We interviewed members of the S-TOKYO community! We asked them about their work and life, as they live their lives freely.

This time, we spoke with Ryosuke Osera, CEO of Yugyo Co., Ltd. His recent theme is "The Essence of Rightness"...! He shared with us the profound appeal of the nomadic lifestyle.

Interviewee: Ryosuke Osera

Originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. Executive Director of the Japan Digital Nomad Association and advisor to the Japan Workation Association. Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the Institute for Advanced Tourism Science, Kanazawa University (July 2023 - present).

After graduating from the University of Tsukuba, he joined Dentsu Inc. and was seconded to the Cabinet Secretariat. In 2019, he founded "HafH," a travel subscription service. In September 2022, he established "Yugyo Co., Ltd.," Japan's first marketing firm specializing in digital nomads.

What do you find most appealing about living as a digital nomad?

I've become able to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit items !

In Tokyo, you can get away with things like your title, income, or occupation, and people will ask, "Who exactly are you?!"

But since I started working as a digital nomad in Hokkaido, I've realized that what's important in social interactions isn't appearance, income, or job title, but rather, "What kind of person are you?"

Furthermore, when you travel the world, you can experience authentic history, authentic architecture, and authentic food. And I think you have more opportunities to meet people who are passionate about their work and their way of life than you do in Tokyo.

In that kind of environment, you learn to distinguish between genuine and fake, and you also learn how to gauge your own true capabilities . You can re-examine whether what you've cultivated is right or wrong. (The fakes) will be exposed. You can sometimes see when someone is just riding on their title.

By increasing my opportunities to travel, I've come to see the essence of things like this . I think that kind of feeling is one of the charms of being a nomad!

—How do you balance work and play? Or rather, do you even separate work and play, Ryo?

I do want to separate them! I want to separate "self-improvement" from "work," rather than "play" from "work," but I often end up mixing them up, which is a bit of a problem for me.

I guess you could say I work to improve myself; it's pretty much a two-pronged approach.

—What kind of things do you do to "improve yourself"?

My current obsession is making aromatherapy products!

That's because, as a way to express myself, I wanted to create a "sensory expression" that incorporates the life experiences I've had . This is unrelated to work; I really love smells, so I'm doing it as a private project with the members of Yugyo.

But when I'm really off duty, I want to have a day where I can become a complete recluse (laughs). I want to be Ryo Osera, nobody in particular, and spend two hours just looking at social media, a time when I don't think about anything.

—So even Ryo needs that kind of time...! Please tell us more about your secret to staying active!

It's vitamins (laughs). Especially when I go abroad, I always take things like Biofermin and stomach medicine with me! I believe that the cause of poor health often comes from the stomach, so I also get chiropractic treatments to regulate my digestive system. I think it's fine to take Biofermin as a daily supplement, depending on how you feel.

—What are some of the things you value most in your life, Ryo? For example, you just talked about "aromatherapy that encapsulates the life experiences I've had." What kind of sensibilities you've gained in your life are expressed in it?

My recent theme is "the essence of what is right." Will what we consider "right" today still be considered "right" 2000 years from now?

For example, the beauty of the scenery I encountered in eastern Hokkaido made me realize that it's something that people 2000 years from now will still find beautiful and cherish. I also believe that the five senses, as a function of human beings, will definitely still exist 2000 years from now.

I want to be the kind of person who can judge things on a timescale like 2000 years ago or 2000 years from now. What are the things that will remain unchanged and important hundreds of years from now?

In this age of diversity, in an age where we're told to live as we please, everyone is lost about how to live. I think the skill to avoid getting lost is whether or not you can see what will be right 2000 years from now. To put it very simply.

I want to pursue these essential aspects more and more while traveling and living a nomadic lifestyle. In that sense, I feel that I can still transform and continue to change, so I'm looking forward to it.