At a Tokyo business trip

At a business trip to Tokyo the other day, I was among office workers hurrying to their offices around Shinagawa station. Their walking speed was so fast that I was unable to keep up with them. Persons following me sometimes kicked my foot because of my slow walk. I think they should get out of house earlier. However, time must be important for them because they may work until midnight.

When I looked at workers who were checked at a security gate of a company at a café in front of the office, I found a long line waiting for receiving the check was formed. Japanese like to stand in line everywhere.

At the seminar I took part in, six speakers of seven were not Japanese and spoke in English. A headset for simultaneous translation for every participant was prepared. I tried to listen to them without it. Speeches by Americans were fast but it’s relatively easier to listen to for me than by Europeans. Anyway, as I took a glance at neighbors, about half of them didn’t use the headset. I realized English capability of Japanese business persons has been improved in particular in the metropolitan areas like Tokyo.

Tokyo station on weekend evening was so crowded. I tried to buy a cake for my family, every store or stall had a lot of customers, so I had to wait to do it. It might prove many workers came from local areas to Tokyo. They work at offices in Tokyo during weekdays and come back to their family’s town on weekend. I wonder the urban city is to work not to live in.

I got on a N700 Shinkansen for the first time. News announced that an old 300 type Shinkansen was the last run on the day May 16^th. So probably the Shinkansen I rode used to be a 300 type, but was changed to a new type. The riding feeling was so comfortable that I hardly had a sense of vibration. I was surprised to find some things that there was no smoking carriage but small smoking rooms, no sales aboard a train, and wireless LAN service by free charge. The retirement of an old type Shinkansen and the introducing a new one can offer more service for customers in part by increasing the number of departures and arrivals.

Tokyo is busy and constantly changing. It’s an exciting aspect of Tokyo.

Seminar: Automobile outlook

An automotive conference hosted by IHS automotive was held at Shinagawa Tokyo today. I found 300 or more listeners gathered. Though there are some research and consultant firms on automobile industry, IHS Global Insight acquired CMS Automotive, both of which are global major firms, a few years ago. I believe the IHS automotive is the biggest firm in the world. It provides such conferences in the world. We can hear it two or three times a year in Japan.

Seven speakers have presentation on the economic forecast, the auto outlook, the powertrain trend, the long term forecast about automobile etc. I guess that it’ a tough work to make a presentation because they have to hammer out ideas to deliver new information.

Among the condition, I got a few clue. One is the powertrain trend of worldwide OEMs. In particular, European auto makers are integrating their powertrain platforms. For instance, the rate of the most three engine platforms of BMW is 72% in 2012, and it will surge 99% in 2018. The speaker said auto companies in the US are following the trend. On the other hand, Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda are still remaining their many platforms in 2018 according to the research. If the number of these platforms were decreased, the OEMs could reduce their costs in terms of development and process building up. That means it would bring them to enhance more competitiveness. I wonder if Japanese makers will keep their advantages.

Another interesting topic was the possibility of a new category between automobiles and motorcycles. The trends of the electrification and the weight reduction are going to remain in the future. As auto industry pursues both, a new vehicle category would emerge. In fact, the European commission is discussing the new criteria L7, which contains that the vehicle weight is about 400 kilograms, length is 2.5 -3.0 meter and power is 15kW both ICE and motor. The motorcycle manufacturers like KTM, Piaggio, Yamaha as well as the automobile ones are seeking to enter it. News revealed Audi was seeking to acquire Ducati last week. The news relates to the new category. It thrills me.

The auto is a widespread and sophisticated industry. These research firms always monitor and research it, and provide the useful information. There are little other industry. I think it’s because the auto industry is very profitable and attractive. Cars are keeping changing. However, the main markets will be developing countries in the future. What should people living in mature states enjoy?

Lecture: Japanese economy present and future

Motoshige Ito, a professor of the graduate school of economics, faculty of economics of Tokyo university, made a speech on the Japanese economy at present and future; how should Japanese companies survive?

The current biggest problem of Noda administration is on the consumption tax hike. Now the politics are ready to move. The best scenario is that the administration is able to pave a way to the future by raising the tax. The worst is to fail the tax hike and fall into a political turmoil by a snap general election.

He said the present Japan faces a big turning point. There are four triggers of the turning point. One is the financial issues like enormous national debts. The second is deflation. The next is the Great East Earthquake and the nuclear generation complex accident. The last one is a electricity shortage. These will cause the big change as escaping from deflation.

