AI, Geopolitics, and Climate Change—Humanity Faces Simultaneous Crises in 2045! Explaining 5 Techniques for Thinking and Navigating the Future: 'Future Thinking 2045' Now Available!
Shinichiro Yasukawa, a former strategist for Masayoshi Son at SoftBank, released 'Future Thinking 2045.' The book addresses the convergence of AI singularity, climate tipping points, and geopolitical shifts, offering five techniques to proactively design one's strategy for an uncertain future.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:00
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Shinichiro Yasukawa, who held key positions under SoftBank's Masayoshi Son for 14 years and currently serves as an investor, author, and visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo's Center for Future Visions, released his new book, 'Future Thinking 2045: Crises, Fragmentation, and How AI Will Change the World,' on April 22 from Diamond, Inc.
'Future Thinking 2045: Crises, Fragmentation, and How AI Will Change the World' by Shinichiro Yasukawa; Published by Diamond, Inc.
■ What 'Future' Should We Pursue Amidst a Global Turning Point? Think About the Future 20 Years Ahead.
In 2045, humanity will face 'simultaneous crises' of an unprecedented scale. In the field of technology, the singularity is expected to occur, where AI exceeds human intelligence, marking an existential turning point where humanity's dominance as 'beings with intelligence' begins to waver. Regarding the global environment, IPCC reports suggest that by 2045, the earth's average temperature could rise by more than 2°C, reaching a 'major turning point in climate change.' Furthermore, geopolitically, the hegemony struggle between the US and China is expected to continue for the next 20 years, with heightened military tensions, including potential contingencies in Taiwan, seen as unavoidable. These changes, which are usually discussed separately, are progressing simultaneously and influencing each other, threatening to shake the very foundations of the world.
In such an era, the concept of 'Future Thinking' presented in this book becomes indispensable. While general future forecasting involves guessing 'what will happen' in the future, future thinking is a method of understanding the structures that lie on the extension of the past and present, eyeing multiple possibilities, and choosing the future oneself. In an age of high uncertainty, what is required is not just prediction, but the ability to proactively design one's own strategy and actions.
The author, Shinichiro Yasukawa, joined SoftBank after working at McKinsey and was involved in management strategy under Masayoshi Son for 14 years. Based on the perspectives and experiences cultivated during that time, this book presents practical 'Future Thinking.'
In an era where the speed of change is accelerating, 'what to choose and how to act' is left to the individual. This book is for business professionals who want to read the future and depict their own careers and strategies with their own will.
■ Table of Contents
Part 1: What is Future Thinking?
Chapter 1: Future Thinking and Future Forecasting — Pioneers of Future Thinking
Chapter 2: Five Techniques of Future Thinking
Part 2: What is Happening Now?
Chapter 3: What Has Happened So Far? — Looking Back at the World in 1985 and 2005
Chapter 4: What is Happening in the World Now? — Integration of Systems and Decentralization of Actors
Chapter 5: What is Happening to People's Consciousness Now? — Semiotization without Corporality, Diversification of Freedom and Loneliness
Chapter 6: Two Worlds and Their Fragmentation Born from Changes in the World and People's Consciousness
Part 3: What Will Happen by 2045?
Chapter 7: The Future of 2045 Where History Moving on Different Time Axes Faces a Crisis Simultaneously
Chapter 8: What Kind of Changes 'Could Occur' Toward 2045?
Chapter 9: Old Elites and Counter-Elites
Chapter 10: Four Scenarios for the Future
■ 'Future Thinking 2045: Crises, Fragmentation, and How AI Will Change the World'
Author: Shinichiro Yasukawa
Price: 2,200 yen (including tax)
Release Date: April 22, 2026
Publisher: Diamond, Inc.
Format: A5 variant, 328 pages
URL: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/447812454X
■ Author Profile: Shinichiro Yasukawa
Representative of Great Journey LLC, Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo Center for Future Visions, Visiting Professor at Fujita Health University, Special Advisor to Well-being for Planet Earth Foundation.
