Why I’m working to conquer cancer: A note from our Chairman

In 2012, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was ready to do anything for him to be cured. With that sole purpose, I read many scientific papers from all over the world, and I met and talked with numerous experts in the field. How could I cure my father’s cancer? I looked for every single possibility available.

That is when I found out about near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), an oncological treatment that was only at an early stage of research. Although I had doubts about this completely new approach, desperate for a miracle, I immediately went to meet the leading researcher.

Everyone was still doubtful at that stage. But the more I heard about this research, the more I became a believer.

I instinctively thought, “This is it.” It was the same feeling I got as when I grasped that the internet would change the world forever. Somehow, wishing to save my father, I immediately made up my mind to support the research personally to speed it up.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in time to save my father. But I decided to continue my support. My father, who was as an economist, always said, “The most important mission of corporations is to contribute to humanity.”

Left behind, I resolved to provide this latest treatment to as many people as possible. It will surely be a path fraught with difficulties. But right at this moment there are many who are suffering from cancer and many more who wish to save the lives of their loved ones, and I know exactly how they feel.

To provide this treatment as soon as possible, to bring photoimmunotherapy to as many people as possible, I will not fail to support this research from now on.

Chairman, Rakuten Aspyrian, Inc.

Hiroshi Mikitani

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