SoftBank Academia

"Masayoshi Son rephrased this in an easy-to-understand manner as “system and rule-making” during a lecture at the opening ceremony of “SoftBank Academia.” “When you hear ‘法’ (law), many people immediately think of legal law, but what Sun Tzu is referring to here is system, methodology law, rule-making, structure, and such aspects. Therefore, it also includes business models and platforms."

"The “SoftBank Academia” is a school to cultivate the next generation of business leaders. As the principal, Masayoshi Son takes the podium, teaching and providing direct guidance. It can be said that he realized his middle school dream of “wanting to be a school teacher” in a different form."

"In his lecture at the “SoftBank Academia” inauguration, Son spoke as follows: “I have read thousands of books and gone through various experiences and trials, and with these 25 characters, I truly believe that by achieving and reaching this, I can exhibit leadership, become a successor, and a true leader.”"

"On July 28, 2010, Masayoshi Son opened the SoftBank Academia with the goal of discovering and nurturing successors. He personally serves as the principal and provides direct guidance. Participants are recruited widely from both within and outside the SoftBank Group. As soon as recruitment began on the day of the opening, applications flooded in from thousands within less than a day. Almost four years after its opening, some alumni from the SoftBank Academia have already been appointed to top positions in group companies."

"However, “The Art of War” is a book filled with Chinese characters left behind by Sun Wu, who was active in ancient China. Just reading and understanding it must have been quite challenging. Despite its complexity, Masayoshi Son, a young entrepreneur in his mid-twenties, pushed himself to engage with it despite illness (at the opening ceremony lecture of “SoftBank Academia,” he mentioned having read over thirty commentaries by different authors)."