Episode 30: Yuto and the SDGs
One Saturday afternoon, Yuto was listening to the radio.
“Hikappa, you've really grown quite a bit, haven't you?”
Yuto smiled as he looked at Hikappa, whose gentle glow had become noticeably brighter.
Just then, the radio softly came to life as a program began.
A female radio host spoke in a bright, cheerful voice.
“Today's theme is the SDGs.”
Then a male host continued.
“SDGs stands for the Sustainable Development Goals. They are a set of 17 international goals adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015, which the world aims to achieve by the year 2030.”
The radio slowly read through each of the 17 goals.
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 14: Life Below Water
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
“SDGs, huh...”
The term sounded familiar to Yuto.
“Ah, that's right!”
He remembered seeing a poster inside a Yokotomi Railway train during his daily commute.
It read:
"Yokotomi Railway is committed to the SDGs."
As the words poverty and hunger came from the radio, they stirred something deep inside him.
At that very moment, Hikappa's light seemed to flicker gently.
The radio continued.
“It's not only governments and businesses that can contribute. Every one of us can think about what we can do and take action.”
Yuto quietly looked at Hikappa.
“'Sustainable'... somehow, it feels a lot like raising Hikappa.”
Hikappa doesn't grow overnight.
You water it every day, watch over it with care, and little by little, it grows.
Asset accumulation follows the same principle.
You invest a small amount every month, patiently nurturing your future over the long term.
At that time, Yuto was regularly investing in:
- Rakuten Plus All Country Equity Index Fund
- Raku-Raku Investment (Steady Growth Course)
“Does asset accumulation have anything to do with the SDGs?”
Curious, Yuto opened his computer and began searching.
As he read, he learned that regular investing helps channel capital to companies around the world.
This idea is sometimes discussed in relation to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, since investment supports economic activity by providing businesses with access to capital.
“I see...”
“So regular investing connects me to the wider world, too.”
The faint stir in his heart gradually became a warm feeling.
“Even a small monthly investment might become part of the system that supports the global economy.”
Then Hikappa came to his mind once again.
“Caring for plants and looking after the garden may also begin with a desire to care for nature.”
Of course, one person's actions alone cannot change the world.
Even so, Yuto felt that countless small actions, repeated over time, could make a meaningful difference.
“What I can do today may still be very small.”
His computer screen now displayed the websites of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Committee for UNICEF.
Hikappa's gentle light swayed quietly beside him.
“I wonder if there's even more I can do.”
Yuto continued thinking in silence.
The Unexpected Connection Between the SDGs and Asset Accumulation
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 shared goals that the world aims to achieve by 2030. They address a wide range of issues closely connected to our daily lives, including poverty, education, the environment, and economic development.
At first glance, they may seem unrelated to asset accumulation. However, regular investing helps channel capital to companies around the world, supporting economic activity and long-term growth.
Of course, it would be an oversimplification to say that investing automatically contributes to the SDGs. Every company has a different business model and social impact, and investing is fundamentally intended to build personal wealth. Nevertheless, understanding that your investments become part of the broader economic system can offer a new perspective on long-term asset accumulation.
Likewise, caring for plants or protecting the natural environment around us can be a simple first step toward thinking about sustainability. While no individual can change the world alone, everyone can build small, meaningful habits that last.
Perhaps asset accumulation, caring for Hikappa, and the SDGs all share the same underlying idea:
Doing what we can today, little by little, for the future.