Japan's Century-old Enterprise Legacy Tour: Exploring the Path of Innovation in Century-old Brand Management

（7Days and 6 Nights）

【Project Background】

Current Consumer Market Environment of Japanese Society

Since the mid-1990s, the Japanese economy has entered a period of stagnation that has lasted for more than 20 years. With the worsening social issues of a declining birth rate, an aging population, and low desire, a large number of Japanese enterprises, such as MUJI, 7-11, and Tsutaya Bookstore, have still achieved growth against the trend and sustained development, becoming the object of Chinese enterprises to study and learn.

The Secret to the Management of long-lived Japanese enterprises

As a developed economy with many companies, Japan has been able to avoid a high corporate bankruptcy rate during the pandemic. What is even more unexpected is that Japan now has more than 33,000 century-old stores, accounting for more than 40% of the world's total. Among them, there are more than 3,100 old stores that have been operating for more than two centuries, about 147 shops that have been existed for more than 500 years, and at least 21 shops even claim to have been opened since the first millennium AD.

Tens of thousands of Japanese brands have been only making only one product for a hundred years. The enterprise itself interprets the spirit of craftsmanship and lean management.

Inspiration for Chinese Enterprises

Nowadays, the life span of companies around the world is shortenin, Japanese companies seem to be very "anti-aging". Most of Japan's long-lived companies have experienced natural disasters such as earthquakes and wars, as well as various difficulties and hardships brought about by social and economic turmoil. How did these companies survive the long years and endless disasters, and how did they fight against the wind and waves of time and cross the cycle of rise and fall? What can they inspire Chinese enterprises facing the dilemma of inheritance?

MICI has created the "Japan Innovation Insight & Longevity Enterprise Study Tour", with reserved seats awaiting, let's decode the future together!

【Itinerary Highlights】

● In-depth exploration of three bustling cities in Japan, discovering the mystery of Japan's booming management in the post-epidemic era

A very Large city in Asia -- Tokyo 

An important stronghold of Japan's traditional cultural - Kyoto 

A developed retail place and a world tourism destination - Osaka

● 5 industry giants, 5 professional sharing sessions, dig deep into the secret of successful business in Japan's new consumer market

"The Sun Family's Strategy and the Miracle of SoftBank" - Masayoshi Son

"Tokyo Disney: How Japan's Service Industry Crosses the Cycle" - Disney Operations Executive, Business Service Consultant

"711 Business Innovation and Aging Strategy" ⸺Director of 7-11 Ito Research Center

"The Secret of teh Management of Century-old Japanese Companies" - Special Appointed Professor of Japan University of Economics

"The Good  Business Philosophy of Japan and the Inheritance of Family Business" - A Representative of Omi Merchants

● In-depth Investigation of 5 well-known Japanese enterprises, learning the unique management methods of Japan

The world's largest chain convenience group - 7-11 Research Center

A classic that beer enthusiasts must not miss - Kirin beer (Century-old Enterprise)

The world's largest amino acid manufacturer - Ajinomoto (Century-old Enterprise)

The World's top 500 enterprises, the way of Inamori Kazuo Tao -- Kyocera (Century-old Enterprise)

"The inheritance of Omi Merchants" -- Tsuka Ki Cooperation (Century-old Enterprise)

● In-depth cultural experience, feeling the unique customs and culture of Japan

Ginza, Tea Ceremony, Kiyomizu Temple, Nijojo Castle, Shinsaibashi Shopping District

【Itinerary arrangement】

Day1 Shanghai - Tokyo

Morning: Arrived in Tokyo

City Tour: Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the location of the Japanese Cabinet and the Japanese Parliament, as well as the center of many other fields such as politics, economy, culture, and transportation in Japan. As one of the most prosperous cities in Asia, Tokyo has a very diversified economic system, with world-class financial markets and financial institutions, such as the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Bank of Japan, and many other large banks and securities companies in Japan. In addition, it also has many well-known companies such as Toyota Motor, Honda R&D Industrial Cooperation, Nissan Motor, Mazda, Subaru and so on.

