Healthy Pursuits
Entrepreneurship sprinkled with innovation is changing the future of food and health through technology
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The intersection of health and technology has become an important part of my life. They say that when you turn 40 your body starts to fall apart. They also say that 40 is the new 20. I say that neither is true, not entirely, but as you age you do have to work harder to stay fit. As I turn 50 this year, a decade of navigating that forties-fitness maze has helped me figure out how to apply tech to the challenge.
I’ve been a techie since I was 10 years old and my great grandparents gave me a Commodore 64 computer for Christmas, so I’m always at the front of the line, eager to jump into the pool of latest innovations. Apple Watch and the Oculus virtual reality headset are already part of my health and fitness routine, and there’s plenty more out there to be excited about and to help us live longer, healthier lives.
In this issue of The ACCJ Journal, we embrace the vision, ideas, and creations of those entrepreneurs and companies who are developing solutions to the wellness challenges facing society.
The theme was inspired by the great success of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Healthcare x Digital (HxD) competition and the incredible work and dedication of the organizing team. Preparation is well underway for the third annual event, which will take place later this year. The theme this time is Empowering Elderly Patients through Digital Health and will expand the format to include both an ideathon and a hackathon.
A couple of last year’s winners are included in features in this special health and technology issue of The ACCJ Journal. Oishii kenko Inc., winner of the Empowering Patients Award and People’s Choice Award for their nutrition app, shares thoughts on future food, while From Japan and Beyond Award winner Lanex Co., Ltd. talks about digitizing women’s health.
Steppin’ Out
The other big theme of this issue comes in the form of photos, not words. A surge of energy has been flowing through the ACCJ as we begin returning to in-person events, and you’ll find pages filled with scenes of networking, information sharing, and just plain fun. For me, it was a joy to produce this issue for that reason alone. After more than two years with very few (often zero) photos from such gatherings, I may have gone a bit overboard with my layouts. But I wanted to share with you the excitement that is in the air. This is what the ACCJ is all about: people coming together to share, explore, innovate, collaborate, and build the best possible business community and society.
For those who could not attend, I’ve recapped two major in-person events (which were also livestreamed to remote viewers). At one, the ACCJ presented the Person of the Year Award to former Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. chair, president, and group chief executive officer Nobuyuki Hirano. At the other, we welcomed US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel with a VIP session and luncheon. For me, it truly felt like I had fallen through a time portal to 2019. Walking into the New York Ballroom at Tokyo American Club and seeing so many people talking, exchanging business cards, listening to presentations, and eating felt like time had been paused and suddenly restarted. It was a great experience.
And let’s not forget about the Chubu Walkathon, our annual charity fundraiser organized and hosted by the ACCJ Chubu chapter. They did a wonderful job of adapting to the pandemic and embracing the mantra that I know so well from my years as an orchestral musician: the show must go on. This year, they kept the livestreaming aspect but were able to bring back much more of the activity to Nagoya’s Meijo Park. I couldn’t attend, but the photos tell the story as more than 1,000 people participated and raised over ¥7 million.
So, here’s to the new normal of more in-person events and to the health and fitness needed to embrace the activity as we go steppin’ out into the light。
