Alumnus and Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai speaking to the high school at ASIJ. ASIJ
The American School in Japan welcomed alumnus Kazuo ‘Kaz’ Hirai back to campus on November 15.
Hirai graduated from ASIJ in 1979 and is currently President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment and Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation. Hirai — who visited at the invitation of the school’s Alumni Council, and who worked long and hard to schedule his talk — spoke to the entire high school student body about his time at ASIJ and subsequent career.
The students had a good laugh as Hirai showed them photos from his freshman yearbook and reminisced about his days as an ASIJ Mustang. He spoke about starting out in the music business, his passion for entertainment, and his rules for a successful career — a message that inspired the students.
It was a great opportunity to hear such an accomplished business leader speak, and for students to get career advice from someone that Entertainment Weekly called one of the most powerful executives in the world. Hirai spoke about his multicultural background and international education and how that has impacted his professional life, leaving students with the message that every one of them has the opportunity to “change the world.”
After the applause finally died down, many students asked insightful questions and stayed after the speech to get a chance to talk to Hirai in person. Hirai also enjoyed taking a tour of the campus and seeing how some parts have changed, while others remain the same. He was amazed to see the many improvements that have been made to the campus in recent years, including the newly refitted field, with floodlights for sports at any time of day in any weather; the state-of-the-art theatre, where he addressed the students, that seats 570 people; and a specially designed, expansive elementary playground. Through all these changes, ASIJ has managed to maintain the structures and symbols that uphold the school’s 108 years of history; it’s a place where Kaz Hirai and all other alums instantly feel at home.
— LUCY WILLIAMS
