<p class="MsoNormal">The <span style="">'</span><span class="nfakpe">JIN</span><span style="">'</span> Japan Inc
Newsletter<br>
A weekly opinion piece on social, economic and political trends<br>
in Japan.<br>
Issue No. 455 Wednesday March 5, 2008, Tokyo<br>
<br>
------- PBXL BUNDLES PHONE SUPPORT AT NO EXTRA CHARGE--------<br>
<br>
Do you hate paying for every little change and addition<br>
to your phone system? Are you tired of paying for support<br>
and costly on-site service?<br>
<br>
PBXL's hosted telephony model bundles moves, adds,<br>
and changes off-site.<br>
In addition, we're monitoring your system 24/7.<br>
<br>
Call our support line or reach us by email any time.<br>
We even give out our keitai numbers for emergencies!<br>
<br>
Call us TODAY for a quotation: we're always working for you.<br>
<br>
Monthly seminars at CiscoHQ: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt" target="_blank">www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt</a><br>
03-4550-2557<br>
<a href="mailto:info@pbxl.jp" target="_blank">info@pbxl.jp</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
J@pan Inc March/Arpil 2008<br>
<br>
The March/April edition of J@pan Inc magazine including our <br>
recruiting special feature, is out now. Here are the highlights:<br>
<br>
The Trade in People<br>
What does the downturn in financial optimism in Japan mean for <br>
recruitment companies? For decades, foreign firms have found the<br>
market ripe for Western style headhunting and recruiting <br>
techniques that had previously been culturally incompatible with<br>
the <span style="">'</span>one company for life<span style="">'</span> tendency prevalent in Japan. However,<br>
the recruitment bubble may be close to bursting. For one, <br>
foreign headhunters are no new phenomenon and they now face a <br>
number of domestic competitors as do the agencies. Additionally,<br>
many of the companies that have done well until now are <br>
specialists in IT or financial services. With the prospect of <br>
cutbacks, what type of firms will survive? Will it be the <br>
all-encompassing giants or more likely the niche outfits?<br>
A former recruiter and industry expert gives his view. <br>
To read the full article visit: <span style=""></span><br><a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xso">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xso</a><br>
<br>
Also in the recruitment feature:<br>
<br>
Personnel Perspectives, we take a look at there different <br>
perspectives of employment: the candidate, the recruiter the <br>
employer. Also includes our undercover investigation into the <br>
life of a headhunter with our exposure of the top five <span style="">'</span>sneaky <br>
things that bad headhunters do.<span style="">'</span> <br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsH">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsH</a><br>
<br>
Our Recruitment Services Directory: <br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsn">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsn</a><br>
<br>
CEO Interview: Junichi Fujimoto, FON Japan<br>
Junichi Fujimoto, the man on our front cover, was the first <br>
Represetative Director of <span style="">L</span>ivedoor
back in 1998. His original <br>
vision was always of free Internet access for all. Now heading <br>
up FON in Japan, Fujimoto
shares his hopes of bringing Japan
<br>
into the fold of the largest WiFi community in the world. FON, <br>
started by Argentinean entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky, allows <br>
users of the network to set up and maintain nodes of the network<br>
(connected to the Internet via commercial ISPs) and, in return, <br>
are able to use the nodes of other uses. In other words, an <br>
official and commercially sanctioned version of Internet access <br>
socialism. Fujimoto has managed to do a deal with <span style="">L</span>ivedoor to <br>
merge the FON networks together in a bid to massively expand the<br>
FON network in Japan.<br>
To read more:<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsI">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsI</a><br>
<br>
------------ Translation/Marketing Service ----------------<br>
The J@pan Inc Translation/Marketing team now offers translation<br>
and marketing services for companies to help them enhance their<br>
performance internationally. Our services include:<br>
<br>
- Professional translation<br>
- Catchy copy writing<br>
- Strategic design<br>
- Effective PR<br>
- Direct marketing<br>
<br>
Our achievement includes:<br>
- Corporate report translation and desktop publishing<br>
- In-house magazine translation and desktop publishing<br>
- Annual report translation<br>
- Company legal document translation<br>
