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With thanks: speaking at the “Business Succession Summit in Takaoka” amid heavy snow

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, I took part as one of the speakers in the “Business Succession Summit in Takaoka,” held at TASU, a startup support facility in central Takaoka.

Speaking in front of the audience during the panel discussion at the “Business Succession Summit in Takaoka”
The panel discussion

On holding the event in heavy snow

That day brought harsh weather, with a heavy snow warning issued across Toyama Prefecture. Despite these conditions, the venue was filled with people, close to full capacity. I was deeply moved by everyone’s strong interest in business succession and their passion to “keep the lights of our region burning.”

A dialogue about “the future of your company”

The summit was planned by Takaoka City to help business owners think more personally about “passing their company on to the next generation” and “the future of their company.” The program featured in-depth discussion centered on three pillars:

  1. Successful business succession cases and the know-how to learn from them
  2. An explanation of the key points needed for business succession
  3. A panel discussion

I shared my own experience, mainly through the panel discussion. At the same time, hearing the insights of the other speakers and experts gave me many hints for thinking about the future of a company. The time we spent discussing, beyond our individual positions, how to protect and develop the “treasures of our region” was a great learning experience for me as well.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Takaoka City and to The Kitanippon Shimbun for holding and running the event safely in such difficult weather, and to everyone who spoke alongside me.

I believe that business succession is not simply a transfer of management, but an important handover of the baton that supports the local economy. I will continue to work closely with the city and related organizations, and do my utmost to contribute to industrial promotion in Takaoka and the growth of the local economy, so that I can be of help to business owners, potential successors, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

To everyone who came despite the heavy snow, thank you so much. I look forward to creating a wonderful future for our region together with all of you.