Discover how Japan's theme park industry achieved record-breaking revenue despite fewer visitors, through dynamic pricing, data analytics, and innovative solutions to climate challenges.
◆Introduction: Japan's theme parks are revolutionizing entertainment with smart strategies and cutting-edge innovation.
Join Sakura and Professor Haru as they explore Japan's booming theme park industry, which hit ¥892.6 billion in revenue in 2024. Learn about dynamic pricing strategies, the new Junglia Okinawa park, extreme heat countermeasures, and how data analytics is transforming visitor experiences across Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and beyond.
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Why Are Theme Parks So Expensive?
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO90294430Y5A720C2EAC000/
‘Junglia Okinawa’ Opens: Three Key Indicators That Will Decide the Success of This New-Style Theme Park
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC2251M0S5A720C2000000/
Why Are Theme Parks Raising Prices? New Services and Inflation Drive Increases
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCD3121X0R30C25A5000000/
Katana CEO Tsuyoshi Morioka: ‘We’ll Make Junglia Okinawa a Success and Export Theme Parks Across Asia’
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF258270V20C25A6000000/
Scorching Heat Hits Theme Parks: July Spending Down 12% as Operators Struggle to Keep Guests Cool
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC0171K0R00C25A8000000/
Data Analysis and Utilization in the Theme Park Industry
https://www.ever-rise.co.jp/dx-blog/theme-park-data-utilization/
SMBC Card Reports Spending Trends Among Inbound Tourists: Credit Card Payments Up 50.4% from 2019
https://markezine.jp/article/detail/48038
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Japan's drugstores just hit $67 billion in sales—surpassing supermarkets by selling groceries, prescriptions, and cosmetics under one roof. Discover the hybrid retail revolution reshaping Japanese commerce.
◆Introduction: How Japanese pharmacies evolved into lifestyle superstores that are winning the retail war
In 2024, Japan's drugstore industry crossed a historic milestone: 10 trillion yen ($67B) in total sales. These aren't your typical pharmacies—they're hybrid retail powerhouses combining food, medicine, beauty products, and digital health services. Join Sakura and Professor Haru as they explore how companies like Welcia, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and Cosmos Pharmaceutical are disrupting traditional supermarkets through strategic M&A, EDLP pricing, and innovative co-location with pharmacies. This episode reveals the front-end/back-end business model driving Japan's most dynamic retail transformation.
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Drugstore Giants Compete: Cosmos Pushes Food to 60% as Prescription Services Still Have Room to Grow
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUB176I10X10C25A9000000/
Welcia Holdings Unveils New Food-Focused Store Format — Nine Locations Planned by FY2026, in Partnership with Aeon
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC169SN0W5A910C2000000/
Create SD to Use M&A as a Growth Driver, Targeting Small Pharmacy Chains and Supermarkets
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09AKX0Z00C25A9000000/
AJS Chairman Tajiri: ‘Industry Consolidation Is Inevitable
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC101RZ0Q5A111C2000000
Sugi Pharmacy Uses Its App to Sharpen Customer Service — Revenue Rises for 15th Straight Mid-Year Period
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOFD266890W5A920C2000000/
MatsukiyoCocokara, a Standout in M&A, Aims for ROE Above 12%
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC209DD0Q5A820C2000000/
Sundrug’s April–September Net Profit Up 7% as Price Hikes Lift Food Unit Prices
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOTG144030U5A111C2000000
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Japan faces a burial crisis: 166,000 graves closed in 2023. Discover how AI ancestors, virtual cemeteries, and time-limited graves are revolutionizing death culture in the world's most aging society.
◆Introduction: Where tradition meets technology in Japan's graveyard revolution
As Japan's birthrate plummets and 300,000 graves vanish yearly by 2040, families are abandoning ancestral tombs. But innovation rises from the ashes: AI recreates the deceased for conversations, metaverse cemeteries host virtual gatherings, and time-limited graves solve the burden of eternal maintenance. Join Sakura and Professor Haru as they explore how Japan is reimagining death, memory, and farewell in the digital age—balancing 1,000 years of tradition with cutting-edge Death Tech solutions.
