On Thursday morning we concluded our stay in Tokyo and boarded the famed Japanese Shinkansen “bullet train” as we headed to Kyoto, the “soul of Japan,” with an intermediate stop in Toyota City to tour the Toyota Motor Company factory.
Both events were exciting elements and added to the value of the trip.
We arrived in Kyoto and introduced everyone to their first very traditional Japanese inn experience! The arrival signals a shift from three very intensive days of business related activities to a more focused attention on Japanese history and culture.
On our final day in Tokyo two company meetings were held. The morning session was a visit with State Street, a global leader in providing financial services to institutional investors. Joining Japan’s Managing Director, Sakuaki Yasuda, and Vice President Matthew Thomas, via a teleconference from Boston was State Street’s senior executive Dan Bouchard, a UMaine alumni and MBS Advisory Board member.
In the afternoon, we visited with executives from Itochu, one of the largest Japanese trading companies responsible for extensive exporting and importing activities. Yuya Hirano and Masayuki Amano presented their specific business activities regarding the production and sale of canned tuna around the world. As two young executives, who studied English at USM, Yuya and Massayuki offered our students insights not only about global and Japanese business but also about how their personal views of work and life in Japan. A most interesting and lively session.
One highlight of the trip was an opportunity to meet with a group of UMaine alumni from Japan. Five graduates of UMaine joined faculty and students for an evening of sharing memories and personal conversations that greatly expanded the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and business practices.
Following the return from the Tsukiji, the students were joined by four senior executives of Dentsu, the largest advertising and marketing communications agency in Japan. The firm represents many significant Japanese companies (such as Toyota and Sony) on a global basis as well as the interests of firms such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in the Japanese market. Koichi Fukumoto presented a detailed view of Dentsu’s business, including a strategic assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. Fukumoto-san also shared three significant client case studies concerning US firms in Japan (Coke) and a Japanese firm in the US (Canon), presenting and analyzing examples of Dentsu’s awarding winning creative work.
The afternoon was spent with Keiichirou Wada, R&D Officer of Tomorgawa, a traditional Japanese firm with roots in the pulp and paper industry. Wada-san reviewed the firm’s transition to a technology-based business strategy that had special relevance for Maine companies in that sector.
The final briefing was a visit with Noriyuki Yachi, store manager of one of Maine’s LL Bean‘s stores in Japan.
The day concluded with a trip to Tokyo’s fabled Akihabara district, also known as “Electric City”, where you can experience and purchase some of the most advanced electric and digital products manufactured.
UMaine’s MBA students began Tuesday, May 19 with a 5:30 AM visit to the Tsukiji Market, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. The trip to Tsukiji required a 4:45AM start in order to be present at the famous tuna auction. The morning ended with a fabulous sushi breakfast.
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