Afternoon: Cultural Experience

Featured Attractions: Ginza

Reason for recommendation: Experiencing one of the world's three major prosperous centers

Introduction: Ginza, one of the three major scenic spots (Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Ginza) that symbolize Japan's nature, history, and modernity, is one of the three major bustling centers in the world, along with the Champs-Elysees in Paris and the Fifth Avenue in New York. Ginza, which came into its present form through continuous land reclamation, and it is the birthplace of many century-old shops and local brands. The central road, which runs through GInza from 1st to 8th, is selected as one of Japan's "One hundred famous roads" and is also the busiest main street in Ginza.

Day2 Tokyo

Morning: Big Shot Course

Course Theme: " The Secret to the Management of Japanese Century-old Companies"

Guest speaker: Special Appointed Professor of Japan University of Economics

Learning Outcomes: Learn the long-standing business philosophy and management methods of Japanese century-old enterprises

Course outline:

1. An overview of the lifespan of global and Japanese enterprise

2. The six factors for the success of Japanese long-lived companies

3. The basic philosophy and craftsmanship of Japanese century-old enterprise

4. Summary

Afternoon: Big Shot Course

Course Theme: "Sun's Strategy and the Miracle of SoftBank"

Guest Speaker: Former Senior Director of Sun

Learning Outcomes: Listen to the former senior director of Sun talk about the wonders of the SoftBank Empire

Course Introduction: Knowing "SoftBank miracle" and how Shima Satoshi view the rapid rise of SoftBank and the legendary Sun whom he assisted.

Day3 Tokyo

Morning: Business Investigation - Ajinomoto

Visit Benefits: Understand one of the world's top ten food enterprises, enter the world's very large amino acid manufacturers

Enterprise Introduction: Ajimoto is one of the world's largest Amino acid suppliers, with products involving many fields such as food and medicine. The famous Amino series products range from Amino Vital series sports nutrition products used by professsional athletes to daily vitality dry cup health food, making full use of the special effect of amino acids. Japan's Ajinomoto Group has become one of the world's top ten food companies among the "century- old shops", Ajinomoto not only produces lysine, but also has a largr production of threonine, tryptophan in the world.

Afternoon: Business Investigation-7-11 Research Center

Theme Course: 711 Business Innovation and Aging Strategy

Guest speaker: Head of 7-11 Ito Research Center

Visit Benefits: Learn the operation model and brand management mechanism of 711

Enterprise Introduction: The world's largest chain convenience store group, covering 16 countries and regions in the world, with more than 60,000 stores. There are more than 16,000 7-11 stores in Japan, which is the global benchmark of the new retail chain, basically no own stores, logistics, factories, but to build the most powerful industrial router in history, inventory turnover days are only 10 days, gross profit margin as high as 90%, net profit margin as high as 20%, creating a global retail miracle.

Day4 Tokyo

Morning: Big Shot Course

Course Theme: "How Japan's Service Industry Crosses the Cycle from Tokyo Disney"

Guest Speaker: Disney Operation Executive,  Business Service Consultant

Learning Outcomes: Learning the successful experience of  Disney Director

Course Introduction: Disney Japan is known as the most successful park in the world and the first amusement park in Asia. According to statistics, among the parks in the world, Tokyo Disney has always ranked first in the number of visitors to the park, and the repeat visitor rate is more than 90%. Why is Disney able to continue to thrive and being popular? What is the connection with the unique management of Oriental Paradise and the concept of "touching service" implemented since the establishment of the park?

