Kazunori Kobayashi - Core
Major
University of California at Berkeley
Environmental Economics and Policy
Position
CEO
Profile
Born in Tokyo in 1976. At age of 19, travelled to the United States to study at the State University of New York, then the University of California (Berkeley), graduating in environmental economics and policy studies from its College of Natural Resources.
After working at a consulting company, became CEO of EcoNetworks in 2005. Is concurrently a manager at the NGO “Japan for Sustainability,” and a part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo (Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering).
Currently lives with his family in the mountain farming community of Fujino near Tokyo.
Blog
e-blog (japanese)
10 things about Kazunori Kobayashi
- 1. What is "Sustainability"?
Living with dignity, thinking of seventh generation ahead and life on the other side of the planet.- 2. Who inspired you?
- "Chief Seattle, who was a chief of the Suquamish and the Duwamish Native American tribe. "How can you buy the sky? How can you own the rain and the wind?" "The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth."
- 3. Favorite food?
- Tomato, potato, corn, etc. that are growing on our permaculture garden.
- 4. Why are you working for EcoNetworks?
- After graduating high-school, I made a commitment for myself to build a place that can combine economy and environment. Now, EcoNetworks is the place.
- 5. Love animal?
- I love dogs.
- 6. Favorite book?
- Al Gore’s “Earh in the Balance” was the eye-opener for me. I learned the philosophy of “sustainability”.
- 7. Describe yourself.
- Son, brother, husband, father. Envision myself to be a hybrid of activist and entrepreneur.
- 8. Favorite word?
- "Be the change you want to see in this world." - Mahatma Gandhi
- 9. Favorite movie?
- Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa
- 10. What is your hobby?
- Traveling, permaculture gardening, running, swimming, Aikido. Recently I started learning “dramatic reading”.
