AOTS E-Newsletter:Management Training in Japan /Insight
2025/04/30 (Wed) 10:30
◆◇ AOTS E-Newsletter ◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
30 April 2025
https://www.aots.jp/en/
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"AOTS E-Newsletter" is published by the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS).
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*This email has been sent from a send-only address.
*There have been more and more cases of subscribers not receiving AOTS E-Newsletters via Yahoo address or Gmail address. If you are using Yahoo address or Gmail address and willing to continue to receive the AOTS E-Newsletters without fail, we recommend changing your email provider to another one. It may be possible to avoid such a case by unblocking "johochosa@aots.jp" if your email provider offers such a service.
<Index>
1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program)
2. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies
--------------------------------------------------------
1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program).
--------------------------------------------------------
Applications for 2 courses have been opened! Don't miss out on this great opportunity!.
1) Program for Africa [Language: English]
(1)The Program on Corporate Management for Africa -Learning from Japanese Business Innovations- [AFCM].
This program is for managers and executives working in African companies. Participants will learn innovations for creating new businesses and restructuring existing businesses, and will be able to develop effective business strategies for their own companies.
Duration: From 13 August to 26 August 2025.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
2) Program for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Executive Program on Corporate Management [EPCM].
Widen your perspectives and upgrade your performance as an executive through high level discussions utilizing the Case Method.
Duration: From 3 September to 16 September 2025.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center (Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
How to apply: Applications will be accepted via AOTS Alumni Societies. Please contact the closest one.
https://www.aots.jp/en/alumni/about/
Please visit AOTS website for more info.
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we-do/hrd/management/subsidized/list-of-courses/
FAQ for Management Programs.
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we-do/hrd/management/subsidized/list-of-courses/faq/
Inquiry: AOTS Overseas Cooperation Group I
E-mail: shouhei-au@aots.jp
Tel: +81-(0)3-3888-8256
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies - April 2025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The time when Eiichi Shibusawa was active was an era when the world was being divided up and colonized by Western powers. As a small Asian nation, Japan faced an existential crisis. Under these circumstances, Japan rapidly built up its national power to match that of Western countries and was able remain an independent country. I believe this was due to the efforts of Shibusawa which I presented in the previous edition.
Shibusawa’s way of thinking was passed down to the generation of Japanese people that came after him. When Japan once again entered a time of crisis, that eventually caused miracles to happen.
Around 80 years ago, Japan was defeated by the United States in the Pacific War, leaving it in a miserable condition－worse than any other country in the world. By the end of the war, all of Japan’s factories and some residential housing in urban areas had been destroyed by air raids due to indiscriminate bombing by the U.S. army. Living in a devastated land lacking food and supplies, most Japanese people did not rob each other or resort to violence. Instead, they sought to rebuild society one step at a time, with each individual playing a role based on what they were able to do.
The miracles that occurred in various regions at that time were performed by business managers who adopted the same way of thinking as Shibusawa. Starting in this edition, I will present a few examples.
There was a long-established kimono shop called Okadaya that was founded at the end of the 18th century. Its store was wiped out due to the war, but based on its strong desire to provide people with goods that they needed as soon as possible, it decided to resume its operations the year after the war ended. Apparently, on the day of its reopening, a customer clutching a promotional flyer for Okadaya showed up at the store and, with tears in her eyes, said “Peace has come at last.”
Observing this scene, the manager of the store at the time thought, “The prosperity of the retail industry is a symbol of peace.” This eventually led to the company’s management philosophy: “Retailing is an industry to promote peace.” Okadaya is in fact the predecessor of AEON Co., Ltd., the operator of AEON shopping malls, which has opened over 19,000 stores in 11 countries around the world.
Today, AEON’s management philosophy includes the following line: “Pursuing peace, respecting humans, and contributing to local communities, always with customers as our starting point.”
Next time, I would like to write about Nissin Foods, a company whose founder was the inventor of instant ramen, which has now a part of global food culture.
To be continued in the next edition.
Rikio Suma, Author
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Others
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<Inquiries>
https://www.aots.jp/en/contact/
<Past Issues>
https://h.bme.jp/bm/p/bn/list.php?i=hri_hida&no=all
<Unsubscribe or change your registered e-mail address>.
https://www.aots.jp/en/publications/newsletter/
*If you want to change your registered email address, please unsubscribe once with your old address and register your subscription with your new address at the above website.
<Privacy Policy>
Your personal information is protected and is not made public. Any information you provide through AOTS website and email will only be used by us to provide you with AOTS E-newsletters, occasional information and related questionnaires.
