Abenomics 2.0 – economic reforms in continuity

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On Sunday the 22nd of October new parliamentary elections have been held in Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a snap election that he and his party (Liberal Democratic Party –LDP) largely won.
As happened in 2014, early elections gave LDP and its alley the opportunity to secure the 2/3 majority in the House of Representatives (that in truth they already had). Political conditions were in fact extremely favourable for Abe: a weak opposition; the Nord Korea threat; the delicate Japanese economy. Despite his growing unpopularity, the victory makes the PM stronger, and gieves him the magical number needed to amend the pacifist constitution.
abe japan bisAbe has been elected as PM for the first time in 2006. His short government was oriented in budget stability and expenditure cuts. In 2007 a series of political issues forced him to step down: the defeat at the House of Councillors elections; the suicide of one of his minister for agriculture due to his involvement in a case of corruption; and the resignations of the following agriculture minister for other judicial problems.
He has been again elected PM in 2012 when he leaded his party to a consistent victory. His second government is the occasion to implement the so called Abenomics: a systematic series of economic reforms based on 3 “arrows”: expansive monetary policy (quantitative easing); expansive fiscal policy; structural long-term reforms to encourage private investments.
In this context, the consumption tax rising has been and still is an issue of debate. The government first implemented an increase from 5% to 8%, aiming to a further rising to 10% in 2015; then, in 2014, announced the 10% consumption tax will be implemented in 2017. Months later, Abe decided to dissolve the House of Representatives. New political scandals involving ex members of his cabinet, a deadlocked parliament, and an unprepared opposition convinced him in finding a new legitimacy for his reforms.
The 2014 victory allowed Abe to continue in his program: his third cabinet announced a new phase of Abenomics, and 3 new arrows: promotion of economic growth; child-rearing assistance to push up the low birth rate; and social security measures to increase nursing facilities for the elderly.
This year, Abe has failed again in rising the consumption tax, and delayed the implementation of the measure. After his confirmation as head of government, he should have no problem in doing so in 2019 (the new deadline).
With a strong hold of the parliament, Abe will be able to comfortably continue his reforms, with the complicity of the Bank of Japan. Actually, the BoJ governor Haruhiko Kuroda, who strongly supported Abenomics, will be confirmed to his position by his main sponsor: Abe himself.

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Save incidents, the new cabinet will govern the country until next elections, scheduled in autumn 2021. In this term, it will face important events such the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and the preparation of the 2025 Expo, which Osaka is a candidate for. Two important opportunity for Abe’s cabinet, as well as foreign and local investors.

Regional network in Lombardia for international cooperation and development

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When cross culture reaches successful goals about contents mediated with events, researches and creativity it’s time to consolidate these visions and interests on mutual and concrete base. That’s exactly the way we’re approaching this aim with our international contest called Switch on Your creativity: with official patronage of Milano Expo 2015 and technical support of partnered companies and sponsors we launched the special award called “International Dialogue among Cultures 2013 – 2014”. We involved young artists from Japan, Korea, China, Italy and other european countries, making them protagonists of our event introducing personal artistic vision on topic of sustainable development  in the city of Expo.

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Thanking this edition of the contest we’ve made tight cooperation among well framed institutions, companies and organizations: our purpose basically consist of  relaunch of international perspectives for economic operators and cross cultural cooperation among key players from diversified fields.

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Even if we guaranteed scholarships for winners of the first edition of the contest, now we’re getting busy on promotion of their artworks on regional scene, aware that through culture and arts is possible to accomunate mutual projects and skills to consolidate new operative sphere for the territory. As follows some projects announced briefly during last vernissage of our exhibition held in Lodi at Punto Enel: main partner of our promotional agenda developed for topics about Expo and International Dialogue.

– English 4 Expo: special intensive training program for operators and professionals based on exercises for daily conversation during the year of the expo. We really trust that international vision useful to achieve concrete results on international markets or through international potential target can be improved only with high level’s skills on communication and listening comprehension. With mother tongue experts of communication we’re going to present 1 month intensive program 4 hours x week. The project is managed in cooperation with C.U.P.I. and Asian Studies Group Italia as twinned centre in charge of involvement of US trainers in cooperation with IES Abroad Foundation. The course will be offered for FREE! (only CUPI annual membership fee’s necessary)

– Mission to Japan 2014: being there to improve connections on time for Expo, that’s our aim we would like to get by business tour in Kobe planned for winter 2014. B2b platform will be introduced on italian side by ADM-EA Consulting Firm from Milan in cooperation with C.U.P.I. and japanese organizations for international trade and business development’s opportunities for foreign investments. Asian Studies Group Italia will provide free mediation’s tools in italian / japanese languages and orientation – coaching services before departure. The program will be offer for FREE only flight ticket and hotel’s reservation needed. (must be members of CUPI Association).

