It All Starts with a Scribble
The idea for PlanetDAO started as a single line in an email from my boss.
At the time, I was already working in crypto—as the Japan representative of a global foundation. People around me kept saying I should quit my job and go all in. The foundation work was exciting; I had a front-row seat to the global frontier of crypto, and the pay was triple what I was earning before.
But I couldn’t do it.
Because that one small idea—PlanetDAO—was quietly sitting in the back of my mind the whole time.
People often ask me: How did you start this?
I always say: It wasn’t just me.
PlanetDAO has been co-founded and shaped by many people, and it continues to evolve with them. That’s how it really began.
My boss, who sent me that original email, leads a publicly listed IT company in Tokyo. He took the company public within five years—at just 29 years old—during the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He’s been a key supporter, bringing not only financial strength but also vision as our anchor investor.
One night, we had a deep conversation with the head of one of Japan’s largest NPOs. He shared something that stayed with me:
Sometimes, missions without a direct monetary goal can have the biggest impact.
That perspective has guided us from day one.
Legal structure has always been critical for us, especially with Japan’s strict stance on crypto and securities—shaped by painful lessons like Mt. Gox and Coincheck. We were introduced to Tonomura-sensei, a top-tier lawyer working directly with the LDP to shape Japan’s crypto legislation. We could never have afforded his services, but he generously offered to help pro bono.
Our flagship project—Ryogonji, designated as “Project 001”—was born through countless conversations and late-night calls with locals. Together, we built a system that includes and empowers the community.
During our fundraising, we opened up our calendar to anyone. We wanted to listen and learn—who our customers are, and what they truly need.
PlanetDAO isn’t a passion project or an ego trip. It’s a problem-solving platform—for Japan and for our investors.
Some people told me I was “lucky” to complete the fundraising.
Maybe for our first fundraising, when we asked for support from friends and family, you could call it that. But looking back, I don’t think it was luck. It was trust. Many supported us not only because of the project, but because they believed in us.
But this time, it’s different.
We have completed our fundraising for the second project on the end of March. No money came from friends or family. Instead, we were joined by investors from 23 nationalities—most of whom we’ve never met in person.
I love what I do. I love the people I get to work with.
And I’m proud that more and more people are resonating with our mission—and becoming owners of PlanetDAO.