Gambling Man by Lionel Barber: A Review
Masayoshi Son finds his best possible biographer in Lionel Barber, the former editor of the FT. Barber (Dulwich School and St Edward’s Hall, Oxford ) has elegant establishment credentials, but he also has an entertainingly thuggish streak, like those upper-class SAS army officers who join special units because they rather enjoy the murder and mayhem.
Q1 2025: Navigating Risk, Data, and Growth in Japan
The first quarter of 2025 provided a critical opportunity to reassess strategy and vision. For those engaged in Executive Leadership Japan, navigating the complexities of the market requires more than just data; it demands a trusted Lived Experience Forum. This period highlighted a renewed focus on intentional risk, the indispensable value of authentic information, and the power of a connected community through the Delphi Network.
Bridging Continents: The Delphi Network’s Vision for Cross-Border Energy Collaboration
In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, climate urgency, and rapid technological transformation, cross-border energy collaboration has become both a necessity and a challenge. The complexity of aligning national priorities, regulatory environments, and private sector incentives often stalls progress just when acceleration is most needed.
What European Developers Should Know About Partnering with Japanese Investors
Japanese investment in European infrastructure is on the rise, particularly in clean-tech, smart city development, and sustainable mobility. Yet for European developers, municipalities, and climate-focused startups, partnering with Japanese investors is not as simple as aligning on spreadsheets and pitch decks. It involves understanding distinct business cultures, adjusting timeline expectations, and navigating cross-border complexities.
From Vision to Reality: Japanese Green Technology in European Energy Projects
The strategic alignment between Japan, Ireland, and Wales represents a new frontier in global climate cooperation. While the foundational logic is built on shared long-term vision and patient capital, the true impact lies in the practical application of advanced Japanese green technology.
Why Japan Is Looking to Ireland and Wales for Clean Energy Partnerships
The global clean energy transition is accelerating—but not at the same pace everywhere. While many regions are still figuring out how to attract the right capital, talent, and technology, Ireland and Wales are quietly positioning themselves as key players in the next phase of green energy investment.
Hachijojima Island: The Ultimate Corporate Retreat Destination
My journey to Hachijojima Island late last year revealed an extraordinary and untapped asset for strategic business gatherings. This remote volcanic island, technically part of the Tokyo metropolis, presents itself as the ultimate Tokyo retreat destination.
Seizing the Moment: Your Guide to the Japan Investment Opportunity
While many foreign executives grapple with the defensive measures required by a cheap yen, a far more compelling narrative is unfolding for the forward-thinking investor. Beyond the immediate balance sheet pressures lies a generational Japan investment opportunity, one that transforms macroeconomic headwinds into a powerful tailwind for growth.
Navigating the New Reality: How the Cheap Yen is Reshaping Business in Japan
The ground is shifting beneath the feet of foreign executives in Japan. As the yen tumbles to multi-decade lows, the profound cheap yen impact is forcing a complete re-evaluation of every foreign business strategy.
Only Define: AI
A clear understanding of AI is crucial for businesses aiming to stay competitive. While AI, like Google's Bard (now Gemini), performs "intelligent" functions through algorithms and data, it fundamentally lacks human-like consciousness, self-awareness, or emotions.
The Day the Empire Lost Its Self-Respect
In this thought-provoking analysis, we explore the 1942 surrender of Singapore, an event that delivered a profound psychological shock to the British Empire. The article examines how this defeat, more than a military failure, forced the British to experience for the first time what it was like to be a colonized people, losing their self-respect to a rapidly modernizing Japan.
The Japanese Countryside: A Horror Movie of 'Rurban' Sprawl
The Japanese countryside is a chaotic "rurban" sprawl, lacking the charm of European villages. Poor zoning, local corruption, and cheap construction have created an ugly patchwork. Ironically, current agricultural policies, a legacy of successful post-war reform, now cripple profitability and prevent scale, leaving villages lonely, depressed, and exploited. A choice must be made: export-focused farming or subsidized beautification.
"Revolution" or Evolution? Why a New Book from The Economist Misses the Mark
The Economist editor's book fails basic logic & neglects the 2008 financial crisis. It mislabels "evolution" as "revolution" and ignores the banking sector's role in weakening the Western state due to an ideological bias toward Hayek/Thatcher-era policies. A disappointing, biased review of governance.
The Robotics and Data Revolution
Masayoshi Son unveiled his vision: 30 million Intelligent Robots will solve Japan's labor crisis, increasing Productivity through 24/7 work. Coupled with Big Data in the Cloud, every company must become a Software Company to survive this Information Revolution.
Beyond the Boardroom: A "Reality Test" for Business Leaders
"The Reality Test" by Robert Rowland Smith challenges the idea that business is a purely rational pursuit, arguing that corporate strategies are often "fictions" that ignore messy reality. The book encourages leaders to focus on the human and organic side of their organizations, where genuine success is found by understanding the real forces that drive people and the market.
The Troubling Paradox of the SlutWalks
The SlutWalks movement aims to fight victim-blaming, but does it reveal deeper contradictions about sexual power and gender roles in modern society? I examine the paradoxical arguments of those who both flaunt their sexuality and dismiss its role in attraction, arguing that a focus on pure "power play" ignores a critical sexual component of violence.
Getting the Inside Scoop on Tokyo's New Governor and Olympic Plans
Tokyo's former Governor Masuzoe outlined his economic vision to optimize the city as a special economic zone, focusing on drug development and ageing technologies over rapid liberalization. He also clarified the controversial National Stadium plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reassuring the public that the Meiji Shrine's main park is unaffected, despite the huge scale of the new Meiji Jingu Gaien venue. The new stadium, while massive, replaces old structures and maximizes floor space with new facilities.
The Spiritual Front: Why Japan’s Right Wing Is Unsettling
Japan's right-wing fight is spiritual: denying war guilt to reject postwar identity. Why does the regime's catastrophic failure (like Kurosawa's mass suicide plan) still appeal? It raises questions of modern nihilism.
Dancing with Duality: A Night with the Rolling Stones at Tokyo Dome
The Rolling Stones’ Tokyo Dome concert felt emotionally flat, though Mick Jagger’s presence was captivating. His graceful, childlike movements contrasted with signs of aging and highlighted his complex duality. Despite nostalgic appeal and iconic status, the performance lacked artistic depth. A powerful backing singer briefly stole the show, underscoring the band’s shift from musical force to cultural brand.
The Shadow of the Past: A Warning from Hong Kong
Geopolitical tensions over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands echo the 1930s appeasement failure. The author warns that a lack of imagination about the brutal speed of conflict—citing WWII—is the biggest risk, urging preparation for rapid crisis.