Copyright 2016
The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS)
30-1, Senju-Azuma 1-chome, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8534, JAPAN
30 April 2025
https://www.aots.jp/en/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"AOTS E-Newsletter" is published by the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*This email has been sent from a send-only address.
*There have been more and more cases of subscribers not receiving AOTS E-Newsletters via Yahoo address or Gmail address. If you are using Yahoo address or Gmail address and willing to continue to receive the AOTS E-Newsletters without fail, we recommend changing your email provider to another one. It may be possible to avoid such a case by unblocking "johochosa@aots.jp" if your email provider offers such a service.
<Index>
1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program)
2. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies
--------------------------------------------------------
1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program).
--------------------------------------------------------
Applications for 2 courses have been opened! Don't miss out on this great opportunity!.
1) Program for Africa [Language: English]
(1)The Program on Corporate Management for Africa -Learning from Japanese Business Innovations- [AFCM].
This program is for managers and executives working in African companies. Participants will learn innovations for creating new businesses and restructuring existing businesses, and will be able to develop effective business strategies for their own companies.
Duration: From 13 August to 26 August 2025.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
2) Program for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Executive Program on Corporate Management [EPCM].
Widen your perspectives and upgrade your performance as an executive through high level discussions utilizing the Case Method.
Duration: From 3 September to 16 September 2025.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center (Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
How to apply: Applications will be accepted via AOTS Alumni Societies. Please contact the closest one.
https://www.aots.jp/en/alumni/about/
Please visit AOTS website for more info.
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we-do/hrd/management/subsidized/list-of-courses/
FAQ for Management Programs.
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we-do/hrd/management/subsidized/list-of-courses/faq/
Inquiry: AOTS Overseas Cooperation Group I
E-mail: shouhei-au@aots.jp
Tel: +81-(0)3-3888-8256
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies - April 2025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The time when Eiichi Shibusawa was active was an era when the world was being divided up and colonized by Western powers. As a small Asian nation, Japan faced an existential crisis. Under these circumstances, Japan rapidly built up its national power to match that of Western countries and was able remain an independent country. I believe this was due to the efforts of Shibusawa which I presented in the previous edition.
Shibusawa’s way of thinking was passed down to the generation of Japanese people that came after him. When Japan once again entered a time of crisis, that eventually caused miracles to happen.
Around 80 years ago, Japan was defeated by the United States in the Pacific War, leaving it in a miserable condition－worse than any other country in the world. By the end of the war, all of Japan’s factories and some residential housing in urban areas had been destroyed by air raids due to indiscriminate bombing by the U.S. army. Living in a devastated land lacking food and supplies, most Japanese people did not rob each other or resort to violence. Instead, they sought to rebuild society one step at a time, with each individual playing a role based on what they were able to do.
The miracles that occurred in various regions at that time were performed by business managers who adopted the same way of thinking as Shibusawa. Starting in this edition, I will present a few examples.
There was a long-established kimono shop called Okadaya that was founded at the end of the 18th century. Its store was wiped out due to the war, but based on its strong desire to provide people with goods that they needed as soon as possible, it decided to resume its operations the year after the war ended. Apparently, on the day of its reopening, a customer clutching a promotional flyer for Okadaya showed up at the store and, with tears in her eyes, said “Peace has come at last.”
Observing this scene, the manager of the store at the time thought, “The prosperity of the retail industry is a symbol of peace.” This eventually led to the company’s management philosophy: “Retailing is an industry to promote peace.” Okadaya is in fact the predecessor of AEON Co., Ltd., the operator of AEON shopping malls, which has opened over 19,000 stores in 11 countries around the world.
Today, AEON’s management philosophy includes the following line: “Pursuing peace, respecting humans, and contributing to local communities, always with customers as our starting point.”
Next time, I would like to write about Nissin Foods, a company whose founder was the inventor of instant ramen, which has now a part of global food culture.
To be continued in the next edition.
Rikio Suma, Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Inquiries>
https://www.aots.jp/en/contact/
<Past Issues>
https://h.bme.jp/bm/p/bn/list.php?i=hri_hida&no=all
<Unsubscribe or change your registered e-mail address>.
https://www.aots.jp/en/publications/newsletter/
*If you want to change your registered email address, please unsubscribe once with your old address and register your subscription with your new address at the above website.
<Privacy Policy>
Your personal information is protected and is not made public. Any information you provide through AOTS website and email will only be used by us to provide you with AOTS E-newsletters, occasional information and related questionnaires.
Copyright 2016
The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS)
30-1, Senju-Azuma 1-chome, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8534, JAPAN