The reverse moment from deflation leads the rising interest rate and foreign exchange rate. Companies will suffer from cash management and soaring material prices.

How should we deal with the big turning point? We should bring out plans with forecasts of five, ten or twenty years ahead. The outlooks of Japan after 20 year future are advancing aging society in domestic and emerging large Asian markets. You should take the chances.

Considering an industrial structure, the upstream corporations and the downstream ones of a smile curve will earn more. The upstream corporations like high profile material manufactures have their own “only one” technologies or brands. They can sell their products without special effort except development. For example, carbon fiber manufacturers like Toray and Toho Tenax etc. are much in demand.

The downstream companies created their unique business models can take their advantage in their fields like Uniqlo, Apple, McDonald and so on. They stand on closing consumers.

On the other hand, the middle range companies are going to a fierce competition. Quite many companies may break down. But if they were able to survive the severe condition, they could obtain more profit than they used to.

Thereby, there are three options for Japanese companies. One is to create the “only one.” Second is to eliminate opponents like by means of M&A. The last is the differentiating strategy.

The speaker is a famous and influential professor to the current administration. The speech may be an easy understandable content for economic laypersons. I think most of Japanese feel something change in one year after the Disaster. The stock price is rising everyday as well as lowering yen.

However, we have groundless concern about the future. The reasons are above. We are keen to demand the solutions. The economist just states his case. Actually, companies or workers in the middle range of the smile curve have no effective solutions. That’s the difference between logic and reality.

A screening work of resumes

I took part in a screening work of resumes which new graduates sent to my company for the next year recruiting. About 15 managers gathered in a meeting room and divided into five groups and checked the resumes.

A human resource section assigned the recruiters to submit a report about four questions. One is “to express your individuality”, the second is “the most emphasized subject or learning or study in your school days”, the third is “the activity you’ve tackled the most except study” and the last is “what will you contribute to this company if you enter, the motivation for your apply.”

I came across a few interesting resumes. An applicant showed he’s been earning for his tuition since his high school period. Although he didn’t write the reason why his parents came to be unable to pay his tuition of the high school, when he found the fact, he considered to leave high school. But he rethought it and started to work to pay his tuition. The report itself was neat, logical and full of his experience. I was attracted by it.

Another intrigued one was that his major is Laos’s language in his college. He’s been to Laos to expand his insight for a few months. And he’s been to Thailand several times for a volunteer work. Probably he can speak Laos and his resume showed me his TOIEC score was 855. His language capability and aspiration for oversea appealed me.

I checked about 150 resumes for three hours. At first I checked and read the resumes and reports well, but anyone didn’t continue to do them. I might have not be able to evaluate them with the same attention.

To make a resume is difficult. If an applicant has a distinctive character and an unique experience, he or she can feature these. But those who have no special matter cannot fill their resumes with imposing episode. So screeners give those an average point. I realized that at least they should handwrite the resume carefully, neatly and orderly. Messy ones made me lose my attention to see them.

Dream?

I talked with a colleague who is engaged in an intellectual property in a R&D department of our company the other day. He is a few years older than me. He told me that he had a dream and wanted to leave his office by means of an early retirement system.

I asked him what a dream he had. He was reluctant to tell it, ended up talking about it. He had been an engineer for a long time since he joined the company, so he likes to make stuff. Now he is addicted to make a fighting robot and often attended competitions. I heard he’d like to work in business using an idea related to the robot. He appears to hesitate to go ahead with his plan because of a lack of asset.

He has a dream, even if he will fail to achieve it. As hearing his story, I got aware that I don’t have such a dream once again. I’d like to take care for my family and spend with them. However, I don’t have an emotional motivation to start my own business.

I tackled an assignment thinking a seed of a new business of my company a few years ago. I realized that founding a new business was a tough way. I think a normal business person, who has just worked in an office after the graduation, is very difficult to create the new business and overcome a hard work ahead. Only way to do it is the passion to the business. It’s a problem whether he or she loves it or not. So a dream is the starting point of the new business.

A workshop for managers

I participated in an annual workshop for managers in my company today first time today. When I arrived at a venue at 7:40 am as against starting at 8:00, I was surprised at finding almost all members were there. They may be role models for other employees.

Approximately 100 manager’s class staff gathered. We were divided into several groups and addressed an assignment. After the group meeting, each group made a presentation on the assignment. It took about three hours. Although I heard presentations by other groups, I became sleepy in the latter half of them.

After the presentation, it had a party. The main reason holding the workshop might be to talk each other in the party.

