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# Evolution and New Ideas Help Japanese Businesses Lead the Way

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Even though it’s often referred to as an economic miracle, Japan’s incredible 21st-century manufacturing boom was a result of hard work, innovation and commitment to quality.

However, in the fast-moving modern business world, even those key tenets may not always be enough.

Instead, successful corporations today need to remain agile and constantly look for new ideas and opportunities to advance—evolution has never been more important.

Today, more and more Japanese businesses, especially SMEs, are surviving and thriving by embracing shifting market conditions in the global arena.

Aero Toyota Corporation is evolving with bold plans for the future, including unmanned aircraft and flying cars with eVTOL (electric vehicle take-off and landing) technology.

“This year, we changed our name to Aero Toyota Corporation. Toyota is embarking on a new chapter in omnidirectional mobility, expanding beyond cars to include flying vehicles and boats, such as the Lexus yacht,” explained President Hiroshi Kato.

“We’re anticipating advancements in extended-range eVTOLs and hybrid engine-powered unmanned aircraft,” added Kato.

Plastic and tarpaulin manufacturer Hagihara Industries Inc. is also developing exciting new products to work with evolving markets and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We have developed technologies to closed-loop recycle our tarpaulins, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability. One project I am particularly excited about is our development of transparent tarpaulins. These highly durable tarpaulins can withstand heavy rain for at least two years,” said President Kazushi Asano.

Takayuki Sakamoto, president of construction firm Hexel Works Inc., reported that his company is not only exploring crucial business interests in China, such as disaster-prevention technologies, but is also looking at pivoting into new arenas.

“One area I am interested in is power, especially as we lessen our reliance on fossil fuels and focus on green energy systems. In collaboration with university professors, we are looking at several different avenues,” said Sakamoto.

“We are looking at the potential of geothermal energy generation, which is promising in both Japan and the Philippines,” he added.

Trading-house businesses are also keenly involved as modern markets develop. 

Kenji Takada, president of Idaka & Co., Ltd. said, “We need to be able to adapt to changing trends. The beauty of the trading house model is that we can not only provide cutting-edge products directly to customers, but also great solutions.

“We always try to ensure that we can gain hands-on knowledge at client sites. Looking to the future, we need to elevate this to the next level. By hiring more specialized salespeople, we want to provide better proposals to clients,” he added.

According to Tomoki Kaneko, president of KANEKO CORD., LTD., the Japanese tradition of monozukuri, prioritizing top quality and customer service, remains vital as his company continues working in areas such as robotics.

“When developing new products, we rely on partnerships with materials and chemical companies to create catheters or resin-based cords,” said Kaneko.

“When it comes to robotic cords, industrial robots far outweigh humanoid robots in terms of market needs. As robots continue to increase in speed, cords are becoming more prone to breakage, and this has driven a growing demand for unbreakable cords,” he added.

Similarly, in this field, Yamaha Robotics Co., Ltd is expecting great things from Japan’s Industry 4.0 developments, as businesses move towards greater connectivity and automation in the face of aging populations and shrinking workforces.

“We’re focused on streamlining the production of new machinery, replacing manual tasks like changing consumable parts, which were traditionally done by humans,” said President Ryosuke Nakamura. “We collaborate closely with customers to implement autonomous solutions in their factories. This involves integrating software that collects and analyzes data, often in tandem with the customers' own big data,” he added.

Hiromoto Watanabe, president of Shinwa Corporation, believes that an essential part of manufacturing success and longevity is being able to guarantee stability and results. The firm pivoted from textiles to air filtration during his grandfather’s reign, so it is well placed to deal with modern challenges.

“Japan's strength lies in its technological ability to stick to quality, so we will continue to develop new products in the new R&D building completed at the end of last year at our manufacturing division, Japan Air Filter,” said Watanabe.

For precision sheet metal company Hiraide Precision Co., Ltd., change and new ideas remain constant, according to President Masahiko Hiraide. 

“We are continuing to make significant steps and grow. We believe that the accumulation of expertise, combined with emerging innovations, will continue to be delivered from Japan,” said Hiraide.

“We always ensure that we are one step ahead of where the market is” Hiraide added.

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