“Live out your life because you only live once”
In 1992, Taro Sugimura, the founder of Japan Business Lab, established "Gakyukan," the first ever career design school to open in Japan, hoping to enlighten the lives of as many people as possible.
Vulnerability can be turned into strength. At "Gakyukan," we’re committed to helping our students gain deep insights into themselves, because we firmly believe that everything starts from there. We come face-to-face with our students, hoping for the day where they contribute to society.
The company started with only a few people and has developed continuously. By April 2017, we’ve sent more than 8,500 graduates to various fields of work. Our bond is strong. We are still connected to each other through our Gakyukan network.
In 2001, Taro Sugimura established "Presence," Japan’s first language coaching school. Through his experiences at Harvard Kennedy School, he realized the necessity of fostering human resources who can take a leadership role on the global stage.
"Presence" is based on a classroom curriculum. In addition, given the opportunity by corporations and educational institutions to work on language education in Japan, we strive to make the best commitment through our coaching.
We have and will always aim to make society a better place through collaborative efforts. As a step toward this, we’d like to help more and more people feel like they are living their lives to the fullest.
Our desire to "foster human resources with virtuous characters ~Toward Integrity" has been with us ever since the school establishment. To bring our mission to fruition, we will make the greatest effort. We do hope you will give us continued guidance and encouragement.
Takako Sugimura
President, Japan Business Lab Co., Ltd.
In 1993, she entered the Department of Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University. The same year, she was nominated for the 37th Beauty Pageant in Tokyo. (Sponsored by the Tokyo municipal government. Co-hosted by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry/Chunichi Shimbun)
After a year of participation in about 150 official programs as an assistant to Shunichi Suzuki, the former prefectural governor for a year, she enrolled in the Announcing Department, TV Asahi, and served as a weathercaster, etc.
In 1997, after graduation, she joined Japan Air Lines and served as a cabin attendant. The following year in 1998, she married Taro Sugimura, founder of Japan Business Lab. In 2000 when her husband Taro Sugimura entered Harvard Kennedy School, she decided to accompany him to the United States with her daughter.
In 2003, she came back to Japan. While serving as a newscaster for BS Asahi, she wrote a serial column for an economics publication based on her interviews with the presidents of 100 listed companies as a Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.
In 2007, she joined Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd. and was assigned to the Research Head Office. She also appeared as a newscaster on business and finance TV shows such as Daiwa Report and Daiwa Specialist Report.
In 2011, following the death of Taro Sugimura, she assumed the position of corporate auditor of Japan Business Lab. After gaining experience as an external director, she became president of Japan Business Lab in April 2014.
She now leads the company, striving to keep the philosophy of Taro Sugimura for future generations.
In addition, she is engaged in a broad range of activities related to work-life balance and her life as a woman, sharing her experience as a single and working mother of a boy and a girl.