It may be only Japanese companies to hold such a workshop. They can affirm a common recognition of the company’s vector. To say yes to these workshops may be looked upon them as dedicators in a company. But it’s a little complex.

English or Japanese

I’m planning a training course program held in Japan for managers of our overseas affiliated companies. While most of major Japanese corporations have their own global programs, medium-sized companies like ours may be making such a plan at present.

As we are creating the plan, one of problems is which language we should use at the training. Trainees will come from all over the world including Southeast Asia, India, China and the US. On the other hand, most of Japanese employees are not able to speak English, so Japanese trainers will tell them in Japanese.

I’ve taken part in some seminars on a human resource development. This is one of the passes we have to overcome for the globalization. It’s called as the internal globalization. Although there are many overseas factories, managements aren’t caring about it. A top management goes to the length of saying that employees working at factories abroad should use Japanese because they are hired by Japanese corporation.

Actually, I think it’s hard or impossible to force them to speak Japanese as considering the difficulty of learning it and the minority of using it in the world. English is a common language in world. Besides countries that native English speakers live in, many countries use it as the second public language. Eventually, we can’t help but accept English even in facilities in Japan when we communicate with foreign colleagues..

I called a sales rep of a seminar provider to inquire training programs for them. He recommended two open seminars offered by English. And he suggested Japanese employees should take the program with them. It might be a good idea. I wondered how many Japanese object employees could attended to it.

Anyway, I can’t decide which language the training program should take until now.

Valuable things

I heard that a TV program aired last month provided a ranking of countries where nations value the time having with their family. The first is the USA 83% followed by the Dominican Republic and Canada. Japan is the thirtieth by 36.3%. Reversely, Japan is the top position by 45% in which they value work more than family. At present after a few years Lehman’s fall happened, Japanese workers work overtime a lot.

Times which final persons left the office recorded have nearly been midnights. They work hard. I’m a sedentary person. After I watch a PC screen all day, my eyes become dry and I feel very tired. I can’t stand for stuck behind a desk. So I come home the moment the dismissal bell rings.

A head of my section changed on this month. Persons appointed to the head of this section have been promoted to directors in the past. This head will be a director next year. Of course they have worked hard especially at overseas factories, and then are recognized and assessed as directors. I don’t have any complaints. They are part of 45% Japanese thinking work is the most important.

I love my family. I always make effort to have a dinner with my family. My son is a teenager, feel me annoying. I’m a bit sad. However, I’m in the 36.3% valuing the family.

The globalization

It was the first day I went to my office this year. As same as every year, the president of my company delivered a beginning of the year speech. He showed the outlook of Japanese auto parts industry would be tough under the current condition including a hollowing out of Japan thanks to the yen appreciation.

What we should do now is to promote our products to more customers over the world and to come up with manufacturing with cheaper cost, he said. That’s right. We have a lot of potential customers in the world. However, it’s necessary to take a long period to be accepted by new customers in auto industry. The developing period needs about four to five years. If a customer began to think our product now, they would adopt it four years later. That’s problem.

I think manufacturing with low cost is the basis of the capitalism. If we depend on lower labor cost, we have to continue to explore a new undeveloped place. The labor wage in China is expected to double in these five years because it’s risen 10 to 15% every year. It’s the same with India. Hence many companies are seeking the next place like poor Asia or Africa. Earth is getting narrower and narrower.

It was a bit regrettable that he didn’t tell about human resources. Selling products or creating new ideas to reduce the costs are achieved by trained and aspiring staff. At least, it was essential for the strength of past manufacturing in Japan.

Anyway, this is the globalization for Japanese makers.

Year-end party

A year-end party of my session was held at an Izakaya or Japanese style pub. Though it didn’t turn to be a raucous party because the average age is high because there are no twenties, some were enthusiastically talking about cars like classic ones which were on market in 70’s or 80’s. I had never been a fan about these cars, so I wasn’t able to follow them.

I wondered how well they were familiar with such cars. I was surprised the fact that they memorized various cars’ name and had a lot of knowledge. I’m poor at memorizing something. In particular, about person’s name I have a bad memory. That means I’m out of circulation and stiff. But I don’t care about it thanks to my age. I have already passed the age worrying about such a thing.

Another topic was how much a child inherits a trait of their parent. One of staff told us how passionately her son adores battleplanes. He was able to earn a bad score at a dictation test, however, she always hears his squealing voice from his room. According to her, it’s a voice when her son plays with a model battleplane. In fact, her husband is an enthusiast who is a regular visitor to air shows of each domestic base. The apple never falls far from the tree.