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Can’t Maintain Family Graves Anymore — Mourning Through ‘Death Tech’
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO89534630S5A620C2TLF000/
Hasegawa Launches Time-Limited Graves for Couples to Help Address Succession Issues
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOJC17AOT0X10C25A9000000/
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Discover how Japan's Gen Z transformed idol culture from romantic fantasy to artistic appreciation. 61% now see idols as "ultimate content," not pseudo-romance objects—a cultural revolution reshaping a ¥3.5 trillion industry.
◆Introduction: The shift from obsession to appreciation
Gone are the days of possessive fans. Today's Japanese youth celebrate their idols' personal happiness with 52% blessing romantic relationships. This podcast explores how Gen Z's mature, performance-focused fandom is revolutionizing entertainment consumption and redefining emotional value in the digital age through data-driven insights.
◆Related Page
Gen Z Idol Culture Survey: 61% See Their ‘Oshi’ as the Best Content, While 52% Celebrate When Their Idols Date
https://www.commercepick.com/archives/76868
Forget Credit Card Points: Spend ¥1.5 Million and Get Idol Photos — A New Trend in ‘Oshi’ Culture
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUB04BJO0U5A800C2000000/
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Discover how Japanese electronics retailers like Yamada Denki and Bic Camera are winning against Amazon through innovative OMO strategies, transforming physical stores into digital powerhouses while Chinese brands reshape the market.
◆Introduction: Japan's Retail Survival Story Against Digital Giants
While global retailers struggle with e-commerce competition, Japanese electronics stores are thriving by merging online and offline experiences. Join Professor Haru and Sakura as they explore revolutionary strategies including store-based shipping, fixed pricing systems, and Gen Z targeting that's doubled young customer demographics. Learn why opening physical stores actually increases online sales and how sustainability meets profitability.
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Yamada Denki’s E-Commerce Strategy: How Being a Latecomer Became an Advantage — Most Customers Are OMO ‘Digital Members’
https://ecnomikata.com/original_news/43993/
Five Years In, Most People Still Don’t Know About Fixed Appliance Prices — 84% of 1,000 Respondents Had No Idea
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC23AB70T20C25A4000000/
Chinese TV Brands Surpass 50% Market Share in Japan for the First Time, Driven by Low Prices Among Young Consumers
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC207MO0Q5A120C2000000/
Edion to Allow Returns Up to Two Weeks After Use on Home Appliances — Trial Program Runs Through December
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF0524T0V01C25A1000000/
Prioritizing Design Over Features? A Look at Edion’s ‘Visual Appliances’ for Gen Zhttps://kaden.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1633836.html
Bic Camera Builds a Site That Communicates in 0.1 Seconds — Highlighting More Than Just Appliances Through Engaging Feature Pages
https://netkeizai.com/articles/detail/13536
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Discover how Japan's $50 billion school lunch industry achieved 58 years of zero food poisoning while revolutionizing with AI technology and expanding globally.
◆Introduction: A Deep Dive into Japan's Extraordinary School Lunch SystemFrom Toyo Foods' flawless 58-year safety record serving 1.45 million daily meals to Nagoya City's AI-powered menu planning system reducing workload by 13%, explore how Japan's school lunch industry is transforming through technology, corporate innovation, and social welfare. Learn why company cafeterias are making a comeback, how Generation Alpha maintains healthy eating habits, and what Japanese expertise means for global markets in Indonesia and the Philippines.
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Discover how Japan's dying rural towns are being transformed by return migrants and city dwellers seeking meaningful lives beyond Tokyo's rat race.
◆Introduction: Real stories of rural Japan's remarkable comeback through migration
Join Professor Haru and student Sakura as they explore three extraordinary success stories: from Hokkaido's revitalized roadside station generating 40% visitor growth, to Kagoshima's "Obama Village" where tech workers created a thriving community in a marginal settlement facing extinction, to Hiroshima's island that turned a closing high school into a magnet for young talent. Learn how U-turn and I-turn migration is reshaping Japan's future with proven business models, remote work revolution, and the power of local networks combined with outside perspectives.
