May 2003 Issue

On the cover: Producers and DJs Takeo Yatabe and Sabi Takahashi of Womb and Form, Inc. prepare for another visionary night at their Tokyo club.

May 2003
No. 43

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May 2003 Issue

Upfront
	Contributors Editor's page

	To the Editor Japan's micro strengths -- whipped-up spume on a stagnant sea?

	Humane Management The outplacement industry rises to the challenge of restructuring.

	A Global Standard True global roaming on your cellphone.

	The Matrix Redux A series of anime films will link "The Matrix" with its sequel.

	Out of a War-Torn World Young Osamu Tezuka's wartime experiences forged the basis for Astro Boy, writes Dominic Al-Badri.

	The Low Cost of Living in Japan Mark McCracken argues that it's easy to cut costs in Japan.

	Buffalo Burgers, Anyone? It's buffalo versus beef in Japan's meat wars.

	China's Visionary B2B Alibaba.com CEO Jack Ma has a vision: Helping small companies buy and sell goods through his sites.

	Convenience (done cheap) is the King of Cool Video giant Tsutaya and convenience store chain Lawson call out to deflation's kids.

	Two Japans Political analyst Minoru Morita talks about the widening gap between wealthy Tokyo and the rest of the country.

	Price Slashers Cash-and-carry wholesalers in Tokyo treat the latest gadgets like groceries -- if the goods sit on the shelf for a day, they lower the price.

	Japan's Fast Food Funk Is the king of fast food at risk of becoming the first major deflation victim? Leo Lewis investigates.

	The Pulse 2 The best of J@pan Inc's newsletters

	The Pulse Technology and Finance News

	From the Editor Editor's page

Features
	The Night is Still Young Stuart Braun stays up late to find out why Tokyo's clubs pulse with recession-beating energy. Braun also talks with Sabi Takahashi and Takeo Yatabe of Womb and Form, Inc., about their success in connecting corporate marketers to the creatures of the night.

	Sabi Takahashi and Takeo Yatabe: Form, Inc. "We create concepts. That's our real job, because the marketing agencies don't know what young people think or want"

	Stalking the Corporate Corridors Japan's historically passive shareholders are starting to speak out after years of wealth destruction and corporate scandal. Kabunushi Ombudsman, a group of activist lawyers in Osaka, is leading the charge.

	KO's Method of Operation Stalking the Corporate Corridors' side bar.

	Growing Investor Activism The laissez faire era of corporate governance may be drawing to a close.

	A Lonely World Jaded students who have few hopes of finding fruitful careers at home are heading overseas. But life is not easy for the expat students, even if mom and dad are often picking up the tab.

	A Bittersweet Graduation The Class of 2003 finds little hope at home

Blowfish
	Blowfish Christmas wish list, singing along in Saitama and trends in pasta.