Founder Koji Miki's path to "True Innovation®"
Introduction: Are you listening to your inner voice?
The founder of zenschool, Koji Miki, has lived his life in a way that embodies the philosophy that zenschool holds dear.
You may have achieved social success as a leader or an expert. But somewhere in your heart, you may feel like "something is missing," or "Is this really what I want to do?" -- an indescribable "uneasy feeling" like that. 1 This is not a unique worry that only you have. Miki himself was once one of those people who deeply experienced this feeling.
This story traces Koji Miki's journey—his illustrious career, unexpected turning points and crises, his encounter with zazen, and his self-discovery, all the way to founding zenschool. His story of personal transformation is the source of zenschool's unique method, "True Innovation®," and serves as a sure compass for its graduates to find their "purpose in life" and achieve true success.1
The story of Koji Miki is the story of zenschool itself. And it may connect to your story.
Chapter 1: The Highs and Lows of Success - Career Highs and Unexpected Turning Points
Why was zenschool born? Behind the scenes, there were both light and dark experiences that the founder, Koji Miki, had.
A brilliant career and inner questions:
After graduating from Meiji Gakuin University, he began his career at Fujitsu, a major IT company, before studying at Keio University Graduate School and becoming an executive at an IT venture company. His career path is truly worthy of being called "successful," as he has paved his way with intelligence and drive. Always striving for higher goals and accumulating knowledge and experience - this may have seemed like the ideal career path that many people aspire to.
A sudden turning point: A break called "restructuring":
However, his seemingly smooth sailing path came to a sudden halt in 2009. The IT venture where he was an executive was facing a downturn in business and was forced to restructure. This was not simply a case of losing his job, but an event that deeply shook him.
The career and status he had built up, along with the confidence and pride that came with them, all crumbled in an instant. It was a shock, a psychological blow that knocked him off balance. He realized how fragile everything he had been supported by external success was. It was this painful experience that marked a major turning point, turning him away from existing formulas for success and toward a more fundamental approach to life and work.
Table: Miki Koji: Main events before the turning point
It was precisely because of this career disruption that he delved deep within himself. Through his encounter with “zazen” (seated meditation), which we'll explore in the next chapter, he opened a new door in his life.
Chapter 2: Encountering Silence - The New Path Opened by Zazen
The fall from the peak of his career. It was his encounter with “zazen” that guided Koji Miki, immersed in deep loss and confusion, toward rebirth. This was not merely healing; it marked the beginning of a quiet yet powerful practice to deeply confront his inner self and discover a new source of creativity.
Seeking Inner Stillness:
To recover from the shock of restructuring, or after experiencing a loss of mental balance, Miki began practicing zazen every morning at home. When everything he had built in the outside world crumbled, he sought answers within himself. It was the start of a journey to let go of external validation and achievements, searching for something unshakable within himself.
The Light Brought by Zazen: Healing and Inspiration:
Zazen brought two major changes to Miki. One was the “care” for his wounded heart—spiritual recovery.
Sitting quietly, focusing on his breath, he gradually regained a perspective to calmly observe himself without being swept up in the storm of thoughts and emotions.
The other, profoundly important change was that zazen became the catalyst for “conceiving ideas for new ventures.” When the noise in his mind quieted and he was freed from superficial thoughts, essential insights and ideas welled up from deep within. For him, zazen became both spiritual healing and a creative engine for generating new value.
This personal experience directly led to the core practices of mindfulness (including zazen) and the importance of listening to one's inner voice that later became central to the zenschool program.
Deepening the Quest: Toward Zen2.0:
Miki's interest in Zen and mindfulness expanded beyond personal practice. He later co-founded and became the representative director of “Zen2.0,” Japan's largest international conference on Zen and mindfulness. This reflected his passion to share the wisdom that transformed his own life more widely with society.
The power of zazen discovered in crisis became both the key to Miki's self-renewal and the unshakable foundation for creating his unique innovation methodology to support others' transformation.
Chapter 3: Following the Inner Voice - The Birth of enmono and zenschool
Having regained inner peace through zazen and gained inspiration for a new venture, Yasushi Miki took the next step to give concrete form to his inner discoveries. This led to the establishment of enmono Inc. and the launch of zenschool, its core business. It was a challenge to elevate his own process of renewal into a methodology that could benefit others.
