#Japan #Leadership #Tokyo #Education #Baseball

Introduction

A unique event is set to take place, focusing on the vital intersection of education and sports development. The forum titled “Polishing Power, Guiding Power” aims to bring together educators, sports trainers, and organizational development leaders to discuss how to create environments that allow individuals to grow and flourish.

This year, the forum includes a special guest who is rarely seen in a free development forum—Waki Kitayama, a current player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and part of the Japanese national baseball team. His participation adds significant value to the event, promising engaging insights into the world of sports and personal development.

Event Background

Producing results is undeniably important in our society. However, a system that only rewards those blessed with talent and favorable circumstances fails to cultivate true growth potential. It is essential for individuals to continually confront themselves, refine their skills, and embrace challenges, regardless of the context they find themselves in.

During this forum, key practitioners from both sports and education will engage in extensive discussions about the processes that contribute to human growth behind successful outcomes. The forum will consist of two main sessions focusing on the themes of “Polishing Power” and “Guiding Power.”

Event Overview

• - Name: Special Development Forum “Polishing Power, Guiding Power”
• - Date: December 14, 2025
• - Time: 1:30 PM registration; 2:00 PM start
• - Venue: Great Park, Shinjuku Station Front (3 minutes on foot from the east exit of Shinjuku Station)
• - Participation Fee: Free (invitation-only)
• - Organizer: TOiRO Inc.
• - Registration: Interested participants can register via the following link: Registration Form

Participants from the media are encouraged to select “Media Coverage” in the intent section of the application form.

Detailed Event Agenda

Session 1: 2 PM - 3 PM
Waki Kitayama, Player (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
In this session, Kitayama will share his journey from being overlooked in high school drafts to making it to the national team by emphasizing the importance of both results and the journey itself. He will discuss how to face oneself in various situations and develop the habit of continual self-reflection and improvement through his experiences in youth development and beyond.

Session 2: 3 PM - 4 PM
Panelists:

• - Hitoshi Nakaya, Coach (Chiben Wakayama High School Baseball Team)
• - Masatada Takahashi, Head of Career Development (Shibuya Educational Academy)
• - Shohei Tsurumaki, CEO (TOiRO Inc.)

This session will focus on how to nurture talent in an era where traditional methods of guidance may not be effective. Discussions will delve into the challenges of maintaining student pride, building a culture that fosters learning through challenges and failures, and the organizational aspects that support student autonomy in schools.

Following the panel discussions, Tsurumaki will present a keynote speech, after which a networking session will provide opportunities for attendees to connect.

Takeaways for Participants

Through this forum, attendees are encouraged to bring back insights on:

• - Methods to support student effort and self-direction
• - Concrete examples of safe learning environments that affirm failure and challenges
• - Perspectives on culture-building in teams, classrooms, and educational institutions drawn from top practices
• - Designing growth processes that extend beyond mere results, incorporating student performance in exams and competitions
• - Reflecting on the role of educators in their continuous learning journey
• - Reevaluating talent development from educational settings to corporate environments

As interest in this event grows, we encourage participants to invite colleagues to join in this vital conversation about creating schools that foster continuous challenges for both students and teachers. Let's work together to find ways to build schools that champion challenges!

Due to limited seating, early registration is highly recommended. Please note that there are no plans for archiving the event, so we hope to see you in person!