──You took a gap year during your sophomore year of high school (at age 16) to study alone in India. Can you tell us what prompted this decision?
Fumihiko Takahashi (hereafter, Takahashi): I wasn't born into a family of entrepreneurs or merchants; I grew up in a family of civil servants. Both of my parents were middle and high school teachers, and teaching has been the family profession for generations. It was a very strict upbringing, and my rebellious phase lasted a long time.
The adults I interacted with in life were mostly teachers, and my world was confined to home and school. Feeling suffocated, I was struck by a TV program that claimed, 'Going to India can change your life.'
From there, I searched for 'High school student in India' and found a program that allowed me to teach Japanese and stay with a host family. At the time, I went against the opposition from those around me and plunged into India alone.
──Did your solo study abroad experience lead to any entrepreneurial insights?
Takahashi: Indeed, my study abroad in India was the catalyst for my entrepreneurial aspirations. Until then, I had never felt close to business or management. The cool adults in my hometown were teachers, government officials, or bankers—those were the stable careers everyone aspired to.
However, in India, I stayed with a wealthy family of developers and met entrepreneurs for the first time in my life. Their lifestyle, which was the complete opposite of stability, had a profound impact on me.
Especially, my host father would say almost daily, 'There's no other 16-year-old girl who has come to this country alone. You have a strong resolve, so if you start a business, it will surely succeed.' He even let me sit in on business meetings and construction projects.
India in 2017-2018 was experiencing significant economic growth, and witnessing the construction of skyscrapers up close was something I couldn't help but admire. It was a pivotal experience that shaped who I am today.