.” (p.75)

“The management that Mario Tokoro put into practice was clearly out of the “Japanese Standard”…..often we heard people saying “it’s insane”…..but “that insanity started to shine as they went on for years.  Oh, it was such a unique lab that they made.  Was it only possible because it was a private enterprise?  No, a private company will not have a way for such thing.  Well done!”

“Tokoro is known for being flexible and straight….  Even the editor in charge said, as Tokoro recalls, ‘Dr. Tokoro throws only straight balls’”

In Chapters 4-6 interesting episodes are introduced about how Tokoro met researchers such as Kitano, their backgrounds, and thoughts.  Tokoro sees their essence.  I recommend this book as reference to young researchers, or even non-researchers, for some lessons on life.

Kitano says “Synergy between fields that appear at first to be so irrelevant will not enhance unless we understand the fundamental idea that lies within each field.  However, that broadness is the only way to access to a new area or deep understanding of nature.”….”With the progress of computer technology, we are now able to handle sophisticated systems that involve many elements.  This opened the door to a new framework of science by breaking the walls between fields of information science, bio, sociology, economy, and so on and connecting them by new perspectives or methods.”  These words of Kitano become very convincing as we read through the works of seven (footnote 1) scientists that are introduced later.

Footnote 1; Junichi Rekimoto、Luc Steels、Hideki Takayasu、Kenichiro Mogi、Kazuhiro Sakurada、Franc Nielsen、Francois Pachet .

Two women helping them as staffs comment in the book: “I go to the presentations of researchers… and their way of thinking or ideas astonishes me quite frequently.”  “I am stimulated…… by the small words that the researchers utter in every day life”, “The researchers are all gentle and kind….of course there are many aspects in them that do not fit in to the standard value of company or ordinary life, but for matters outside research, they are basically nice people.” (p.226-227)

It seems that Dr. Tokoro’s philosophy is about finding unbelievably out of box “henjins” that have high potentials and creating a “place” to enable them grow freely. Maybe it has to do with his experience of being at several western laboratories working together with first class researchers.  Because of this experience SONY CSL is able to say that “…fresh PhDs…young inexperienced researchers are treated as colleagues, fairly, openly, and also with strictness….this atmosphere…. is a manifestation of very pure spirits that has nothing to do with disguise or connivance……” “….even in the presence of the most distinguished professors, no matter what they may say, SONY CSL researchers will not flinch” (p.216-217)

In Chapter 7, Dr. Tokoro proposed an “open system science”  as one possibility in facing future challenges and has published a book by this title  early this year in celebration of the 20th anniversary.

Anyway, I recommend this book strongly to anyone who is interested in research or anything fun, and to students in universities or graduate schools.

And as I repeatedly point out in this site also (please ‘Search’ by keywords such as ‘out of box (henjin)’, ‘nails that stick out’ or ‘common sense’),  it is these “out of box (henjin)”, “nails that stick out” “non-common sense” that go beyond the frontier, create new values, and change the world.  My conviction is even stronger after reading the stories of many scientists introduced in this book.