In Japan, April brings cherry blossoms, a new academic year, and the start of a fiscal year. It’s also a time when new employees enter companies fresh out of universities. After students go through the recruitment process and graduate in March, they’re officially hired on April 1.
A well-established custom in Japan is for companies to hold large-scale entrance ceremonies for their new employees. Large companies typically reserve large facilities for the occasion, and top executives share their management philosophies while delivering words of encouragement. On April 1, 2026, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) held its own company entrance ceremony at Tokyo Big Sight, a major convention center, where it welcomed 498 new employees into the fold.
“Information and communication technology that leaves no one behind”: new employees voice their aspirations
On behalf of all 498 new hires, four employees took the stage to receive certificates of employment from SoftBank Corp. President & CEO Junichi Miyakawa.
Each spoke about their studies and experiences, then articulated their aspirations for the future. They each declared a commitment to help realize SoftBank’s vision, expressing their will to “build information and communication technologies that leave no one behind,” “leverage IT and business activities to solve large-scale societal challenges,” “take on structural issues to enhance corporate value and create a more prosperous society,” and help “create a free and equitable society of coexistence.”
“Take on challenges together as ‘Key Actors in the AI Revolution’”: CEO Miyakawa
Miyakawa then addressed the new entrants with a rhetorical question: “Can anyone accurately recall how many red cars they saw on their way here?”
He used the question to illustrate his point about how consciously focusing on a particular object, color, or word makes related information more noticeable. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining a proactive awareness in an age awash with information, he said, “When you take an interest in something and stay aware of it, you can encounter a lot of opportunities. However, if you’re not conscious of it, you miss them.”
“We’re a company at the forefront of the AI Revolution,” he added. “Starting today, I want you to raise your antenna as ‘Key Actors in the AI revolution.’”
“At SoftBank our aim is to create a world where people can happily coexist with AI. AI is a tool to enrich people’s lives, and to bring it into society we’re advancing initiatives such as the construction of AI data centers, the development of AI-RAN and Crystal intelligence,” Miyakawa added.
“Furthermore, to realize a world where connectivity is ubiquitous around the world, we’re not only relying on traditional ground-based base stations, but also taking on the challenge of building Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) infrastructure, including High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), or ‘base stations in the sky.’ Guided by our belief in this AI era that we should create what’s needed if it doesn’t already exist, we’re diversifying our initiatives into multiple domains,” he continued.
In closing, he encouraged the new entrants to trust their instincts and speak up. “Your taking on new challenges will drive SoftBank’s evolution and help shape the coming AI era. Keep your antenna sharp at all times. Together, let’s take up challenges as Key Actors in the AI Revolution,” he said.
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(Posted on April 6, 2026)
by SoftBank News Editors
