Japan Research Center

The Harvard Business School Japan Research Center (JRC) opened in January 2002. Located in Tokyo, its primary purpose is to support HBS faculty research and case-writing activities in Japan. Under the direction of Executive Director Masako Egawa (MBA '86), the JRC plays an important role in helping HBS advance its activities. Through its work in Japan, facilitated by the JRC, HBS strives to deepen faculty's understanding of and exposure to Japanese management issues, trends, and practices, as well as developing locally relevant case studies and course materials for use in MBA and Executive Education programs around the world. The School is heavily involved in strengthening ties with important constituencies in Japan (including companies, universities, government, and HBS alumni) - these relationships are critical to ensuring that the School's efforts have an impact. The work of the JRC has enabled the School's faculty to identify and study important management advancements in Japan, or develop and test their ideas within a Japanese framework.

Harvard Business School Japan Research Symposium was held in Tokyo on March 23, 2007, and Dean Jay O Light made an opening speech.

Newsletter No. 12 | August 2008

Summary of activities during the first half of 2008

Cases

Kazuo Inamori: Japanese Entrepreneur

Tony Mayo (Organizational Behavior) developed a case on Kazuo Inamori, who founded two Fortune 500 companies, Kyocera and DDI (now KDDI). The case discusses Inamori's endeavor to found and grow Kyocera in an environment which was not conducive to small ventures as well as his challenge to build a new telecommunication carrier competing against NTT. It explores how Inamori's leadership was influenced by the contextual factors.

Sony Digital Entertainment

Anita Elberse (Marketing) wrote a case on Sony Digital Entertainment focusing on its efforts to develop storytelling content on keitai (cellular phones). The case begins with discussions on how Japanese young generation began to write and read novels on keitai. It then describes the challenge of Sony Digital Entertainment to develop a sustainable business model based on the emerging contents.

Terumo

David Godes (Marketing) developed a case on Terumo, a major medical device company in Japan. Facing fierce competition from global players and profound changes in the Japanese medical system, the head of cardio and vascular business had to improve the marketing of Solution Pack, a strategic, new product for Terumo. He also had to decide whether to start direct sales in the U.S. market.

Carlyle Japan

David Godes (Marketing) developed a case on Carlyle Japan, the Japanese operations of a major U.S. private equity firm. Carlyle Japan had been successful by leveraging the network of main banks which provided access to proprietary information. But finding attractive new investments were becoming increasingly difficult, after Carlyle Japan raised its second fund which was far larger than its first one.

Visitors from Boston

During the first half of 2008, Richard Ruback (Finance) and Gunnar Trumbull (BGIE) visited Tokyo to engage in research and case development. In addition, Willis Emmons (Director, C. Roland Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning) visited Tokyo to teach at an executive education program and at the case method teaching seminar. Dean Jay Light also visited Tokyo to attend the Centennial Event organized by the alumni club. During his brief stay, he was interviewed by Nikkei Business and met with many alumni.

Early in the year Pamela Ralston (Assistant Director, MBA Program) visited Tokyo to interview MBA candidates. Lynton Hayes (Executive Director, Executive Education) visited Japan in early June to discuss new executive education programs and explore other opportunities. Jean Cunningham (Assistant Dean, Administrative and Educational Affairs), Stephanie Goff (Senior Director for Alumni Relations), Richard Melnick (Chief Financial Officer), Josh Merrow (Managing Director, Development) and Prescott Stewart (Associate Director, External Relations) visited Tokyo to attend the HBS Centennial Event on June 27 along with Dean Jay Light.

Ted Gilman (Associate Director, Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University) visited our center to discuss the various activities the Institute is undertaking in Japan, including the summer school program which is offered jointly with Waseda University and the internship program.

Centennial Event

On June 27, the HBS Club of Japan and the school jointly hosted the Centennial Event at Conrad Tokyo. The event was very successful and was attended by over 180 alumni and guests. The evening began with cocktails and followed by a sit down dinner. The alumni club president Masato Tsuru (MBA 1977; President, NOK Corporation) gave opening remarks and gave a toast. Later in the evening, Dean Jay Light, who was introduced by Michael Yoshino, Professor Emeritus, discussed some of the key initiatives at the School, including the opening of an office in Shanghai (jointly with the University's Harvard China Fund) and increased emphasis on the international elements of the MBA program. This was followed by a brief presentation on the activities of Japan Research Center by Masako Egawa, the Center's Executive Director. Finally, there was a lively panel discussion among alumni from different generations: Kenzaburo Mogi (MBA 1973; Vice Chairman, Kikkoman), Takumi Shibata (MBA 1983; Deputy President and COO, Nomura Holdings), Takashi Mitachi (MBA 1992; Co-Chairman Japan, Boston Consulting Group), and Daisuke Iwase (MBA 2006; Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Lifenet Insurance Company). The panel was moderated by Professor Hirotaka Takeuchi, Dean, Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS).




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