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Cause we are going to make these programs as core – activities for Lodigiano Area (south Lombardy) about the operative projects of Lodi Verso Expo (Lodi towards Expo) we’re also introducing that like special networking cooperations’s opportunity for local institutions and specific association in representation of professionals, corporates and key sectors.

I trust for real that it’ll be absolutely useful for the territory to present well framed offers and participation to japanese counterpart, such mission it’ll be great occasion to introduce second step of the B2b dialogue between operators: discover business potential in the year of the EXPO being protagonists of negotiation and deals in our territory as well,  where we are already managing agenda of contents and investment’s proposals for 2015, when Milan it’ll be capital of the world.

For further info about English 4 EXPO and Mission Japan 1.0. by CUPI check the Association’s portal www.cupiproject.com (such projects will be featured from May 2014)

 

 

New record for tourism in Japan – Pursue the common good, waiting for Olimpic Games 2020

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Japan shows to the world that beyond troubles and negative perspectives due the nuclear disaster in Fukushima and the tsunami of 2011 is really possible for a nation that invests on Tourism boost the economy as long as they continue to introduce their nation with fascinating promotion and high level’s facilities. A place where culture and well structured services system represent one of  best choices for tourists.

The aim has been announced: improve number of tourists reaching more than 10 millions for the 2013 expecting more than 30 millions until 2020. Purpose that i think  it will be for sure realized ‘cause Japan shows to the international community  they can develop one of most important resources for modern country: cooperation among institutions, people and industry.

I like to define such skill as “practical harmony of japanese society”. I think that sometimes for japanese people could seem really hard to try do focus on personal / individual perspective or interests, cause their education and the way which they get trained about every part of their daily life represent concrete aspects of community’s life.

They well know that each goal is part of common structure and they prefer to follow an invisible hand (reminding Smith’s definition for modern economy) that goes on opposite direction… Pursuing common good you can realize yourself and will be always safe.  This perception even if  it could be something of heavy that make you go slowly in some moments when  indeed you need to be ready for quick decisions for important aspects of your life, it’s  traditional and effective mood wich japanese society prefers to go ahead.

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As european advisor pretty involved for my profession in frequent consulting activities for corporates that operate on japanese market and continuously  busy on high – risk decisions for ventures that must be managed balancing rush and patience between european needs and japanese analysis I suffer the condition of somebody wants to speed up projects and get concrete results quickly but at the same time I know that i’ve to face with system of people that are connected in common vision built in function of mutual respect, mutual effort, mutual involvement and mutual risk.

fSh1y.AuSt.55Now, the success of Tokyo as official city that will host Olimpic Games of 2020 is something that Japan was  really planning from decades… Then everybody there, 2 generations or more were getting ready for such perspection and for the big commitment they’re going to manage and I’m pretty sure that they will be able to show to the whole world that the common good as final goal must be pursued with daily and firm conviction.

That’s why I cannot stop myself from smiling when I ear somebody who put forward the proposal of considering Rome as next nomination for future edition of the Olimpic Games: first of all we need to focus on social needs as firm and concrete priority of our politic system.

We should create new awarness useful to build up network of players that can represent a new way of managing trasures of our country.. and we need for sure to start “thinking global” if we wanna to create a solid base for boost interests.

Japan keeps conservative and traditional vision for the values of their social system but they show continuously curiosity and great dynamism toward diversity and external incentives. I think that such perception could be the perfect way to educate generations on waiting for new opportunities for our country.

On business side the news of Tokyo as capital of Olimpic Games for 2020 has immediately shocked in positive way the international community of investors and companies that never stopped on buliding concrete relations on this market are now preparing new business plan that will be reinforced for sure from japanese counterpart. That’s why I’m already planning some business missions on key sectors which we’re going to introduce companies from Europe to important players in Japan – B2b negotiations should start 4 / 5 years before cause everybody works on japanese market well knows that usually from first meeting till conclusion of the deal we needs something like 3 years of intensive communications and planning activities..

So we’re already busy on improving details in behalf of business projects that concern:

– Tourism  (we’ve japanese tour operators branches in Europe and in Italy which we’re already working with)

– International communication and Marketing (worldwide event needs operators highly specialized on boosting sponsors activity)

– Urban facilities and transports (JR and private railways companies are supplied for equipments and high technology solutions by europea companies)

– Food  (as italian professional I well know as we’ve done for Beijing Olimpic Games, how much food and design and in general made n italy could be developed in occasion of such events not only about restaurants and entertainment but also for new distributions and as new occasion to introduce innovative products that thanking of such opportunity will become well known products for daily consumption after the event)

– Design & Luxury (Hotels and facilities will invest a lot on this aspects)

– IDE and new investment’s opportunities for re-establishment of businesses in Japan

As Italian based in Milan with my studio I’m proud of EXPO for sure… but recently I’m feeling more confortable on follow concrete and safe roads for my business and investments that will find the real successfull conclusion for well planned businesses… and with this awarness I warmly reccomend to start thinking of opportunities that we can already analyze in behalf of japanese olimpic games!

