DK Sugiyama’s journey across continents shapes his vision of tomorrow. Our dialogue explores the profound insights of a man whose life story reads like a blueprint for global connectivity and cultural integration.
Born in Tokyo and having spent his formative years in New York, DK’s current focus is on Dubai, a city he sees as a crucible for future innovations. “I seek to embrace challenges on the global stage. I’m from Japan, but my motive now is to live in Dubai and to feel the power of the future,” he reveals.
As we delve deeper, DK shares anecdotes from his childhood that shaped his worldview. “I was the only Japanese boy in my grade at a public school in New York. That’s where I learned about diversity and inclusion,” he recalls, emphasizing how these early experiences laid the groundwork for his inclusive approach to life and business and set the stage for his lifelong commitment to inclusivity and understanding across cultures.
His life took a dramatic turn at 17 when a severe allergic reaction not only threatened his life but also inexplicably enhanced his cognitive abilities. “I lost my eyesight temporarily and was on the brink of death, but when I recovered, something in my brain had changed. I could remember everything I read,” DK explains. This incident amplified his curiosity and drive, pushing him to explore and absorb knowledge voraciously. DK’s career path has been anything but conventional. “I never worked at a company, so I had to bring home the bacon myself,” he says, detailing his role in connecting Japanese and global companies. Eschewing corporate ladders, he brought Japanese companies abroad and vice versa, leveraging his creative skills inherited from his father. “I’m very good at making videos, websites, and creating advertisements,” he notes, his approach blending his deep respect for heritage with a sharp eye for future trends.
During our engaging discussion, DK Sugiyama sheds light on his dynamic approach to his career, which has not followed the conventional corporate path but has been marked by entrepreneurship and creativity. His expertise spans major international companies having worked with Nike Japan, Apple Japan, and Microsoft Japan, among others, revealing his role in integrating these giants into the Japanese market while exporting domestic ventures globally.
DK attributes his diverse skill set to his background. “My dad’s an interior designer, so I think I got his DNA, and I’m very good at doing design.” This foundation has enabled him to excel in “making videos, websites, doing advertisements,” and more. His creative prowess was apparent even from a young age. “I liked to talk in front of people,” he recounts, highlighting his natural inclination toward communication and presentation, which are essential skills that have propelled his professional endeavors.
He shares a captivating anecdote about his exceptional connection with animals, which he discovered during a yoga class. “I discovered a unique ability to communicate with animals,” he states, recalling an incident where he convinced a stubborn camel to stand to the surprise of onlookers. “I started rubbing him, and he stood up,” DK describes, illustrating his belief in communication through empathy, “you talk with your heart like you send a message. ‘I like you,’ and it works when you do that.”
DK’s interactions with celebrities like Dennis Rodman further underscored his multifaceted career. He worked alongside Dennis Rodman in 2010 and details his experience during the peak of street basketball’s popularity. Rodman needed more than just a translator; he needed someone who understood the cultural nuances of both the U.S. and Japan, a role DK was eager to fill without a second thought about compensation. This opportunity highlights his philosophy that the true rewards of work are not monetary but the experiences and connections they foster: “The work you do, the reward is other opportunities for work. It’s not about money for me.
In the philosophical part of our conversation, we explore the concepts of ‘Kaizen’ and ‘Shuhari,’ traditional Japanese philosophies that DK believes can contribute significantly to global business practices. He explains ‘Kaizen’ using an illustrative story from his education, a mindset of continuous improvement that ensures that even intellectual property theft cannot truly set back a constantly advancing company.
‘Shuhari,’ which DK describes in detail, outlines the stages of learning to mastery: “‘Shu’ is to learn. ‘Ha’ is to destroy. ‘Ri’ is to depart,” a philosophy he has embraced throughout his life, adapting and redefining his practices to fit the modern world. He laments, however, that while Japan excels at the ‘shu’ and ‘ha,’ it struggles with ‘ri’ – the ability to depart from tradition and innovate freely, especially on a global stage.
On a reflective note, DK reiterates the importance of balancing technological advancement with the timeless values of compassion, intuition, and imagination. That wholly aligns with my philosophy. Anything that can be digitized will be because it will be a million times faster and a million times cheaper. But anything that cannot be, like love and compassion, will be a million times more valuable.
DK’s personal ethos is deeply rooted in action and education. When I ask him what we’ll see at his 100th birthday celebration, he shares his view on the DK Foundation: “I want to build the foundation to give people opportunities to take courage for action. For him, education is a vehicle for empowerment, a theme that recurs throughout our conversation and underscores the lasting impact of educational initiatives. Education is essential because they can’t take that away from you,” he passionately asserts, envisioning a legacy that empowers and educates future generations.
DK also shares his unique perspective on envisioning the future, a method he calls “backcasting.” “Some people say seeing is believing.But a professor said that believing is seeing,” he notes, articulating a philosophy that challenges conventional wisdom and encourages a proactive creation of the future. His philosophy resonates with my principles, too.
This blend of historical wisdom with modern innovation defines DK’s vision for the future – a world where technology and tradition enhance each other, leading to a more balanced, fulfilling global society.
His message in a bottle is also a clarion call to the youth and future leaders: “Believe in the possibility of yourself and the future you can create. Be the voice that shapes your destiny and the destiny of the world.”
DK’s narrative is more than just an account of personal and professional triumphs. It is a blueprint for future generations. His life, a vivid tapestry of challenges, learning, and breakthroughs, guides us toward a horizon filled with limitless possibilities. Through his words and actions, he truly embodies the future – inspiring, limitless, and driven by a profound commitment to making a difference.
