AOTS E-Newsletter:Management Training in Japan /Insight
2025/08/29 (Fri) 10:30
◆◇ AOTS E-Newsletter ◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
29 August 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 programs)
-----------------------------------------------------
Applications for two courses are now open! Don't miss this great opportunity!.
Programs for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Program on Business Innovation and Organization Development [BIOD].
Improve the participants' leadership skills required to create business innovation and promote organizational climate reforms that will lead to business innovation.
Duration: From 14 January to 27 January 2026
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan)
(2)The Training Program on Program & Project Management [PPTP].
Through lectures, organization visits, and exercises, participants will acquire systems and methods of Program & Project Management from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
Duration: From 21 January to 3 February 2026
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[August 2025] Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies
The founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita (1894–1989), always used his management philosophy of “co-existence and co-prosperity” as a basis for business-related judgments. This is another philosophy connected to the spirit of “benefiting three parties.”
In his own writings, Matsushita explained his concept of “co-existence and co-prosperity” as follows:
・Companies are public institutions of society. Therefore, they must develop in tandem with society.
・It is temporarily possible for your own company alone to prosper, but this is not sustainable in the long term.
・It is important to give due consideration to reasonable profits for suppliers, but you should also ensure that customers obtain the reasonable profits they need. At the same time, merchandising and sales policies should be considered to ensure that end users can buy products at reasonable prices. Thus, it is important for all parties to pursue co-existence and co-prosperity together while obtaining reasonable profits.
Matsushita believed that companies were able to survive through organic relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, banks, and local communities.
The following story dates from 1969, when Panasonic’s sales were not yet growing in Europe. Matsushita, who was chairman of the board at the time, gathered all 13 of the company’s expatriate employees stationed in Europe to talk with them in Hamburg.
He first apologized to them, saying “I’ve visited various countries in Europe, and our products are inferior to those of the leading companies here. It has been difficult for all of you, for which I am sorry.” Then he made a promise: “But if you wait three years, we will develop superior products.” The employees were delighted by these words from Panasonic’s founder－but left speechless by his next statement. “During the next three years, I want you to create a sales network that’s capable of beating other companies,” he told them. They instinctively objected to this: “How can we build a sales network if we don’t have any products we can sell?” “We do have something we can sell,” Matsushita replied. “Our management philosophy. Go sell that. I’m counting on you!” On that note, he returned to Japan.
The employees he left behind in Europe had a problem. At first, none of them could understand what Matsushita had said. But after thinking about it, they realized what he really meant: they should embody the idea of “co-existence and co-prosperity” through tangible, visible measures. Next time, I will explain what kind of actions they took.
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
29 August 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 programs)
-----------------------------------------------------
Applications for two courses are now open! Don't miss this great opportunity!.
Programs for All Countries [Language: English]
(1)The Program on Business Innovation and Organization Development [BIOD].
Improve the participants' leadership skills required to create business innovation and promote organizational climate reforms that will lead to business innovation.
Duration: From 14 January to 27 January 2026
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan)
(2)The Training Program on Program & Project Management [PPTP].
Through lectures, organization visits, and exercises, participants will acquire systems and methods of Program & Project Management from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
Duration: From 21 January to 3 February 2026
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[August 2025] Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies
The founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita (1894–1989), always used his management philosophy of “co-existence and co-prosperity” as a basis for business-related judgments. This is another philosophy connected to the spirit of “benefiting three parties.”
In his own writings, Matsushita explained his concept of “co-existence and co-prosperity” as follows:
・Companies are public institutions of society. Therefore, they must develop in tandem with society.
・It is temporarily possible for your own company alone to prosper, but this is not sustainable in the long term.
・It is important to give due consideration to reasonable profits for suppliers, but you should also ensure that customers obtain the reasonable profits they need. At the same time, merchandising and sales policies should be considered to ensure that end users can buy products at reasonable prices. Thus, it is important for all parties to pursue co-existence and co-prosperity together while obtaining reasonable profits.
Matsushita believed that companies were able to survive through organic relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, banks, and local communities.
The following story dates from 1969, when Panasonic’s sales were not yet growing in Europe. Matsushita, who was chairman of the board at the time, gathered all 13 of the company’s expatriate employees stationed in Europe to talk with them in Hamburg.
He first apologized to them, saying “I’ve visited various countries in Europe, and our products are inferior to those of the leading companies here. It has been difficult for all of you, for which I am sorry.” Then he made a promise: “But if you wait three years, we will develop superior products.” The employees were delighted by these words from Panasonic’s founder－but left speechless by his next statement. “During the next three years, I want you to create a sales network that’s capable of beating other companies,” he told them. They instinctively objected to this: “How can we build a sales network if we don’t have any products we can sell?” “We do have something we can sell,” Matsushita replied. “Our management philosophy. Go sell that. I’m counting on you!” On that note, he returned to Japan.
The employees he left behind in Europe had a problem. At first, none of them could understand what Matsushita had said. But after thinking about it, they realized what he really meant: they should embody the idea of “co-existence and co-prosperity” through tangible, visible measures. Next time, I will explain what kind of actions they took.
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