William Saito is possibly one of the best examples of the cross-cultural dynamism that is possible when Japanese and American culture meet. As the founder and CEO of InTecur, a Tokyo-based technology consultancy, Saito consults with high-level business and governmental leaders in both the U.S. and Japan on matters directly related to the future of international IT concerns with regards to software and security issues.
Photography by Hiromi Iguchi
Journal: Tell us about your current activities in relation to InTecur.
William Saito: I am the founder and CEO. The company was organized to promote entrepreneurs and ventures on a global level. Whether it is helping start-up companies grow by providing incubator space, or assisting foreign companies trying to establish themselves in Japan, or large Japanese companies trying to develop a new, innovative and entrepreneurial business line or product, InTecur is the driving force behind turning that innovation into a globally viable product and/or company.
Journal: Why did you decide to move to Japan after finding success in America? Was the move culturally driven based on your Japanese background, or strictly related to business trend forecasting/insight?
Saito: My former company, I/O Software, had a lot of connections to Japan, and we were able to grow and succeed thanks to the assistance of many Japanese companies. After the successful sale of the company, I wanted to come back to Japan and see how I could help the country become more entrepreneurial and globally innovative like it once was. Therefore, the move was partly culturally driven since I understand the business process in Japan and what is needed to succeed, but also because I realize there is significant business potential lying dormant here.
Journal: As a bicultural businessperson, what in your view is the key element many Western businesspeople get wrong and should work to correct when doing business with Japanese businesses/businesspeople?
Saito: Every company I know, large or small, requires a good Japanese partner to succeed in Japan. In my experience, Japanese companies, or customers, have been the most specific, precise and demanding customers compared to any other country. Therefore, the partner’s role is not only as a guide, but must also be someone the customer can feel confident about in addressing their needs in both the local language and time zone. This means that the process of developing the relationship becomes more important than the deal itself, and rushing this step can create a lot of problems for both parties.
Journal: After the SecureSuite deal, have you essentially ceased your activities in relation to software development?
Saito: SecureSuite was one of a variety of products we developed at my former company, I/O Software. I sold the company to Microsoft prior to coming to Japan. This product now manifests itself most prominently as the “Biometric” control panel option under Microsoft’s latest operating system “Windows 7.” I am still a “software guy” so I have taught several courses on secure software development, and I currently invest in several companies that develop various kinds of software. Personally, the last time I actually programmed any software was probably over 15 years ago.
Journal: Regarding biometric authentication systems, do you envision a future dominated by fingerprint, iris scan, or voice authentication?
Saito: Yes, I think the area of biometrics has already become an integral part of our lives. Whether it is scanning your fingerprints at Narita customs, scanning your palm veins for large ATM transactions, voice authentication for computer access or even iris scanning for at-a-distance identification of people, biometrics has started making everyone’s daily lives easier, more convenient and more secure.
This is an important concept, because many people believe that just making things more secure (e.g., using longer passwords that change every 6 months) is actually not secure if you also don’t make things more convenient and easier to use (otherwise people end up writing passwords on Post-It notes—the least secure option). Furthermore, biometrics is one of the only technologies that one can use to positively authenticate someone. This will become more important in the increasingly online world of the Internet. Finally, this type of technology is not only useful for authentication but for other statistical-based applications.
