What ultimately decides the outcome is not how many opportunities you seize, but whether you can maintain a good mindset, stable emotions and strict discipline.
As a day trader, I was deeply moved and resonated with the story of 88-year-old trader Shigeru Fujimoto.
After several years of struggling in the stock market, I gradually developed my own style and became more clearly aware that the stock market hones far more than just trading skills; it is an ultimate test of one's character and willpower.
I believe that those who have truly been tempered by the market will understand the value of persistence and the meaning of life even more.
It is precisely for this reason that the experience of 88-year-old day trader Shigeru Fujimoto is like a mirror.
He has weathered as many as 50 market crashes in his career, with his assets once shrinking from 1 billion yen to 200 million, but he never gave up.
Now, not only has he risen again, but he is also living a fulfilling and simple life with assets exceeding 2 billion yen (about 12.6 million US dollars). His story is not just an investment legend, but also a vivid textbook on resilience, lifelong learning and life philosophy.
01、 The Essence of the Stock Market: The 20% Survival Rule
In an article I once wrote, I explored the question: Should one invest in the stock market or start a business? The key is not in choosing which path to take, but in recognizing one's own strengths.
["Stock Trading or Starting a Business? How to Choose Your 'Entrepreneurial' Path in This Era" ]click here to read
My first encounter with the stock market was purely by chance. Back then, I knew nothing about it and was merely curious to understand how the so-called "80/20 rule" in the stock market worked.
After several years of ups and downs and overcoming numerous obstacles, I truly realized that the stock market is a place where danger and opportunity coexist.
After grasping the basic knowledge, the most crucial aspects are mindset, emotions, and discipline. The stock market is like a huge furnace, and those who can survive in it for the long term must be those who can control their mindset extremely well.
If the 80/20 rule holds true, then the 20% of successful people must be the best of the best, and their experiences and achievements are naturally worth our in-depth study and reference.
Shigeru Fujimoto is a prime example among this 20%.
02、 Fifty Falls and Stand Up: Resilience Determines Height
Shigeru Fujimoto, at the age of 88, has faced 50 stock market crashes and still remained steadfast.
He began to fully devote himself to the investment field in 1986, and his investment amount once reached 1 billion yen, catching up with the Japanese asset bubble economy boom in the late 1980s.
However, after the bubble burst, his assets eventually shrank to 200 million yen. The 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake dealt him a heavy blow, causing him to lose his enthusiasm for investing for a while.
But he eventually managed to adjust his emotions, constantly seeking problems, and repeatedly modifying strategies, in order not to miss any future opportunities.
He also emphasized: "Stock trading is not an activity that those who want to easily make huge profits can engage in."
Every person who has experienced the stock market and has not been defeated has a resilient heart.
Many people are defeated by the market and quit early, while Shigeru Fujimoto remained steadfastly committed. This spirit, whether in the stock market or in the entrepreneurial path, is worthy of admiration.
This persistence in the face of failure is a quality we must learn.
There are many setbacks in life, and many people fall on the road to success. As Jack Ma said: "Tomorrow is beautiful, but many people fall on the road tonight."
03、 Buffett's Followers: Goals Illuminate the Path
His goal is to become someone like Warren Buffett. This belief drives him to keep learning, improving, drawing lessons from numerous failures, summarizing experiences, and moving forward with determination.
Each of us needs to find our own role model. No matter what we do, a role model is a guiding light on the way, always illuminating the direction and preventing us from getting lost.
In the world of trading, a voyage without a goal is bound to get lost in the waves of the market.
04、 Stricter Discipline than Office Workers
Unlike ordinary office workers who come and go at fixed times, he is even more strict with his own schedule. His "working day" begins at 2 a.m.
Many people become confused after retirement. The previously regular nine-to-five life may be boring, but once they gain control over their time, they feel lost.
The several-hour stock market monitoring each day actually gives us a sense of being "still working".
The process of summarizing, reviewing, and selecting stocks after the monitoring, is quite similar to daily work. This self-discipline is not only reflected in time management, but also in every decision made during each transaction.
