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Jochen Legewie
For Jochen Legewie's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Sep 6, 2014
Automakers may miss boat on modularization
Toyota successfully defended its status as the world's largest automaker in the first half of 2014. However, Volkswagen has gotten very close and is widely expected to overtake Toyota either by the end of the year or in 2015 at latest.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
May 10, 2014
Industry 4.0: Germany rethinks manufacturing
Last month, the chief executive officer of one of the country's largest manufacturers spoke in a closed-door meeting to a group of Japanese executives on his company's global strategy. Remarkably, he spend 20 percent of his time praising German companies, from traditional heavyweights such as Siemens and Thyssen- Krupp to young up-and-comers such as SAP and Infineon.
BUSINESS / Economy / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Mar 15, 2014
Economy can do without structural reform
While critics of "Abenomics" begrudgingly agree Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy package has been a success so far, they are equally quick to highlight its looming headwinds.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Feb 8, 2014
First cracks appear in Abe's PR campaign
Japan stormed back in 2013. Even the staunchest critics of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have had to admit that his administration managed to achieve roaring success in its first year. This success owes much to a shift of perception based on an excellently devised and executed public relations strategy. Ten months ago, I even predicted that PR would be the "fourth arrow" of "Abenomics" in this column.
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Dec 14, 2013
Leaders from outside box could ignite Japan
On Nov. 30, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company shocked Japan Inc. by announcing that it plans to appoint Frenchman Christophe Weber as its next president by June 2014. Until then, Japanese companies with foreigners in the top spot had fallen into two categories: those that promote foreigners who have performed well in-house, and those owned by foreign capital or with a large foreign shareholder.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Oct 13, 2013
Crumbling keiretsu networks good sign for foreign firms and Japan
For years and decades, foreign observers have cried foul over various barriers — both existing and perceived — to the Japanese economy. Their main target is usually the keiretsu, the closely knit business networks automakers exclusively maintain with groups of 200 to 300 suppliers.
BUSINESS / Companies / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Aug 18, 2013
Japan must open up to foreign investment — especially from China
Earlier this year, NHK aired the three-part TV program "Made in Japan," which dramatized an electronics company's struggle to survive tough economic times. While fictional, the story detailed the harsh reality Japan Inc. faces from Chinese competition.
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jul 1, 2013
Constitutional revision debate could make or break 'Abenomics'
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's popularity continues — the latest Nikkei and TV Tokyo survey shows his approval rating at 66 percent, his Liberal Democratic Party's victory in the Upper House election seems highly probable, "Abenomics" is still on course, and even medium-term economic growth seems possible if — and this is a big "if" — his promised reforms actually materialize.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Apr 22, 2013
Polished PR, perception strategy fourth arrow in 'Abenomics' quiver
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is back and so, it appears, is Japan. The yen is down, the Nikkei up, and approval ratings and expectations for the new government are sky high.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Feb 25, 2013
Debate over weak yen, currency war misses point: demand is slack
Since mid-November, the yen has weakened substantially against the dollar, the euro and other currencies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Dec 3, 2012
The best-kept secret in Japanese politics is that policies don't matter
Political parties in Japan are busy preparing for the Dec. 16 Lower House election. Each day, voters face new or newly merged parties, most of them determined to become part of the "third political force" or "third pole" forming to challenge the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and its two rivals — the conservative Liberal Democratic Party and Buddhist-backed New Komeito.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Oct 1, 2012
Flip-flop on no-nuclear energy policy bodes ill for the future of Japan
On Sept. 14, the Japanese government presented to the public a new national energy strategy. This long-awaited plan included as its focal point the objective of eliminating nuclear power by the end of the 2030s. Less than a week later, however, Japan's hopes for a nuclear-free world were dashed. In the face of strong opposition from the business community, municipalities and prefectures that host nuclear reactors and fuel reprocessing plants, and from the United States, Great Britain and France, the government decided to backtrack on its initial aspirations.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
May 21, 2012
For better or worse, Japan might remain nuclear-free forever
On May 5, Japan's last operating nuclear reactor was shut down, turning it into a nuclear energy-free country. The government is working desperately to restart two reactors in the town of Oi in Fukui Prefecture, but the outcome is difficult to predict.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Mar 5, 2012
Todai plan to shift school year could be catalyst for wider Japanese reforms
The University of Tokyo, locally known as Todai, has announced a draft plan to shift the start of its academic year from spring to autumn and called on 11 other major universities to join it. Public discussion of the proposal has been immense since the announcement in mid-January, and for good reason.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jan 9, 2012
South Korea's opening leaves wishy-washy Japan farther behind
On July 1, 2011, the European Union-South Korea free-trade agreement took effect, promising to significantly facilitate the exchange of goods and services and give both nations a major economic boost. The conclusion of the deal demonstrated the huge European interest in South Korea's economy and markets.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Nov 7, 2011
A U.S. of Euro Land may be what's needed but unity is in short supply
Japan launched major yen-selling intervention on Oct. 31 in response to massive speculative yen-buying — the first such action since August. The ever-rising yen is threatening Japan's export industry and can easily derail the eagerly awaited economic recovery from the March 11 shock. However, it remains unclear whether the recent yen-selling will have any lasting effect on the currency's value.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Sep 19, 2011
Japan faces crossroads for rebranding itself after Fukushima crisis
The Fukushima power plant crisis has clearly damaged Japan as a country brand. There has been an outpouring of sympathy for the victims and a widespread admiration for Japan's perseverance, stoicism and orderly response, but the overwhelming perception overseas is negative: disbelief that such an accident could happen in such a high-tech nation, frustration with its crisis and information management, and outright fear of traveling to or making contact with its potentially contaminated products.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jul 18, 2011
German energy study offers framework for Japanese policy chaos
Pure chaos is reigning over Japanese energy policy and the future of its nuclear power industry.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
May 9, 2011
Meaningful future needed to preserve Tokyo Motor Show
Japanese automakers were hit hard by the March earthquake and the massive supply chain interruptions continue. It's so bad in fact that normalization of production at most domestic and overseas plants is expected to take until the end of the year.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Mar 7, 2011
Germany's economic miracle: New lessons await for old Japan
The economies of Japan and Germany, similar in many respects, are often compared. Not only did both rise from the ashes of World War II to become the leading economies in their regions, but they also formed strong manufacturing bases, large numbers of successful midsize companies and enjoyed extreme success in the global export market.

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A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world