◆Related Pages
Migrants Revitalize Roadside Station in Shikabe, Hokkaido — Visitor Numbers Up 40% Thanks to Hit Kelp Products
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOFC120RW0S5A011C2000000
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Depopulated Hamlet Transforms with Newcomers — “Yes We Can!” Spirit Drives Revival in Kagoshima’s Obama Village
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCD0706E0X01C25A0000000
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Atsutoshi Oshima: “Let’s Increase the Number of People Who Feel Connected to Our Communities” — Toward Regional Revitalization
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCD1616V0W5A610C2000000/
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High School Students Set Their Sights on Remote Islands — The Revival of Osakikamijima in the Seto Inland Sea Reflects a New Wave in Education
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCD1435H0U5A710C2000000/
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Job Transfers — The Blessings and Burdens of Japan’s Employment System
https://manamina.valuesccg.com/articles/4520
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Discover how Japan is revolutionizing train travel with QR codes, facial recognition, and walk-through gates that eliminate physical barriers between stations and cities.
◆Introduction: The Future of Train Travel is Already Here in Japan
Join Professor Haru and curious student Sakura as they explore Japan's next-generation railway gates—from credit card tap payments to facial recognition systems that let you walk through stations hands-free. This is the story of how train gates are disappearing, transforming stations into seamless urban spaces.
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Takamisawa Cybernetics Enters Ticket Gate Market with QR Code and Credit Card–Focused Systems
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC0317G0T00C25A2000000/
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Takamisawa Cybernetics Develops Four Types of Ticket Gates Dedicated to QR Code and Credit Card Payments
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO86809070Y5A210C2L31000/
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Osaka Metro to Launch Facial Recognition Ticket Gates at Nearly All Stations Starting on the 25th
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF076BR0X00C25A3000000/
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Train Stations Are Becoming Department Stores — JR East Leads the Digital Transformation Using Its ‘Treasure Trove’ of Suica Data
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC068640W5A200C2000000/
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Discover how Japan's centuries-old hot spring industry is transforming with $15 million luxury plans, AI technology, and rising Chinese investment—reshaping tradition for a new era.
◆Introduction: Japan's Hot Springs Face Their Biggest Transformation in Centuries
From AI cameras tracking tourists in Dogo Onsen to boutique hotels without baths in Nagano, and ultra-luxury $15M stays in Kagoshima, Japan's onsen industry is evolving dramatically. Join Sakura and Professor Haru as they explore how tradition meets innovation—covering sustainable tourism, foreign investment controversies, and the shift from quantity to quality in this essential Japanese cultural experience.
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Discover how Japan's iconic vending machines are transforming from simple drink dispensers into AI-powered, multi-functional retail hubs with cashless payments, predictive analytics, and innovative business models.
◆Introduction: The Silent Revolution Happening on Every Street Corner
While you walk past them daily, Japan's 5 million vending machines are undergoing a remarkable transformation. This podcast explores how AI, IoT technology, and digital payments are revolutionizing an industry facing decline, turning traditional machines into sophisticated platforms for advertising, tourism, and data-driven retail strategies.
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Discover why Japan's iconic konbini magazine racks are disappearing and what it means for retail, publishing, and Japanese culture in this eye-opening conversation.
◆Introduction: Seven-Eleven's $100M bet reshapes Japanese convenience stores
Explore the dramatic transformation of Japanese convenience stores as Seven-Eleven cuts magazine shelves by 50% in a bold ¥10 billion renovation project. Through an engaging dialogue between curious student Sakura and Professor Haru, uncover how this shift threatens Japan's entire publishing distribution network, affects 55,923 konbini stores nationwide, and signals a broader retail revolution. Learn why magazine sales have halved in just 10 years, how distribution costs could multiply without konbini, and what this cultural change reveals about modern Japan.
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Discover how Japan's confectionery market grew 18% in 3 years through konbini innovation, clever pricing tactics, and global dessert trends reshaping consumer behavior.
◆Introduction: Japan's $3 cake revolution reveals surprising business strategies
Join Professor Haru and student Sakura as they explore Tokyo's convenience store dessert section, uncovering how FamilyMart and Lawson are winning the fierce cake market war. Learn why tourists spend $60 on Japanese sweets, how "stealth price increases" reached their limit, and why cakes are replacing meals for budget-conscious consumers.
