On May 27, 2019, the government of Japan publicized the public notices of the revision of the types of businesses subject to the provisions over inward direct investment, etc. in the official gazette. 1. Outline of the revision Foreign investors that intend to undertake inward direct investment, etc. in specified types of businesses in Japan are required to submit a […]
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TCFD Consortium to be inaugurated
On May 27 (Mon.), 2019, five founders, inducing Mr. Kunio Ito, Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Hitotsubashi University, will inaugurate a new body called the “TCFD Consortium” (hereinafter referred to as the “consortium”) as an opportunity for holding discussions on effective corporate information disclosure and efforts for leading disclosed information to appropriate decision making on investment by financial institutes […]
METI Nudge Unit Inaugurated
Aiming to improve the effects brought about by implementing its policies, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) inaugurated a METI Nudge Unit, a new internal project team for making use of a new policy approach based on behavioral economics, also known as “nudge.” In cooperation with experts, METI will design and promote specific nudge projects in certain fields, […]
Connected Industries – Japan’s approach to Industry 4.0 on the way to Society 5.0
Industry 4.0 was first introduced in Germany. The term comes from the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and refers to the digitalization of production. In the last editorials we described how Japan then introduced the idea of Society 5.0, which looks at digitalization from a societal viewpoint aiming at the Super Smart Society. Information Technology (IT), especially Artificial Intelligence, will change many […]
METI Releases White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2018
The global economy is facing significant shifts, according to the 2018 White Paper on International Economy and Trade released recently by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). These shifts include movements against the free trade system under the WTO, advancement of digital transformation including expanding digital trade, and the rise of China and other emerging and developing economies. […]
Path to Power: New METI Report on Corporate Law and International Competitiveness
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said it has released a report on Corporate Law and International Competitiveness, covering ideal approaches to legal functions in Japanese companies. It is the result of work by the Study Group for Development of Ideal Approaches to Legal Functions in Japanese Companies for Enhancement of International Competitiveness, which aims at discussing policy […]
Record Profits at Japanese Manufacturers, Wholesalers – METI Survey
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has released results of its 2017 Basic Survey of Japanese Business Structure and Activities. The report surveyed 28,550 companies with the goal to shed light on how management strategies of Japanese enterprises and industrial structures evolve. Sales and profit conditions Sales per company decreased by 2.9 percent year-on-year to 3.04 billion yen […]
Japan Launches World Robot Summit, Competition Prize Money to Top 100M Yen
The Japanese government underlines the country’s strength in robotics by launching the World Robot Summit 2018 in October this year. The event will bring together the world’s most advanced robots and robotic technologies along with researchers and developers of robots and key government and private industry players. Hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New […]
Japanese Overseas Subsidiaries Increase Sales for 6th Quarter in a Row
Total sales of Japanese overseas subsidiaries have improved 8.6 percent from the previous year for July to September 2017, according to a recent survey published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of increasing sales. Sales by Region Sales in Asia, the region with the highest ratio of overseas subsidiaries at 50.7 […]
Japan Decides on Basic Hydrogen Strategy
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has recently decided on a Basic Hydrogen Strategy to build a world-leading hydrogen-based society. The strategy outlines future visions that Japan should achieve with an eye on 2050, and serves as an action plan to accomplish these visions by 2030. As part of the strategy, Japan aims to reduce hydrogen costs […]
Japanese Manufacturers Set up Close to 500 New Sites in First Half – METI
Manufacturing companies in Japan invested in 499 new factory locations between January and June 2017, according to a report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Up 9.4 percent compared to the previous year, this marked the return to a level comparable to that of 2014. The total area covered by new factory locations stood at 569 hectars, […]
3 Ways to Make Japan’s Workforce Fit for the Future – Hays Survey
Almost two million jobs have been created since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in 2012. This is good news for employees, but companies are having difficulties finding the people they need. “With 1.5 jobs per seeker, Japan is now facing the most extreme labor market since 1974,” said Hays Japan Managing Director Marc Burrage while presenting the recruitment specialist’s […]
Japanese Government Earmarks 46B Yen in Subsidies for SMEs
The Japanese Cabinet is setting aside 46 billion yen ($416 million) in planned subsidies for SMEs, small enterprises or other entities in fiscal 2017, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The subsidies are part of the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and geared toward business activities based on R&D results. Subsidies for SMEs The […]
Japan Ramps up Business Succession Support Amid Aging Owners
Small and Medium Enterprises form the backbone of Japan’s economy. They employ the majority of people and account for a large share of the country’s economic power. Yet as the aging population of business owners increases, hundreds of thousands of SMEs in Japan are about to face the time when they must hand over their businesses to the next generation. […]
Japanese Overseas Subsidiaries Increase Sales for 4th Quarter in a Row
Total sales of Japanese overseas subsidiaries have increased 7.9 percent from January to March 2017, according to a recent survey published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This marks the fourth consecutive quarter of increasing sales. Sales by Region Sales in Asia grew 8.8 percent during the quarter, also showing growth for the fourth quarter in a […]