Afternoon: Business Investigation - Kirin Beer

Visit Theme: Learn the hundred -year history of Kirin Beer's innovation, corporate culture, and lean management

Visit Benefits: In-depth understanding of the brewing history and brewing methods ofepresentative Japanese delicious beer

Enterprise Introduction: Kirin Beer Cooperation was founded in 1907 and is one of the four major breweries in Japan. It is the oldest and largest Kirin beer factory in Japan. Here you can visit the beer museum and the production process of brewing beer. In addition, you can taste fresh beer in the bar and restaurant here.

Day5 Kyoto

Morning: Business Investigation - Kyocera

Visit Theme: The Amoeba management philosophy that mobilize the strength of all employeew

Visit Benefits: Business philosophy based on "philosophy", Inamori Kazuo's management philosophy, Amoeba management techniques, Kyocera culture

Enterprise Introduction: Mr. Kazuo Inamori established in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, in April 1959 with a capital of 3 million yen, originally named "Kyocera Corporation", is a manufacturer mainly engaged in the production of precision ceramics. After more than fifty years of development, it has grown from a small workshop-style factory with only a dozen people to a top 500 global enterprise with nearly 70,000 employees, a multinational group company. How does Japan's traditional business philosophy and culture help Kyocera grow rapidly into a modern multinational corporation? What is the relationship between Kyocera's amoeba management and Kyocera's 50 years of continuous growth and high profitability?

Afternoon: Business Investigation- Tsuka Ki Group

Theme Course: "The Japanese Sanpo Good Management Philosophy and Family Business Succession"

Guest Speaker: Successful representative of the Omi merchants

Visit Benefits: Basic business philosophy of "Sanpo Good", family culture inheritance

Enterprise Introduction: Established in 1867, Tsuka Ki Group, which has been in business for nearly 150 years, is a typical Japanese family business. The founding family holds all the shares, and the sixth generation has succeeded to the name so far. In addition to the main business of kimono, Tsuka Ki Group also operates jewelry, fur, and real estate businesses. It is the most typical Japanese family business. The "Sanpo Good" business philosophy (good for the buyer, good for the seller, and good for the world) advocated by the sixth generation of the group, Tsukamoto Kizaemon, is considered the source of the perpetuity of Japanese management.

Day6 Kyoto

Morning: Special experience - Tea Ceremony Lecture + Experience

Recommended reason: Understand Japanese tea ceremony culture, feel the scenery of Japanese courtyard.

Afternoon: Cultural Experience

Featured Attractions: Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera

Reason for Recommendation: Review the history of the shogunate and feel the atmosphere of Japanese temples

Attractions Introduction: Also known as Nijo Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle is located in Kyoto, Japan, and was the shogunate's residence in Kyoto. Built in 1603, Nijo Castle was a symbol of power for the Edo Shogunate. The walls and sliding doors of the palace are adorned with famous paintings by the Kano school of painters, which are exquisite. The best time to visit is when the plum and chrysanthemum blossoms are in full bloom each year. Kiyomizu-dera, founded in 778, is the oldest temple in Kyoto. It has been burned and rebuilt many times. The stage in front of the main hall is a national treasure of Japan. Surrounded by green trees, it is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto in spring, and a good place to enjoy the autumn maple leaves. Kiyomizu-dera's tea art ranks first in Kyoto. In 1994, Kiyomizu-dera was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.

Day7 Kyoto - Osaka - Shanghai

Morning: Cultural experience

Featured Attraction: Osaka Shinsaibashi Shopping District

Reason for recommendation: Feel the different shopping styles of Kansai and Kanto

Attractions Introduction: As a large shopping area in Osaka, Shinsaibashi is bustling with many boutiques and specialty stores from morning to night, full of citizens and tourists. Shinsaibashi developed centered on the arcade-equipped Shinsaibashi Shopping Street. Here, large department stores, century-old shops, and various small shops for the common people are in a row. The stone-paved pedestrian streets, British-style street lamps, and rows of brick buildings on Shoubashi Street are elegant in style, and this area is known as the European Village.

Afternoon: Return to Shanghai