News & Highlights

  • JUNE 2025
  • MBA Admissions

HBS MBA Information Session in Tokyo

On June 28, the HBS Japan Research Center hosted an in-person MBA information session in Tokyo, featuring Dana Fernandez, Director of MBA Admissions, in collaboration with the HBS Club of Japan, an alumni association. The event drew over 50 prospective applicants who had the rare opportunity to hear directly from Ms. Fernandez and engage with a panel of local alumni. The session offered valuable insights into the HBS MBA experience and provided a meaningful platform for attendees to connect with alumni and fellow candidates.
  • JUNE 2025
  • Alumni Event

Faculty Talk by Professor Debora L. Spar

On June 10, the HBS Japan Research Center and the HBS Club of Japan welcomed Professor Debora Spar to the International House of Japan for a thought-provoking faculty talk attended by about 50 alumni and guests. In her talk, titled "Love in the Time of AI: How to Be Human in a World of Machines," Professor Spar discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping not just the workplace but also deeply personal aspects of our lives. She introduced her research on “Sacred Goods”—fundamental human values like love, family, and community—and reflected on how these might evolve or become more vulnerable in the age of artificial intelligence. The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session.
  • January 2025
  • Immersive Field Course

The Global Classroom: Student Immersion in Japan

The Japan Immersive Field Course (IFC) was launched in 2012 in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. Over the years, the program has evolved alongside the progress of reconstruction efforts in the disaster-affected areas. While the main program is now held in Tokyo, the group continues to visit the Tohoku region on weekends to maintain a meaningful connection with the area. This year, Professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell led 43 students to Japan for the 12th Japan IFC, a 10-day immersive experience themed “Exploring Japan's Innovation Ecosystem.” During their time in Japan, the students participated in team-based consulting projects and attended a venture capital panel session in Tokyo. In Tohoku, they met local social entrepreneurs, engaged with the Mayor of Onagawa, and visited Tohoku University to connect with deep-tech companies and explore cutting-edge innovations. Beyond these academic and professional activities, the students also experienced both traditional and modern Japanese culture through various immersive activities. The program provided an enjoyable and rewarding experience, fostering a deeper understanding of Japan's innovation landscape and cultural richness.
  • OCTOBER 2024
  • EVENT

HBS MBA Information Session in Tokyo

On October 5, the HBS Japan Research Center hosted an engaging in-person MBA information session for prospective applicants, in collaboration with the MBA Admissions Office. The event welcomed over 100 attendees, offering them the unique opportunity to gain insights directly from a panel of local alumni. The panelists shared their experiences about the transformative MBA program, life at HBS, and the financial aid resources available to students. The session served as an invaluable platform for attendees to explore the possibilities of an HBS MBA and connect with both alumni and fellow prospective applicants.

New Research on the Region

  • July 2025
  • Case

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Akiko Saito

In 2025, Kenichi Hori, President and CEO of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.—one of Japan’s most prominent Sogo Shosha (investment and trading companies with sprawling global footprints)—reflected on the company’s record-breaking profits. Its operations spanned multiple industries—including energy, chemicals, healthcare, and infrastructure—and more than 80% of its profits were generated overseas. The company had evolved from a prewar industrial giant into a globally integrated investment and trading firm. Originally focused on commodity trading, Mitsui gradually shifted toward strategic investments across industries, owning or co-managing businesses across the value chain—from upstream production to downstream distribution. To support this transformation, it restructured its organization, encouraged cross-unit collaboration, and invested heavily in talent development. Since becoming CEO in 2021, Hori had overseen strong financial results and reaffirmed Mitsui’s standing as a global powerhouse. Yet he remained restless. Confronted with a sprawling and increasingly complex portfolio, he saw an urgent need to sharpen the firm’s strategic focus, deepen its presence in key markets, and position it for long-term growth. “Are we making the right choices to build the Mitsui of tomorrow,” Hori asked, “and what exactly should that Mitsui look like?”

  • May 2025
  • Teaching Material

On (B): The Cyclon Spins On

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Karolin Frankenberger, Sascha Mader and Karen Elterman

A follow-up to the On case (723-430), this short case explores how the performance athletic shoe company On expanded its Cyclon subscription and recycling program through 2024, adding two new shoe models to the subscription and a one-time-purchase recyclable T-shirt.

See more research

Tokyo Staff

Nobuo Sato
Executive Director
→ Biography
Akiko Kanno
Associate Director
Akiko Saito
Senior Researcher
Yukari Takizawa
Office Manager