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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/havier_blog_b6c53fccc0.jpg" alt="havier-blog.jpg" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Javier Mata is a workshop designer and facilitator specializing in learning development and instructional design. With extensive experience creating both in-person and digital content for HRD and MBA programs, he also led a team developing digital content for a business microlearning platform within the corporate arm of a leading organization known for its MBA programs, corporate education, and venture capital initiatives. Passionate about fostering growth and innovation, he engages participants at Moon through dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that drive real-world impact. His interests lie in business innovation, design, and strategy.<hr>“Are you a Monday person or a Friday person?”That was a question posed by Dr. Paris de L’Etraz, Managing Director of the Venture Lab at IE Business School, during my MBA. He explained that Monday people leap out of bed, excited to take on the week, while Friday people count down the days until the weekend. That question stuck with me.Over time, as I worked with entrepreneurs and innovators, I found myself shifting from a Friday person to a Monday person. What made the difference? It was ikigai—the Japanese concept of finding your “reason for being.” During my MBA, we focused a lot on frameworks like ikigai. I discovered in the process that my mission lies in designing impactful learning experiences for entrepreneurs in Japan and beyond.For early-stage entrepreneurs,&nbsp;ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment—it’s a practical tool for identifying meaningful problems to solve. Let’s explore how ikigai can guide your entrepreneurial journey and help you focus on challenges that truly matter.&nbsp;<h3>The Cultural Roots of Ikigai: More Than Just Unicorn Chasing</h3>In Japan, ikigai isn’t about becoming a billionaire overnight chasing the next unicorn. It’s more about finding the balance between the small, everyday joys and your contributions to society. Think of it as the antidote to burnout: you’re still hustling, but with heart and soul, not just caffeine and all-nighters.In the West, ikigai often gets hyped up as the “one true purpose” you must find, as if you’re on a treasure hunt for a magical career. Spoiler alert: it’s not that dramatic. The Japanese approach is much more grounded—about gradually integrating joy, purpose, and responsibility. Understanding this makes ikigai way more approachable, especially for entrepreneurs who might feel the weight of building the “perfect” business. Spoiler #2: there’s no perfect, just progress.&nbsp;<h3>Case Studies:&nbsp;</h3>To see how ikigai can play out in real life, we can look at two entrepreneurs who built meaningful businesses rooted in purpose.Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia – Where Passion Meets Profit<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:400/580;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Ivon_36795d64c9.jpg" alt="Ivon.jpg" width="400" height="580"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yvon_Chouinard_by_Tom_Frost.jpg">A photo of Yvon Chouinard by Tom Frost</a></figcaption></figure>Yvon Chouinard didn’t start Patagonia with dollar signs in his eyes. He just wanted to make rock-climbing gear that wouldn’t fall apart. His love for nature and talent for crafting quality outdoor products guided him. The profits? They came second. By staying true to his values, Patagonia evolved into a pioneer in sustainable business.Chouinard didn’t just build a brand—he reshaped consumerism. Patagonia’s “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign didn’t push products; it pushed a mindset centered on purpose and environmental activism. By finding the sweet spot where passion, profit, and societal impact meet, Chouinard embodied ikigai—and changed the game.&nbsp;Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts – Tradition Meets Innovation<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/1200;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Hoshino_56e54f93d5.jpeg" alt="Hoshino.jpeg" width="1200" height="1200"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoshiharu_Hoshino.JPG">A photo of Yoshiharu Hoshino</a></figcaption></figure>Yoshiharu Hoshino didn’t just inherit a family business—he transformed it in a fiercely competitive market. As global hotel chains poured into Japan, reshaping the hospitality industry with foreign investment, Hoshino faced a challenge: how to preserve Japanese culture while competing with these international brands. Instead of following the foreign model, he doubled down on Japan’s rich traditions, evolving his family’s century-old hot spring resort into a globally recognized luxury brand.His approach wasn’t about resisting change but about weaving innovation into the fabric of tradition. By embracing modern travelers’ needs without losing sight of Japan’s cultural heritage, Hoshino not only survived but thrived. His journey is an embodiment of ikigai—where passion, skill, and purpose align to create something meaningful and sustainable, even in the face of fierce competition.&nbsp;<h3>Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem for Your Startup</h3><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/600;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_en_svg_e0f6855683.png" alt="Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg.png" width="600" height="600"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg">Image of finding the IKIGAI by Eugenio Hansen, OFS</a></figcaption></figure>Ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment; it can be used as a roadmap for identifying business problems worth solving. By breaking down four key elements—Passion, Profession, Mission, and Vocation—you can spot a problem that resonates with you and has real market potential.&nbsp; Let’s break it down:&nbsp;<h4>1. What You Love (Passion)</h4>Passion is what keeps you going when things get tough—and trust me, they will get tough. The more you care about the problem, the more likely you are to stay motivated.What you can do: Make a list of industries, causes, or issues that get you fired up. Love technology? Maybe dive into problems in AI, privacy, or digital ethics. Passionate about sustainability? You could consider gaps in renewable energy or waste management. Focus on problems you’d be excited to tackle every day—because if you’re not motivated, you’ll probably move on to something else the second things get hard.<h4>2. What You’re Good At (Profession)</h4>Passion’s great, but solving problems requires expertise. Enthusiasm alone won’t get the job done—you need the skills to make it happen.What you can do: Map out your core competencies. If you’re a data whiz, maybe there’s an opportunity in analytics or finance. If you’re a designer, you could consider solving problems in usability or innovation. Match the problem to your skills,&nbsp;so you’re not just offering ideas but real, workable solutions.<h4>3. What the World Needs (Mission)</h4>A great problem is one the world is practically begging for a solution to. Being passionate and skilled is fantastic, but if the problem isn’t relevant, it’s going nowhere.What you can do: Talk to potential users and uncover their biggest frustrations. What gaps do they see? If people are saying, “Yes, please fix this,” you’re on the right track. Focus on problems with a clear demand for change.&nbsp;The more urgent the need, the more likely a solution will succeed.<h4>4. What You Can Be Paid For (Vocation)</h4>Lastly, if no one is willing to pay for your solution, it’s a hobby, not a business. You need a clear path to monetization..What you can do: Look into the market—are customers willing to pay for a solution? Is there a growing need? Whether through subscriptions, one-time purchases, or services, it needs to make money. Focus on problems that not only resonate with your skills and passion but also have a clear path to revenue.&nbsp;<h3>Conclusion: Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem</h3>The ikigai framework isn’t just a tool for personal fulfillment; it can be a strategic method for finding meaningful, solvable problems that have real market demand. As you embark on this journey, remember that aligning your work with your purpose will sustain you through the ups and downs, helping you stay grounded in what truly matters.So, what are you waiting for? The world—and your next great business idea—are waiting for your ikigai to emerge.<hr> Moon Creative Lab offers several programs to support startups. If you are interested in transforming your own business idea and growth, please check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA241023&amp;utm_id=storytelling+by+javier">top page</a>.

