The Japan National Tax Agency recently released its annual land price report, revealing a 2.9% average increase across the country. Breaking it down by prefecture, the top three growth leaders were Tokyo (+9.4%), Okinawa (+6.6%), and Osaka (+5.1%). While Osaka’s 5.1% rise is impressive in itself, a closer look at commercial land—the very segment FMI works hardest to secure—shows an 8.5% growth rate. Most staggering of all, the core southern Osaka districts spanning from Shinsaibashi to Namba have seen land values surge by an astounding 25%.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has recently been on a whirlwind tour of Asia. From his attendance at Computex in Taipei to his meetings with tech giants in South Korea, his every move and word has captured the media's attention. I have been following his interviews closely, particularly his guest appearance on a South Korean variety show, where he discussed his life experiences, management philosophy, and his vision for AI and the future of society. I have learned a great deal from his insights.

Over the past two months, I have been constantly on the move. Following my trip to Tibet, I immediately flew to Taichung to host our office opening, and then embarked on FMI’s annual incentive travel. This was the company’s second year hosting such a trip, bringing together over a dozen executives from our Osaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong offices for a ten-day journey.

We are thrilled to announce that FMI Japan’s new office in Taichung is officially open! When we first planned our expansion into the Taiwan market two years ago, Taichung was the very first stop for our exhibitions. You might wonder why it has taken us until now to establish a physical office here. My philosophy has always been one of caution and deliberate growth; opening an office requires significant investment and the right talent, so I chose to observe the market carefully before making the move.

Before departing for Tibet, my biggest concern was my physical condition; I wasn't sure if I could adapt to the high-altitude environment. Typically, the first day upon arriving in Lhasa is for acclimatization. Our tour guide advised us to stay at the hotel, but given my personality, how could I stay cooped up all day? So, after dropping off our luggage and having lunch, we set out for our first destination: Barkhor Street, a sacred place that embodies Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism.

Last month, I finally checked an item off my bucket list by setting foot in Tibet. Towards the end of last month, I embarked on a long-planned six-day, five-night trip to Tibet. Why Tibet? Firstly, I have a deep interest in Tibetan culture; secondly, I greatly admire the local architecture; and thirdly, my parents visited Tibet over a decade ago and always told me it was a place one must see in a lifetime, so I kept it on my bucket list. The problem was that, with no business or friends there, I lacked a compelling motive to go—until the beginning of this year, when my feng shui consultant advised that heading northwest would be beneficial for me this year. Given that I overwork my brain and my mind is constantly cluttered with various thoughts, I decided to take this opportunity to cross a place off my bucket list that is far from the hustle and bustle, and to follow in the footsteps of my parents.