SESSION 1. Our leadership slogan is to maintain harmony in our country and in our life.

SESSION 2. There are several aspects to business leadership nowadays: First of all, there are innovative and participative leaders in Japan. Most companies adhere to the transformational type of leadership. These leaders motivate others to do more than they originally intended and often even more than they thought possible. Such leaders set more challenging expectations and typically achieve higher performances. In my opinion, Japanese leadership style is enable to achieve higher levels of employee motivation, commitment, delegation in terms of decision making and job satisfaction. I think, good business leadership in the country will promote good intercultural relationships, as it happenned long ago, in Times, when Japan was a closed country.

 

SESSION 3. Japan has diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations and has been an active member of the UN since December 1956. Its relations with countries are mainly commercial and economic. Let’s look at some of its relations: 1. Japan-Spain Relations: § Established in 1868 with the signing of the Treaty of Commerce and Friendship. § Contact between Japan and Spain began when a Jesuit missionary, Francisco Xavier, arrived in Japan in 1549. Since then until Japan adopted the policy of seclusion, many missionaries from Spain sailed to Japan and introduced Western civilization to Japan. Thanks to the Spanish galleons, Japan was able to begin trading with the Philippines, Mexico, and other countries. 2. Japan-France Relations: § Relations between Japan and France have long been friendly, and exchanges take place in a wide variety of fields involving both government and private organizations. § In economic areas, France since 1992 has been engaged in a program called "Le Japan c’est possible” to promote exports to and investment in Japan and encourage mutual understanding. This program has proven successful: France became the largest foreign investor in Japan during fiscal year 1999. 3. Japan-U.S. Relations: § As the two largest economies in the world constituting approximately 40% of the world GDP, Japan and the United States are becoming increasingly interdependent economically, and share important responsibilities for the growth and stability of the global economy. § The U.S. is Japan’s largest trading partner: Japan’s imports from the U.S. accounts for 11.8% of Japan’s total imports. Japan’s exports to the U.S. make up 22.5% of Japan’s total exports. § Japan is the second largest non-NAFTA trading partner of the U.S. and the third largest importer of U.S. farm products. 4. Japan-Iran Relations: § Political relations were not always stable; they suspended and reopened from time to time. § Concerning economic relations: Main products (2007): Iran to Japan: Crude oil (96%), LPG (3%) Japan to Iran: General machinery (30%), motor vehicles (28%), iron and steel (13%) I can name lot of other Japanese relations with other countries, but I don’t think it is necessary, because Japan has its regional affairs with Asia, Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East and Africa.

 

SESSION 4. Since the 5th century Yamato clan had established a loose control over all clans (existed in Japan at that time) of central and W. Japan, laying the foundation of the Japanese state. Since that time there were lots of leaders in Japanese history, like some military of them: Masaki Honda, Mineichi Koga, Akiro Muto, Raizo Tanaka, Soemu Toyoda and others. The most prominent or, better to say, famous ones were: Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, who in the late 16th century established military control over the whole country and succeeded one another in the dictatorship. Business World If to name business corporations it can be, for example: § Kintetsu Corporation Key people: Masanori Yamaguchi (chairman), Tetsuya Kobayashi (president) § Keio Corporation Key people: Kan Kato (president & CEO) § Seibu Railway Company Key people: Takashi Got (president) § Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Key people: Ryosuke Tamakoshi, Haruya Uehara, Nobuo Kuroyanagi § The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Key people: Masataka Shimizu (president) § Japan Airlines International Co. Key people: Kazuo Inamori (chairman), Maasu Onishi (president) In Japan are lots of big corporations; so, I think, the heads of them can be named "the most prominent business leaders”.

 

SESSION 5. All to often I hear stories of business leadership where a leader burns out after some years in that position. But I think that true leader will stay a true leader despite nothing.

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