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The U.S. remains one of the most attractive markets for Japanese companies seeking growth. For many Japanese businesses, expansion into the U.S. may involve acquiring a local company, forming a strategic alliance, establishing a sales or manufacturing office, or supporting an existing U.S. subsidiary. However, today’s U.S. business environment requires more careful planning than before. Higher interest rates, inflation, labor cost pressure, insurance and logistics costs, tariffs, foreign exchange volatility, and tighter working capital conditions can all affect the success of a U.S. strategy. For…

A recent discussion with the Torrance Chamber of Commerce reinforced an important point for many small and mid-sized businesses: since COVID-19, companies have been slower to make meaningful changes from top to bottom. This is understandable. The past several years have brought major shifts in how we work, communicate, manage people, serve clients, and respond to economic and political uncertainty. However, in today’s fluid environment, slow decision-making can create real business risk. Management must be prepared to make firm decisions based on experience, practical judgment,…

In the past, many workers approached their careers like farmers. They would stay in one place for a long time, plant seeds, cultivate relationships, learn slowly, and eventually harvest the rewards over many years. Loyalty, patience, and long-term commitment were often expected as part of the employment relationship. Today, the workforce has changed. Many employees, especially younger professionals, want to learn quickly, earn more quickly, and advance more quickly. They are exposed to constant information, career comparisons, and new opportunities through social media, LinkedIn, and…

At a recent Torrance Chamber of Commerce panel discussion, one topic that stood out was the growing concern around children’s use of iPhones, iPads, and other digital devices. At first glance, this may sound like a parenting or education issue. However, the broader implication goes far beyond children. We are now seeing what can be described as an “attention recession.” In simple terms, an attention recession means that people have less available focus than before. Customers, employees, managers, and children are constantly exposed to smartphones,…