The Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan presents:

The Contest for Japan's Economic Future

Speaker:

Richard Katz

Toyo Keizai and Japan Economy Watch

Thursday 8 February 2024 from 18:30 - 20:00 (Tokyo)

Temple University Japan Campus | The Parliament

Full URL: https://forms.office.com/r/BMkYv32wMC

Overview

Just as a wave of entrepreneurship created Japan's postwar "economic miracle," so it will take a new generation of entrepreneurs to revive its stagnant economy. In today's Japan, assorted political and economic obstacles impede such newcomers.

Fortunately, major social and technological changes are breaking down those obstacles and creating Japan's best opportunity in a generation. The lifetime employment system has long made it too risky to leave a job at a big firm to start or join a startup. Today's generation is far more willing to take that risk, enabling newcomers to hire experienced staff. Many are talented women denied promotions at traditional companies. E-commerce is enabling tens of thousands of newcomers to bypass the traditional distribution system and gain access to millions of customers. Meanwhile, three "lost decades" have convinced many within both elites and the public of the need for change. Today's trends go far beyond anything seen as recently as a decade ago when promises of entrepreneurial revival failed to come true.

The bad news is that these positive trends cannot reach critical mass without support from the government and the financial system. They are not getting it. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised "bold" actions to stimulate 100,000 new startups by 2027, he took almost no measures to turn his rhetoric into reality. It is hard for newcomers to get either initial financing or bank loans.

Japan's economic future will be determined by the contest between the pro- and anti-entrepreneurship forces detailed in this book.

Speaker

Richard Katz is a special correspondent for Weekly Toyo Keizai and the publisher of the Japan Economy Watch blog on Substack (https://richardkatz.substack.com/). The Contest For Japan's Economic Future is his third book on Japan. His commentaries have been published in Foreign Affairs, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and others. He received his MA in Economics from New York University in 1996.

Moderator

Robert Dujarric, Co-Director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies (ICAS), Temple University, Japan Campus.

Event Registration

RSVP is not required but greatly appreciated. Please register using the button below.

Full URL: https://forms.office.com/r/BMkYv32wMC

Physical Access:

Temple University, Japan Campus

The Parliament (Room 111)

1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

By train: Sangenjaya Station/South Exit A

Maps/Directions: https://www.tuj.ac.jp/maps/tokyo

Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies

Temple University, Japan Campus

https://www.tuj.ac.jp/icas

icas@tuj.temple.edu

All ICAS events are held in English, open to the public, and admission is free unless otherwise noted.

ICAS events reflect the opinions of the speakers and participants, and do not represent the views of

Temple University, Temple University Japan Campus, or the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies.