So—will you think critically and carve your own path forward? Your courage is being tested!
Fundamental Argument: The True Purpose of Public Education
At its core, "public education" is a system designed by rulers to psychologically confine citizens (a herd of sheep) within the mental boundaries of their ideal governance. The primary goal of public education is to indoctrinate individuals, ensuring they do not step outside these predetermined fences.
Simply put, it is akin to dog training. In Japan, formal education lasts a maximum of 16 years (6+3+3+4), after which corporate training and mass media take over, shaping societal norms in a way that benefits corporations.
Japan’s compulsory education and public higher education systems serve to mass-produce individuals incapable of independent thought while sorting them into hierarchical ranks. This is why Japan has textbook screening and a rigid hierarchy among educators.
Reference Book: "Living Without an Eraser in Life" by Mana Iwamoto – A book that vividly illustrates the abnormalities of Japanese education.
Reference Drama: Mikami Sensei (https://www.tbs.co.jp/mikami_sensei_tbs/)
Fundamental Argument: Two Types of People in a Free Market Economy
In a free-market society, there are only two types of people:
Those who create (exploit).
Those who are created (exploited).
1. Traditional Business and Its Problems
(1) Low-Level Customer Desires
Customer desires are often not genuine aspirations that emerge from deep within their hearts. Instead, they are artificially created by those in power through mass media manipulation, exploiting psychological triggers such as status anxiety and self-esteem.
In modern capitalism, businesses are expected to respond to customer needs. However, if those needs are of inherently low value, catering to them can worsen society.
For example, if companies fulfill the desire for oversized, high-horsepower cars purely because customers want to "stand out," the result is increased environmental harm.
(2) The Problem of Affirmative Business – The Overheated Market-Driven Economy
Definition: Affirmative business refers to business models that fully embrace and cater to customer demands, prioritizing their satisfaction above all else.
While affirmative business is the dominant model today, its excessive nature contributes to social division and environmental destruction.
Example:
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G63 (\30.8 million), a favorite among Japanese celebrities, has been recognized as the world's most environmentally harmful vehicle.
2. What is Critical Business? (A Business Model Rooted in Social Movements and Criticism)
(1) Business as a Social Movement
Unlike traditional businesses that passively cater to customers, critical businesses challenge societal norms and promote transformation. Notable examples include:
Tesla – Created an electric vehicle market before it even existed, challenging fossil fuel dependency.
Google – Aims to eliminate information disparities by making knowledge universally accessible.
Patagonia – Centers its business around environmental protection while critiquing consumerism.
(2) Business That Criticizes Customers
Critical businesses go beyond selling products—they deliver powerful social messages.
Examples:
Patagonia’s advertisement: “Don’t buy this jacket,” urging consumers to rethink excessive consumption.
Tesla’s stance: Strongly asserting that "driving a gasoline car is fundamentally wrong."
3. The Educational and Indoctrinating Power of Business
(1) The Influence of Advertising and Education
Japan’s corporate advertising budget is approximately \7 trillion per year, whereas the government’s public relations budget is only \10-20 billion—a massive gap.
This means corporate messaging dictates societal norms, values, and desires.
(2) The Transformative Power of Business
Companies act as educators of society—if they use this power correctly, they can guide society toward progress. However, if they merely pursue short-term profits by catering to base desires, society deteriorates.
4. Conditions for Success in Critical Business
(1) Advocating a Minority Agenda
PayPal founder Peter Thiel once asked:
“What important truth do you believe that the vast majority of people still reject?”
Social change always starts with the minority.
Example:
In the early 2000s, most people believed that "cars run on gasoline." However, Elon Musk envisioned a future dominated by electric vehicles.
(2) The Importance of Being First
Agenda wars – The first to establish an agenda gains an exclusive position.
Example: "Electric cars = Tesla," "Environmental protection = Patagonia."
Historical analogy: Charles Lindbergh, the first person to complete a solo nonstop transatlantic flight, became a legend, while the second person, Bert Hinkler, remains largely unknown.
(3) Having an Agenda That Evokes Deep Emotional Connection
To succeed, a critical business must resonate with people.
The key is to find an agenda that moves your own heart first.
5. The Future of Critical Business
(1) The Responsibility of Experts
"An expert without culture is the greatest threat to civilization."
– Quote from Hachis
Experts who prioritize short-term profits without considering their future or societal impact misuse business power, leading to societal decline.
(2) The Social Fragmentation Caused by Business
Capitalism and business are not inherently bad—the real issue is the low quality of consumer desires.
Blindly fulfilling customer demands worsens societal division and environmental destruction.
(3) Shifting Toward Critical Business
The goal should not be mere profit-seeking but leveraging business as a tool for societal improvement.
Companies must educate customers and elevate their level of desire.
Conclusion
✔ Critical business challenges and transforms society rather than simply fulfilling desires.
✔ Rather than mindlessly meeting customer needs, businesses must elevate the quality of those needs.
✔ Companies serve as educators, responsible for guiding society toward positive change through information dissemination.
✔ Achieving a competitive advantage requires advocating a minority agenda and being the first mover.
✔ Critical business is the future of business models.
Entrepreneurs with a Philosophy for a Better Society!
It is time to shift the role of business from profit-seeking to social transformation.
Tragically, most major Japanese corporations still operate under the old economy model—affirmative businesses that blindly cater to consumer needs, in collaboration with mass media, indulging in immediate self-interest rather than investing in new ideas.
Politics is the worst.
Corporations are the worst.
Mass media is the worst.
Customers are the worst.
Education is outdated.
There is not a single bright spot left.
Sooner or later, the breaking point of this multi-layered suffering will inevitably arrive.
Phew…
In such a dire situation, the only path to survival is to attain true knowledge, adopt first-principles thinking, and transcend being merely Japanese—to become a global citizen.
So—will you think critically and carve your own path forward? Your courage is being tested!