Is “Yoki” changing Panasonic? December 5, 11:23

“American rock star”
The Panasonic executive who invited her commented so. Yoko Matsuoka. It was widely known in Silicon Valley in the United States under the nickname of Yoki, and this October transferred from the executive of Google headquarters to a Panasonic Fellow. Matsuoka has an unusual career. Why did you decide to change? What kind of wind are you trying to blow into the new company? I heard a story in Tokyo. (Economic Department Shuntaro Hayakawa)

Why now to a Japanese manufacturer?

“A very famous person, both as a manager and a mother. I want to go to the interview instead!”
When the interview with Matsuoka was decided, an email immediately came from a boss who worked in Los Angeles, USA.

He is a researcher of robots and brain science, and is also known as a corporate manager. From Google's vice president position, I first asked why I changed to Panasonic.

“I want to improve my life by using all of my background robots and machines, AI = artificial intelligence, and more. From home appliances and electronics to the walls and floors of the house. I think it's Panasonic because there are really few companies in the world. ''

A unique career aimed at professional tennis players

Matsuoka, who lived in Japan up to junior high school, went to the United States to become a professional tennis player at the age of 16. However, the tennis player's dream was abandoned due to injury. Going to an American university with the goal of creating a robot that can play tennis with him.

He studied at prestigious universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and began teaching at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Washington as a robot and brain science researcher. In 2007, he was selected as a MacArthur Fellow known as the “Genius Award” in the United States.

In 2009, he was involved as one of the core members in the creation of "X", a research division of Google known for the development of self-driving cars. The process is unique.

Ms. Yoko Matsuoka "The first call from Google was" Please come tomorrow. "Saying" Tomorrow is impossible because I teach in class "," If it's not tomorrow, I can't do it. " When I go to Google, I think this is an interesting interview with Sergey Brin (Google co-founder) and Eric Schmidt (ex-CEO Google).
“I'm really seriously trying to change Google. I've heard so hard about how well my skills match what I'm trying to change.”

Opportunities for manufacturing

Matsuoka plans to lead the development of next-generation products at Panasonic based in Silicon Valley. Japanese manufacturing companies have long lost their momentum. However, Matsuoka sees that a huge IT company in the United States has also reached a turning point and that Japanese manufacturers have the opportunity to join hands.

Ms. Yoko Matsuoka “A Japanese manufacturing company is trying hard to enter the field of software, but the opposite is happening in the United States. Even books and Amazon. ''
“Panasonic has been here for 100 years (manufacturing). Google thinks that if it takes so much time, we will choose a partner. There is no need to be afraid of Google. I'm looking forward to working with Japanese companies to create something that will help them live better together as a partner. ''
“I think that not only improving each product one by one, but how many and how many will connect it will change the way people live and live. How many times the refrigerator opens and how many times the kettle is used. Opening the doors ... just gathering that information will help you understand that person, and using that information will help you understand your health and help you care. "

As four mothers

Mr. Matsuoka, who is active as a manager and researcher at the forefront, is also the mother of four children. How do you balance work and child-rearing? The answer to this question is also the Matsuoka style.

Ms. Yoko Matsuoka “The answer is“ I ca n’t do it. ”It ’s not possible, but I ca n’t do it. It ’s hard to make lunch and pick up every day. ”
“Pick up your child during work, sometimes take your child to the workplace. Don't be rude to the workplace, but you can't do both things without being rude.”

The realization of the Matsuoka style

"I'm sorry because I'm very bad at Japanese."

Mr. Matsuoka who cut out the most in the opening, so crazy. I felt that this person listening to the story was a person with a mysterious charm that had a natural and uplifting feeling.

By the way, why is “Yoko” instead of “Yoko” even though it is “Yoko-san”? When asked last, "Thank you for listening!"

Ms. Yoko Matsuoka “When I moved to the United States, I said“ I ’m Yoko, ”and said,“ Oh, it ’s the same as Yoko Ono. ”I regret that I am the same as someone else. I wanted to remember it by name, and at one point I decided to use it. "

I want to be unique. What impact will these thoughts and personality have on major Japanese companies? Because AI and robots are being used more and more and are trying to change people's lives, I would like to expect their success.

Shuntaro Hayakawa, a reporter from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, joined in 2010 in Yokohama, Gifu and Nagoya.