A few weeks ago, we introduced the vision behind Entrepreneur Weekend—our student-led event designed to inspire UWC ISAK Japan students and external participants to take bold steps toward realizing their dreams. Now, we’re excited to share a recap of the weekend, highlight the biggest takeaways, and look ahead to how this initiative could become a lasting tradition on campus and beyond.
From Startup Weekend Nagoya to Karuizawa
The idea for Entrepreneur Weekend was sparked by a core team of six students (Hiroto, Ryuto, Megumi, Ryuju, Eco, and Noriya) who participated in Startup Weekend Nagoya. Reflecting on that pivotal experience, Hiroto emphasizes the biggest lesson they brought back: “Action speaks louder than words. Vision without execution is just hallucination.”
Megumi adds, “We realized that even the best ideas go nowhere if you only talk about them. We wanted Entrepreneur Weekend to emphasize hands-on work, real-time problem-solving, and the feeling that anyone can make something tangible happen.”
Why UWC ISAK Japan?
For several members, the spirit of entrepreneurship at UWC ISAK Japan is exactly what drew them here in the first place. Eco, who grew up in Tokyo and Fukuoka, explains, “From my experience in Japanese school, I realized the limits of traditional academic education and was drawn to ISAK’s leadership program and international environment.”
Noriya, originally from Kumamoto, also shared how discovering ISAK during an open campus visit revealed an international, globally minded atmosphere that felt like the perfect fit. Both are now channeling that spark into building a culture of creativity and action on campus.
Bringing Entrepreneur Weekend to Life
Working under the slogan “Prove it with actions, not words,” the team focused on giving participants plenty of room (and time) to experiment with ideas, fail fast, and pivot quickly. Ryuto recalls one early lesson in logistics: “It was our first time organizing anything of this scale. Booking facilities and resources didn’t always go smoothly. We learned we had to plan further in advance and communicate clearly within our team.”
Alongside logistical challenges, the students used their Startup Weekend experience to ensure Entrepreneur Weekend was both flexible and rigorous. Ryuju explains, “We kept the ‘no rules’ concept to give participants a sense of freedom—but we also made sure to provide structure whenever teams got stuck or needed direction. We wanted them to truly learn by doing.”
Judges, Coaches, and a Diverse Crowd
One hallmark of Entrepreneur Weekend was the collaboration between UWC ISAK Japan students and external participants, some traveling from as far as Yamagata and Nagoya. The organizers worried people might stick to their friend groups, but they were pleasantly surprised when everyone bonded quickly—one group even headed to the basketball court together after a full day of brainstorming.
The event also welcomed alumna Mayuki Watanabe as a coach, offering insights from her own entrepreneurial journey. The judging panel featured two distinguished guests:
• Gen Miyazawa, an executive at Yahoo Japan and a member of UWC ISAK Japan’s council
• Kunitake Saso, a noted entrepreneur and CEO of Biotope INC
Their expertise helped shape final presentations and inspired participants to see entrepreneurship as more than just a school project—it’s a mindset they can carry forward.
Standout Moments and Success Stories
Over 30 participants joined, half from outside ISAK. According to the team, one project in particular captured the “no talk, all action” philosophy: WebWorks, whose members left campus to validate their idea at the very last minute—earning ¥30,000 in sales just 10 minutes before final presentations. Another memorable project was Motivation Mindset, which hit an innovation wall on Day 2. Megumi recalls, “They only had a vague concept at 9 p.m., yet managed to go from zero to a finished pitch by fully embracing the idea of acting first and then refining.”
Culture, Leadership, and Teamwork
For the organizing team, Entrepreneur Weekend was a crash course in event planning, but it was also a test of leadership and collaboration—two key pillars of UWC ISAK Japan’s mission to empower transformational leaders who explore new frontiers and make a positive impact today and in the future. Ryuju says, “Working through setbacks together showed us each other’s strengths. We saw different leadership styles develop naturally in different teams, which made everything more dynamic.”
That sense of experimentation, flexibility, and teamwork also tied back to the “no rules” concept. As Hiroto puts it, “Rules can sometimes confine you. Without them, we had to rely on our own initiative and trust in each other’s ability to get things done.”
Looking Ahead
With positive feedback from participants—ranging from “I learned more about entrepreneurship this weekend than I thought possible” to “The diversity in teams was so valuable”—the organizers are already discussing future plans. Eco explains, “We want to host Entrepreneur Weekend every year, or maybe even multiple times a year. As we move on, we’ll need to pass the torch to future G10 students who share our passion.”
They also hope to expand the event beyond Karuizawa, inviting more external participants and alumni to collaborate. Some team members even plan to attend more Startup Weekends or organize another event under the Startup Weekend brand in the future. Noriya says, “We’re still on our own journey of learning. There’s so much more to explore. And we hope that by continuing Entrepreneur Weekend, we’ll help new students find their passions and take that first step toward making them a reality.”
Final Takeaways
What truly sets Entrepreneur Weekend apart is its emphasis on concrete action. Whether teams faced time crunches, communication gaps, or a moment of total creative block, they discovered that trying, failing, and trying again was the best way forward. For the broader UWC ISAK Japan community, that spirit of action promises to ripple outward, inspiring more students to move from ideas to impact.
“Our advice for anyone taking on this event in the future? Do it to find your passion, help others find theirs, and have fun,” says Ryuto. “And if it’s not for you, keep taking action until you figure that out. The process itself can lead you to new opportunities.”
From Tokyo to Fukuoka to Kumamoto, the students who organized Entrepreneur Weekend came to UWC ISAK Japan looking for a place where they could combine academic rigor with real-world leadership and a global mindset. Judging by the energy, excitement, and genuine innovation at this year’s event, they’ve definitely found it.