A New Beginning: Founding enmono Inc. (2009):
That very year, after experiencing restructuring, Miki founded enmono Inc. with Shigeru Utsunomiya (current co-facilitator of zenschool). Initially, leveraging his past experience, they began by supporting innovation in small and medium-sized manufacturing, particularly the development of small-scale yet uniquely valuable products known as “micro-manufacturing.”
Launch of zenschool (2011): Inner Transformation for All:
Two years after founding enmono, Miki launched zenschool as an “Innovator School for SMEs.” Notably, this school was rooted in Miki's own personal experience. As stated, “Based on his experience conceiving ideas for self-care and new ventures through zazen, he began offering ‘zenschool’—an innovation management methodology utilizing mindfulness.” zenschool embodies the process through which he overcame a personal crisis and forged a new path— —a process of introspection through mindfulness (zazen) and the discovery of what one truly wants to do (essential business ideas)—systematized and designed as a space accessible to anyone.
The Core Philosophy: “True Innovation®”:
At the heart of zenschool lies the concept of “True Innovation®”. This differs from conventional innovation, which starts from external information like market research or competitor analysis. True Innovation® is a process that uses mindfulness practice and deep introspection and dialogue—called “Zen Dialogue”—to discover your own “true calling,” your “ikigai”¹ or passion, and then creates new value (products, services, businesses, or even ways of life) starting from that point.
This process embodies Miki's own experience—facing his inner self (through zazen) after the collapse of external success (restructuring), and from there discovering his true desired direction (founding enmono/zenschool). His book, “True Innovation: Transforming Employee Consciousness Through ‘Zen-like’ Dialogue,” represents an attempt to deepen this philosophy and pose questions to society.
zenschool and its core concept, True Innovation®, were born from founder Yasushi Miki's deeply personal story of crisis and rebirth. It is not mere theory, but living wisdom grounded in real experience. That is precisely why it resonates deeply with people facing similar challenges or “uncertainty,” possessing the power to drive concrete transformation.
Chapter 4: Where Your Story Begins - How zenschool Creates Transformation
Why does zenschool bring about dramatic change in so many graduates, guiding them toward their heartfelt purpose? The secret lies in how founder Yasushi Miki's own transformation story lives on as a blueprint within zenschool's program design and graduate experience.
Koji Miki's Journey (The Archetype of Transformation):
Conventional Success and Limitations: A career chasing external measures of success.
Crisis and Disruption: The collapse of foundations and a spiritual crisis triggered by unexpected events.
Turning Inward: Beginning self-exploration through zazen.
Self-Discovery and Inspiration: Awakening to an inner voice and discovering what one truly wants to do (a new path).
Creation and Manifestation: Creating new value (enmono/zenschool) based on this inner discovery.
The Journey of zenschool Graduates (Your Potential):
Looking at the stories of zenschool graduates, many have experienced similar transformations.
Questioning the Status Quo: Even when successful, feeling unfulfilled. Questions like “Why this unease?” or “What do I truly want to do?”
Zenschool as Catalyst: Participation in the program becomes the gateway to a special “Ba” (space) that sparks change.
The Inner Transformation Process:
A Psychologically Safe “Ba”: Within the nature of Kamakura's Zaimokuza, an environment where one can speak honestly and openly.
Mindfulness practice: Through zazen and “walking meditation,” connect to the “here and now” and become aware of habitual thought patterns.
“Zen Dialogue” and True Innovation®: Through deep dialogue with facilitators and peers, discover and articulate what truly excites you and what you genuinely want to do from the heart.
Community Power: Support from like-minded peers and a graduate community exceeding 220 members.
Essential Action and Success: Transforming inner purpose into concrete action. Whether through entrepreneurship, new ventures, career transitions, or other forms, challenges deeply connected to one's essence begin. Numerous unique successes have emerged, including SkyDrive's “flying car,” Zen Eating's global wellness business, and Daimon's lunar exploration rover “YAOKI.”
Conclusion: The Potential for Transformation Within Everyone
The transformation process of zenschool graduates deeply resonates with founder Koji Miki's own journey of renewal.
zenschool is not merely a place to learn knowledge. It is designed as a “workshop for alchemy of transformation”¹ where anyone can re-experience the transformation blueprint—“Crisis → Reflection → Self-Discovery → Creation”—that the founder himself walked and proved its power.