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_anna_2_837cd2adad.jpg" alt="blog anna (2).jpg">Moon Creative Lab, in collaboration with Mitsui &amp; Co., HR &amp; General Affairs division, proudly participated in Mitsui’s 2024 Mission, Vision, Values + Diversity &amp; Inclusion (MVV + D&amp;I) Month initiatives. This is our second time collaborating with Mitsui &amp; Co., to promote D&amp;I at the company on a wide scale. Our mission was to enhance inclusion for Mitsui’s global workforce, culminating in a highly successful MVV + D&amp;I workshop conducted in both English and Japanese.With over 400 participants joining from around the globe, the workshop focused on the theme of "surprising commonalities" to build relationships and foster unity within our diverse teams.&nbsp;<h3>The Power of Commonality in Diversity and Inclusion</h3>While recognizing and embracing our differences is essential in any discussion about diversity and inclusion, we decided to highlight the often-overlooked power of commonalities. By discovering unexpected similarities, we aimed to break down psychological barriers and enhance empathy among colleagues, ultimately encouraging collaboration.For example, finding out in conversation that they have a dog of the same breed can bring them closer together. It reminds people that there are many more commonalities than people think. This ultimately contributes to building psychological safety that allows people to actively express their opinions and share ideas, leading to better team performance.&nbsp;<h3>Engaging and Inclusive Workshop Design</h3>In our interactive exercise, participants were randomly divided into groups of four and tasked with uncovering surprising commonalities for 15 minutes. To spark conversations, we encouraged everyone to share unique experiences, hobbies, and aspects of their lives. Some talked about their hidden talents, introduced unusual hobbies, or said they are actually afraid of something! This approach worked very well with participants who were meeting each other for the first time and led to many different discoveries.&nbsp;<h3>Discovering Unique Connections</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_0d5a3c4f0e.jpg" alt="image2.jpg">The results were remarkable. Participants uncovered a wide range of surprising commonalities, such as:&nbsp;- A shared fear of heights. - Having all four wisdom teeth removed. - Growing up with three siblings. - Experiencing bee stings. - Losing baggage at airports.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Positive Feedback and Future Applications</h3>Feedback from the survey was overwhelmingly positive, with comments like:&nbsp;- “I enjoyed connecting with colleagues across the world.” - “Language does not matter when finding commonalities.” - “Discovering commonalities helped me connect with people quickly.”&nbsp;The enthusiasm didn’t stop there. We received numerous requests for workshop materials from participants eager to replicate the activity within their own teams. Recognizing the value of this exercise, we created a toolkit that is now available exclusively for all Mitsui &amp; Co., employees to ensure everyone has access to this powerful method of fostering inclusion.&nbsp;I tested this activity with my core team and co-facilitator before the workshop. When my co-facilitator and I discovered we both had accidentally stapled our fingers before, and members of my team and I had all eaten crocodile, the process of finding a surprising commonality was a fascinating experience. It made me realize that even with our diverse backgrounds, we still share unexpected similarities. Finding these unique things in common helped me feel more connected to my team and built empathy within the group.&nbsp;<h3>Conclusion</h3>Our MVV + D&amp;I workshop demonstrated that finding common ground, even in the most surprising ways, can be a simple yet powerful tool for promoting inclusion and unity. By continuing to explore and embrace our shared experiences, we can build stronger, more empathetic teams across our global organization.&nbsp;Moon Creative Lab has been striving to be the leading company that thrives on D&amp;I, and we hope that we can continue to make positive contributions to Mitsui &amp; Co., and beyond. Moon’s studio in Omotesando, Tokyo also hosts various events, so please&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid">subscribe to our newsletter</a> and check our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/moon-creative-lab">LinkedIn</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/page/1">Moon Stories Blog</a> and for updates.&nbsp;Author: Anna Hiraoka - Senior Learning and Development Specialist

