Why I Decided to Pursue Entrepreneurship: My First Step with Kochi Startup Park
My motivation for starting a business didn’t stem from a specific business idea.
Rather, it came from a long-standing feeling that the traditional employee lifestyle—with relocations and rigid schedules—wasn’t compatible with staying close to my family.
The biggest appeal of entrepreneurship, in my view, is the freedom it offers:
the ability to work with people you love, at the time you choose, in a way that suits you best.
I’m still in the preparation phase, actively exploring what kinds of startup support programs are available for aspiring entrepreneurs.
That’s when I discovered Kochi Startup Park (KSP) — a government initiative launched by Kochi Prefecture in 2017 to support entrepreneurship and new business creation.
Depending on the stage of your startup journey, KSP offers free consultations, seminars, and a variety of tailored programs.
👉 Learn more: https://startuppark.org/
As my first step toward entrepreneurship, I recently joined an introductory seminar titled
“Entrepreneurship Is for Everyone.”
The session was led by Yoichi Aso, CEO of Alpha Drive Inc., who has been deeply involved in launching new businesses, regional revitalization, and startup support. He also serves as an external board member for listed companies.
One thing he said really stuck with me:
“You don’t need confirmations, meetings, or documents to start a business.
What you need is a hypothesis—and 300 conversations with your customers.”
Simple words, but repeating something 300 times requires an incredible amount of endurance and mental resilience.
The next session of this seminar is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025, so if you’re interested in starting a business, I highly recommend checking it out.
I’ve been also attended another KSP seminar titled
“Learn the Basics of Starting a Business.”
I’ll be back with another update after the event!
