Innholdsfortegnelse for March 29 - April 05, 2024 i Newsweek International

Saishunkan Pharmaceutical has built its strategic success on quality, innovation, and global expansion. “Japanese firms were slow to enter foreign markets,” company president Masaaki Nishikawa explains. “However, we’ve embraced our unique value proposition and expanded overseas while maintaining our commitment to quality.” Despite Japan’s demographic shift, Saishunkan has continued to focus on supporting customers through the various life stages. “We are a company that provides products and services for the skin, body and mind, both domestically and overseas,” Mr. Nishikawa says. “By collaborating with companies familiar with local markets, we can move more quickly and effectively.” “We’re not just creating cosmetics; we’re crafting a legacy of radiance, where quality meets innovation.”Masaaki Nishikawa,President, Saishunkan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Innovation is highlighted by the success of the Domohorn Wrinkle brand. “We continually evolve…

“We support the fusion of people and people, cultures and cultures, and contribute to the prosperity of future society.”Yoshio Kawami, CEO, Holbein Art Materials Inc. In a world where the arts and crafts sector faces challenges from digital creations, Holbein remains an emblem of tradition and innovation, maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality products. “Being made in Japan alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee strong sales,” notes the company’s CEO, Yoshio Kawami. Holbein’s success, he emphasizes, lies in offering high-quality products that go beyond the allure of the “Made-in-Japan” label. With a history rooted in scarcity, the company’s founders sought exceptional materials and ways to stand out from the crowd. The company’s dispersion technology, a groundbreaking innovation, allows it to work with more than 400 different pigments. “Our technology…

In the tapestry of global manufacturing, Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have emerged as pivotal players, contributing significantly to Japan’s thriving semiconductor, electronics, and advanced machinery sectors. These industries have long been synonymous with Japan’s technological prowess and commitment to innovation, and SMEs play a crucial role in upholding this reputation on the global stage. Japan’s journey in manufacturing excellence dates back decades, with the post-World War II era witnessing a remarkable resurgence fueled by a relentless focus on quality, precision, and continuous improvement. This era birthed iconic names like Toyota, Sony, and Panasonic, setting the stage for Japan’s dominance in various technological domains. However, the landscape has evolved, with regional competitors emerging and global dynamics shifting. Masayoshi Imoto, President of IIX INC. – a display technology manufacturer –…

Founded in 1999, under the visionary leadership of President Masayoshi Imoto, IIX INC. has emerged as a beacon of innovation in the electronics manufacturing industry, with a focus on advanced display technologies. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, the company is driven by a commitment to “Infinite Harmony and Unity,” aiming to make a positive impact on society through delivery of high-quality products and services, while also prioritizing employee well-being and development. At the core of IIX’s success is its pioneering DeMura process, a sophisticated method for correcting unevenness in OLED displays, which is also compatible with next-generation displays such as MiniLED and μLED. “Dedicated to sustainability, our unique DeMura process exemplifies our global commitment to environmental responsibility and technological innovation.”Masayoshi Imoto, President, IIX INC. This proprietary technology not only…

Japan’s bustling manufacturing sector continues today to be characterized by a blend of ancient craftsmanship and modern innovation. This unique fusion, known as monozukuri, encapsulates the essence of the Japanese manufacturing philosophy — a commitment to excellence, precision, and continuous improvement. Amidst the challenges of globalization, technological shifts, and economic fluctuations, Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stand as the guardians of this revered tradition. Amongst these small yet pivotal Japanese manufacturing firms, companies are resiliently navigating contemporary hurdles while championing the monozukuri spirit. Osamu Yamaji, President of Toray Opelontex – a specialist in industrial products centered on technologies in organic synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biochemistry – highlights the strategic pivot Japanese firms have made towards niche markets, particularly in highly functional materials. “The ability to actively develop new…

Established as a joint venture between the Japanese chemical business, Toray, and the U.S. fiber and technology solutions business, The LYCRA Company, Japanese fiber manufacturer Toray Opelontex is revolutionizing the textile industry with its elastic products. “Our ‘invisible’ products create ‘visible’ value, fulfilling our mission and embodying our slogan: ‘Small but Diamond’.”Osamu Yamaji, President, Toray Opelontex The company has two core products. The first is Polyurethane LYCRA® fiber, a thin and transparent synthetic fiber that can stretch up to seven times. The material was initially used for apparel industries before expanding to many different fields. The second product, LYCRA® T400® fiber, is a bicomponent fiber in which PET and PTT polymers are joined together within each filament. While it has less elasticity than LYCRA® fiber, it provides the right balance…

