From the “King of Debate” to Web3.0: Cutting Through the Hype and Distrust — An Interview with Hiroyuki Nishimura

Paris, April.
It’s hard to go a day without seeing him somewhere in the media — the man known for his sharp takes and logical dismantling of arguments. We had the rare opportunity to sit down with Hiroyuki Nishimura to explore his thoughts on the current state and future of Web3.0.

To truly understand where Web3.0 is heading, idealism alone won't cut it. In a landscape where hype and skepticism coexist, how do we identify what really matters?

In this edition of Crypto Journey, we spoke with Hiroyuki, a widely influential commentator known for his incisive social critiques. With his trademark candidness, he opened up about his views on cryptocurrency, the flaws he sees in the Web3.0 space, his motivations for supporting youth initiatives and his involvement in the Wolf Project — and most importantly, how he distinguishes trustworthy projects from the rest.

Nagatomо: The media often refers to you as the “King of Debate.” Where did your ability to think so logically come from? Was it shaped by a particular experience or environment?

Hiroyuki: Not really. I just think that in everyday life and at work, being logical tends to be beneficial. It’s not like there was a specific moment or turning point. As kids or babies, we all act emotionally. But as we grow up and enter society, we naturally develop logical thinking. It wasn’t something I consciously trained — it just happened over time.

Nagatomо: Engaging in logical discussions also seems to require a huge amount of knowledge. How do you usually gather information?

Hiroyuki: While it’s true that having knowledge adds to your persuasiveness, logic and knowledge are two different things. Thinking logically is like saying “1+1=2” — it doesn’t require any specific background information. They’re separate issues.

Nagatomо: Still, how do you usually go about learning new things or staying informed?

Hiroyuki: I don’t go out of my way to research anything specific. I just browse the internet and go about my daily life. That’s pretty much it.

Nagatomо: In your view, what are the benefits of applying logical thinking to everyday life?

Hiroyuki: It really depends on the person. Some people live entirely by emotion, and that works for them. Creative types, for example, often produce better results when they act on feeling rather than logic. On the other hand, programmers need logical thinking to write code — it’s not optional for them. But here’s the thing: how you perceive the world and how you apply logic are two separate matters. I don’t get why people often confuse the two.