By Wonsuh Song
The 38th CEO Forum, hosted by the Korean Business Association in Japan, was held on September 12 at 8 a.m. at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Tokyo as a breakfast lecture. A Japanese speaker was invited, drawing strong responses from participants.
The keynote speaker was Mr. Mamoru Morita, a Strategic Expert from Hitachi’s Nuclear Business Unit, who delivered a lecture titled “The Road to Hitachi’s Growth.” Mr. Morita focused on Hitachi’s innovation strategy and global vision, outlining the group’s growth trajectory over the past decade, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business restructuring, and initiatives in digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX). He emphasized Hitachi’s identity as a “social infrastructure innovator.” He also explained how AI and DX will transform industrial structures and corporate management, stressing that the essence of innovation lies in “creating social value.”
Morita added that “groups of Japanese employees with more than 30 years of tenure often shared identical views, making it difficult to identify problems internally.” To address this, Hitachi brought in a large number of external executives to review policies from an outside perspective. He further emphasized that the company values harmony, sincerity, and pioneer spirit, and works to build a culture where each engineer can be persuaded individually and where mistakes are acknowledged and corrected.
Participants noted that “Hitachi’s bold decision to exit unprofitable sectors and concentrate resources where they are most effective was particularly impressive.” They also expressed appreciation for hearing firsthand experiences and visions from a Japanese speaker after a long interval.
At the close of the event, Mr. Hong Chi-eui, head of the Korea International Trade Association’s Tokyo Office, said, “It has been a while since we welcomed a Japanese speaker. We would like to create more opportunities in the future to hear directly from Japanese business leaders.”
The Korea International Trade Association’s Tokyo Office, established in 1948, has supported Korea–Japan exchanges, assisted Korean companies’ entry into the Japanese market, and protected member companies’ interests. It organizes exhibitions and business meetings, conducts market research, strengthens cooperation with government and economic organizations, and since 1993 has also served as the secretariat of the Korean Business Association in Japan, acting as a vital bridge for economic cooperation between the two countries.
댓글 남기기