Yū Sato advises Japanese executives on handling non‑quantifiable work and skill gaps

Yū Sato, writer and researcher, addresses Japanese business leaders about two recurring workplace issues. In one discussion he notes that many young employees in IT firms focus only on tasks that can be measured or justified with logic, neglecting work that requires flexibility and narrative thinking. He suggests that executives view this tendency as a selection signal, assigning such staff to well‑defined, replaceable roles while promoting those who can handle ambiguous problems.

In a separate column he highlights a "knowledge gap" among many university‑educated professionals, who often lack basic high‑school level competencies in subjects such as mathematics or history. Sato recommends targeted learning—using certification exams and focused study in three key areas—to close these gaps and improve overall job performance.