Terrie LloydBy Terrie Lloyd
On February 26, 2007, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average hit an 81-month high of 18,215.35 points, the highest close since May 2, 2000. While it could be that this is just another temporary year-end closing blip for the market, by companies bundling their profits into the final quarter, most analysts are saying that it is more likely a milestone on the way to the Nikkei hitting 20,000 later this year. The reasoning behind this is that due to the low yen, exporters are making some quite massive local profits, and these will be reflected in the stock prices moving forward.

Re: Tips for Finding an International School (Winter 2006)
Buying Residential Property in Japan

Alain WenckebachOrganizations are constantly reviewing and updating their contingency plans

Here at PTS Consulting Japan KK 'Integrated Solutions' takes its true meaning when applied to Data Centers and Project Management. As we started to build our reputation in the Japanese market in the Data Center designs, it became quite apparent that there was a large divide between the IT and the Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) world which we saw as a big opportunity. In most cases, when a Data Center would be designed, IT would hand-off their requirements in simplistic terms to the M&E consultants and trusted that the M&E consultants would deliver an infrastructure to support their growth. Many issues have risen in the past few years, mainly due to changes of IT as well as ill-defined Data Center operational management.

Yuca Ishizuka's Golden PavilionBy Yoichi Takabayashi
Yuca Ishizuka's 'Golden Pavilion'

More than fifty years ago, an incident took place. The Rokuon Temple (also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion), in Kitayama, Kyoto, was burnt down to the ground by a young monk who was studying there. It had been established over six hundred years previously by the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion was one of Japan’s major cultural assets and was a designated national treasure that had escaped the ravages of war. It was thought to be everlasting. This act of arson happened at the time when I was a high school student in Kyoto, and I found it deeply shocking. It was not simply the incineration of a building, but the irreparable loss of over six hundred years of history.

By Terrie Lloyd
2007 Recruiting for Managers and IT Specialists in Foreign Companies

Japan Inc’s Terrie Lloyd provides a primer on how the economy connects to job hunting, offering tips on getting the timing right and advice on how trends in the market can help you improve the salary and conditions in your next job.

Peter HarrisBy Peter Harris
A review of Shinzo Abe’s premiership so far: where it’s been and where it might be going

Despite his poor position in recent polls, Japan’s premier seems to be enjoying his position six months into the job, even if he can’t always manage a smile. In his chatty newsletter on his homepage he writes of the “deep breath of fresh air” afforded him by his diplomatic visits abroad:

“In one European country I was received by a brass band playing the Japanese national anthem. On another occasion, I was welcomed by military police standing in perfect formation. In the Philippines, women dressed in colorful ethnic costumes and performed a beautiful dance for me.”

The reality of today's classrooms.By Patrick Newell
Education must meet the needs of today and the demands of tomorrow

Technology, media and globalization contribute to our world changing at an alarming pace and in ways it never has done before. When our current elementary school children enter the workforce, a significant percentage of the jobs they will take have yet to be invented. Their generation are likely to change careers five times.

Jason WinderBy Jason Winder
Want to improve your productivity?

Innovation in the IT sector continues with companies around the world working to improve the way we work. A host of new products and services designed for business people are available. Some examples are applications that allow you to securely access the information on your PC from anywhere in the world, and new collaboration tools which allow teams of people to work on the same documents simultaneously regardless of location.

James MokBy James Mok
Part I. How Japan’s enterprise IT has failed to learn from its most competitive industry–manufacturing

Whether you are an expatriate who needs to interact extensively with local IT departments, or a foreign consultant who works intimately on IT projects for Japanese firms, you may well find a few surprises during your engagement.