Koji Miki's story is the core value zenschool offers and a reproducible framework. The brilliance of its graduates powerfully demonstrates the transformative potential that lies dormant within you.
Chapter 5: The Ever-Evolving Quest - Challenging the Metaverse and the Future
Koji Miki's pursuit of innovation did not end with founding zenschool. The spirit of “True Innovation®,” born from his own journey of transformation, fuels the evolution of zenschool itself. One such evolution is the challenge of the metaverse.
Questioning the Essence Amidst Change: Metaverse zenschool
The impact of COVID-19 presented a significant challenge for zenschool, which had always valued deep, in-person dialogue. Online tools alone struggled to replicate the deep connections and psychological safety of the traditional experience.
Faced with this challenge, Miki explored new possibilities. This led to the “zenschool Metaverse” initiative, utilizing metaverse spaces. This was not merely following a technological trend. It was a creative response to the question: How can zenschool maintain and develop its core elements—dialogue in intimate spaces and deep connections—amid the constraints of the pandemic? Through the new “Ba” (place) of the metaverse, it aimed to foster a sense of presence online and enable deep communication and co-creative experiences.
The Intersection of Zen and Technology:
Miki's activities are also unique in connecting ancient wisdom like Zen and mindfulness with cutting-edge technologies such as the metaverse. By creating a “Metaverse Zen Hall” in the metaverse space and hosting live events featuring Akasaka Yogetsu—a monk and human beatboxer—he explores new experiential value through the fusion of tradition and innovation. This aligns with his vision to transform Kamakura into a “Mindful City where Zen and IT converge.”
Like a Flowing River: The Evolving True Innovation®
The expansion into the metaverse demonstrates that “True Innovation®” is not static but a dynamic process that continuously pursues essential value within changing circumstances. While adapting to shifts in the external environment, its core philosophy—inner exploration, deep dialogue, and essential value creation—remains unwavering. Rather, by leveraging new tools, it seeks to deepen this philosophy and reach more people.
Just as founder Yasushi Miki's own journey has been, zenschool too continually transforms itself with the times, evolving its core values. Like a flowing river, it is the very practice of living innovation—constantly moving yet never losing its essence.
Conclusion: To ignite your own “True Innovation®” right now
The story of zenschool founder, Yasushi Miki. It is not merely the success story of one entrepreneur.
It is a universal record of a journey to overcome unexpected crises, follow one's inner voice, and create truly meaningful value—a journey addressing the unfulfilled longing modern people feel beyond external success.
A career turning point, a spiritual crisis, and an encounter with zazen. Each was an irreplaceable process in discovering his inner purpose and elevating it into a unique philosophy: “True Innovation®.” Zenschool was meticulously crafted to make this blueprint for personal transformation accessible for anyone to experience.
Conclusion: To ignite your own “True Innovation®” right now
The story of Yasushi Miki, founder of zenschool. It is not merely the success story of one entrepreneur.
It chronicles the universal journey of modern individuals, whose thirst remains unquenched by external success alone. It is a record of overcoming unexpected crises, heeding one's inner voice, and creating truly meaningful value.
A career turning point, a spiritual crisis, and an encounter with zazen. Each was an irreplaceable process in discovering his inner “purpose” and elevating it into a unique philosophy: “True Innovation®.” And zenschool was born as a carefully crafted “space” where anyone can experience this blueprint for personal transformation.
Through a space of psychological safety, mindfulness practice, deep dialogue, and the power of community, zenschool helps you confront your inner “moyamoya”¹ and transform it into creative energy. Flying cars, global wellness, lunar exploration rovers... The remarkable achievements of our graduates are the best proof that the path walked by Yasushi Miki holds the potential to bring powerful transformation to you too.
If you currently feel a stagnation in your career or an inexpressible sense of dissatisfaction.
If you yearn to create something that truly springs from your essence.
This may be a sign that the door to your own “True Innovation®” is about to open.
The story of Koji Miki and the “space” he created, zenschool, will be the key to unlocking that door. Embark on a journey to unleash the untapped potential and creativity within you, creating truly meaningful change.
Here lies the compass to guide you in taking that first step.
