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GMO press conference repeats "hourglass of life"; Internet users pile on criticism of CEO Kumagai's remarks

Security4 min read

GMO Internet Group held a press conference after an unauthorized access attack on its FX trading VPS service. CEO Masatoshi Kumagai kept repeating the phrase "hourglass of life," and many people online mocked the event.

The press conference and the viral phrase

On November 2, GMO Internet Group held a news conference about a hacking incident. The incident involved a VPS (a virtual computer rented over the internet) used for automatic FX (currency) trading, which is sold under the name "お名前.com デスクトップクラウド." CEO Masatoshi Kumagai apologized at the start. Later he said again and again the phrase "命の砂時計" (hourglass of life), meaning the time a person has to give to what matters to them. The phrase quickly became a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter). Many people found the event confusing, and some called it a waste of time.

Key facts from the event

  • The press conference had three parts. The second part lasted about 30 minutes and covered AI and the company's values.
  • Kumagai used the phrase "hourglass of life" many times, mostly in the question-and-answer part.
  • The phrase was trending on X by about 6:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
  • On October 27 and 28, Kumagai posted photos on X that drew criticism. On October 29 he apologized.
  • He said he would stop posting on X for a set period of time after he shared a summary of the press conference.

Why the posts caused trouble

The hacking case has been in the news for weeks. Kumagai posted that he had told the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, also called Interpol) and showed a smiling selfie with the ICPO logo. He also posted a smiling photo in front of the University of Tokyo sign. Many people on X said these posts were disrespectful. Kumagai said the photos were meant to show he would not give in to threats. He also said he was 100% to blame for upsetting the victims and called reposting a post about a victim's family a clear mistake in judgment.

Why this story matters

This story shows how a company's leader can hurt trust after a security problem. Customers want clear answers and respect for the people harmed. When the leader's words seem off-topic or careless, the public may stop listening. Experts and customers may also ask whether the company is handling its security problems well. Stories like this can show why companies should think carefully about what their leaders say in public and online.

What to watch next

  • Whether Kumagai stays on as CEO. When asked, he did not clearly deny resigning.
  • When Kumagai returns to X, and whether he changes how he posts.
  • Whether the company pays compensation to customers who lost money in the unauthorized trades.
  • Whether more details come out about how the attackers got in and how the company responded.

Glossary

GMO Internet Group
A large Japanese internet company group that runs web services, hosting, and financial businesses.
VPS
A virtual private server: a computer that runs on the internet and is rented to a user, often for trading software.
FX
Foreign exchange, the trading of one country's money for another's.
ICPO
The International Criminal Police Organization, also known as Interpol, which helps police in many countries work together.
X
A social media service where users post short messages and photos.
unauthorized access
Getting into a computer or system without permission, often by hacking.

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