Who’s Behind 42? — Yoko Sakanoue, Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) at DMM Group

With significant experience in entrepreneurship and tech, having notably worked in an IT venture in the USA, Yoko Sakanoue now works as Chief Corporate Officer at DMM.com, one of Japan’s biggest ecommerce and internet companies, where she spearheaded the launch of 42 Tokyo back in June 2020. Four years after the launch of the campus, we took a moment with her to discuss how the project came about and her involvement in it.

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself and tell us more about your educational and professional background?

I am Yoko Sakanoue. I previously worked in an IT venture company in the United States, and later I started my own business, which I sold to a publicly traded corporation. Since then, I have been working as a management strategist, assisting various companies in tech.

2. Can you tell us more about the company you work for and what you do there?

I currently work as the Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) at DMM.com, the main sponsor of 42 Tokyo. Additionally, I serve as an advisor to several of Japan’s largest companies in the energy, entertainment, and e-commerce industries.

3. How did you or people at DMM first come across 42? What did you or they think was particularly interesting about it?

DMM’s chairman, Mr. Kameyama, has a strong interest in education that provides opportunities regardless of one’s family background. He was considering establishing a school himself when he learned about 42 Paris through a magazine interview, which piqued his interest.

4. What were the motivations behind DMM’s decision to set up a 42 campus in Japan and to sponsor it?

After visiting the 42 campus in France, we concluded that establishing 42 in Japan would be more beneficial for the country’s future than creating our own school. Mr Kameyama was eager to put the school on the rails quickly, and to provide new opportunities for Japanese students and pupils, regardless of their social, educational or economic background.

5. In your opinion, what sets 42 apart from other coding schools?

I believe that 42’s strength lies in its ability to provide a solid foundation for IT professionals, rather than just offering immediately applicable skills. Additionally, the continuous updates to the curriculum beyond the Common Core ensure that students are learning the most current technologies and methodologies, something that companies value greatly!

6. What are your hopes for the future of 42 in Japan?

I firmly believe that 42 Tokyo will become a central hub for engineers in Japan.

7. And for the future of education?

Honestly, with the advent of AI, it’s uncertain how education will evolve. However, I believe that, much like physical fitness, only those who have mastered the fundamental basics can utilize that foundation to create new innovations.