Guild名鑑 No.205　未来への自信と安心を届ける、北川 竜さん

マイノリティな自分を大切に。
“手放す”技術で未来への自信と安心を届ける、北川 竜さん
(The English version follows the Japanese text.)

港区を起点にいろんなところで働く・暮らす、楽しい時間を創りたい人たちによるコミュニティCreative Guild。このギルド名鑑ではそんなCreative Guildでつながったユニークな方々をご紹介しています。今回ご紹介するのは、北川 竜さん。HR領域で人と組織に向き合いながら、プロティアン・キャリアや多様なコミュニティ活動にも積極参画。その活動を通じて一人ひとりがマイノリティな自分を大切にし、“手放す”技術によって未来へ踏み出す自信と安心を届けています。

現在、大手メーカーの人事領域に携わる北川さん。しかし、その活動は社内にとどまりません。プロティアン・キャリア協会の認定ファシリテーター資格を持って人的資本経営やキャリアオーナーシップに関する学びと実践を探究。社内外のさまざまなコミュニティに参画し、人と人、人と機会をつなぐ役割を担っています。若者世代の挑戦支援、地域活動、企業横断の学びの場づくりなど、「小さな越境」の機会を生み出し続けています。

そんな北川さんが着目しているのが、“手放す”技術です。それは、変化への不安や周囲との違いに対する恐れ、過去の成功体験への執着に囚われることなく、自分にとって本当に大切な価値観を見つめ直し、自分らしく一歩を踏み出すこと。その背景には、「誰もがどこかでマイノリティ」という北川さんの視点があります。誰もが自分らしく活躍でき、互いに感謝し、尊重し合える組織や社会を築いていくこと。そこに対する強い意図が、北川さんの活動の源泉になっているのです。

一方で現実に目を向けると、私たちは古いパラダイムに構造的にはめ込まれたまま、そのことに気づけず、いつの間にか諦めや対立に陥ってしまうことも少なくありません。ステレオタイプ的に“ざっくり”捉え、多様性という人間社会にとって本来的な“当たり前”を特別なテーマにしてしまう。そして痛みがあれば本質を避け、表面的に取り繕ってしまう。それは静かに、社会の持続可能性をすり減らしていきます。この危うさに、私たちは改めて気づき直さなければなりません。

北川さんの取り組みは、従来のパラダイムを否定するものではありません。むしろ、必然として訪れる変化を前向きに受けとめる大切さを伝えるものです。そのために必要なのは、自分を信じる力、未来へ踏み出す小さな一歩、そして「やって大丈夫」と思える安心感。 北川さんのいう“手放す”技術は、その土台を育てるための実践なのです。どこかでマイノリティな自分を大切にしていくためにも、この技術を私たちも学び、磨いていきたいですね。

Embracing the Unique Minority Within Yourself
Ryu Kitagawa: Bringing Confidence and Peace of Mind Through the Art of Letting Go

Creative Guild is a community of people who work and live in many different places, all connected by a shared desire to create meaningful and enjoyable experiences. In this Guild Directory, we introduce the unique individuals we have met through Creative Guild.This time, we are featuring Ryu Kitagawa. While working in the field of Human Resources and organizational development, he is also actively involved in Protean Career initiatives and a wide range of community activities. Through these experiences, he encourages people to embrace the unique minority within themselves and helps them build the confidence and peace of mind needed to take the next step forward through the art of “letting go.”

Ryu currently works in the HR field for a major manufacturing company. However, his activities extend far beyond the boundaries of his organization. As a certified facilitator with the Protean Career Association, he continues to explore and practice concepts related to human capital management and career ownership. At the same time, he participates in various communities across industries and sectors, connecting people with opportunities and opportunities with people. Through initiatives that support younger generations, local communities, and cross-company learning networks, he continues to create opportunities for what he calls “small acts of crossing boundaries.”

At the heart of Ryu’s philosophy is the practice of letting go. It means releasing the fears that come with change, the anxiety of being different from those around us, and the attachment to past successes. By doing so, we can reconnect with what truly matters and move forward as our authentic selves. Underlying this perspective is Ryu’s belief that everyone is a minority in some way. Every individual is unique, carrying experiences, values, and perspectives that no one else can fully replicate. His aspiration is to help create organizations and communities where people can thrive as themselves while appreciating and respecting one another. This vision serves as the driving force behind all of his work.

Yet when we look at reality, many of us remain trapped within outdated paradigms without even realizing it. We often fall into resignation or unnecessary conflict. We rely on stereotypes and treat diversity—something that should be a natural part of human society—as if it were a special issue. When discomfort arises, we tend to avoid the deeper questions and settle for superficial solutions. Over time, this quietly erodes the sustainability of our organizations and society. Recognizing this hidden risk is one of the most important challenges of our time.

Ryu’s work is not about rejecting the past or denying traditional ways of thinking. Rather, it is about helping people embrace inevitable change with openness and optimism. To do that, we need the courage to believe in ourselves, the willingness to take a small step forward, and the reassurance that “it’s okay to try.” The art of letting go, as Ryu describes it, is a practical way of cultivating that foundation. It allows us to honor the unique part of ourselves that may feel different from others while moving forward with confidence and curiosity. Perhaps this is a skill that all of us can continue to learn, practice, and refine together.