05、 A Simple Life of 2 Billion Yen
Now, his accumulated assets have exceeded 2 billion yen (approximately 12.6 million US dollars), and he continues to set new records.
Although he has clear income and expenditure targets, he does not plan to live a luxurious life with this money.
Shigeru Fujimoto has neither a mobile phone nor a car. His clothes are even a bit wrinkled. This simplicity is something we should learn from.
How many people get lost in the fantasy of sudden wealth and forget who they are, while his clarity after obtaining wealth is also reminding us to think about the true meaning of life.
The accumulation of wealth and the simplification of life have formed a perfect balance in him.
This reminds me of Warren Buffett still living in the house he bought decades ago. True wealth is never about external display, but about inner abundance.
06、 Learning Computers at 66: A Lifelong Learning Attitude
Shigeru Fujimoto said, "If I learn shorthand, I will be able to take notes faster and complete more transactions."
At the age of 66, he first used a computer because he thought it was "convenient and the cost is low, so I must give it a try."
His experience and thoughts accumulate every day, but he admits that sometimes he still makes wrong judgments. He knows the difficulties of intraday trading, but at the same time, he believes this is exactly its charm.
This reminds me of a colleague's words: "I am a follower of value trends. But if I have time to monitor the market, I can't resist making a few short-term trades at the right time."
I also increasingly understand: The so-called value investment or long-term investment is not passive in doing nothing, but it can be doing wave operations or intraday trading at the appropriate time.
The key is not the form, but whether you have established a verified and suitable system for yourself.
Learning is a lifelong compulsory course, especially for those who have entered the stock market，Every failure is a step towards growth. 【 Has your portfolio successfully adapted to the recent market correction?】，click here to read
07、 Self-evaluation of 75 points: Optimistically facing aging
Shigeru Fujimoto said that he could maintain a calm state of mind every day and continuously improve his trading skills. He gave himself 75 points out of 100 for his performance.
He knows that his body is deteriorating. Even though his back is in severe pain, he would sit in front of the computer all day, reading and studying relevant materials.
Despite the worsening of his body, he still maintains an optimistic attitude.
He said, "If I can continue to pursue perfection in terms of spirit, skills, and physical condition, perhaps I could get 90 or 100 points. That would probably be the time when I say goodbye to this world."
This kind of calmness and positivity in facing aging is more precious than any trading skills. In the face of market fluctuations, we all need this calmness and acceptance.
08、 My trading reflection: Mindset trumps everything
Looking back on my trading journey, I increasingly agree with the principles practiced by Shigeru Fujimoto.
The market presents new challenges every day, and the answers often lie not in technical indicators, but in our own hearts.
When I lose my composure due to short-term fluctuations, or when I relax my discipline because of consecutive profits, I always think of the 88-year-old trader who fell 50 times but got up again. He reminded me: The ultimate opponent in trading is never the market, but ourselves.
This is why I say that the stock market not only tests the success or failure of trading, but also the exercise of willpower.
- Every time I adhere to discipline is a victory over myself;
- Every time I control my emotions is an improvement of my character.
09、 It's never too late to start: The creed of action
Shigeru Fujimoto's life creed is: "No matter how old you are, as long as the thought 'This is it' flashes through your mind, you should bravely try it, even if there is a risk of failure."
What he has given us is not just trading methods in the stock market, but a spirit worth learning.
No matter what you do, if you have the courage to say "Start over if you fail", you can become a better version of yourself.
We often complain about bad luck, but think calmly: Have we really made enough efforts? Sometimes, success may be just one step away, and we often get stuck at that step.
So, it's never too late to start, and never give up trying. When inspiration strikes, take action.
-----Extended Reading and Resources:
Stock market investment is not a contest of natural talent, but rather a marathon of continuous learning. On this path, a truly practical reference book is like a silent mentor - the book "Insider Buy Superstocks" that I have read is exactly like this.
The author, through real-life examples (earning 680 million in just 28 months with 48,000), has clearly presented us with a set of practical operation methods--how to identify potential stocks, when to make a decisive purchase, and at what point to sell them... You can obtain it on Amazon. click here to view
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