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_featured_image_f9a7ab1683.jpg" alt="Design x AI featured image.jpg">In August, Moon held its very first series of Design x AI Workshops at both our Tokyo and Palo Alto studios. These workshops are designed to help understand and utilize emerging AI technologies to build stronger, more creative business ideas.&nbsp;&nbsp;For these first two workshops, participants gathered in person at Moon’s studio in Tokyo or Palo Alto. The day started with our Design x AI team covering the fundamentals of LLMs, including its strengths and weaknesses, and discussing the ethics surrounding the use of generative AI. Participants then learned how to use AI beyond the back-and-forth prompting of chatbots, building their own complex LLM systems that they can use in their work.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Nic_3145b233a8.jpg" alt="Design x AI Nic.jpg">Some of the participants were completely new to learning about and working with AI, while others seemed to be more familiar with it. But regardless of their AI knowledge, everyone was eager to learn and build. Lots of conversations even continued after the workshop was over, filling our studios with lively discussions and insightful perspectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I liked that there were so many opportunities to ask questions and develop a really good understanding of the content. The presented content was very clear and simple, and at the same time, it became clear through the answers that Nic and Daniel [facilitators] were really knowledgeable far beyond what they presented,” said one participant in the Palo Alto workshop.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Rika_a47694e804.jpg" alt="Design x AI Rika.jpg">Some participants were very focused on taking what they learned about LLMs and applying that to the specific needs of their company’s department. “In each workshop, the group experienced an ‘aha’ moment: a moment where they understood that LLMs are statistical models, trained on the Internet, that predict the next word in a sequence of words. For many participants, understanding this technical fact and considering how it impacted the utility of LLMs as tools was a huge unlock,” said&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nic@mooncreativelab.com">Nic Schumann</a>, Moon engineer and workshop facilitator.&nbsp;“Our premise for the workshops was that understanding – even in broad terms – how LLM’s work, helps designers and business-builders make much better informed decisions about where to apply the technology and where not to,” Nic added.&nbsp;Of course, the AI landscape is rapidly evolving with new tools and technologies being introduced constantly. With Moon’s Design x AI Workshops, we can learn and explore these new resources together and apply them to better, more innovative business creation.&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1viPhBVoDSl6EqouYB4Ckhwcxaid">Stay connected</a> to receive updates on more workshops and events to come.&nbsp;

