24 October 2026 | Presentation, Fireside Chat and Discussion

Can doing good be good business? Since opening a tiny coffee shop in Ebisu in 2011, Sarutahiko Coffee has grown to 34 stores across Japan, guided by one simple idea: a coffee shop where a single cup makes you happy.

Join us for a conversation with Tomoyuki Otsuka, CEO of Sarutahiko Coffee, as he shares how putting customers, staff, farmers and the planet first, even when it seems irrational, builds a lasting brand, and why purpose may be the smartest path to profit.

5 September 2026 | Presentation, Fireside Chat and Discussion

Prof. Dr. Jacky Tang opened the session by exploring how investment, ESG, and AI are reshaping our economy and society. Drawing on his experience across academia and industry — and with plenty of humour — Jacky brought these big topics down to earth.

This was an especially cozy session. We sat together in a circle, giving everyone the chance to ask questions, share perspectives, and join the conversation. And the answer to our title question? Perhaps it isn’t one or the other: the future is driven by a mixture of all three — investment, ESG, and AI.

25 July 2026 | Film Screening and Discussion

After watching the movie Code 8, director Jeff Chan opened the session by sharing the motivations behind the film and the creative decisions that shaped its world. Joining online from Canada, he reflected on how the powered individuals in Code 8 are not simply fictional characters — they represent real communities in our society: minorities, the economically marginalised, and those caught between survival and the law. 

4 July 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

Dr Hippo Yam opened the session by tracing humanity's relationship with the stars—from ancient civilizations observing the night sky to today's lunar and planetary exploration missions. Drawing on his experience in the space industry, he shared how space exploration is driven not only by technological advancement, but also by curiosity, imagination, and humanity's enduring desire to understand our place in the universe.

9 May 2026 | Presentation, Discussion and Workshop

Kaz Matamura explored how improvisation can strengthen awareness, listening, adaptability, and everyday communication beyond performance. The discussion expanded into themes of instinct, authenticity, and what makes interactions feel natural and alive. The session concluded with a fun and highly interactive workshop, where participants experienced simple improv exercises together. 

18 April 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

The session opened with research insights from Kazuyuki Nomura on language learning, followed by a cross-disciplinary discussion exploring what language learning reveals about how we see ourselves, relate to others, and make sense of the world. Moving beyond practical usefulness, the conversation reflected on language as a way of thinking, connecting, and experiencing life differently.

7 March 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

This session explored why many well-intentioned social innovation initiatives struggle to deliver lasting impact, and how projects can be designed to better serve the communities they aim to support.

20 February 2026 | Book Talk

This talk introduces Meiji Graves in Happy Valley (2024), which uncovers the lives of Japanese who lived and died in Hong Kong during the Meiji era, offering new insights into the historical ties between the two places.

23 January 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly capable of composing music, this talk explores how it challenges traditional ideas of originality, authorship, and creativity.

21 December 2025 | Screening and Discussion

“Song of the Exile”, a 1990 film by award-winning Hong Kong director Ann Hui, follows a young woman’s border-crossing journey that evolves into a profound return to memory, language, and inheritance. Following the screening, we engaged in a dialogue on identity, memory, and belonging, exploring the film’s reflections on both personal and collective histories.