- Government PR brochure copy writing and design<br>
- DM service targeting senior executives<br>
<br>
Please contact at <a href="mailto:sachie.kuroda@japaninc.com" target="_blank">sachie.kuroda@japaninc.com</a>
for more details.<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
The Father of Invention<br>
Kujiro Kawakita is a patent attorney, an entrepreneur and an <br>
inventor. When he invented the Quick-Strap, a strap for bags and<br>
cases that can be adjusted and secured to avoid picking up dirt <br>
or causing obstruction, he found a<span style=""> </span>way
to combine his three <br>
roles. He was able to patent the invention himself and then make<br>
a successful business out of selling the sales licenses. Buoyed <br>
up by his own success and having proved the merits <span style="">of </span>a business <br>
whose theory he had always believed, Kawakita is now an <br>
evangelist for it. Not only does he advise entrepreneurs and <br>
smaller businesses who come to him on how to manage their IP, <br>
he also encourages them to sell licenses and make good money <br>
without having to take on masses of staff. He even visit <br>
colleges to share his experiences with the next generation of <br>
inventors and educates them about the importance of protecting <br>
their IP and ways they can start to build a successful one<span style="">-</span>person <span style=""></span><br>business. <br>
To read the full article visit: <br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsm">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsm</a><br>
<br>
Is The Customer A False God?<br>
James Mok<span style="">'</span>s third part in his
series of articles about the <br>
Japanese IT industry. This time he singles out the Japanese <br>
reverence of the customer for critical analysis. While serving <br>
customers and keeping them happy is vital to the survival of <br>
any business, if it is allowed to compromise standards and <br>
interfere with necessary and mutually beneficial growth and <br>
development, it can ultimately be counter productive. Drawing on<br>
his experiences of working in the IT industry in Japan, as well <br>
as featuring interviews with senior management, Mok underlines <br>
the need for more figures like Carlos Ghosn who famously <br>
restructured Nissan. <br>
To read more:<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs4">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs4</a><br>
<br>
All of J@pan Inc can be read online at <a href="http://www.japaninc.com/" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com</a><br>
<br>
Other articles include:<br>
<br>
Business Break & Trends in Japan <br>
Our regular round-up of new businesses and business news.<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsl">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsl</a><br>
<br>
Measure for Measure<br>
Industry statistics, a corporate profile, and a focus on retail <br>
giant Don Quijote make up our new column of useful Japanese <br>
market information.<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsJ">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsJ</a><br>
<br>
Exclusive Interview: Ian de Stains OBE DipArb FCI Arb<br>
J@pan Inc talks to the Executive Director of the <span style="">French</span><br>
Chamber of Commerce<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsk">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsk</a><br>
<br>
Perspectives on Tokyo Living & Real Estate<br>
Kenneth Arbour, President of Century 21<span style="">,</span>
writes about the <br>
challenges of relocating to Japan<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsK">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsK</a><br>
<br>
Changing the Status Quo<br>
Brad Frischkorn examines the future of stock exchange <br>
technology in Japan<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsj">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsj</a><br>
<br>
Politics: A Profile of Shigeru Ishiba, Minister of Defense<br>
Adam P Liff takes a deeper look at this key LDP politician<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs5">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs5</a><br>
<br>
Knotted Beauty<br>
The cedar tree from the Hida region and its new role in <br>
furniture manufacturing<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsi">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsi</a><br>
<br>
Investment<br>
Chris Clearly turns market perception on its head in his <br>
analysis of the current situation <br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsL">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsL</a><br>
