By  Toru Takahasi, CEO of GLOBIS Europe [1], hub of Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University [2]. The international business school has been developing the next generation of leaders for over 30 years, supporting learners to find their own kokorozashi.

But what is kokorozashi exactly? Why is it so important to successful leadership? And how can you find your own kokorozashi to propel your life and business forwards?

What is kokorozashi?

Kokorozashi is a Japanese concept that means ‘will' or ‘ambition' - it's the driving force behind everything you do and fuels your life and career.

The Japanese character for kokorozashi is a combination of the radical for ‘scholar' or ‘person with aspirations' (士) and the radical for ‘heart and mind'(心). When these combine, you get kokorozashi (志), representing that aspirations are driven by both head and heart.

You might have heard of ikigai, another Japanese expression that's defined as ‘your reason to get up in the morning'. Kokorozashi is a little bit different, as it's the force that pushes you to be your best self and realise your true purpose. It's a long-term vision that's underpinned by a desire to make a positive impact on society, making it a key factor in successful leadership. Finding your kokorozashi is about finding your true potential.

The importance of kokorozashi in business

GLOBIS founder Yoshito Hori believed in pursuing his kokorozashi to drive the leading business school forward, and the results of this are evident in GLOBIS's success today.

Kokorozashi is the literal DNA of our organisation. Without our founder Yoshito Hori's visionary drive, GLOBIS would never have come into existence. At the time of its inception, his acquaintances doubted the venture, telling him that no one in Japan would attend GLOBIS. If he had relied solely on logic, starting GLOBIS wouldn't have seemed feasible - GLOBIS Europe [3]