Tokyo (SCCIJ) – At the SCCIJ July Luncheon 2026, more than 65 members and guests gathered at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo for an inspiring keynote by Shoukei Matsumoto, Buddhist monk, author, professor at Musashino University, and member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Responsible Leadership. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy and his books and his Japanese translation of Roman Krznaric’s The Good Ancestor, Mr. Matsumoto invited participants to rethink leadership through the lens of future generations, emphasizing that the true role of leaders is not only to achieve results today, but to create conditions in which others can thrive tomorrow.
Mr. Matsumoto, what does it mean to become a “good ancestor”?
Mr. Matsumoto: Many people think about legacy as leaving behind something perfect or monumental. I see it differently. A good ancestor is not someone who leaves a finished world, but someone who leaves enough space for the next generation to create their own future. Leadership is about asking ourselves not only what we achieve today, but what we hand over to those who come after us.
You began your presentation by explaining Japan’s relationship with its ancestors. Why is this relevant to business leaders?
Mr. Matsumoto: In Japan, caring for ancestors is not simply a religious tradition—it is a reminder that none of us is self-made. We inherit language, culture, values, and habits from those before us. The same applies to organizations. Companies inherit cultures and ways of thinking, and leaders influence what future generations will receive. Understanding this changes the way we make decisions.
You spoke about the end of the “optimization society.” What did you mean?
Mr. Matsumoto: For many years, organizations focused on optimization – measuring, improving, and maximizing efficiency. That approach has created tremendous progress, but today’s world changes too quickly for optimization alone to be sufficient. The rules themselves keep changing. Leaders must learn to navigate uncertainty rather than simply optimize within fixed systems.
One of your strongest messages was the importance of subtraction rather than addition. Why?
Mr. Matsumoto: Modern organizations constantly add – more meetings, more reports, more projects, more tools. Yet clarity rarely comes from adding. It comes from removing what is unnecessary. Leadership should include the courage to eliminate recurring meetings that no longer create value, simplify decisions by reducing noise, and deliberately create space for long-term thinking. Clarity appears when clutter disappears.
You introduced the Buddhist concept of karma. How does this relate to leadership?
Mr. Matsumoto: Karma is often misunderstood as reward or punishment. I see it simply as accumulated habits. What we repeatedly do becomes our character, and organizational culture is nothing more than shared habits accumulated over time. Every leader shapes those habits, and today’s decisions become tomorrow’s culture.
What practical advice would you give to executives who want to become better long-term leaders?
Mr. Matsumoto: Create intentional moments to think beyond the next quarter. Even fifteen minutes each week without emails, meetings, or distractions can make a difference. Ask yourself a simple question: “What am I handing on?” You might even keep a photograph of a founder, grandparent, or the youngest employee in your company nearby during important decisions. It reminds us that leadership is ultimately about those who are not yet in the room.
During the Q&A, you suggested that happiness is not necessarily the goal. Could you explain?
Mr. Matsumoto: Buddhism focuses less on increasing happiness and more on reducing suffering. We often believe every problem requires an immediate solution, but sometimes the first step is simply observing our own habits and attachments. Awareness itself begins to loosen those patterns and opens the possibility for change.
About the Speaker
Shoukei Matsumoto is a Buddhist monk, professor at Musashino University, author of a couple of books in English, and member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Responsible Leadership. His internationally acclaimed works—including A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind and Work Like a Monk—bridge Buddhist wisdom and modern leadership, encouraging individuals and organizations to think beyond short-term success and lead with future generations in mind. He is also the Japanese translator of Roman Krznaric’s The Good Ancestor.
