Hi everyone!
Today, I’d like to share my reflections on KT’s YouTube livestream where he made a major announcement about the future of the Data Saber program. I’ve organized my thoughts by theme in this blog post.
Although I’m still a beginner when it comes to Tableau, and my knowledge of Tableau Saber is quite limited, I want to share my honest impressions from the perspective of someone still learning.
・The Journey to 2,834 Data Sabers
Can you believe this all started with just 10 people?
Now the Data Saber program has reached 2,834 graduates. That growth is incredible.
What struck me most was the strong culture of inheritance and passing on knowledge.
At my company, we also have a culture called “yokotenn”—sharing insights and know-how across teams instead of keeping it to yourself. This livestream reminded me how powerful that mindset can be.
I hope that one day, I’ll be able to take on the role of a mentor and share Tableau knowledge with others too.
…But first, I need to step up my own Tableau skills! Time to put in the work!
・10,000 Members by 2030—And the Program’s Grand Finale
The biggest surprises from the livestream were these two major announcements:
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Data Saber will aim for 10,000 graduates by 2030
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And then, in 2030, the program will officially conclude
That number—10,000—isn’t just a goal. It’s a vision of a world where data-driven culture is so normal that we don’t even have to name it anymore.
The fact that all of this is offered for free, with such high-quality content, is honestly mind-blowing.
Huge thanks to KT and everyone behind the scenes who maintain and grow this program with such passion and dedication.
・The Next 5 Years: Five Project Teams
KT mentioned that “we can’t keep doing things the same way anymore,” and with that, he introduced five new project teams, each with a key role in shaping the future of Data Saber.
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Content Update Team – Improving outdated materials and aligning with new technologies
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Operation Zero Team – Making backend systems smoother and empowering users to manage them
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Promotion Team – Bringing in new Data Saber candidates through outreach
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Lighthouse Team – Strengthening community engagement
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Team EN – Coordinating efforts across all teams
These initiatives are so practical and forward-thinking.
It sounds like the learning experience will only get better from here.
I especially hope the challenges around confusing wording and question difficulty will be addressed soon—it would really help new learners like myself!
・Passion for Tableau and Why It Matters
There was also an intriguing discussion during the recent Data Saber Camp:
“Should we expand the program to include other BI tools?”
The conclusion?
“No, we just love Tableau.”
I found that incredibly honest and refreshing.
It reminded me that passion is at the heart of any great community.
I’m still on my journey with Tableau, but watching how much love and dedication people have for this tool makes me want to reach that level too—someday!
・Final Thoughts
One thing I deeply realized through this livestream is this:
Behind every learner’s growth, there’s someone else’s sacrifice.
Maintaining a free, large-scale program like this must be a massive effort.
To KT and all those who've made this possible—despite all the complaints like “this question is too hard” or “this Japanese sounds off”… thank you. Truly.
I hope that one day, I can step up as a mentor too, and help keep the flame alive for others.
Until then, let’s keep learning and growing.
And I hope we meet again—somewhere in this incredible Data Saber journey.
Thanks for reading!
See you again soon 👋
Material
https://www.youtube.com/live/OHs5LYfOEbQ?si=7_FSjkfJJNFSt0wp