The Spark that led to…

‘Does Japanese society truly make people happy?’

First encountering this internal question as a teenager, Mezaki was shocked by the way of life of people of the same generation who he met in Europe while studying abroad; culture(s) that respects individuals is so truly very opposite that of Japan, where societal pressure is strong. Mezaki discovered that boy and girls who came of age in Europe have their own opinions and are passionately enjoying their lives. Thus, he could not help but ask himself, ‘Does Japanese society truly make people happy?’ It was at this moment when intense doubts arose in him that would determine his future path and actions.

An Experience of Conflict at a Big-Name Securities Firm

After graduating from university, Mezaki joined Merrill Lynch Securities, a major foreign investment bank, with the personal goal of building his own start-up business in the future. However, what he felt at the forefront of the world of business was always the fixation on capitalism and the worship of money prevailing in the financial sector. As humans, do we not lose sight of the more important things in life for the sake of business and/or marketing? After a successful five-year stint at Merrill Lynch, Mezaki made the decision to leave this top securities firm due to this internal moral conflict which tormented him.

Guidelines for Life Discovered on a Trip to 100 Countries

Upon departing Merril Lynch, Mezaki embarked on a journey in search of an index for Life. His travels found him training in India and trekking across both South America and Africa … what he discovered at each of his destinations around the world is the common principle that every society finds its members in pursuit of personal well-being, as well as the fact that if there is a social system which leads people to happiness, that society will thrive. After his travels, Mezaki came to the conclusion that he wished to, “lead Japan to a transformation into a society where individuals can pursue happiness.” With this driving vision, Mezaki made the decision to return to Japan and take the fruits of a journey which spanned over 100 countries and use them to plant a new seed for the future of Japanese society.

The Future that GPSS Envisions

Toward the Realization of Grid Parity

GPSS aims to realize a sustainable society, not simply short-term profits. To that end, it is necessary to achieve “Grid Parity”, in which the power generation cost of renewable energy is equal to or less than the cost of existing power generation. The most current issue is the lack of stable power such as hydropower or geothermal power. GPSS is working on the construction of power plants throughout Japan via joint-venture projects with local communities.
It is also possible to generate electricity from “natural” energy by importing and burning wood chips instead of fossil fuel, known as “renewable energy”. However, so long as resources must be imported, there exists the risk of price fluctuations. In addition, if such fuel is burned faster than the growth cycle of trees, then it cannot be said to be sustainable. Resource depletion, global warming, economic risks … We are serious about solving these social issues, and so we are particular about “domestic self-sufficiency of sustainable energy.”

GPSS as an Exemplar Company Leading the Change for a Better Society

Through our vision to contribute to an entirely independent sustainable society, we strive to champion our philosophy with passion. Through GPSS’ achievements, the company demonstrates that any corporation can make a positive difference in society. The argument is very convincing that we should not sacrifice our own happiness, nor the Earth, for simple corporate profit; both can be achieved hand-in-hand. As such, GPSS wishes to lead with passion, and sing out our motto loud and clear- ‘Ignite our soul; not the Earth.’