I can keep trying because I have a hobby.

Introduction

Everyone, do you have any hobbies?

My hobbies are watching baseball, playing mahjong, and golfing.

Since I'm from the Kansai region, I've been a Hanshin Tigers fan for a long time. When I was in elementary school, I joined the fan club and was a fan of player Hamanaka.

Even after coming to Hokkaido, my love for baseball hasn't changed, but I was truly amazed the first time I went to Es Con Field last year.

To be honest, before I went, I just thought, "It's a new stadium, I guess."

However, when I actually went there, it far exceeded my imagination.

The stadium's atmosphere, the completeness of its facilities, the abundance of dining options, and above all, the various measures taken to enhance the baseball viewing experience were evident everywhere.

Watching the game, I seriously thought, "I'd want to come here many times."

I even thought about buying a season pass and going there.

Since I'm from the Kansai region, I've always associated baseball with Koshien.

Of course, Koshien is still a special stadium even now.

However, to be honest, I thought baseball stadiums weren't that different no matter where you went.

However, my thinking changed when I went to Escan Field.

I felt like it was a facility where going to the ballpark itself was the objective, not just a place to watch a game.

I think not only baseball fans but also families and tourists can fully enjoy it.

I've been to many places since coming to Hokkaido, but this one, in particular, left a strong impression on me.

Hokkaido has many wonderful tourist destinations, and isn't Escon Field one of them?

I personally want to go again, and I hope that anyone who comes to Hokkaido in the future will try to visit this place at least once.

Having a place you want to visit again and again is also one of the joys, I think.

When you think about it that way, hobbies might not just be about spending time, but rather about increasing the enjoyment in your life.

Speaking of baseball, Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly the player that comes to mind.

To be honest, I'm a fan of Ohtani.

I regularly go to New Balance stores.

Do you have the model Shohei Ohtani wears?

And I'll ask the store clerk.

And if it's in stock, I will purchase it.

Just because I wear them doesn't mean I'll become like Ohtani.

Still, what makes me happy makes me happy.

There's an indescribable sense of satisfaction that comes from owning the same things as your favorite player.

However, when I watch Shohei Ohtani, it's not just about his baseball skills.

He is a successful person that anyone can see, and he is a representative athlete of Japan.

Normally, I think one would be satisfied somewhere.

However, Ohtani continues to strive.

I always aim higher and continue to grow myself.

When I see that, I feel like I need to try harder too.

Even though our industries are different, I feel there's a lot to be admired in your attitude of not being satisfied with the status quo and continuing to move forward.

Golf is the same.

I'll want a new club, and when I go out for a round, I'll want to get better.

Mahjong is like that too.

The more seriously you want to enjoy your hobbies, the more expensive they become.

But I have never regretted it.

Rather, I believe it's valuable time that enriches life.

When I was young, I only thought about playing.

Now I think a lot about my work, but that wasn't the case when I was young.

If I had to say, I was mostly thinking about playing.

What should I do on my day off? Who should I go drinking with? Where should I go next?

I think I was always thinking about things like that.

When I get paid, I spend it on fun and look forward to the next payday.

Looking back, I think I was just a normal young person.

Of course, I enjoyed that time back then too.

I also had time to spend with friends, and we made many memories.

However, as I got older, my way of thinking gradually changed.

You need money to play too.

You need money to continue your hobbies.

Whether you're going on a trip or buying things you like, you ultimately have to work to earn income.

It's a given, but I've come to truly appreciate that given.

And then I came to think that it's truly valuable precisely because I can enjoy it with money I earned myself.

Is making money your sole objective?

Now that I'm a business owner, there isn't a day that goes by without me thinking about sales and profits.

I want to grow my company and I also want to try new things.

Fortunately, the company has been able to grow little by little.

I recently bought a house in Furano and also in Toyako, and I plan to continue buying more.

Discussions are also progressing regarding purchases in Sapporo and Asahikawa.

When running a company, you inevitably spend more time looking at numbers.

What was this month's sales? How much profit was left? Which property will be purchased next?

I think about things like that every day.

It is truly appreciated that the company is growing.

However, there's something I think on the other hand.

It is not permissible for the sole objective to be growing the company.

Of course, as a business owner, I aim for growth.

We also pursue profits.

However, a life spent chasing only that feels a little lonely.

If you're going to work hard, I think it's good to have something to look forward to afterwards.

It might be time with family. It might be travel. It might be hobbies.

It's possible that hobbies make up a large portion of my life, and I'm okay with that.

As a result of working hard, I can do what I like.

Having something you love makes it easier to work hard.

Isn't that relationship ideal?

Earning money is important. Making a profit is also important.

However, I feel it's a bit different if the act of making money itself becomes the goal.

Because money is endless.

I want more. I want to increase it.

If you start thinking like that, there's no end to it.

Of course, having ambition is a good thing.

The desire to grow the company is also necessary.

But if there's nothing beyond that, won't we end up in pain somewhere?

What do you work for? What do you earn for?

I think it's important to have that answer.

Having one's own reasons for working

I believe that the idea of working for your hobby is a perfectly respectable reason.

I want to go to Es Con Field. I want to enjoy golf. I want to buy things I like.

I think that reason is sufficient.

In reality, there are probably many people who can work hard because they have hobbies.

Even if something bad happens at work, I can keep going when I think about my next golf appointment.

Even with a busy daily life, you can get through it if you think about being able to do what you like on the weekend.

I also have that part of me. There's only one life.

If you're going to work, I think it's better to have something to look forward to afterward.

Some people work hard for their families.

Some people might work hard for their dreams.

I think some people work hard for their hobbies.

I think any reason is fine.

What's important is having your own reason for working.

People with a reason are strong. They can persevere even in difficult times.

I can keep looking forward, even when I hit a wall.

I will continue to work.

Of course, I want to grow the company.

But that's not all.

I want to go to ES CON FIELD and play golf too.

I think I'll buy Ohtani's shoes again.

I think that's why I can keep trying.

Work for fun.

I believe that's a perfectly good reason to work as well.