Japanese Explores Start-ups in SEA, Gives Singapore and Malaysia a +1
Yuki Naruse (above) is an adventuresome young man from Japan who set aside one year to travel and meet start-up founders across the world.
I first met him in person in Singapore, where we got to know each other a little. I decided to invite him along with me to Bangalore, India last week. I’m glad he took the bait. India was more colorful with him around, as he was frequently tweeting updates or jotting down memos in his black notebook. His presence in Bangalore kinda made the TechSpark event feel a little more international too — a good mix of Westerners, Japanese, Chinese, and friendly local Indians.
Yuki Naruse(上記)は日本出身の冒険好きな若者であり、一年間かけて世界をまわって起業家に会ってまわった。
私が最初に彼に直接会ったのはシンガポールだった。そこで我々は多少お互いのことを知った。先週私は彼に私といっしょにインドのバンガロールにくるよう誘うことにした。私は彼が承諾して嬉しかった。インドは彼にとってよりカラフルであった。というのも彼はしょっちゅう出来事をtweetしたり彼の黒いノートにメモをとったりしていた。彼のバンガロールでの存在はある種、TechSparkイベントをしても少しだがより国際的にした－西洋人、日本人、中国人、友好的な現地のインド人がほどよく混ざっていた。
ナルセ・ユウキ（上記）は旅行して世界中のスタートアップ創始者と会うために１年間を充てている日本の冒険好きな若者である。
私が最初に彼と個人で会ったのはシンガポールで、お互いに少し知っている程度だった。私は先週、彼にインドのBangaloreへ一緒に行くよう招待した。私は彼が食いついてくれて嬉しかった。彼は頻繁にツイートをアップデートし、黒いノートにメモったりして、インドは彼が一緒にいてより生彩をもった。Bangaloreにおける彼の出席は、-西洋、日本中国、そして連れんどりーナ地元インド人とのよい混合で-TexhSparksイベントをすこし国際的にもさせた。
ナルセ ユキ（写真上）は、世界中のスタートアップ創設者と会うため1年間旅をした冒険好きな日本の若者である。
初めて会ったのはシンガポールで、そこで少し知り合いになった。先週、インドのバンガロールに一緒に来ないかと招待する事に決めた。彼が餌に食いついてくれて本当に良かった。彼と一緒のインドは更に生き生きしたものとなり、彼は頻繁にツイッターをアップデートしたり、黒い手帳にメモの走り書きをしていた。バンガロールでの彼の存在は、TechSparkイベントをもう少し国際的なものにした感があった。西洋人と日本人、中国人、そして親切な地元のインド人のいいミックスだった。
Prior to India, Yuki also had the chance to travel to several other countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
While we were exploring India together, I didn’t have much time to pick his brain as my schedule was maxed out with meetings. It was only in the cab, while on the long journey to the Bengaluru airport, that I finally got a chance to really speak to Yuki. It was interesting to learn how Yuki sees and interprets things through the Japanese lens.
Singapore
From what I have gathered, Yuki is enjoying Southeast Asian culture, especially Singapore. He told me that Singapore (yes – my country!) is orderly, safe, and connected — a good place to start a business. He says the tech start-up community is very connected, as a family might be. “Everyone I meet seems to know everyone who I’m about to meet or have met,” he remarked.
During his stay in Singapore, Yuki met up with Chalkboard’s Bernard Leong, Plug & Play’s Wayne Soh, and also took a tour of the Singapore Management University (SMU) start-up incubator. Yuki also likes how the Singapore government is fostering entrepreneurship in the country by giving grants to help shoulder part of the risk for budding entrepreneurs. “You will not get such privilege in Japan. Singaporeans are very lucky,” he said.
Malaysia
So, Singapore gets a +1 from Yuki, and Malaysia gets one too. He visited for the recent Barcamp at Kuala Lumpur and was very impressed by the geeky enthusiasm he received from locals. He explained that this particular Barcamp saw different folks across Southeast Asia get together to exchange ideas.
Besides tech, Yuki also noted that there are other simple but interesting money-making opportunities in the country. For example, he met a fellow Japanese who is selling second-hand factory-line machinery in Malaysia. Such used-and-abused machines are treated as junk in Japan, but Yuki found that they are worth a lot in Malaysia. “Besides the boom in tech start-ups, I see many opportunities in which entrepreneurs can make money in the region. Second hand machinery is one but I’m sure there are more of such opportunities,” he said.
Yuki didn’t want to comment much on India and Indonesia yet as he felt he hasn’t spent enough time in both countries. But trust me, his first impression on both countries was definitely positive. Yuki will be traveling back to Bangalore (for two months) and then on to Indonesia to catch up with what he had missed in these countries. As our cab approached the airport, Yuki quickly wrapped up his thoughts:
"Once I’m back [in Japan] I plan to share my experience with students in Tokyo. With my experience, I also wish to help Japanese companies to expand their operations beyond Japan. On top of that, I have a dream to establish a global start-up, focusing either on tech, commodities trading, or both."
I really admire his drive and vision. Good luck, Yukimaru (his nickname, inspired by the popular manga Naruto).
「日本に戻ってすぐに、東京の生徒とこの経験を共有するつもりです。僕の経験が、日本企業の日本国外での経営拡大の手助けになればと思っています。それに加えて、テクノロジーか、商品、若しくはその両方に焦点を当てたグローバルスタートアップを設立するのが僕の夢なのです。」
私は彼のやる気と構想に心から称賛する。頑張れ、ユキマロさん！（人気漫画 ナルトからきた彼のニックネーム）
@Naokey「日本人の目」と訳した部分は、原文でイタリックになっていたので、「」をつけて示しました。