For further inquiries please contact me

Biz Bushido – Business Japanese, training for start working in japanese companies

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biz nihongoAs consultant specialized on oriental languages and cross cultural communication I well know how it’s important for professionals to manage good level about foreign language, in particular when it allows us get beyond common contents showing personal ability on handling specific argumentations whenever we need.

But I’m also aware that common studies and courses, even if you’ve attended good universities or well known specilized centres for language studies, sometimes could’t make you well trained on advanced steps, in particular for business matters, and that’s more true if we’re considering a such complicate language like japanese.

It’s not just a problem of being familiar with specific words that must be used according with professional fields (that’s for sure important for anybody wants to get specific expertise) but that’s really hard part that involves practice and natural perception about keeping the right “harmony” towards speakers (whom you will have for sure to negotiate or propose something..), how to show respect  ( in japan business must follow always specific known background of symbols and situations and it’s important to respect mutual positions in this game) and in particular awareness about own role inside the dialogue / relation  (according with confucian wave in Asia, then through more concrete “bushi – education” that influenced  japanese business world, everybody got specific role in the world, being humble and aware about own position can help to introduce with communication needs and get benefits from interlocutors).

Now can you imagine how it’ll be difficult reach so deep / particular skills during regular academic course? in my case i’ve studied japanese at university for 5 years – passed always exams with best marks or pretty high scores and i’ve been in Japan with scholarships first and  joining intensive improvement courses around 3 times during my university preparation (in Japan also)  and i’ve never faced up with such contents that now I well recognize as fundamentals to get  successful access to business community in Japan. Sure I learned  in the past some key -words in keigo (or sonkeigo and kenjogo) that any student must manage during university training (お疲れ様です、畏まりました、致します、イタリアから参ります、お願い致します、待たせて下さいませんでしょうか etc) but it wasn’t really clear how it would go beyond mnemonic usage.

The opportunity to understand more about this matter, came around 6 years ago, during my first working experience in Tokyo in behalf of big multinational company that was doing research and recruiting on japanese market in occasion of the estabilishment of its japanese branch. I was chief manager for this project and I was really proud to work for some months in JETRO Tokyo for this company.

My japanese colleagues and staff from Japan External Trade Org after few weeks of reports and emails thought finally to win japanese embarassment suggesting me to that way to communicate on business matters (they said.. your japanese is totally correct.. and you don’t have any trouble about grammar but.. these reports and emails. are 作文 that means “compositions” and not business documents..) – That was the real  rebirth for my skills and for my career… I got quick intensive and good training as japanese people are also used to get after university when they got employed in  a common japanese company..

Business4.32495947_stdWell, when I founded Asian Studies Group I really wanted to do something of different about didactic services.. a group  first of all must be an opportunity of meeting to learn something of useful and concrete sharing skills (experience should be teaching for others… following the manner of good sensei) … so I tought why don’t get benefit for all our students through personal working experience got in the past? and That born our programme focused on concrete contents about Business Japanese –  it’s not only about what do you have to study but in particular how to apply it and  how to become independent on recognize / reply  in different business situations, managing the contents as survival’s key – features that will be part of your professional tools for real.

‘Cause learning these tips will have not any importance without trying to make them concrete, we include in our programmes also 6 weeks of internships in Japan, (free accomodation offered by our centre and japanese partners) and we’ll make you as our executive assistant for projects that partnered companies are managing in Japan with us.

i manage with my japanese colleague teacher 1 month of intensive classes in Milan (and soon in Rome) – everyday you’ll have lessons and we’ll discuss (in japanese) also not only about business compositions (依頼状　詫び状　見積書　稟議書etc) but we’ll analyze also specific situations that maybe you’ll have to manage directly as professional involved on marketing / commercial issues with japanese partners or clients in japan (corporate systems in jp, contractual matters, types of contracts etc)

Interested in such programme?  I hope to See you at level check days and remember that we’ll provide three sessions yearly (sept + october / jan + feb / may + june) – internship start around 3 weeks later the end of the programme in Italy

SAVE THE DATE for Next Session –  Level check on 26 / 27 of September –

Location: Asian Studies Group – Milan

Classes will start on 2 october and final test will be on 30 october 2013 (daily classes 36 hours)

For inquiries contact also info@asianstudiesgroup.net

and check link as follows

http://www.asianstudiesgroup.net/it/italiano/corso-di-specializzazione-business-japanese-e-stage

positions available also for foreign students from Eurozone with certified skills in japanese language (send cv before reserve you attndance for level check day)