Story #3 Visionary Beginnings: Mr. Ukigawa’s Leap into Computing’s Future

“Computer will be essential”

In the fall of 1978, I overheard my wife, Hatsuko, speaking with her grandmother, Yoshi. Despite opposing our marriage, Yoshi shared a profound thought: "It’s time to return to Tokushima. Computers will soon be essential, even in Shikoku." Though initially dismissive, Hatsuko’s retelling struck a chord, aligning with my belief in the world’s rapid shift toward technology.

That night, I told Hatsuko, “I think I want to try it.” Surprised, she questioned why, and I explained, “The world is changing, and I believe computers are the future. I want to take the leap and be part of that transformation.” In my heart, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Standing on the banks of the Yoshino River near Tokushima, I often thought about the flow of time and the metaphorical "big river" of this era. For me, the answer was clear: the current that would shape our future was computers.

In 1979, after six years at Saishiba Electric, I left to start JustSystems with my wife, Hatsuko. We eagerly began selling office computers in Tokushima, but for six months, we couldn’t sell a single unit. Our computers had the rare advantage of handling both katakana and kanji, but at around 10 million yen each (equivalent to approximately £32,000 in today’s value), few companies were willing to invest. I was 29 when I left my job, planning to try until 35 if necessary, but the tough reality hit fast. After half a year, our only growing expense was gas for our sales trips.

I connected with Yoshinari Seedlings, a local company expanding into greenhouse construction, and proposed using our office computer to ease their demanding workload. Their tech-savvy executive quickly requested a quote, leading to my first smooth sale—a deal worth 8.5 million yen. Overjoyed, I shared the news at Hatsuko’s family home, where her grandmother and Hatsuko joined me in tears of happiness.

This first success marked the beginning of our steady division of roles: I managed sales, and Hatsuko, as a programmer, customized systems to meet client needs.

In the 1980s, the computing environment began to change significantly. Not only were large computers available, but now desktop-sized machines for personal use were emerging. I acquired a personal computer early on and started creating simple games using the BASIC programming language. Many software developers at the time evaluated personal computers as still immature and underpowered, but I was convinced that their evolution was progressing at a faster pace than the public realized.

Eventually, the era of "one computer per person" would arrive. I began to think about what would be most needed from personal computers when that time came.