Yokoi Kenji: Biography, Philosophy, Teaching and Books

Yokoi Kenji is a Colombian-Japanese speaker who became famous with the video posted on YouTube titled Myths and truths about Colombia and Japan . He began his public activity in 2010, giving lectures in the town of Ciudad Bolívar in Bogotá.

Since 2010 he has given numerous conferences in Colombia, Japan, the United States, Brazil and other countries. His philosophy is based on discovering the best of the Colombian and Japanese people from the dismantling of myths that impede living better. Among these myths, false poverty stands out.

Kenji Orito Yokoi Díaz was born in Bogotá on October 13, 1979. He is the oldest of four brothers, whose parents are Yokoi Toru, a Japanese engineer; and Martha Díaz, a former Colombian diplomat. The young speaker grew up between Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, due to his father's work.

Later he moved to Japan with his parents, where he remained from 10 years to 24. His work has been recognized inside and outside of Colombia, as he has managed to thrill many young people with his particular way of seeing the world and youth.

After his success on the Internet, the Junior Chamber of Colombia distinguished him among the most outstanding young people of 2010. Yokoi Kenji maintains the Tourism with Purpose Foundation, through which he seeks to promote an open vision and disposition towards cultures other than his own. .

Biography

Yokoi Kenji was born in Colombia and raised between Bogotá, Panama and Costa Rica. His father's work as an engineer for the Colombian company NEC took him to these countries. At 10 years of age he had to move to the city of Yokohama in Japan, along with his family.

The kidnapping and murder of a Japanese citizen in Colombia caused his parents to move to Japan, fearing for their safety. In that country he continued his primary studies and remained until he was 24 years old.

There he met the also Colombian Aleisy Toro, with whom he married and his first son, Kenji David, was born. Yokoi worked as a tour guide and teacher, as well as being a Spanish translator.

Then he helped his mother in a family business dedicated to selling bananas and yucca, and renting videos of famous Colombian novels such as Ugly Betty Y Pedro the flaky .

At the age of 16, Yokoi began to study religious sciences and social work linked to the Presbyterian community. At that time,"I was very well economically in Japan,"according to the young lecturer. Many of his vacations were spent in Bogotá with his grandparents and friends.

One day, while watching the drama of displaced Colombian families, he made the decision to return to Colombia to help. In addition, he felt the need to live in Colombia since he felt very lonely in Japan. Then he joined the Renewed Presbyterian Church, where his uncle served as a pastor.

Change of mentality to help

He began working in community work in the San Francisco neighborhood of Ciudad Bolívar, in Bogotá. Thus he discovered that the best way to help the poor was not by giving them food, but by changing their mentality.

He says that they used to ask him"What will he give us, foreigner?"And he answered that only mentality. People ignored him and preferred to go where they were given clothes or food. The community work took him through the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and the suburbs of New York, where he helped poor families and beggars.

In his beginnings as a lecturer nobody paid attention to him; his papers were not heard despite being free. He had the idea of ​​pretending in the universities that the conferences had already been paid, to see if they received it. With the first inspirational talk he began to gain fame as a motivational speaker.

The renowned lecturer created the Tourism with Purpose Foundation. In his lectures he successfully assembles the best of Japanese and Colombian culture: the discipline of Japanese and the joy and perseverance of the Colombian.

While in Colombia, his second son, Keigo Daniel, was born. He began to travel and to carry out his social work between Colombia and Japan, through the social tourism project called Tourism with Purpose.

Currently he gives lectures, seminars and workshops to some 800 families at the International Convention Center in Ciudad Bolívar. It also takes Japanese families to this center so they know their philosophy and Colombian culture.

Philosophy and teachings

The first video uploaded to YouTube by Yokoi is the conference entitled Myths and lies of Japan and Colombia . This is based on simple values ​​of Japanese culture contrasted with the Colombian culture and with their own experiences between Japan and Colombia.

Using Japanese adages as"To disown a truth makes me a slave to a lie", Yokoi develops her lectures. His social work is based on ending the myths that, according to him, block the progressive mentality of the Latino.

He maintains that"every day we say myths"of the type"the sun rises, and it is not true"because the sun does not come out; On the contrary, we go around this. Another myth, according to Yokoi, is"the clothes are too small", when in reality"it is that you are getting fatter".

With these simple examples, he built a message that managed to reach out to the Colombian public and other Latin American countries. He also lived in Japan, whose culture inspires his teachings.

He cites the myth of the intelligence of the Japanese and others with whom he grew up. He relates that his own grandfather, who had a great influence on him, always told him that the Japanese were a"superior race", because they created electronic equipment.

The Japanese are not smart, that's a myth

"The Japanese are not smart, that's a myth,"says Yokoi. They are equal to Colombians, whom they even consider smarter. The difference is cultural. The Japanese are not interested in being smarter than other people, but disciplined.

He explains that they start from the philosophy enclosed in another popular adage:"Discipline will sooner or later overcome intelligence". And he adds:"the Colombian is intelligent but he is not disciplined". The Colombian has a great ability to adapt to situations and places, is creative, but lacks discipline.

Another myth that demolishes Yokoi refers to the wealth of the Japanese and the poverty of the Colombians. Affirms that Japan does not possess mineral wealth but human; on the other hand, Colombia possesses material wealth but the human resource does not value itself.

"A business has become of misery", people prefer to beg and give pity. The Colombian-Japanese speaker holds that the poor have this condition because of their mentality of poverty, fed with donations. And he concludes:"What does Japan have that Colombia does not have in addition to mineral resources?"

Another element to which Yokoi usually refers is associated with success:"If you feel successful and you did not suffer for having it, surely it is not the good kind of success". Based on Japanese philosophy and wisdom, he suggests that the harder the goal, the more effort must be made.

He has received invitations from various countries to deliver his lectures, among which the United States, Australia, Canada, Norway and, of course, Japan.

Emphasizes that, more than a conference,"I seek to leave an imprint through an experience". On the other hand, in social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, in addition to YouTube, the teachings of Yokoi Kenji have great impact and continue to increase their followers.

Famous quotes from the author

-"To stop being poor, stop doing the"poor thing".

-"Every easy success is bad".

-"There are places where fame does not exist at all."

-"Success is a lot of failures."

books

The Yokoi conferences have been published in printed books and digital books. Here are some of the best selling titles:

- The way to the soul

- Dreams of liberty.

- Discipline vs. passion, a historic moment for Colombia.

- Furinkazam, samuray philosophy.

- The 10 rules for success.

- It's not worth cheating.

- 3 rules for discipline.

- A serious game.

- The dark side of discipline.

- Why the Japanese are so successful.

References

1. Biography. Retrieved on March 24 from es.calameo.com
2. Who is Yokoi Kenji and why is she breaking the internet? Consulted of e-consulta.com
3. Yokoi Kenji Díaz Consulted by yokoikenjidiaz.com
4. Yokoi Kenji Díaz, the Japanese who made fashionable Ciudad Bolívar. Consulted cromos.elespectador.com
5. The 'Japanese' that moved the country. Consulted of eltiempo.com
6. Yokoi Kenji: 'Success must be like this: complex, suffered.' Consulted of estrategiaynegocios.net