Head to an overlook of the town at Ikeda Castle Ruins Park. From this vantage point, take a moment to reflect on the stories of the remarkable individuals and places we’ve discussed so far: Momofuku Ando, Gofukuza, Tamura Komajiro, and Ichizo Kobayashi. Ikeda has a long history of producing pioneers who have initiated significant changes. It can truly be considered the “holy land of new beginnings.”
Their journeys were not easy. Starting something new is often accompanied by great hardships. Momofuku Ando faced financial ruin while developing Chicken Ramen from scratch, and Ichizo Kobayashi struggled to secure funding for his company, even falling into debt. For both innovators, success began to emerge in their 40s.
What you need when starting a new venture is the determination to persist despite any setbacks that may come your way. No matter how many times you fail, starting anew is always possible. When an idea you’ve nurtured aligns with the current needs, it can enter the world and endure. Perhaps this is the lesson to take away from Ikeda, the sacred land of new beginnings.
*This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!
ON THE TRIP Editing Team
Akihito Shiga
Hiroshi Honma
Yūki Naruse
Io Kawauchi