Co-founder Shigeru Utsunomiya: An engineer who turns your inner passion into reality
1. The Hands That Shape Dreams: Bridging Passion and Reality
Brilliant ideas and passion welling up from the depths of the heart. Yet, an invisible yet vast chasm exists between these and bringing them to life as tangible products or services. At zenschool, there is someone who bridges this gap, giving concrete form to the inner journey of exploration guided by co-founder Yasushi Miki. That person is Shigeru Utsunomiya, serving as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He is not merely a co-founder; he is the technological heartbeat that elevates zenschool's “True Innovation®” from theoretical concept to tangible reality.
Utsunomiya's journey stands in stark contrast to Miki's, rooted instead in deep practical knowledge honed over years on the manufacturing floor. His story traces the path where wisdom forged at the forefront of manufacturing meets and merges with humanity's infinite potential. He is the very embodiment of the grounded, practical execution that is essential to zenschool's philosophy. Without Utsunomiya's specialized expertise to materialize it, the “True Innovation®” born from inner exploration might have remained an abstract concept. He is the embodiment of practice, connecting zenschool's spirit to concrete creation. The establishment of enmono Inc. became the vessel to realize the shared vision of these two individuals.
2. Wisdom Forged on the Manufacturing Front Lines: A Lifetime as an Engineer
Mr. Utsunomiya's deep insight into manufacturing was not gained overnight. Its foundation lies in the 18 years he spent at Suzuki Corporation, a major transportation equipment manufacturer, after graduating from Doshisha University's Faculty of Engineering. Here, as a “production engineer,” he accumulated diverse experience. His responsibilities spanned a broad spectrum: from production engineering in mass-production factories, to cost planning where product costs were refined at the planning stage, to production engineering in factories creating prototypes, and finally to production engineering in the mold department, which underpins the very foundation of manufacturing. He was involved in every stage of manufacturing, from one-off prototypes to mass production, from cost planning before a product's creation to the actual construction of production lines. It was here that he deeply cultivated the practical knowledge and experience needed to translate ideas into tangible products.
However, a turning point arrived in what seemed like a smooth career trajectory. Stress from his relationship with his supervisor in the mold department and exhaustion from excessive micromanagement led to physical and mental health issues. “What am I living for?” After about half a year of intense self-reflection, he began searching for a new path.
He then shifted his focus, spending two years as the **Production Engineering Manager** at a local prototype manufacturer (small factory) in Hamamatsu. Unlike mass production at large corporations, he faced challenges unique to one-off items and small-lot production. Working in an environment characteristic of small and medium-sized enterprises, he applied his production engineering knowledge to drive improvement activities and engage in management. This honed his diverse technical skills and cultivated the flexibility to respond swiftly to change. This experience broadened his scope as an engineer and likely became a source of empathy when later engaging with participants from diverse backgrounds at zenschool.
Another pivotal point in his career was his two years at an IT venture supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers. Here, as a staff member overseeing production engineering and procurement, he engaged in sales support tasks such as selecting prototype manufacturers and sourcing parts. He deepened his knowledge of small factory databases, learned the importance of quality assurance, and took on a role akin to a technical trading company bridging large corporate purchasing departments with small factories. This represented a new challenge: applying his production technology expertise to support SME businesses. Most significantly, it was here he met his lifelong partner, Koji Miki.
Utsunomiya's career path is remarkable not just for its length, but for its breadth. Large-scale mass production at major corporations, prototyping, small-lot production, and management at small workshops, and the SME support network. This experience, encompassing the entire manufacturing value chain, gave him an unparalleled holistic perspective on every facet of manufacturing. This understanding, spanning the logic of large corporations to the realities of small workshops, became the foundation enabling him to provide tailored advice to participants of various scales and positions at zenschool.
His encounter with Mr. Miki at this SME support venture was no mere coincidence. While Miki, with his strength in IT, promoted the digitalization and networking of SMEs, Utsunomiya supported the physical realities of the manufacturing floor and the concrete processes of making things, such as parts procurement. Their complementary expertise likely led them to recognize the need to connect inner passion (a theme Miki was exploring through Zen at the time) with the practical manufacturing know-how to bring it to life. This very insight may have been the seed that later blossomed into the core ideas underpinning enmono's “micro-manufacturing” and zenschool.
3. The Spark of enmono: The Encounter of Engineering and Vision
On November 11, 2009, Utsunomiya and Miki left their previous IT venture and jointly founded enmono Inc. Underpinning this was a shared vision: “To spread the concept of ‘micro-manufacturing,’ where anyone can become a maker.” Incidentally, the company name enmono comes from the idea of creating things (mono) through human connections (en). It was a challenge aiming for a world where individuals and small-to-medium enterprises could unleash their creativity based on their passion, generating innovation from the grassroots level.
