Time:
2010 May 31 18:30 - 20:30

Language:
(The speech and Q & A will be in English)

Summary:
Rediscovering Japanese Business Leadership
By Yozo Hasegawa

Translated by Anthony Kim

Monday, May 31, 2010 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Description:

In this book, the author has tried to address such questions like "Has Japanese management passed away?" or " Is the Japanese business model too old to cope with a new global age?" And his answer is "Absolutely No!" Japanese companies have proven themselves to be remarkably resilient. Worldwide Business strategists today continue to look to Japan to discover new means for succeeding in global markets and riding out the rough times.

The reason why Japanese companies could overcome the crisis can be summarized in three points. Firstly, they have scaled back to "life-size" management by cutting overcapacity, excessive personnel and wasteful costs in a short time through a selective concentration strategy. Secondly, they have created new markets such as in eco-business, family game systems, fleece textile products.
Thirdly, they have shifted activities toward a global market through mergers and acquisitions instead of sticking to a stagnating domestic market. Japanese business structure has changed from manufacturing-oriented to consumer living and service-oriented, while the manufacturing industry has become more sophisticated in order to cope with hard global competition coming particularly from new emerging nations. Many Japanese companies are already in strong positions to earn new consumers. In short, an image of a "Cool Japan" is gaining popularity throughout Asia and the rest of the world.

This books also spotlights the traits and features of today's successful Japanese business leaders, with profiles of 15 company managers as Fast Retailing, Nintendo, Kirin, Shiseido, Canon which the author has selected as leading new growth through their strong brand companies. All of inherited their founders' DNA and work to instill and convey that spirit on to succeeding generations. But it is also this share business culture that has also combined to put many of them in the same economic boat. The book was
originally written in Japanese in a 2008 Kodansha paperback called "Shacho-no-Shigoto-saho"(Company Presidents' Working Rules) and heavily revised. Author Yozo Hasegawa is a veteran journalist who worked for the NIKKEI newspaper for over 40 years, and now works as a business commentator on televisions like TV-Tokyo, Radio Nikkei, j-cast.com. Translator Tony Kim is a freelancer who translated the author's previous book titled "Clean Car Wars."

A dinner will be served at a cost of 1,850 yen (including tax). Sign up now at the reception desk (3211-3161) or online at　http://www.fccj.or.jp/node/. To help us plan proper seating and food　preparation, please reserve in advance, preferably by noon of the day of the event. Those without reservations will be turned away once available seats are filled.

Reservations cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full.

Library Committee, THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF JAPAN