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_Amelias_06e11d3123.jpg" alt="Moon+Creative+Lab+Amelias+.jpg">When <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arihorie/">Ari Horie</a>, a known advocate for women to lead and thrive in business, shared her vision of creating a foundation for both girls and women to pursue entrepreneurship in Japan, we knew <a href="http://www.mooncreativelab.com/">Moon Creative Lab</a> could help. Our visions for creating a more inclusive and robust center of innovation, creativity, and new business creation in Japan were absolutely aligned. This is what Moon Creative Lab was created to do – for Mitsui and beyond. We also knew it wouldn’t be easy.Entrepreneurship itself is a very difficult (yet very rewarding) path. And in Japan, it’s even less common for women and girls. According to <a href="https://www.accj.or.jp/the-accj-journal/tokyo-women-vc">research</a> by Tokyo Women in VC, 91% of venture capital (VC) firms in Japan have no female partners; 59% of VC funds have no women on their investment team; and 44% of funds do not have any women employees. In addition, only 13% of VC employees, 10% of actual VCs, and 3% of VC partners are women.This is why Ari launched her new non-profit organization, the WSL Impact Foundation, <a href="https://www.amelias.jp/">Amelias</a>’ program designed to build a foundation of support for high school girls and women throughout Japan. Partnering with cities like Kobe, Hokkaido, Sapporo, and Shibuya, the Amelias program offers education, workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities with former and current entrepreneurs from Japan and Silicon Valley.<h4>Moon Leads Workshops on Startup Design</h4>In July, <a href="https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000089.000060069.html">Moon became a founding sponsor of the WSL Impact Foundation</a> and we hosted an event for 60 women entrepreneurs at our Spring Terrace studio in Omotesando. This event was livestreamed at other locations in Japan including Shibuya, Kobe, and Sapporo to more than 130 women. The morning program featured guest speakers on entrepreneurship including <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fujiyoishiguro/">Fujiyo Ishiguro</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathymatsui/?originalSubdomain=jp">Kathy Matsui</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nager/">Marc Nager</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayanne-wright/">Shayanne Wright</a>. Moon’s CEO, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaichi-yokoyama-67973580/">Kaichi Yokoyama</a>, gave an inspiring talk about how to “Think Crazy” to expand your business and your journey as an entrepreneur. He shared examples of how he did just that with the creation of Moon Creative Lab four years ago by bringing the best of Silicon Valley and Japan together to create new and innovative businesses that would have an exponential impact on Mitsui and the world. The concept of “thinking crazy” was a big theme for the Amelias program to encourage participants to think and act outside of their comfort zones.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_WSL_c9819ed32e.jpeg" alt="Moon Creative Lab Womens Startup Lab">In the afternoon, Moon led two Startup Design workshops – one at our Spring Terrace office in Omotesando and the other at nearby Shibuya Parco. Workshop participants learned about the importance of human-centered business design, the practical process to discover opportunities for innovation, and the importance of entrepreneur networking – especially for women.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_Spring_Terrace_WSL_44c779f906.jpeg" alt="Moon Creative Lab Spring Terrace WSL">Here’s what participants had to say about the Moon workshops:“I had learned from reading books, but it was interesting because it was the first time for me to put it into practice.”“I was able to experience the process of thought and the process of realization. A place where failure can be seen positively. I was able to experience that I was further brushed up by working as a team.”“Good prototyping and pitch! Prototyping should be done quickly and without spending too much time and money. Also, I am very grateful for the pitch because I can't practice without this opportunity. By giving us the opportunity to review our value proposition, we were able to review our business more clearly. There were voices saying "be crazy" in various places, and it was good that I was able to think outside my own frame.”<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_Workshop_WSL_726d36c34a.jpeg" alt="Moon Creative Lab Workshop Spring Terrace WSL"><h4>More To Do To Support the Entrepreneurship for Girls and Women</h4>Ari Horie’s vision for the Amelias program is to make entrepreneurship not only an acceptable path for girls, but a viable and desirable one. We at Moon Creative Lab are delighted to support this vision to help make it a reality. While there is still much to do to increase the numbers of women entrepreneurs in Japan, we are excited about the potential for the future.To learn more about the WSL Impact Foundation Amelia's program, please visit: <a href="https://www.amelias.jp/">https://www.amelias.jp/</a>Mary Ann Gallo Chief Marketing Officer <a href="mailto:maryann@mooncreativelab.com">maryann@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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If you haven’t read my story on how <a href="http://www.mooncreativelab.com/">Moon Creative Lab</a> is looking to revolutionize the fashion industry with new sustainable technologies and 3D Printed materials, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/en/blog/sustainable-fashion">check out my article here</a>. Working with 3D Fashion Designer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbme8_dt0Kl/">Danit Peleg</a>, Moon is looking to reduce the waste and carbon footprint created by the fashion industry with its innovations in wearable fabrics from recyclable plastic filaments.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Soft_3_D_Printing_Metaverse_12470cdb97.png" alt="Soft 3D Printing Metaverse.png">I recently got the chance to catch up with Danit and her partner Dan Peguine who are based in Tel Aviv, Israel on her recent efforts to take her 3D fashion designs into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the Metaverse and most recently, a new collection based on Nouns. Don’t know what all this means? Not to worry…read on!<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_34_52_PM_78de5af4fb.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.34.52+PM.jpg">Moon has been working with Danit on our 3D Printed Clothing project for about three years. Together, we’ve developed patent-pending 3D printed materials that are soft and wearable and recyclable! &nbsp;The future applications of this new technology is limitless so stay tuned as we share more updates on this space in the future!In the meantime, Danit has been busy taking her 3D printed designs into the world of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_token">non-fungible tokens (NFTs)</a>. NFTs are non-interchangeable units of data stored on a blockchain, a form of digital ledger, that can be sold and traded. Types of NFT data units may be associated with digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. Danit has made some of her 3D printed fashion designs into NFTs and they are available for sale now on <a href="https://rarible.com/danitpeleg3d/sale">Rarible</a>!<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_35_31_PM_d9e44cb8ac.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.35.31+PM.jpg">Danit has also taken those designs into the Metaverse showcasing them at the first ever Metaverse Fashion Week in March. &nbsp;<a href="https://metaversefashionweek.com/">Metaverse Fashion Week</a> showcased designs from major fashion brands including Tommy Hilfilger, Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Etro and Prive Porter along with web3 brands like DeadFellaz, 8SIAN, Fang Gang &amp; the Mortiverse. &nbsp;Danit’s designs were shown on avatars on a virtual runway.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Sin_titulo_863cddfc77.jpg" alt="Sin título.jpg">Now Danit is working on a new 3D printed fashion project – this time, her fashion designs are based on <a href="https://nouns.wtf/">Nouns</a>. Nouns are pieces of digital artwork that are generated randomly based on Ethereum block hashes. Nouns are auctioned off every day forever. <a href="https://medium.com/@jacobvan/wtf-is-the-nouns-dao-2e543237413b">The first noun was sold for 613.37 ETH</a> (roughly $2 million) on August 8, 2021. All of the proceeds (100%) of a noun sale go to the Nouns DAO treasury. All Noun artwork is in the public domain. &nbsp;If you buy one — not only does this give you ownership of this unique piece of artwork, you also gain a vote in how to manage the Nouns DAO treasury (which is north of $64 million at the time of this article). &nbsp;Owners of Nouns, also called Nouners, get to vote on the usage of Noun projects as well as the use of the treasuryDanit’s <a href="https://nouns.wtf/vote/41">Noun-based 3D printed fashion project</a> was approved by the Nouns DAO and she completed the first research and design phase of the project. In the coming months, Danit is looking to 3D print these designs based on the technology and materials co-developed by Moon! &nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_36_58_PM_6a5c17766f.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.36.58+PM.jpg">We, at Moon, look forward to working with Danit on this project to bring these Noun-based 3D Printed Fashion collection to life! &nbsp;We’ll be sure to share more as we progress on this exciting new frontier!Mary Ann Gallo Chief Marketing Officer <a href="mailto:maryann@mooncreativelab.com">maryann@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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Lighting the Way for Tomorrow’s Businesses That Will Change How We Live, Work and Play<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2021_09_22_at_5_33_2_dce7084cd0.jpeg" alt="Moon Creative Lab Palo Alto Studio">As a kid growing up in the 80s, I didn’t need to look far to notice the innovations coming from Japan. From the Sony Walkman to my Casio calculator for school, the term “made in Japan” stood for quality and innovation. Today, Japan is still driving technology breakthroughs such as the use of AI to boost Japan’s declining fertility rates to the <a href="https://www.moonstories.blog/blog/welcome-to-moon#:~:text=use%20of%20robot%20assistants%20in%20nursing%20homes%20and%20offices">use of robot assistants in nursing homes and offices</a>. But while some tech and manufacturing companies in Japan may be continuing their heritage of innovation, Japan’s oldest and largest trading companies — the sōgō shōshas — are needing to navigate their way towards a more innovative future.<hr><h3>Silicon Valley Meets Tokyo</h3>I’m sure you don’t think of startup creation when you think of a sōgō shōsha, the very large vertically integrated trading companies that are unique to Japan. They are known for their global networks primarily running logistics, finance and risk management for the businesses they manage or invest in. The <a href="https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Sel-Str/Sogo-Shosha.html">sōgō shōshas</a> have been facing pressure on their business model since the 1970s, when manufacturers began cutting them out as “middlemen.” Today, in the age of digital transformation, these large conglomerates are looking for new ways to create value and new business opportunities. Mitsui &amp; Co., one of the largest sōgō shōshas in Japan, operates a global network of 507 companies with 133 offices worldwide. This global network spans across 65 countries and employs more than 45,000 employees. It is an investment and trading powerhouse to be sure, but not exactly known for creating businesses from scratch or from “zero-to-one” — <a href="http://www.mooncreativelab.com/">until Moon Creative Lab</a>.Moon Creative Lab was founded by Mitsui in 2018 with the vision of helping Mitsui move from “connecting” to “creating.” It’s a bold vision considering that Mitsui has been “connecting” large-scale investments for large-scale projects for decades — and with that storied history comes a certain mindset and way of working. In order to become a successful venture studio, Moon had to be markedly different from Mitsui — different in values, mindset, behaviors and even location. Can Moon uniquely combine Silicon Valley’s rich environment for startup creation with the global scale that Mitsui can provide? It’s an interesting and exciting opportunity and it’s a journey that’s just beginning for Moon. &nbsp;<hr><h3>Moon Combines Design, Technology and Business</h3>With studios in Tokyo and in Palo Alto, Moon has attracted a unique blend of talent — product managers, engineers, designers, marketers and more — that are all working together to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the 45,000-strong global workforce of Mitsui. With a human-centered approach, Moon helps idea owners research the unmet needs of users, quickly build prototypes and MVPs and then launch them to market. Moon is also helping Mitsui idea owners learn the foundations of entrepreneurship, including how to take risks, develop meaningful KPIs, how to build a team and how to build a product roadmap.