Kazuaki MoriBy Peter Harris
The Value of Responsible Withdrawal from the Market

In a speech at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan in August, Brackett Denniston III, General Counsel for GE spoke about how he has tried to bring “society into strategy.” Denniston, a firm believer that companies can provide social values and benefits, as well as employment and income, sees Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a moral obligation as well as having a positive financial outcome for the company. In particular the “reputational capital” gained by behaving in a way that treats human beings and the environment with respect is highly valuable for the company’s brand image.

Kenneth ArbourBy Kenneth Arbour

Kenneth Arbour, President of Century 21 SKY Realty, has spent over 20 years in the real estate and relocation business in Tokyo. This is the second of four articles, in which Ken covers trends in the real estate market in Tokyo and Japan.

Females and FashionBy Timothy Coghlan

On a Saturday afternoon earlier this year the biggest fashion show ever staged in Japan, and quite possibly the world, took place in Yokohama Arena. This was by far no ordinary fashion show, it was more like a pop concert with its thousands of screaming fans, incredible visual effects and, to top it all off, simultaneous interactive shopping. This is the new cutting edge fashion show: TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION (TGC).

Hiroko TatebeBy Willhemina Wahlin
Profiles of professionals

In Japan, the ‘concrete ceiling’ as it’s commonly known, is still a major stumbling block in the career trajectories of many women. Still a predominantly male-dominated society, it’s not surprising that Japan, which rates seventh in the United Nations Human Development Index, only made it to 69th in the same report’s Gender-related Development Index, and 42nd in the Gender Empowerment Index for 2006.