Leading as a Global Peace Advocate: Interview with Yuma Muranushi
April 3, 2024
We interviewed Mr. Yuma Muranushi, who is actively working towards global peace through various activities such as donations to multiple countries, school construction, refugee support, landmine removal, and assistance to people with disabilities. As an investor, philanthropist, and artist, he continues to travel the world, and we delve into his true persona.
Yuma Muranushi
At 19, while attending Osaka University, he started a business and sold about 10 companies over five years. At 24, he established a private fund and entered the financial industry. He operates domestic and international funds and repeatedly conducts business buyouts. At 30, he began social contribution activities, expanding donation activities focusing on poverty issues both domestically and internationally. He is involved in operating multiple general incorporated associations and NPOs. At 38, he established the Muranushi Contemporary Art and Culture Foundation to support culture and the arts. Now, at 39, aiming to rebuild Japan’s donation culture, he established the Japan Donation Foundation. He is working to maximize global public interest by channeling capital into the non-profit world.
Desiring to Become the Coolest Hero
Currently, you are engaged in peace activities in various countries. What initially sparked your interest in global peace?
As children, everyone admires heroes in movies and anime. From there, as we learn more about reality, we dream of becoming our own version of a superhero, like an athlete or entertainer. However, as we grow, more realistic challenges arise, and everyone starts pursuing attainable dreams. I thought I was thinking beyond common sense when I started a business upon entering university.
But at some point, I couldn’t hide my doubts about a life solely pursuing company profits. I recalled why I wanted to become a hero in the first place. I remembered myself as a child constantly wondering, “Why do wars happen?” and “Why do humans fight each other?”
From there, I consciously expanded my thinking, broadened my perspective to the world, and began paying attention to non-profit activities and political movements. In that process, I thought, maybe I could become the hero I truly wanted to be if I put in the effort. Perhaps that hero would be cooler than any hero in movies or comics. Even now, I want to praise myself for that significant leap in thinking, despite ignoring reality (laughs).
Maximizing the Efficiency of Life’s Combustion
What drives your activities?
Compared to Japan, there are many countries where safety is not guaranteed, food is scarce, and survival is a struggle. My fundamental motivation is to contribute to improving the environments of such people. Since what one person can do in a lifetime is limited, I want to expand the scope of my activities to support as many people as possible and contribute as much as I can.
Pursuing the Maximization of Future Evolution Rate
How frequently do you travel abroad? It seems quite often. How do you deal with inconveniences and fatigue?
Depending on the time, I spend two to three weeks abroad each month, and I’ve been living this way for several years. There are many inconveniences, such as food, toilets, language barriers, difficulties in scheduling meetings with colleagues in different time zones, and sleep quality issues due to jet lag.
However, considering Earth as our shared planet, being able to continue activities for world peace with colleagues worldwide is the most enjoyable thing. I focus on the positives rather than the minor negatives.
About the Art Project and Future Plans
What draws you to art?
I’m a highly logical person who lived through my student days focusing solely on mathematics. On the other hand, I believe art has an appeal that transcends logic and cannot be expressed by formulas. The sensation of encountering a good piece of art, as if someone is directly touching your brain with their bare hands, is very addictive.
What can be achieved through art?
Art is something that communicates non-verbally and can transcend language and cultural barriers, which are the greatest obstacles in human communication. The unconditional emotion and empathy that art provides, independent of language, can be one answer to the world peace I advocate for, and I want to pursue it further.
Could you tell us about the upcoming art project?
It’s a project to install large monuments called “PEACE PEACE PEACE” in various countries worldwide. By spreading these monuments as seeds of peace around the world, we aim to eventually bloom a grand flower of true peace. We are currently in negotiations with various countries and are working to install several by 2024.
You’ve given many lectures so far. Will you continue these activities?
There are few people who tackle world peace head-on, so I receive lecture offers from people in various countries. Since I travel to different countries every week, I hope that even one more person will learn about these activities and become a companion in facing world peace together. In the future, I want to further develop maaaru’s school support activities along with the art project to contribute to children worldwide. In the process, I hope to be inspired by more people and take on new challenges.