This issue includes an online market history quiz <br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsL">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsL</a><br>
<br>
Inside Out: Business in Venezuela<br>
Is Chavez<span style="">'</span>s bark worse than his
bite?<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsh">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsh</a><br>
<br>
Human Flight<br>
Matthew Heath writes about his hobby – jumping out of planes<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/%7E0XsM">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsM</a><span style=""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Bubbles for Brunch<br>
Take a tour of the best champagne brunches in Tokyo<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsg">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsg</a><br>
<br>
Reinventing Western Fashion<br>
Discover Bunka Gakuen, Japan<span style="">'</span>s oldest
and largest school <br>
of fashion<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs6">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs6</a><br>
<br>
Arrivals & Departures<br>
Who<span style="">'</span>s coming and going in the
Tokyo international business <br>
community<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsf">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsf</a><br>
<br>
Back & Forward<br>
Ken Worsley<span style="">'</span>s satirical take on
the economy<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0XsN">http://winki.co.uk/~0XsN</a><br>
<br>
Crossword<br>
It just got harder!<br>
<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xse">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xse</a><br>
<br>
I hope you enjoy our latest issue.<br>
<br>
Peter Harris<br>
Editor-in-Chief<br>
<br>
++EVENTS<br>
<br>
-------- Job Fair for International Students & Careers ---------<br>
<br>
The JOBFAIR will be held on March 8th in AKIHABARA.<br>
This JOBFAIR is the biggest event for international students<br>
and foreigners who are thinking about a career change in Japan:<br>
50+ companies will attend seeking internationally-minded people!<br>
<br>
JOBFAIR participants will have an opportunity<br>
to visit company booths and ask HR about careers.<br>
<br>
Some companies may have interviews on the day.<br>
The JOBFAIR provides a great chance to meet many companies and<br>
learn about them what they do and the people they need in a<br>
short period of time.<br>
<br>
DATE: March 8th /11:00 - 18:00<br>
PLACE: at AKIHABARA<br>
<a href="http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009-" target="_blank">http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009-</a><br>
<br>
------------ PMP Certification Prep Course ----------------<br>
<br>
Get ready for the PMP (Project Management Professional)<br>
certification exam, in 4 short days while taking just<br>
1 day off from work!<br>
<br>
A STEP TOWARD THE PMP<br>
March 20, 21, 22 and 23 -- 9:30 am to 6:30 pm<br>
(Thursday, March 20 is a national holiday)<br>
<br>
Satisfies the PMI's requirement of 35 PDUs for certification.<br>
<br>
Enroll and pay by Friday, February 29, and you will be eligible<br>
for a 35,000 yen discount and pay only 160,000 yen (incl. tax).<br>
<br>
InnoSoft Japan K.K<br>
For more information visit: <a href="http://www.innosoft.co.jp/" target="_blank">www.innosoft.co.jp</a><br>
or call us at 03-6868-3000<br>
<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Marcus Evans Events - Supported by J@pan Inc<br>
<br>
-Customer Relationship Excellence<br>
15th - 16th April 2008, Hilton Tokyo<br>
<a href="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13548" target="_blank">http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13548</a><br>
This event features leading speakers from Daihatsu Motor,<br>
Daimler Japan, General Motors, Honda Motor, Nissan Motor,<br>
Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota Motor and Johnson Controls<br>
Automotive Systems Corporation. Don't miss this out!<br>
<br>
-Compensation and Benefits<br>
27th - 28th May, Tokyo<br>
This event provides Japanese firms the understanding and<br>
'how-to' of investing in their employees for the purpose<br>
of sustaining their businesses Corporations nowadays need<br>
to formulate a business-driven compensation policy that<br>
leverages human capital to drive corporate growth.<br>
<br>
'J@pan Inc readers are entitled to a 10% discount upon<br>
registration with Ms. Esther Wong.'<br>
<br>
For further details and brochures, please contact:<br>
Ms. Esther Wong<br>
Tel No: +603 2723 6736<br>
Fax No: +603 2723 6699<br>
Email add: <a href="mailto:estherw@marcusevanskl.com" target="_blank">estherw@marcusevanskl.com</a><br>
<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
++END</p>