Industry Trends

Industrial Trends in Japan

New Toyota Century

Toyota: From Maru-nage to Micro-management?

The Japanese word “maru-nage” (丸投げ) means to throw everything at someone, or for example throw the ball, and totally leave it in someone else’s hands. For Japanese business, this is usually not a good meaning. But in an era of doing more work with less people, this type of management or outsourcing is fact for many projects, events and operations. […]

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Meiji Constitution

Japan’s Industrialization: Key Players and Milestones

Japan’s industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is a fascinating and remarkable story of a nation that transformed itself from an isolated feudal society into a modern industrial powerhouse. The history of Japan’s industrialization is filled with challenges, determination, and the foresight of visionaries who played a vital role in various development steps. This story delves into […]

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Sustainable Manufacturing in Japan

Sustainable Manufacturing in Japan

Sustainability has become an increasingly important issue in manufacturing, as the environmental impact of production processes has become more apparent. In Japan, sustainable manufacturing has been a priority for many years, as the country has faced significant environmental challenges due to its industrialization. Japan has a long history of technological innovation, and the country has used this expertise to develop […]

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society 5.0

Automation and Robotics in Japan

Japan has long been at the forefront of innovation in automation and robotics. The country’s aging population, labor shortages, and high costs have made it imperative for Japanese companies to find ways to streamline their operations and remain competitive. In this article, we’ll explore the history and current state of automation and robotics in Japan and its impact on the […]

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manufacturing trends to watch in japan

Trends to Watch in Japan: The Future of Manufacturing

Japan has long been a leader in manufacturing, producing everything from cars to electronics to robotics. The country’s manufacturing sector has been a key driver of its economy, but the industry is also facing challenges from automation, globalization, and changing consumer preferences. In this post, we’ll explore some of the key trends to watch in Japan’s manufacturing sector and how […]

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gdpr data protection

EU-Japan Trade Deal Lacks Digital Ambition

When the EU signed a free trade agreement with South Korea in 2010, it guaranteed protection against liability for Internet platforms – a key ingredient to maintaining Internet freedom. When the EU signed a free trade agreement with Japan last year, the guarantee against liability for Internet platforms was missing. Guarantees also were gone on the freedom of data flows […]

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Japan Bitcoin Innovation

Japanese Regulation Paves the Way for Bitcoin Innovation

Japan has undoubtedly become one of the world’s leading bitcoin hubs in recent years. Through a combination of popular interest, major exchanges and regulation, the country has not only established itself as a cryptocurrency authority, but it has started to lead the way in terms of innovation. Indeed, since the Financial Services Agency gave its seal of approval to bitcoin […]

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EU-Japan Summit July 7

A Trade Deal for the 21st Century

On the eve of the G20 summit in Hamburg, the European Union and Japan reached a political understanding about a new comprehensive free trade agreement. During the EU-Japan Summit, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, hailed the agreement as “the birth of the world’s largest, free, industrialized economic zone.” EU officials proclaimed it “the most important bilateral trade agreement ever concluded […]

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Japanese Firms Invest in Tech-Startups

Japanese investors are now setting their eyes on developing countries, particularly India, for fledgling tech startups that have potential for growth. Currently, India’s economy is the seventh largest in the world measured by nominal GDP, and the third largest by purchasing power parity. Asuka Corporation, REAPRA Ventures, GREE Ventures, Mistletoe Capital, and Incubate Fund are just some of the Japan-based […]

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Internet of Things Japan - NRW Conference 1

Internet of Things in Japan: Quietly, Systematically Plowing Ahead

Germany’s famed Plattform Industrie 4.0 initiative has become nothing less than a mainstay at seminars focusing on the future of manufacturing. The U.S. based Industrial Internet Consortium has been gathering momentum, too. Even China has prominently launched its Made in China 2025 initiative. Yet one of the world’s most important industrial powerhouses is apparently not much being talked about. One […]

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creative destruction

The Japanese Way: Creative Conservation, Not Destruction

Japan fascinates with its coexistence of old, sometimes archaic companies and extremely modern high-tech. It is the result of a deliberate attempt to defy Schumpeter’s theory of destruction and creation – so far with success. Japan has a reputation of being one of the innovation and high-tech power houses of the world. It certainly deserves this image well. Hybrid cars, […]

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Otemachi Tokyo

Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and the Role of Japan

Japan is better prepared for the next industrial revolution than it seems at first sight. But the companies have to embrace change to stay in the race. Do you know the Borg, the cyborgs from the science-fiction universe Star Trek, who assimilate civilization after civilization? For years the German industry warns its colleagues abroad, that the dawn of the Internet […]

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