Nikkei BP Releases New Book 'From "Why Me?" to "Because It’s Me"' to Help Realize Dreams

Nikkei BP (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Tetsuya Iguchi) published the book "From 'Why Me?' to 'Because It’s Me' — How to Build Lifelong Confidence" by Eri Fukuda on May 15, 2026.

Many people find themselves hesitating before new challenges, thinking, "I'm just me..." or "There's no way I could achieve my dreams." The author, Ms. Fukuda, shares that she still performs a small ritual of writing the character for "person" on her palm and "swallowing" it before important meetings. This book is packed with the expertise she has developed to avoid being overwhelmed by such feelings of self-doubt.

Price: 1,980 yen (tax included) ■ Format: B6 size, 224 pages ■ Publisher: Nikkei BP

Direct advice from an entrepreneur who has accompanied many women in realizing their dreams!

Ms. Fukuda is the representative of SHE Inc., which operates the career school for women, "SHElikes." SHElikes is a school where women struggling with their lifestyle and work choices can learn Web skills and the mindset necessary to carve out their own paths. The cumulative number of registrants exceeded 250,000 (as of April 2026), supporting many women who aspire to "work in their own way."

Ms. Fukuda, who has built a solid track record since the company's founding, says: "From the outside, it might look like I live in a glamorous world. But the real me is not like that at all. I grew up in rural Shiga, was hyperactive and easily bored. I experienced bullying and went through periods where I lost sight of myself. There were times when I hated myself, wondering why I was so useless."

The reason Ms. Fukuda reached her current position, despite not having confidence or clear answers from the start, lies in her process of learning how to handle feelings of "Why me?" and continuously facing her own life. She clearly explains how to deal with these feelings and introduces methods for building a career using one's unique identity as a weapon. This is a book for looking deeply within oneself.

[Recommended for:] Those who tend to worry with thoughts like "Why me?", those who want a job that leverages their unique identity, or anyone who feels there might be a better way of working suited to them and wants to get closer to their ideal self.