Japan’s Lost Decade: Lessons for America

Very interesting article looks at the decade-long economic woes of Japan, how they might have been avoided or mitigated and lessons for the U.S.

Center on Japanese Economy and Business

This research center based at Columbia Business School doesn’t offer a pretty site, but its publications are noteworthy.

Inside the Bank of Japan

Although focused on a time-sensitive issue, this article offers some insight into some serious and important issues regarding the role of a central bank in peculiar economic circumstances. Some of the proposed solutions are very thought-provoking. Also an interesting profile of Masaru Hayami, governor of the Bank of Japan and some of the history of the current troubles with Japan’s economy.

Net Shopping: Why Japan Won’t Take the Plunge

Article looks at how poor utilization of credit cards and the arcane infrastructure in place to support them are hurting online sales in Japan.

Japan’s Net Builders

Web entrepreneurs are out to win on a global scale–and bring profound change to Japan’s business culture.

Business Model Innovation; The Key to Success in the Knowledge Era

This essay talks about need for business model innovation to stay competitve, gives a few examples, sites some references of value and offers three broad ways to benchark your thinking to others who have innovated successfully

Editor’s Note: I include this article because it makes brief mention of the Japanese Hoshin system of focusing breakthroughs on two pieces of the business while incrementally improving all … [ Read more ]

Japan Internet Communications Service

JICS provides services to foreign-based companies entering and doing business in the Japanese market. This site also offers some useful information for free. Major site headings include: Market Research (info about the Japanese online market); Localization (multiple case studies focused on key issues regarding doing business and communicating with the Japanese); Advertising (offers overview of 7 different methods); Multimedia; and eBusiness (look for the downloadable … [ Read more ]