"Travel is a way to update yourself." Travel tips to improve yourself

Travel is an essential part of life. Two destinations I continue to visit to update myself

OnTrip JAL Editorial Department (hereinafter referred to as JAL): Currently, Mr. Nishimura is the representative of HEART CATCH, a company he founded, and is active in many areas, mainly supporting startup companies. I imagine you make a lot of business trips both domestically and abroad. How many places have you been to so far?

Nishimura Mariko (hereinafter, Nishimura): I think I've been to 30 countries, including business and personal trips. I've also been to most of Japan's 47 prefectures.

JAL: You really fly all over the world. You travel a lot by plane, both domestically and internationally. Where have you been recently?

Nishimura: There are two events that I always attend every year to keep up with the latest technology. One is the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is held every January in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is one of the world's largest trade fairs, where you can discover the most cutting-edge initiatives in cutting-edge technologies such as drones and autonomous driving using AI.

JAL: I see, what's the other one?

Nishimura: It's SXSW (South by Southwest), which is held every March in Austin, Texas. Like CES, SXSW is a place where cutting-edge technology gathers, but it tends to be more of a place to "unveil" ideas before they become products. It's a festival where companies and exhibitors openly present their ideas and ask for the opinions of the people gathered at the venue.

JAL: You continue to travel overseas to stay up to date on the ever-changing technology field.

Nishimura: Yes. SXSW in particular brings together people who are interested in the future of society and technology, so it's fun to communicate with the speakers and people at the venue. During SXSW, the entire city of Austin, where the event is held, is a festive atmosphere with event visitors, so wherever you go, you can discuss SXSW topics. That kind of environment is what's appealing to me.

JAL: This is a journey that is typical of you, Nishimura, who always keeps up with the latest information from around the world.

Nishimura: For someone like me who works in the media or deals with information, going to places where the latest information is gathered is important. I feel that travel, both in my personal life and for business, refreshes my life. Travel is essential for updating yourself.

How the way I enjoy traveling has changed with my career stage

JAL: Has your travel style changed as you have progressed in your career, working for a foreign company and starting your own business in Japan?

Nishimura: When I was a student, I went to France and the UK to study, but it was more for studying than pure travel. After graduating from university, I joined a foreign company, but at that time I enjoyed private trips with friends. Just like office ladies, I went to Saipan with a group of girls to get my diving license, enjoyed parasailing in the ocean in Bali, drove around Hawaii... As for deep trips, I went on a solo trip to Cambodia and was surprised to come across a crocodile on the Mekong River. I enjoyed it (laughs).

JAL: So those trips gradually shifted to business trips?

Nishimura: That's right. When I joined the company as a new graduate, I worked with people from the New York lab and went to Taiwan and other Asian countries where the development team was located. However, although I did go overseas, my destinations were limited to local offices and partner companies.
After that, I moved to an American company and started going to San Francisco frequently, where the company was based. During that time, I spoke not only with employees in the office, but also with service users and people in the local community. I think my values about travel began to change, and I came to believe that "travel is about communicating with a variety of people and being inspired."

JAL: That's interesting. Is there anything you do to communicate smoothly with local people and receive as much inspiration as possible?

Nishimura: The moment I get on the plane, I set the time on all my devices to my destination and tell myself, "I'm a local!" (laughs) From the moment I get on the plane, I pretend to be a local. This helps to reduce jet lag a little.
Also, with the internet being so convenient now, I'm flying all the way to meet people, so I try to talk to as many local people as possible. I was able to speak English properly during my travels, and that's because I kept talking to people, even if it was broken English. When I proactively communicate with others, they respond by saying, "Hey, you're an interesting guy!" (laughs), and my relationships continue to grow.