<hr><h3>New Ventures Across Industries and Geographies</h3>From <a href="https://suup.me/">Suup</a>, which is creating new ways to provide working spaces in unused cafes to <a href="https://www.preferred-medicine.com/">Preferred Medicine</a>, which is looking to change the game in early cancer detection, Moon is incubating new ventures across a variety of industries in markets all over the world. Moon is also creating new businesses of their own called Moon Originals. One Moon Original includes the development of a new 3D printed fabric that will have the potential to revolutionize the fashion industry and positively impact the environment. This venture was created in partnership with entrepreneur and fashion designer <a href="https://danitpeleg.com/">Danit Peleg</a>, who is based out of Tel Aviv, Israel.Moon is also working with a number of Mitsui Business Units that want to create new businesses in their respective industries. Some examples of these organizational projects include <a href="https://e-dash.io/">e-dash</a> which is a new company created from Mitsui’s energy solutions business unit. e-dash provides a web service that visualizes energy consumption, energy cost and GHG emissions to help companies stay on top of their sustainable energy procurement and management. &nbsp;<hr><h3>Moon and Mitsui Driving a More Innovative Future for Japan and Beyond</h3>So while today, Silicon Valley may still take much of the startup limelight and Japan may not be perceived as it was in its innovation heyday of the 80s — I say watch this space. We’ll be sharing more updates about Moon, its ventures and Mitsui’s journey to become an innovation leader in Japan and beyond. It’s just the beginning and we can’t wait to share our progress with you.Mary Ann Gallo Chief Marketing Officer <a href="mailto:maryann@mooncreativelab.com">maryann@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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The last couple of years have been challenging for many of us, with Moon being no exception. We have grown our talent significantly to help support all of our projects and ventures, but many of us have still not met each other in person! With the ability to travel again, we can go back to working collaboratively with in-person teams and start making an even bigger impact on all our ventures. Many signs point to an optimistic change coming in this fiscal year — a change that we are all looking forward to.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_s_Full_Pyramid_c06b3dc4da.png" alt="MoonCreativeLab_Mission_Pyramid"><h3>Our Guiding Light</h3>To help everyone better align ourselves to our Purpose, Mission, and Values, we have introduced what we’re calling “The Pyramid of Clarity.” This framework was created to do exactly as its name indicates — give us all clarity on what our goals and priorities are for FY23 — and to remind ourselves exactly WHY we’re doing what we’re doing.At the top of the pyramid lies our Purpose, Mission &amp; Values — the same Purpose, Mission, &amp; Values that Moon created during our inception in August 2018. These will always be Moon’s guiding light:<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Guiding_Light_24251779cb.jpg" alt="Guiding Light"><hr><h3>Our FY23 Goals and Objectives</h3>As we reflect on Moon over the last few years, there are three key questions we should always be asking ourselves:Question 1 Are we doing everything we can to push our ventures forward?Question 2 Are we constantly innovating and launching bold experiments?Question 3 Are we telling stories of both our successes and our challenges to maximize learning?<hr>If we can continuously answer “yes” to these questions, we know we’re on the right track. Thus, answering these questions are Moon’s top-line goals (and what success looks like) for FY23:Goal 1: Progressing Ventures are making progress by showing increased traction.Goal 2: Innovating&nbsp; Ventures are constantly innovating to push their venture forward.Goal 3: Storytelling Ventures are telling more stories to increase engagement within Mitsui.<hr>For each of these goals, we created a metric to help us track our progress throughout the fiscal year:Metric 1: Progressing 100% of Moon’s ventures achieve their North Star Metrics (NSM).Metric 2: Innovating 100% of Moon’s ventures conduct one bold and innovative experiment.Metric 3: Storytelling Moon shares at least 50 stories of our ventures to Mitsui and beyond.<hr>This fills out the next layer of the Pyramid of Clarity:<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Pyramid_of_Clarity_fbc595e1ea.png" alt="Pyramid of Clarity"><h3> Our FY23 Key Priorities</h3>To help us achieve success in FY23, we have identified six Key Priorities for Moon:<hr>Priority 1 Focus to ProjectsLeverage Moon’s skills and experience to increase the opportunity for our EIRs and ventures.This priority really focuses on Moon’s effort to incubate ventures in its earliest stages. It ensures that we continue to work closely with EIRs to help them grow and push their venture forward to reach an initial MVP that’s launched into the market.<hr>Priority 2 Expand Engagement Within MitsuiCreate direct impact on Mitsui BUs and subsidiaries by bringing dedicated focus to Org Ventures.The majority of new projects starting in this fiscal year will be Organizational Ventures — new businesses that we create alongside Mitsui BUs and subsidiaries. With that in mind, this year will involve a lot of relationship-building with BUs directly to figure out the right projects to work on together.<hr>Priority 3 Explore the Next FrontierDefine and extend capabilities of Moon Division so that there is a streamlined launchpad to create NewCos.With four ventures currently in Moon Division and one venture that’s a newly formed NewCo, one of our priorities this year will be helping define how to better support each of these ventures at this later stage and paving the way for the next set of ventures.<hr>Priority 4 Build a Culture of LearningLeverage Moon’s knowledge to improve the quality of ideas and enable faster starts for our ventures.Last fiscal year, we prototyped a version of Moon Academy and Space Camp aimed to help inform and educate Mitsui employees around creativity and entrepreneurship and better onboard them into Moon. This year, our priority is to take both of these programs to the next level.<hr>Priority 5 Begin to Expand Our InfluenceExplore new areas where we can build inspiring content and networks for Moon, Mitsui, and beyond.This fiscal year, we want more Mitsui employees worldwide to know and be inspired by Moon. We also want to start finding ways to inspire people outside of Mitsui. This priority will focus on launching a few experiments to help pave the way for Moon’s future.<hr>Priority 6 Empower Our TeamsEnsure our people feel supported in an environment that’s energizing and inspiring.As our work environment continues to change, we need to continue to ensure that everyone at Moon feels supported and energized by the organization. This priority will ensure that we look after Moon’s people and culture and do our best to make it thrive. &nbsp;<hr><h3>The Full Pyramid</h3>So, how does this all come together? With Moon’s Purpose, Mission, and Values at the top of the pyramid, and Moon’s FY23 Goals and Priorities filling out the next layer, the final base of the pyramid is made up of each department’s team goals and each person’s individual goals.A big reason for creating the “Pyramid of Clarity” is so that each person who works at Moon can see how their own personal goals ladder up to Moon’s FY23 Goals and Priorities, and to the guiding direction of the company.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_s_Full_Pyramid_c06b3dc4da.png" alt="Full pyramid"><h3> Bringing It All Together</h3>We have a lot of ambitions for FY23 and after just two months in, we’re feeling good about what needs to be done for us to achieve success. This doesn’t mean it’ll be easy! Borders aren’t completely open yet and we still have a number of challenges to work through to make the organization thrive. That being said, we remain hopeful and optimistic that we will continue to help “light the way for all of our creative potential.”If you have any questions or thoughts around our plans for FY23, or if you would like to find a way to work together, please feel free to reach out to us at <a href="mailto:hello@mooncreativelab.com">hello@mooncreativelab.com</a>.Mike Peng&nbsp; Chief Creative Officer&nbsp; <a href="mailto:mike@mooncreativelab.com">mike@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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What do you get when you cross a <a href="https://medicha-jp.com/">meditation retreat</a>, a child-care center, and a karaoke bar? A day full of analogous research in Tokyo!Dell Dela Torre and Grace Aldas are two Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) working with us at Moon to develop their concept for Inna Circle (previously MOM247), a community that seeks to reduce the stressors of everyday motherhood. After weeks of interviews which took place across Singapore, Manila and Tokyo, we found that the biggest pain points for new moms are physical isolation and the difficulty finding places where their children are taken care of so that they could spend a little time focusing on themselves.To learn how these spaces work and what makes a space welcoming to mothers and their children, we set off to find comparable examples that already exist in the world. This is the heart of analogous research: knowing that there is an existing solution that you can learn from and apply to your problem. In this way, analogous research embraces the practice of genchi genbutsu – seeing real people to better understand a problem and possible solutions.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/MOM_247_Research_e9736ebe48.jpg" alt="MOM247+Research.jpg">To find out how to create a space where moms could feel safe and relaxed, we visited a meditation center. This visit revealed the importance of a well-trained host who could guide guests and create an environment of trust and peace of mind.Our next visit was to a <a href="https://shibuya-city-neuvola.tokyo/facility/coshibuya/">government-run child-care center</a>, where we learned how moms interact with each other when they have a worry-free place for their kids to playTo get an idea of the kind of environment both kids and adults enjoy, we visited a karaoke bar that catered to moms. We found out that the most important features were soundproofing, fall-proof surfaces, and adult food and beverages. &nbsp;These analogs gave us new ways to look at our users, further understand their pain points, and design better solutions. Inna Circle is not trying to build a meditation center, a day care, or a karaoke bar, but there is a lot to learn from these places about designing welcoming and worry-free environments specifically for moms. Analogous research reminds us that the solution often already exists for a different user or problem. Our job as innovators is to practice genchi genbutsu in unexpected places and apply it in unprecedented ways.Linda Pantale&nbsp; Program Manager&nbsp; <a href="mailto:linda@mooncreativelab.com">linda@mooncreativelab.com</a><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/MOM_247_Team_8ead5ad506.jpg" alt="MOM247+Team.jpg">

