On August 22, Mr. Yasuharu Iizuka, the head of CANVAS’s administrative office, passed away suddenly. He was 34 years old. He reportedly complained of sudden abdominal pain, was rushed to the hospital, and passed away there. He had been full of energy right up until the day before. We had been exchanging cheerful emails right up until the very end. We are at a loss for words in the face of this shocking news.

　A little over a year ago, when Mr. Iizuka first appeared at the CANVAS office, we—who are usually rather laid-back—had our first impression: “Will this work out?” He was a high-achiever, a graduate of Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics, with a serious, somewhat rigid demeanor.
That impression was quickly proven wrong.Faced with our free-spirited, rule-free approach, she demonstrated remarkable adaptability from the very beginning, realizing, “Oh, so this is another way to work,” and handled her tasks smoothly and flexibly. “If everyone has a mind of their own, this way of working is actually quite easy,” she said, starting work early in the morning and returning home in the evening to spend time with her young daughter.Her image as a highly efficient and high-performing professional and family person became a role model for us.
She was someone who could do anything—finance, accounting, HR, general affairs, planning, sales. She was the kind of person who was willing to take on anything. “What I love most is coming up with plans on my own,” she told us, describing the exhilaration she felt the moment she arrived at the site of a project she’d spearheaded.“I want to be someone who creates alongside artists,” she used to say.
She was the kind of person who presented opportunities to those around her and helped them take that first step. To that end, she never hesitated to offer ideas. “Integrating my public work with my private life—that is my life’s work,” she said. That’s why she threw herself into it. She was beginning to feel a sense of fulfillment.And then he said, “This is my calling.”
　All of CANVAS’s core staff members have been with the company for over 10 years. Having joined just one year prior, he became a leader. When it came time to appoint executives for the newly established company, Mr. Iizuka was recommended with the unanimous consent of the entire team. This was the result of his impressive track record and the trust he had earned from everyone.
　One of the projects Mr. Iizuka put a lot of effort into was the “Digital Ehon Awards.” Last year’s awards grew into the world’s largest Digital Ehon event, attracting 322 entries from 23 countries. It is to his credit that the event’s reputation overseas grew through promotional efforts in collaboration with embassies in Japan.
　He was also passionate about pioneering new initiatives. Before we knew it, he had rallied a large group of people and launched a new project. And he would always add this one line: “This project will develop in this way in the future.” He was someone who always thought about things from a long-term perspective.
　We plan to expand these initiatives through “Rough & Peace Mother,” an overseas platform developed by NTT, Yoshimoto Kogyo, and the Cool Japan Organization, and share them with the world. Mr. Iizuka was set to lead this effort as well.
　Rhythmically, lightly, and with joy. Mr. Iizuka, who was also a breakdancer, was poised to truly shine in this role. As the leader of CANVAS, he was destined to be a cornerstone in nurturing children’s creativity and communication skills.
I received an email from his wife.
　“My husband had always vaguely hoped to create things that would bring joy to our daughter. I believe that by joining your company, he was finally learning how to do just that and was well on his way to realizing that dream. To have been so close to fulfilling that dream, and to never see our daughter grow up—how heartbreaking that must be.”
　What we can do now is to keep moving forward without stopping, carrying on his dream.
　First, we must lead by example. Results will follow. We will carry on Iizuka’s work style—where action comes first—and bring his dreams to life, one by one.
　And in ten years, we want his daughter to see the fruits of that labor.
　How much kindness his legacy has brought to those around him. How deeply you were enveloped in his love.

　He must have had regrets. He must have felt a deep sense of loss.
　“Things are going smoothly,” “It’s going to be okay.”
　I’ll make sure to let him know in heaven that everything is going well, even if just a little.
Thank you, Mr. Yasuharu Iizuka.