“Our approach in business is B2B2C, so in that sense a reliable local partner outside of Japan is vital to our business operations.”Shun Tsuji,President, KISHUN Inc. In the glistening landscape that is Japan’s jewelry industry, KI-SHUN Inc. stands as a shining example of innovation and sustainability. Established in 2014 by Shun Tsuji, the company has carved a niche for itself by offering a holistic approach to the sourcing, manufacturing, and selling of colored stones and diamonds. With a deep-rooted connection to Japan’s cultural heritage and a forward-thinking mindset, KISHUN is poised to lead the charge in transforming the jewelry landscape. Mr. Tsuji’s journey into the world of jewelry was not merely a business venture but a passion project rooted in his family’s legacy in the kimono industry. Recognizing the intrinsic…

Japanese firm Logic & Design is at the forefront of providing clear, untampered images with its enhancing and restoration technology. Founded in 2018, the company caters its products and software to various industries; from disaster and crime prevention to the security and medical fields. The company’s patented LISr® technology processes images down to the very minute pixels before optimizing the contrast through a histogram. This process does not involve the presumption used by AI to make images clearer, instead it improves the data that already exists. As company representative director Kimiaki Sato says: “We take the real image and make it more visible.” LISr® can be used in a wide range of settings, from poor weather conditions to night vision monitoring images. It also instantly enhances the clarity of images,…

“Our approach is to monitor the semiconductor industry, offer solutions to specific issues, and become an R&D-driven company.”Tadashi Naruse, President, Shinhokoku Material Corp. Shinhokoku Material, a creative leader in low-thermal-expansion alloys, focuses on semiconductor industries, with eyes on overcoming the challenges in entering established overseas supply chains. The Japanese firm’s strategy lies in collaboration with manufacturing equipment companies, offering tailored solutions for specific tasks that other companies do not attempt. “Our mission is not just to provide standardized products,” says company president, Tadashi Naruse. “Our target at this point is to become an R&D-driven company that can contribute to the development of customers.” The importance of overseas expansion is clear for Shinhokoku Material and the president reveals: “We plan to leverage the network we have built up so far and…

CulturePARTING SHOT DESCRIBING RAMY YOUSSEF’S WORK ISN’T EASY, BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO settle on just one thing. “I feel really inspired to connect in the way that it makes sense.” That started out with stand-up, but has since morphed into acting, writing, directing and producing. The New Jersey native’s next endeavor, on the heels of his appearance in the Oscar-winning film Poor Things, is the new HBO stand-up special More Feelings (March 23). “I’m definitely living on a prayer, and that’s probably the magic piece in this special, where it kind of feels like everything’s just hanging by this really thin string.” A key to his material is “looking for what allows it to feel like almost a weird, linear thought, but going into a lot of different things ...…

Q _ Were you ultimately successful in your quest to conceive? A _ I am currently pregnant, due in mid-May. I can’t wait to meet my son! Is there anything you would have done differently along the way? There is a donor I mention in the book who I worked with that I call “The Conquistador.” We attempted to have a romantic relationship while also trying to get me pregnant. I regret that situation. You lay out many pitfalls in trying to conceive in the unregulated market. How can would-be parents avoid getting burned? The key is taking your time to vet potential donors properly and establishing some trust. Unlike a sperm bank, you have the opportunity to truly get to know the person who is donating half the DNA…

“Our multifaceted research and development incorporates cross-country synergies to strengthen the solutions we provide and fortify the impact we have.”Yasuhiro Hara, President, ULVAC-PHI Global commerce is a dynamic place, where the strategic positioning of companies is crucial, particularly in the face of evolving economic policies and market demands. ULVAC-PHI, born from a strategic alliance between U.S. company Physical Electronics and ULVAC, epitomizes the convergence of expertise and innovation, and aims to maximize the competitive advantage afforded to Japanese companies. “Our major business initially focused on dealing with the United States, expanded further in Japan, and from that core, we are now steadily starting to expand to other countries,” says Yasuhiro Hara, the company president. This expansion, fueled by a commitment to diversifying supply chains, underscores Japan’s growing significance in the…