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"I want you to get back up again and again. It's okay to fail again and again."

NTT Com Online Marketing Solutions Inc.
President and CEO: Yoshie Tsukamoto

"goo" is Japan's first search engine, and its name means "global infinity." Yoshie Tsukamoto, who spearheaded the launch of goo and is currently the president and CEO of NTT Com Online, is a Waseda University graduate. She has always been active in a place where energy accumulates, and she gave us some words of encouragement, sharing her own experiences, for the graduates who are about to embark on their journey into society, with their infinite potential.

Japan's first search engine "goo" was released on March 27, 1997. The top page at the time

A free and open student life that drew energy from the outside world

"After graduating from high school, I initially went on to study piano at a music college. But after nearly eight hours of practice every day and one-on-one lessons with a teacher, I realized it wasn't for me, so I enrolled at Waseda University in search of a new option."

Tsukamoto-san looks back on how she ended up entering university. Her days of focusing on herself and learning new skills changed completely to one of seeking new encounters and focusing on the outside world.

"At Waseda, I was surprised at how many different people I met. It was what we now call diversity. Perhaps it was a reaction to the one-on-one lessons and daily life of constantly facing myself, but I was surprised by the energy that was generated when people gathered together, and I was moved by the energy that was generated by the free and open discussions."

This desire to seek new energy from those around us eventually evolved into something global that went beyond the boundaries of the university.

"I had a strong desire to see the outside world and go abroad. By chance, a magazine was looking for a position as an overseas correspondent, and I applied, and luckily I was accepted. During my time at the university, I was able to experience various European countries. I stepped into worlds I had never seen before, met people from around the world I didn't know, and gained a lot of energy from these new encounters."

A photo of Convocation with fellow seminar members. Tsukamoto-san is in the center.

The year 1986, when Tsukamoto-san left the nest, was also a time filled with the energy of change. The Plaza Accord of the previous year marked the beginning of the bubble economy, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Law was also enacted. It was a time when women were just starting to make inroads in society, and Tsukamoto-san joined NTT, which had just been privatized from the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (NTT).

"I was assigned to a department that was responsible for launching new businesses, which was a new challenge for NTT, which had previously only sold telephone lines. The people involved were full of energy, just like when I first entered Waseda, and although it was difficult, my days were fulfilling."

A photo of Tsukamoto-san and her boss and co-workers at the welcome party when she joined NTT.

However, two years after joining the company, Tsukamoto-san suffered severe burns in an unexpected accident and had to take two years off work.

"At one point my life was in danger and I was in and out of hospital more than a dozen times... I learned that even though things had been going well up until that point, everything can be lost in an instant. But still, you have to live each day to the fullest. At first I couldn't even stand up on my own, but little by little I was able to do more and now I'm grateful for just being able to wash my face by myself. Thanks to this experience, there are no more difficult or tough things at work."

When I returned to work, I was grateful for the consideration shown to me by those around me.

"When I returned to the company after two years, I noticed that the area around my desk was very clean. I heard that my manager at the time had been wiping my desk every day and was looking forward to my return. I was very touched to hear that. It made me realize once again that I had joined a good company."

Believing in "what I really want to do" and the value of the Internet

The motivation of "wanting to know the outside world" that she had as a student continued to drive her life even after she entered the workforce, and she took advantage of the company's study abroad program to study in the United States at the age of 28. It was during this time that she encountered the Internet, which was the first in the world to become widespread.

In 1993, she studied abroad at Dartmouth College in the United States and earned an MBA. Tsukamoto-san is second from the left.

"When I returned to Japan after my studies abroad, I was once again assigned to the section responsible for launching new businesses, so I suggested to them, 'The Internet that I experienced in America is amazing!'"

The internet and search engines, which we take for granted today, were unknown services in Japan at the time. Naturally, there were many obstacles, but what was the driving force behind breaking through those barriers?

"I think it was because I believed in the value of the Internet, in that it's open. Because it's open, wisdom and knowledge from all over the world can gather together. This will overcome old barriers and create a new world. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to work with colleagues from all over the world, transcending time and place, even while raising children. I wanted many people to be able to enjoy the Internet, which has enriched my life, and that was the feeling that led me to create services."

In this way, she launched Japan's first search engine, "goo," and many other Internet businesses. After that, she transferred to Microsoft and returned to her former employer, NTT. She has been in her current position since 2012, and continues to lead the front lines of digital transformation business for corporations.

With colleagues at the launch of "goo" in 1993. Eric Brewer (far right) is the founder of Inktomi, a company that co-launched the service, and is currently Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Tsukamoto-san is second from the right.

"Even now, every day is a new learning experience. Technology changes about once every two years, so I want to brag to my unstudious student self about how much I learned while I'm working (laughs). But I want to be of use to people, to make someone  happy. I work hard with that feeling in mind."

Four years ago, in 2021, Tsukamoto-san gave a congratulatory speech at Waseda University Entrance Ceremony. The source of her words at that time was also her desire to be of use to students.

"I thought about what words would be most helpful to them, and I told them, 'I want you to find what you really want to do.' I think that in life you will face many difficult situations, but if it's something you love, you will be able to get back up, and I want you to keep getting back up again and again. It's okay to fail many times."

With that comment, Tsukamoto-san introduced us to a famous quote by Darrell Royal, the famous American football coach.

"Darrell Royal said, 'There's no athlete who hasn't been knocked down. But the best athletes make every effort to get back up quickly. Average athletes are a little slower to get up. And losers stay on the ground forever.' Yes, in life, even if you get knocked down, you can always get back up."

Tsukamoto-san giving a congratulatory speech at the Waseda University Entrance Ceremony in April 2021

Four years have passed since that day, and she continued, her words to young people departing into society are "the same as they were four years ago."

"Find out what it is you really want to do. Have you found what you want to do, your dream, during your four years of student life? If you haven't found it yet, continue on your journey to find it. For me, it wasn't until I was nearly 30 that I discovered the Internet. So there's no need to rush. If you have found it, then by all means, forge ahead on that path."