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I must admit I’ve been guilty of it. I’ve bought the latest and trendiest clothes knowing full well its shelf life in my closet will last me one season – two max. And according to the <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fast-fashion-global-market-report-2022-301531964.html#:~:text=The%20global%20fast%20fashion%20market%20is%20expected%20to%20grow%20from,(CAGR)%20of%208.8%25.">Fast Fashion Global Market</a> report, I’m not alone in my buying habits. The fast fashion industry is expected to grow from $91.23 billion in 2021 to $99.23 billion over the course of 2022. This trend in fast fashion, which is described as low-cost designs that are quickly transferred from the runway to stores, is only adding to a well-known sustainability problem in the fashion industry.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_19_59_PM_36b19acbd7.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.19.59+PM.jpg"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@riolec?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Rio Lecatompessy</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/fast-fashion?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>The fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of the global carbon emissions and is expected to rise by more than 60 percent by 2030 according to the <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/fashion-industry-un-pursue-climate-action-for-sustainable-development">UNFCCC</a>. And what about clothing that’s not purchased or is discarded? About <a href="https://remake.world/stories/news/are-our-clothes-doomed-for-the-landfill/">80% of donated or discarded textiles wind up in landfills</a> – that’s 92 million tons of clothing globally. These textiles can take up to <a href="https://medium.com/@lavsmohan/can-data-solve-the-environments-fashion-problem-781d9c19767d">200 years to decompose</a> – releasing dangerous methane gas into the atmosphere in its very slow death.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_25_09_PM_2655f92c3a.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.25.09+PM.jpg"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bakhrom_media?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Bakhrom Tursunov</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/landfill?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>But what if we can have fast fashion at our fingerprints and make it recyclable? &nbsp;<h3>The Best of Both Worlds: Quick and Sustainable Fashion with 3D Printing Technology</h3><a href="http://www.mooncreativelab.com/">Moon Creative Lab</a> is looking to revolutionize how fashion is created, consumed and recycled with innovations in 3D printed materials. This project, created in partnership with fashion designer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/danitpeleg3d/">Danit Peleg</a>, involves the research and development of wearable fabrics from recyclable plastic filaments. (More about Danit: In 2018, she was recognized as one of Europe’s Top Women in Tech by Forbes. In 2019, the BBC named her as one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world.) Using 3D printing technology, this patent-pending material can be used to create fashion on demand that is both comfortable and environmentally friendly.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_26_09_PM_10465d3fd3.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.26.09+PM.jpg"> <img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_06_08_at_2_28_37_PM_6550016493.jpg" alt="Screen+Shot+2022-06-08+at+2.28.37+PM.jpg"> Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/danitpeleg3d/">danitpeleg3d</a>Imagine 3D printing an outfit from a file on your computer in the comfort of your own home. If trends change, you can reuse the material from your old outfit to print another one! This is fast fashion that you can feel good about! &nbsp;Moon is working on a number of projects with major fashion brands to apply this new technology and patent-pending material in exciting new ways! Still lots to come from this developing space, but I am personally proud of the work the Moon team and Danit have done so far!We’ll be sure to share more on the progress of this project in the months to come!Mary Ann Gallo Chief Marketing Officer <a href="mailto:maryann@mooncreativelab.com">maryann@mooncreativelab.com</a>