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Japan’s Largest Confectionery Wholesaler Yamaboshiya Shifts 20% of Supply to Private-Label Products, Citing “Limits to Price Hikes” in the Industry
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC225DZ0S5A820C2000000/
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FamilyMart Launches Chocolate Fair Featuring 11 Desserts Including Cakes and Ice Cream
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC243G50U5A021C2000000
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Lawson Launches New-Texture Cheesecake Combining Rare and Baked Styles
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC2817X0Y5A021C2000000
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“Dubai” Trend Sweeps Through Turkey’s Dessert Scene — Chocolate, Cakes, and Ice Cream Ride the Wave
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOGR08DFL0Y5A500C2000000/
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Nagano Tokyu Department Store Begins Taking Reservations for Christmas Cakes and New Year’s Osechi Dishes at the Same Time
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC0153L0R01C25A0000000/
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Discover how Japan's iconic tempura is revolutionizing the restaurant industry through AI automation, unmanned checkout systems, and data-driven operations. From Edo-era street food to cutting-edge technology, explore how tradition and innovation coexist in modern Japan's food business landscape.
◆Introduction: When AI Cameras Watch Your Tempura—Japan's Food Revolution Begins
Imagine walking into a tempura restaurant where AI cameras track every piece you pick up, weight sensors detect your choices, and checkout happens automatically—no cashier needed. This isn't science fiction; it's happening right now in Japan. As the country faces severe labor shortages, tempura shops are becoming unexpected pioneers of restaurant automation. From Sagami Holdings' unmanned soba shops to Fukuoka's lightning-fast "20-rotation-per-day" tempura chains, traditional Japanese fried food is at the forefront of a technological transformation. But innovation isn't erasing tradition—it's preserving it. In rural Kagawa, AI systems are learning regional dialects to help elderly residents access their beloved local foods. Join Professor Haru and student Sakura as they uncover how a simple fried dish reveals profound insights about Japan's approach to technology, regional identity, efficiency, and cultural continuity in the 21st century.
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Every time you click "buy now," an invisible crisis unfolds. In Japan, 1 in 10 packages requires redelivery, costing 174,000 hours and 392 tons of CO2 annually. Join Professor Haru and student Sakura as they explore why Japanese consumers say "sorry" 89.5% of the time, how delivery robots are changing the game, and what the 2024 logistics crisis means for the future of e-commerce.
◆Introduction:
When Politeness Becomes a Problem
Japan's delivery system is breaking under the weight of good intentions. With a 10.2% redelivery rate, drivers work overtime while consumers apologize for missing deliveries. This episode uncovers the hidden cost of "free shipping," explores cutting-edge solutions from contactless delivery to autonomous robots, and reveals why 30% of Japanese people have never heard of the industry's biggest challenge. Discover how technology, policy, and cultural change are reshaping logistics in the world's most efficient nation.
◆Related Page
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) October survey: Redelivery rate of parcels drops 0.9 points year-on-year to 10.2%.
https://www.tsuhannews.jp/shopblogs/detail/73946
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Looking back on 2024 — Logistics challenges hit the e-commerce industry hard!
https://www.tsuhannews.jp/shopblogs/detail/74132
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Survey results released on the convenience of “delivery drop-off” services: What is the reality behind people choosing it even when they’re at home?
https://www.commercepick.com/archives/58809
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Installation of parcel lockers reduces annual redelivery time by 174,000 hours and cuts CO₂ emissions by 392 tons.
https://www.commercepick.com/archives/60051
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Yamato Transport launches a pilot program using autonomous delivery robots in large apartment complexes.
https://www.tsuhannews.jp/shopblogs/detail/74720
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Startup Growth Story: PacPort CEO Mr. Shen — Standing out with unmatched technology and proposals.
https://netkeizai.com/articles/detail/14212
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Yahoo! Shopping launches a campaign to reduce redeliveries: Earn points by choosing “delivery drop-off” or scheduling with flexible delivery dates.
https://netkeizai.com/articles/detail/12887
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Free shipping perception survey: 40% believe “the cost is covered by the retailer as a service.”
https://www.tsuhannews.jp/shopblogs/detail/73798
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Felissimo introduces new “product delivery bags,” reducing packaging materials by 2.5 tons annually.
https://www.tsuhannews.jp/shopblogs/detail/74828
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Meet Japan's Gen Z—the first generation to grow up with rising prices and wages. Unlike their parents who lived through deflation, these young consumers are reshaping Japan's economy with "merikhari consumption," spending strategically on what truly matters while cutting back elsewhere. But there's a paradox: 74% buy ultra-fast fashion despite their environmental awareness, experiencing what researchers call "sorry consumption." Discover how this inflation generation is redefining value, balancing ideals with reality, and potentially transforming Japan's economic future—one purchase at a time.
