Because I'm thinking in a broader way, I feel like I am able to make better decisions.

It's not that I'm not interested in politics, but rather, I think that the people who become politicians in Japan are not very dynamic. Honestly, I find business much more interesting than politics.

Well I DO want to go up into space, but more than that, I'm dissatisfied with the fact that humans have only gone to the moon. I want to go to Mars! I want to eventually go beyond the solar system!

I haven't changed. If it seems I'm becoming more mainstream, doesn't that mean instead that Japan is aligning itself with me? I haven't changed one bit.

The reason I entered the election race was to promote reforms. For us who engage in business, we will be severely affected if financial and structural reforms don't proceed.

I don't want my kids to be like me. I want them to be better than me.

Men are made by nature unequal. It is vain therefore to treat them as if they were equal.

The nature of the music business is such that it's better to have a few chances for some things to be successful than just one, and that's kind of been my attitude all along.

There's no disappointment in memory, and one's exaggerations are always on the good side.

Whoever appears to have much cunning has in reality very little; being deficient in the essential article, which is, to hide cunning.

I have always believed that life is too short for rows and disagreements. Even if I think I'm right, I would prefer to apologize and remain friends rather than win and be an enemy.

I was always pretty good at adapting to my situations. My act was never that inside, where it was like, "Okay, they're either going to get this or they're not."

The ballet embodies the notes of music. And sometimes you almost feel like you can see the notes dance up there on the stage.