Athlete Brains: Dai Tamesue's "Fluid Pacing" vol.10

A serialized interview column where Mr. Dai Tamesue freely discusses "what's on his mind right now." The only set theme is "What is autonomy? What is tolerance?" Faced with unreasonable questions from a mysterious "interviewer," Mr. Tamesue shares his thoughts on various "things on his mind." Well then. What kind of stories will emerge this time...? Stay tuned.

──In the last two installments, we explored the theme "What is loneliness?" This time, we'd like to finally delve into "Loneliness for Companies." With the pandemic and work-style reforms, I think both employees and management are feeling a kind of "loneliness" unlike anything they've experienced before. I'm not sure if "loneliness" is the right word, though.

Tametsu: I understand exactly what you mean. In places like the US, the individual is fundamentally the core, and companies seek functionality. It's like collecting model kit parts, filling in the gaps as needed. In contrast, Japan mixes people together within the organization to create functionality. It's essentially a "trust-based" system, both organizationally and socially. This structure has produced many century-old companies, but I sense that the underlying trust has been fading lately. I think that's where everyone feels this "loneliness."

──I see. So it's not just about emotions, but a structural shift happening across society as a whole?

Tamese: Exactly. I believe the world, not just Japan, is moving toward becoming a "high-trust society."

──Starting from "loneliness," this has become quite a big topic.

Tamura: In the past, it was common sense to "build relationships for the sake of building relationships." In sales, it was like "build strong connections with clients." That meant entertaining them, for example. But in today's world, you can't build true trust through such simple means. If the relationship ends the moment your key contact retires, business can't continue. You won't just lose your client; you'll be ignored by society as a whole. A "high-trust society" means building long-term relationships, not short-term ones. To achieve that, I believe we need "mesh-like trust relationships."

──"Mesh-like"?

Tamesue: Exactly. Business moves forward not through one-on-one relationships, but through connections with everyone—up, down, left, right, inside and outside the company, globally. Connecting isn't the goal itself. What matters is sharing the happiness that comes from connecting with everyone.

──That is precisely the essence of a network.

Tamesue: People often become satisfied just by connecting, connecting, and mistakenly feel they've escaped loneliness. But that's not the essence. It's about leveraging a mesh-like network to share an unprecedented sense of trust, and then creating something new based on that trust. I believe this applies equally between individuals, companies, and nations.

──I suppose we're still in the process of figuring that out.

Tamesue: I believe so.

──What's crucial when building a "mesh-like" network?

Tamesue: In recent years, terms like "side hustles" have emerged, but I think the crucial point is not to depend solely on the persona you've built in one place. Like, "I'm in this department, this position at work, so I just do my job this way and it's fine." Or "At home, I play the role of the good wife, good husband, good parent." That just cuts off the network, doesn't it? Why not bring a child's idea to an executive meeting? Why not collaborate with a company in a completely different industry? I believe that's where new things are born.

──So it's about challenging yourself to try out different characters? Like occasionally revealing your vulnerable side—
like showing your daughter how much you agonize over product development. Or actively engaging in conversations with people outside the company.

Tamemasu: I believe that's where a new, or rather, a true "trust relationship" is born.

──I see. I feel like I'm starting to grasp the secret to overcoming "loneliness." Next time will be the final installment of "What is Loneliness?" I hope we can delve deeper from the keyword of trust. Thank you for your time.

Tamesue: Likewise, I look forward to it.

(Interviewer: Web Dentsu Inc. Editorial Department)

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From Hibi, Athlete Brains Production Team

This dialogue was possible precisely because it was with Mr. Tamesue—a top athlete who has confronted loneliness and can articulate his experiences with such clarity. You mentioned a mesh-like network; I suspect Mr. Tamesue himself felt the necessity of such a network even during his active career and practiced it. Top athletes aren't just professionals in their sport; they are people who have overcome various barriers, including loneliness. This reaffirmed my desire to open up the practical knowledge held by Athlete Brains to the world.

Athlete Brains Production Team Dentsu Inc. / Akinori Hibi (3CRP) · Kohei Shiraishi (Business Co-creation Bureau)

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Athlete Brains, centered around Mr. Dai Tamesue.
For details on this team that connects the knowledge cultivated by athletes to solving challenges in the world (businesses and society), click here.