AOTS E-Newsletter:Management Training in Japan /Insight
2025/06/30 (Mon) 10:30
◆◇ AOTS E-Newsletter ◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
30 June 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 two courses are now open! Don't miss this great opportunity!.
Program for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Program on DX Strategy for Manufacturing and Logistics Industries [PSDX].
Participants will learn about the concepts and methods of DX and the transformation of business models being developed in Japanese companies, and will learn how to formulate ICT utilization strategies in their own companies.
Duration: From 19 November to 2 December 2025.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center(Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
(2)The Program on Productivity Improvement Utilizing Creativity at the Gemba [PICG].
Participants learn manufacturing methods (5S, IE, Karakuri Kaizen*, etc.) that utilize the creativity of on-site (Gemba) employees and enhance their ability to identify and improve issues that promote higher productivity.
The program incorporates many exercises using simulated production lines, which is expected to improve practical skills.
*Karakuri Kaizen is a registered trademark of the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance.
Duration: From 21 November to 4 December 2025.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long before Eiichi Shibusawa wrote The Analects and the Abacus, there was actually a traditional view of business in Japan that has influenced exceptional managers both past and present. This was the Omi merchants’ principle of “benefiting three parties”. The three parties refer to the seller, the buyer, and society, and the merchants’ view was that business should have a positive impact on all three by being good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society. I think this could be considered broadly equivalent to today’s stakeholder capitalism. It is a view that has already been present in Japan for more than 300 years.
The Omi merchants were a group of traders who were active from around 300 to 100 years ago, with Omi Province (now Shiga Prefecture) as their home base. They traveled all over Japan from Omi to peddle their wares, bringing and spreading exceptional products and specialties from various regions to other regions where they were necessary or there were problems due to the lack of them.
At first, people in different regions were wary of the Omi merchants as outsiders. To obtain locals’ trust, the merchants therefore devised ways for their business to promote the development and welfare of the community while also satisfying both buyer and seller, and they continued to put these into practice.
Rather than focusing only on their own profits, they made serving the people of the local community their priority and thought about what kind of business they should pursue to achieve that. Gradually building up the trust of society would eventually lead to substantial profits for them. What’s more, there are stories of merchants later using those substantial profits to build schools or bridges for free.
They eventually established branches in various regions across Japan, and some flourished as wealthy merchants, even expanding into the three major cities of Edo (now Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto. These included businesses that developed into leading Japanese corporations, with some still thriving today.
The principle of “benefiting three parties” is the legacy of the Omi merchants. Expressing the idea that business should put the buyer first rather than the seller’s convenience and contribute to the local community, it still serves as a guideline for many managers today.
As proof of this, there is a contemporary company that has adopted the exact same principle of “benefiting three parties” as its corporate philosophy...but that’s a story for next time.
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
30 June 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 two courses are now open! Don't miss this great opportunity!.
Program for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Program on DX Strategy for Manufacturing and Logistics Industries [PSDX].
Participants will learn about the concepts and methods of DX and the transformation of business models being developed in Japanese companies, and will learn how to formulate ICT utilization strategies in their own companies.
Duration: From 19 November to 2 December 2025.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center(Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
(2)The Program on Productivity Improvement Utilizing Creativity at the Gemba [PICG].
Participants learn manufacturing methods (5S, IE, Karakuri Kaizen*, etc.) that utilize the creativity of on-site (Gemba) employees and enhance their ability to identify and improve issues that promote higher productivity.
The program incorporates many exercises using simulated production lines, which is expected to improve practical skills.
*Karakuri Kaizen is a registered trademark of the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance.
Duration: From 21 November to 4 December 2025.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long before Eiichi Shibusawa wrote The Analects and the Abacus, there was actually a traditional view of business in Japan that has influenced exceptional managers both past and present. This was the Omi merchants’ principle of “benefiting three parties”. The three parties refer to the seller, the buyer, and society, and the merchants’ view was that business should have a positive impact on all three by being good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society. I think this could be considered broadly equivalent to today’s stakeholder capitalism. It is a view that has already been present in Japan for more than 300 years.
The Omi merchants were a group of traders who were active from around 300 to 100 years ago, with Omi Province (now Shiga Prefecture) as their home base. They traveled all over Japan from Omi to peddle their wares, bringing and spreading exceptional products and specialties from various regions to other regions where they were necessary or there were problems due to the lack of them.
At first, people in different regions were wary of the Omi merchants as outsiders. To obtain locals’ trust, the merchants therefore devised ways for their business to promote the development and welfare of the community while also satisfying both buyer and seller, and they continued to put these into practice.
Rather than focusing only on their own profits, they made serving the people of the local community their priority and thought about what kind of business they should pursue to achieve that. Gradually building up the trust of society would eventually lead to substantial profits for them. What’s more, there are stories of merchants later using those substantial profits to build schools or bridges for free.
They eventually established branches in various regions across Japan, and some flourished as wealthy merchants, even expanding into the three major cities of Edo (now Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto. These included businesses that developed into leading Japanese corporations, with some still thriving today.
The principle of “benefiting three parties” is the legacy of the Omi merchants. Expressing the idea that business should put the buyer first rather than the seller’s convenience and contribute to the local community, it still serves as a guideline for many managers today.
As proof of this, there is a contemporary company that has adopted the exact same principle of “benefiting three parties” as its corporate philosophy...but that’s a story for next time.
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