Today, I turned 43 years old. It has been 5.5 years since my first child was born and 2 years and 9 months since my second child was born. Over this past year, I have learned many valuable lessons.

For example, I was taught by my mother that “there is no such thing as unconditional love,” and I lived my life believing that. However, I have come to realize that the love children give to their parents is the very definition of “unconditional love.” No matter how much I may cause my children to feel discomfort due to my own shortcomings, they always shower me with their unwavering, pure love. Instead of taking advantage of this, I believe that by giving my children “unconditional love” in return, they will also come to know and feel its existence.

There is still much for me to learn as a parent, but recently, I have realized two things that I unconsciously cherished during my own childhood. The first is that I do not want my children to feel lonely. Looking back at my own childhood, I remember the overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Because of that, I strongly feel that I do not want my children to experience the same. So, I try to spend as much time as possible with them on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Since I know that in the near future, as they get involved in clubs and activities, the time we spend together will decrease, I want to create as many happy memories with them as possible.

The second is that I do not want my children to feel that they are sacrificing something because of their presence, nor do I want them to think that way. This is something I was often told as well. There were times when I felt like my very existence was taking away my parents’ happiness, leading me to feel guilty for simply being alive, or to become self-destructive. I never want my children to feel that way, so I try to find ways to balance what I want to do and what I need to do, while making sure I spend time with my family.

In 2024, I experienced a great deal of self-discovery and growth through time spent with my children and hiking. In 2025, I hope to continue building on these experiences while also challenging myself to grow in my work. I want to balance new business development and the further growth of our existing ventures, all while maintaining a healthy balance between family and work. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead!

Masaki “Mark” Iino
Founder & CEO
SOPHOLA, Inc