◆Introduction:
Japan's young consumers are caught between environmental ideals and economic reality—and their choices may reshape the nation's future.
Why do three-quarters of environmentally conscious young Japanese still buy ultra-fast fashion? In this episode, Sakura and Professor Haru explore the fascinating contradictions of Japan's Gen Z—a generation that experienced 2% annual inflation while older generations saw only 1%. They're willing to spend 30% more on overseas travel than pre-pandemic levels, invest heavily in their passions, yet feel guilty about their fashion choices. Through personal stories and surprising data, we uncover how this "inflation generation" is moving Japan beyond its deflation mindset, one thoughtful—and sometimes conflicted—purchase at a time.
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Did you know 9 million elderly Japanese struggle to buy groceries? Discover how mobile supermarkets are revolutionizing elderly care in Japan's aging society. From Aeon's 300 trucks to Tokushimaru's 1,200 vehicles, explore innovative solutions combining modern logistics with traditional community values. Learn about profitable business models, digital transformation, and how these services prevent social isolation while creating new jobs. Perfect for anyone interested in Japan's society, aging demographics, social innovation, and sustainable business solutions.
◆Introduction:
Mobile supermarkets are becoming essential social infrastructure for Japan's 9 million shopping refugees
Join Sakura and Professor Haru as they uncover a hidden crisis in modern Japan. One in four elderly people can't access grocery stores due to store closures, license returns, and weak public transport. But innovative companies are fighting back with mobile supermarkets that do more than sell food—they save lives, connect communities, and prove that social good and profit can coexist. Hear real stories of drivers who became informal caregivers, tech innovations boosting sales by 30%, and how Japan is reinventing community care for the 21st century.
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Discover how Don Quijote achieved 35 consecutive years of growth in Japan's challenging retail market. This episode reveals the discount giant's winning formula: listening to 15 million customers through their Maji Voice system, capturing 20% of all tourists visiting Japan, and creating experiences that turn shopping into entertainment. Learn how data-driven decisions, emotional customer connections, and strategic flexibility have made Donki a retail phenomenon worth studying.
◆Introduction: How a chaotic discount store became Japan's retail champion
While Amazon dominates e-commerce and traditional retailers struggle, Don Quijote is thriving with a radically different approach. Professor Haru and student Sakura explore the secrets behind Donki's success: from innovative customer feedback systems to their dominance in Japan's booming tourism industry. Discover why 8 million tourists choose Donki, how they turn negative reviews into product improvements, and what Western retailers can learn from their organized chaos.
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Discover how Japan's beer industry is revolutionizing itself through AI marketing, empathetic branding, and a groundbreaking 1% cancellation rate subscription model that's changing everything.
◆Introduction:
Japan's beer giants are rewriting the rules of business with radical innovation strategies.
Step inside Japan's most dramatic business transformation as we uncover how traditional beer companies are becoming digital experience providers.
This episode reveals the fascinating psychology behind Asahi Beer's "Smart Drinking" philosophy that welcomes both drinkers and non-drinkers, Sapporo's mysterious elevator commercials that never mention beer yet drive massive sales, and the counterintuitive subscription strategy achieving an impossible 1% cancellation rate.
◆Related Pages
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Discover how Japan's rice prices doubled in just 18 months, creating the "Reiwa Rice Crisis" - the most serious food emergency since WWII.
◆Introduction:
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A quiet yet undeniable transformation is taking place in Japan’s business world.
It’s called MBO — Management Buy-Out, a process where company executives buy back their own firms to take them private.
◆ Introduction: A Revolution in Silence
In this episode, we explore why more Japanese leaders are stepping away from the stock market and reclaiming ownership of their companies — and what this shift reveals about Japan’s evolving approach to freedom and long-term vision in business.
“To escape the short-term pressure from shareholders and pursue long-term ideals.”
That desire lies at the heart of every MBO.
This episode unfolds like a modern fable — a story of independence, renewal, and rediscovery of freedom in Japan’s corporate landscape.
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