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Illuminating the value of entrepreneurship in Japan has long been one of our core drivers at Moon Creative Lab.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Monju_scaled_e1648775947520_1da5461d0e.jpg" alt="Moon_Creative_Lab_Monju">We realize that there is so much untapped creative potential that just needs a great place to flourish. To help foster a society of innovation and entrepreneurship, we’ve recently partnered with the <a href="https://waseda-keio-business-union.com/">Monju Business Contest</a>, an event organized by students from top Japanese universities like Waseda University and Keio University. From February 12 to March 12, 125 students in the fields of business, art, and tech experienced various aspects of creating a business and sparked their entrepreneurial spirit.Students were divided into four leagues that each had their own challenge, with five different teams in each league. Our challenge for the teams in the Moon league was to create new, mission-driven businesses that are built on ethical consumption. As we help build and launch new business for Mitsui &amp; Co. and beyond, it is embedded in our purpose that good business should be good for the world, too – human-centered and focused on making life, society, and the earth better in some way.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSC_3031_1_768x512_f4d2a10b31.jpg" alt="DSC3031-1-768x512.jpg"><figcaption>Students kick off the Monju Business Contest.</figcaption></figure>Students in the Moon league participated in working sessions at our Spring Terrace studio in Tokyo to develop their ideas. We even had the head of our Tokyo studio, Mr. Tomoyuki Takada, teach students on how to make an effective, memorable pitch to prepare them for their upcoming pitch event, the final part of the Monju Business Contest.The lesson was well received by the students. “It was very helpful to understand the tips for making a clear pitch. It was very persuasive,” said one student. Another added, “the lectures were very intensive in a short time, so I was able to concentrate and absorb a lot of the content.”Throughout the contest, Moon Creative Lab helped students unlock their creativity and guided them through the many stages of entrepreneurship. They got a first-hand look into what building a business looks like from different perspectives and learned everything it takes to turn an idea into a venture, from creating and managing to prototyping and pitching an idea.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSC_3159_768x512_8d779bf542.jpg" alt="DSC3159-768x512.jpg"><figcaption>Conceptualizing and developing ideas at Moon’s Spring Terrace studio in Tokyo.</figcaption></figure>After developing their business ideas, all teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. After two rounds of pitch presentations, two teams from the Moon league made it to the final round but, unfortunately, were not picked as the final winner. They did, however, present their pitches to the entire Moon Creative Lab team, which were met with enthusiasm, encouragement, and positive feedback.The Monju Business Contest was an incredible opportunity to not only help Japan’s future entrepreneurs create the next world-changing idea, but to also encourage and drive creativity and entrepreneurship in Japanese society. We at Moon Creative Lab were deeply honored to be a part of this contest and we can’t wait to see the terrific work these young entrepreneurs will do in the future.See the press release <a href="https://www.value-press.com/pressrelease/289847">here</a> (in Japanese).