After working at McKinsey & Company's Tokyo and Chicago offices, he joined SoftBank (now SoftBank Group) as the Head of the President's Office. He served as a full-time auditor at Nasdaq Japan, President of IP Revolution, Director of Global Center Japan, and Executive Officer at SoftBank. In 2016, he founded Great Journey LLC to promote investment/support for startups and future human resource development. He has also worked on problem-solving for governments and municipalities as an advisor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Cabinet Secretariat. He is the author of 'BRAIN WORKOUT' and chairs its exploration program 'Brain Workout Journey.' Graduated from the Nonaka Ikujiro Seminar at Hitotsubashi University's Faculty of Economics.
'Future Thinking 2045: Crises, Fragmentation, and How AI Will Change the World' by Shinichiro Yasukawa; Published by Diamond, Inc.
■ What 'Future' Should We Pursue Amidst a Global Turning Point? Think About the Future 20 Years Ahead.
In 2045, humanity will face 'simultaneous crises' of an unprecedented scale. In the field of technology, the singularity is expected to occur, where AI exceeds human intelligence, marking an existential turning point where humanity's dominance as 'beings with intelligence' begins to waver. Regarding the global environment, IPCC reports suggest that by 2045, the earth's average temperature could rise by more than 2°C, reaching a 'major turning point in climate change.' Furthermore, geopolitically, the hegemony struggle between the US and China is expected to continue for the next 20 years, with heightened military tensions, including potential contingencies in Taiwan, seen as unavoidable. These changes, which are usually discussed separately, are progressing simultaneously and influencing each other, threatening to shake the very foundations of the world.
In such an era, the concept of 'Future Thinking' presented in this book becomes indispensable. While general future forecasting involves guessing 'what will happen' in the future, future thinking is a method of understanding the structures that lie on the extension of the past and present, eyeing multiple possibilities, and choosing the future oneself. In an age of high uncertainty, what is required is not just prediction, but the ability to proactively design one's own strategy and actions.
The author, Shinichiro Yasukawa, joined SoftBank after working at McKinsey and was involved in management strategy under Masayoshi Son for 14 years. Based on the perspectives and experiences cultivated during that time, this book presents practical 'Future Thinking.'
In an era where the speed of change is accelerating, 'what to choose and how to act' is left to the individual. This book is for business professionals who want to read the future and depict their own careers and strategies with their own will.
■ Table of Contents
Part 1: What is Future Thinking?
Chapter 1: Future Thinking and Future Forecasting — Pioneers of Future Thinking
Chapter 2: Five Techniques of Future Thinking
Part 2: What is Happening Now?
Chapter 3: What Has Happened So Far? — Looking Back at the World in 1985 and 2005
Chapter 4: What is Happening in the World Now? — Integration of Systems and Decentralization of Actors
Chapter 5: What is Happening to People's Consciousness Now? — Semiotization without Corporality, Diversification of Freedom and Loneliness
Chapter 6: Two Worlds and Their Fragmentation Born from Changes in the World and People's Consciousness
Part 3: What Will Happen by 2045?
Chapter 7: The Future of 2045 Where History Moving on Different Time Axes Faces a Crisis Simultaneously
Chapter 8: What Kind of Changes 'Could Occur' Toward 2045?
Chapter 9: Old Elites and Counter-Elites
Chapter 10: Four Scenarios for the Future
■ 'Future Thinking 2045: Crises, Fragmentation, and How AI Will Change the World'
Author: Shinichiro Yasukawa
Price: 2,200 yen (including tax)
Release Date: April 22, 2026
Publisher: Diamond, Inc.
Format: A5 variant, 328 pages
URL: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/447812454X
■ Author Profile: Shinichiro Yasukawa
Representative of Great Journey LLC, Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo Center for Future Visions, Visiting Professor at Fujita Health University, Special Advisor to Well-being for Planet Earth Foundation.
After working at McKinsey & Company's Tokyo and Chicago offices, he joined SoftBank (now SoftBank Group) as the Head of the President's Office. He served as a full-time auditor at Nasdaq Japan, President of IP Revolution, Director of Global Center Japan, and Executive Officer at SoftBank. In 2016, he founded Great Journey LLC to promote investment/support for startups and future human resource development. He has also worked on problem-solving for governments and municipalities as an advisor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Cabinet Secretariat. He is the author of 'BRAIN WORKOUT' and chairs its exploration program 'Brain Workout Journey.' Graduated from the Nonaka Ikujiro Seminar at Hitotsubashi University's Faculty of Economics.