Our resolve
Venture into uncharted territory and blaze a new trail.
The name "Blue Ocean" embodies a strong determination to constantly pursue unseen landscapes and challenge unknown possibilities.
Based in Kyoto, a city with over a thousand years of history and a rich, refined culture, we at Blue Ocean Kyoto aim to serve as a bridge connecting our region and the world. We strive to share Japan's excellent culture and values with the world, and to welcome the wonderful aspects of the world to Kyoto. Furthermore, we support Kyoto-based companies in their overseas expansion and global endeavors. As a "regional specialized trading company" deeply rooted in Kyoto while looking out to the world, we will pioneer new harmony and growth.
Kyoto is a city where a thousand years of history breathes, and at the same time, it's a "city of universities" where young minds from all over the world, who will carry the future, gather.
At "Blue Ocean Kyoto," we deeply engage with diverse young talent from around the world—international students and young researchers—who come to this land of Kyoto, through internships and recruitment activities. We fully support their journey as they surpass their limits and soar to new heights.
We aim to be more than just an "international company." We aspire to be a "Transnational Company" that transcends borders and cultural barriers, creating new value through the fusion of diverse values. We envision a company where multinational talent thrives, leveraging their respective strengths, and where we consistently lead business with a global market and customer perspective.
From Kyoto, we will create a new global business cycle woven from diversity and intrinsic power.
Our First Step: Mokuhanga (Traditional Woodblock Printing)
In the age of AI, there's still joy in creating with your own hands.
The memorable "first step" in our global challenge will be the "Woodblock Printmaking Workshop" by contemporary artist Mia O. It has been carefully nurtured along with the local essence in Kyūgaoka, Tokyo, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, and now Kyoto.
A special experience where you can directly learn the essence of "Mokuhanga" (water-based woodblock printing), a unique Japanese traditional technique, and its philosophy of craftsmanship from an internationally active artist. In an era of rapid digital and AI proliferation, it is also a luxurious journey to rediscover the joy of creation by hand and the value of shaping things over time.
A tranquil time of carving wood, applying ink and paints, and transferring images onto Japanese paper. A deep introspection to give form to your unique expression. Nothing would bring us greater joy than for our international visitors to Kyoto, and indeed everyone, to take home a lasting, unforgettable memory along with a piece they created with their own hands.
Next Step: Art Supplies and Tools Export Purchasing Concierge
The "authentic Japan" with its background story, for professionals worldwide.
Our next step is the "Japanese Art Supplies Concierge Service," which will deliver Japan's superior art materials and tools to the world.
The target audience includes professional artists worldwide who require high-quality materials and tools such as Japanese washi paper, students diligently studying Japanese art, and museum restoration specialists who continue to explore new techniques.
Our service is not simply a mechanical trade of sending goods overseas. We carefully listen to the detailed requests and preferences of overseas professionals, and deliver them with solid value after deeply understanding the background stories – such as the region where the art supplies and tools were made, the breath of the artisans involved, the carefully selected materials, and the time-honored production processes.
Our underlying philosophy is ”Sanpo Yoshi”
Creating a sustainable future with the spirit of "seller satisfaction, buyer satisfaction, and public satisfaction."
In our daily business, what we value above all else is the spirit of "Sanpo Yoshi," the traditional business philosophy of Omi merchants.
Correctly conveying the "value" of culture and technology leads to the protection of producers (creators) who make unceasing efforts. At the same time, it also leads to the protection of the trust and creativity of consumers (users) worldwide who seek authentic products. Creators and users are equally respected and happy. We are convinced that true development for "Blue Ocean Kyoto" and our contribution to society lie in the circulation of this cycle.
We are not pursuing only short-term profits. Instead, we will enrich the future of everyone involved, our communities, and cultures. It is our unwavering will to diligently and sincerely build up these "careful cycles."
New Business's Second Pillar: Consulting & Coaching
Core Idea: In the Age of AI, Unleashing the Power of Questioning and Intrinsic Motivation
This initiative offers a practical approach to re-engage the lost "roots of thinking" for managers and organizations, and to reclaim the ability to create "essential meaning" in their own words, rather than simply imparting knowledge or applying external frameworks.。
In the coming VUCA era (an era without clear answers and with an unpredictable future) and with the rise of AI, AI will dominate "efficient processing (HOW)" that derives optimal solutions from data.The greatest weapon left to humanity is the "ability to create a sense of conviction (sense-making)," which allows us to decide for ourselves the "meaning/purpose (WHY)" and to weave a story that gives meaning to events and leads to inner peace.。
Four core domains (business areas to develop)
We will develop the following four services by integrating philosophy, which is the key to opening up the era of AI, with business practice experience both domestically and internationally.
1. Corporate/Business Turnaround Consulting
- Regeneration starting from "meaning" and "future." Numerical improvements like profit and cash flow are merely "byproducts" (Plato's shadows) that appear as a result of breathing new life (meaning) into the organization. We define true regenerative success not by fixing the organization like a mere machine, but by a state where each employee is convinced of their company's "reason for being," "regains pride," and "begins to autonomously talk about the future."
2. Global Expansion Advisory
- Global strategy based on essential value (Essentia). Strategic planning backed by 45 years of international experience, including cross-border M&A and PMI (Post-Merger Integration) in Turkey, as well as parallel promotion of industrial policy and manufacturing plans with the Egyptian government. We offer a multifaceted approach that goes beyond mere market analysis, aiming to truly influence governments and industries in target countries.
3. Succession and Leadership Development
- Leadership education that guides from "correct processing" to "defining meaning." We cultivate next-generation leaders who can define "the meaning of doing" from their inner selves (DNA/temperament) and engage their teams through empathy.
- Providing time for "self-cultivation (self-formation)." We will pass on the foundation of "education (Bildung)," which the Japanese cherished in the past, to the successors. This goes beyond mere skill acquisition to confront fundamental questions such as "How should one live as a human being?" and "For what purpose is this business being operated?"
Executive Coaching
- A session to promote "Awake" (inner awakening). In Jung's words. “He who looks outside, dreams; he who looks inside, awakes. Coaching that embodies transformation. By questioning the core essence within the executive (aspirations, DNA) rather than being swayed by external metrics like sales and competitive evaluations, we foster an executive's metamorphosis through experiences that generate sustainable growth for their organization and business.
- I will help you build your own intellectual framework of liberal arts, centered on a minimum philosophy suitable for business leaders.