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Moon Creative Lab continuously honors the incredible women around us who connect, create, and inspire us every day, but on International Women’s Day, we joined the world in celebrating women everywhere.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Womens_Day_2022_1_B_100_e1649126417814_31ce2a0edc.jpg" alt="MoonCreativeLab_Womens_Day_2022">Much like the groundbreaking first footsteps on the moon set the path for progress, women have been pioneering and paving their own way towards equality across the world. And as March comes to a close, we can’t forget to mention that not only was it Women’s History Month, but International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Woman_resized_356deef08b.jpeg" alt="Striking the “break the bias” pose for International Women’s Day."><figcaption>Striking the “break the bias” pose for International Women’s Day.</figcaption></figure>Throughout the second week of March, we collaborated with our parent company to organize an interactive booth and fun workshops, which resulted in over 200 participants in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to wearing purple clothes and purple masks to align with the official color of International Women’s Day (IWD), taking photos with the IWD #breakthebias pose, and displaying the names of women who actively inspire and contribute to a better world, we held workshops that promoted the awareness of bias through interactive quizzes, games, and thoughtful discussions.We celebrated all the wonderful and brave women across the globe by adding our favorite songs from female artists to a <a href="https://old-site.mooncreativelab.com/2022/04/moon-creative-lab-celebrates-women-around-the-world/#:~:text=artists%20to%20a-,Spotify%20playlist,-%2C%20sharing%20objects%20that">Spotify playlist</a>, sharing objects that remind of us women we admire, learning about bias and how we can help accelerate women’s equality, and getting inspired by Ari Horie, founder and CEO of <a href="https://womenstartuplab.com/">Women’s Startup Lab</a>, who shared her experience in increasing women’s contribution to the growth of business and entrepreneurial success.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08mlu0zcgFW5bLbjpaiZ4E?si=00741a5b2afe406f&amp;nd=1"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IWD_spotify_768x540_154bc72bfb.jpg" alt="Spotify playlist"></a><figcaption>We created a playlist full of our favorite women in music. Follow along!</figcaption></figure>International Women’s Day was also a great opportunity to hear from some of our women Entrepreneurs-in-Residence here at Moon. We talked to Guihua Hong, the founder of audible learning platform <a href="https://www.voox.me/">VOOX</a>, and Grace Aldas and Dell Delatorre, who have recently joined Moon as founders of MOM247, a platform and community for mothers. (*Answers have been edited for clarity.)What advice would you give to others who are experiencing bias?Dell: As a woman, empower yourself so companies can see your worth as a woman. If you’re accepted to do admin work, go out of your way to improve yourself and learn new skills so the company would see that you are also fit or have the potential to be capable of a different skilled role. Having dialogue with HR about gender shouldn’t be the main concern in job qualification, even in smaller roles.Grace: Accept that there will always be different perspectives, but also help promote self-awareness and mindfulness about our own unconscious biases.Hong: Anyone may have bias. We need to be more kind and tolerant, listen to different voices by having more open-minded conversations, and try to understand different sides. Do more and deliver the outcomes by actions rather than talking or explaining about the standpoint as a woman. If the bias is still there after you’ve made all the efforts you can, then leave it without any regret.<hr>The week of International Women’s Day was an influential one. We celebrated the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements women have contributed to our society, and learned about and honored women in our lives, around the world, and throughout history. We can’t help but to be moved by these admirable women and acknowledge the significant impact they have on us every day.

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News and Insights - Page 10

Empowering Women Through Startup Design Workshops

3D Fashion in NFTs, the Metaverse, and Based on Nouns

Welcome to Moon

Moon’s FY23 Goals & Priorities

Learning From Analogous Research

Sustainable Fashion With 3D-Printing Technology

Moon Partners With Monju Business Contest

Celebrating Women's International Day

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