Warren Buffett had long been a beacon of inspiration for investors worldwide. Known for his long-term investment approach, Buffett delivered an average annual return of 20 per cent since taking the helm of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway) in 1965. Now, at 95, Buffett was preparing to step back and pass the reins to incoming chief executive officer (CEO) Greg Abel. Since Buffett announced his retirement, Berkshire Hathaway stock lagged .....more

In August 2024, Richard Kung, the newly appointed director of Asian business at Akira Spring Co. Ltd. (Akira Spring), faced a critical negotiation. Akira Spring, a Japanese automotive springs manufacturer, was competing to provide components for a power back door system to Kern, a leading German automotive parts supplier. The deal was valued at €27 million and had potential for continued collaboration worldwide. What began as product specification .....more

Kenedix, Inc. (Kenedix) was a Japanese financial institution that managed real-estate funds. Recent turbulence in the economy and market had impacted the company adversely. In light of Kenedix’s medium- and long-term goals, its president and chief executive officer (CEO) was meeting in March 2020 with the company’s management to come up with a viable plan to address these challenges. Over the past several years, Kenedix had worked to shift its business .....more

Fukushima Ouse Winery was established in October 2015 in the city of Koriyama, within the Fukushima prefecture (or province) of Japan, as part of regional recovery efforts following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The winery produced a variety of beverages, including white, red, and rose wines, sparkling peach wine, apple cider, fruit liqueurs, and several juices, gaining recognition through multiple awards. Fukushima Ouse Winery was originally .....more

In 2018, the chairperson of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan), Carlos Ghosn, was arrested for alleged misconduct and criminal offences related to underreporting remuneration and misrepresenting annual disclosures. Detailed investigations revealed similar misrepresentations by the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Hiroto Saikawa, who was forced to resign. The actions of senior officials left a deep stain on Nissan’s reputation, causing investors .....more

In October 2024, Crimson Orb Corporation faced a strategic dilemma as it evaluated the financial potential of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. While these projects promised growth, General Manager Hiroshi Ishiba emphasized the need to align them with sustainability goals, raising concerns about environmental impact and the company’s carbon footprint. Tasked with finding a balanced approach, Takeshi Otani, the head of LNG operations, had to .....more

For Hiroaki Otani, president of YKK Corporation (YKK), the year 2024 began with uncertain challenges. Though YKK had been leading the zipper industry for decades with a large global market share, highly integrated production capability, and advanced technology, the zipper market’s competitive environment was gradually changing, especially within the emerging Asian markets. Furthermore, the global apparel market had slumped due to the COVID-19 pandemic .....more

Metacore, a Finnish mobile game company, achieved global success with its puzzle game Merge Mansion but struggled to replicate this success in Japan. Shuhei Watanabe, the product marketing manager, led efforts to address this challenge. Japan’s gaming market was highly competitive, with consumers valuing trust and local familiarity. Watanabe’s team debated how much to localize the game and brand to resonate with Japanese players. They faced a key .....more

In 2019, Starbuck Corporation (Starbucks) launched Deep Brew, a platform driven by artificial intelligence (AI) designed to enhance personalization, optimize operations, and manage inventory across its vast global retail network. By leveraging AI, Starbucks aimed to improve customer engagement, streamline store efficiency, and strengthen its data-driven decision-making. However, the adoption of Deep Brew introduced significant challenges, including .....more

Founded in 1973 and operating over 16,000 stores in Japan and 7,000 overseas, FamilyMart Co. Ltd., was one of Japan’s leading convenience store chains and a staple in Japanese retail. In 2017, FamilyMart embarked on a journey to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in its corporate strategy. One of the company’s key strategies was to create value for employees and customers through initiatives that supported LGBTQ+ issues. At the .....more