The division of roles within enmono naturally formed based on their respective expertise. If Miki, as CEO, was the visionary exploring the “Why”—crafting the overarching strategy while incorporating elements of Zen and mindfulness—then Utsunomiya, as CTO, was the practitioner pursuing the “How”: figuring out how to technically realize that vision and build the manufacturing processes, grounding ideas in reality. This is not merely a business division of labor; it represents a powerful partnership that maximizes each other's strengths.
The “micro-manufacturing” concept enmono championed in its early days became a crucial bridge to the more holistic approach later developed at zenschool. While both share the common starting point of “what you truly want to do,” it was precisely Utsunomiya's deep expertise in manufacturing that allowed this concept to hold compelling weight not only in software and digital services but also in physical “monozukuri” (manufacturing). It was his solidification of the ‘Monozukuri’ aspect that paved the way for zenschool to later integrate the inner journey more deeply as “True Innovation®.”
4. Philosophy: Soulful Craftsmanship, Structured Innovation
Utsunomiya's philosophy of craftsmanship goes beyond mere pursuit of technical efficiency. His words and actions reveal a belief that the creator's “passion,” human connections, and the warm humanity characteristic of his Osaka roots are crucial for driving progress. Unlike the stereotype of a purely logical engineer, he seems to place significant emphasis on drawing out the inner meaning within individuals.
His practical, down-to-earth engineering perspective complements and enables the realization of Miki's “True Innovation®.” While True Innovation® begins with an inner voice, it is Utsunomiya's structural thinking and practical know-how that ensure ideas born from within can withstand contact with the real world. He is the bridge connecting the desire to “do something” to the path of “how to do it.”
Even regarding emerging technologies like VR/Metaverse 5 and AI, which have gained attention in recent years, he views them not as ends in themselves, but as “tools” to foster human connection and creativity, and to realize human potential. His technical background ensures technology is practically applied to achieve its fundamental mission.
At its core lies the conviction that sustainable innovation, especially in manufacturing, requires both deep personal passion and rigorous, practical execution. The “pragmatism” born from his engineering experience provides the wings that enable the ‘passion’ discovered at zenschool to soar into reality. One might say he plays the role of designing the viable “body” for the soul to inhabit.
5. The Dynamism of enmono: Two Founders, One Purpose
Miki's focus on the inner journey and Utsunomiya's focus on concrete realization. How do these two forces interact within the space of zenschool? It can be seen in the transformation process of each participant. Through dialogues with Miki and mindfulness practices, participants touch the core of their “purpose in life” and what they truly wish to do. Then, carrying this fervent desire to Utsunomiya, they begin the process of structuring that passion into concrete business concepts and exploring their feasibility.
The table below summarizes the characteristics and roles of each founder within enmono and zenschool.
As this table shows, the two men have different backgrounds and skills, yet they complement each other beautifully. Miki draws out from within "what" and "why" people want to do something, and Utsunomiya charts the way to "how" to achieve it. It is these two wheels that enable zenschool to become a place that produces concrete innovation, rather than simply self-development. Though they have different backgrounds, their long-standing collaboration at enmono and zenschool has fostered a common language for innovation, passion, and manufacturing, as can be seen in their co-authored book, " Let's Get Started with Micro Manufacturing: An Industrial Theory for Turning Your "I Want to Do It!" into a Business ."
6. Conclusion: Building the future from within, with the sure hand of an expert
Shigeru Utsunomiya. He is the essential engineer who turns the spark of inner passion ignited at zenschool into a tangible reality. He is the master of "how" and the guide who helps passion find concrete form.
If you have an idea you want to shape, a passion you want to realize, or something you want to share with the world, Utsunomiya (and the methodology he embodies) can show you the practical path to achieving it. Zenschool is the place where, in the hands of experts like him, you can turn your inner potential into reality.
Zenschool's philosophy is the fusion of inner discovery (Miki's domain) and concrete creation (Utsunomiya's domain). This is the path to truly meaningful innovation and fulfilling work and life. It can be said that enmono's philosophy of "invigorating the world through exciting manufacturing" is truly embodied by these two founders.