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Sayuri Daimon

Sayuri Daimon is an executive operating officer and the managing editor of The Japan Times. Daimon is the first woman to fill this role in the newspaper’s 116-year history. Since joining the newspaper in 1991, she has covered various fields as a staff writer, ranging from politics to business. She became Domestic News Division Manager in 2006, Deputy Managing Editor in 2008, and Executive Operating Officer from July 2013. She was awarded the Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 2000.

For Sayuri Daimon's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

JAPAN

Jul 22, 1998

Computers evolving to slimmer, more stylish models

JAPAN

Jul 17, 1998

Business leaning toward Kajiyama

JAPAN

Jul 17, 1998

Business association calls for radical government reforms

JAPAN

Jul 10, 1998

U.S.-Japan business leaders may squabble less this time

JAPAN

Jun 24, 1998

Election Equation: Leaders scarce amid 'seniority culture'

Seventh in a series

JAPAN

Apr 27, 1998

Crisis in Asia: Japan's recovery seen as integral to region

First in a series

JAPAN

Apr 23, 1998

PBEC chief blames Asia crisis on private sector

JAPAN

Apr 8, 1998

Hilton execs looking to expand presence in Japan

JAPAN

Mar 16, 1998

Mazda leader looking to revitalize dealerships, sales

JAPAN

Mar 13, 1998

Foreign firms attempt to cash in on Tokyo's real estate bargains

JAPAN

Feb 19, 1998

On Paper: Electronics firms, automakers adapt to slump

Second in a series

JAPAN

Dec 31, 1997

Telecom firms race for position ahead of 'Big Bang'

First in a two-part series

JAPAN

Dec 4, 1997

Mitsubishi Motors chief intent on turnaround

A healthy and cheerful president free of worries is just what Mitsubishi Motors Corp. needs since being racked by legal troubles ranging from sexual harassment to "sokaiya" payoffs.

JAPAN

Nov 21, 1997

Expanding day-care center building on bilingualism

JAPAN

Nov 12, 1997

Keidanren exec backs long-term emissions goal

Last in a series

JAPAN

Oct 27, 1997

Automaker looks to bring Mercedes touch to other segments

Automaker looks to bring Mercedes touch to other segments> Staff writer

JAPAN

Oct 23, 1997

Ford CEO wants greater access to Japanese market

Staff WriterCHIBA -- Ford Motor Co. hopes for greater foreign access to the Japanese market and a yen strong enough to change Japanese automakers' tendency to over-rely on exports, the company's head said Oct. 23.In an interview with The Japan Times, Alex Trotman, chairman and CEO of Ford, said that while Ford is committed to the Japanese and other foreign markets, he has been disappointed by the progress the firm has made in Japan since the country signed an agreement with the U.S. in 1995. Ford is targeting an increase in sales in Japan from the current 45,000 units to 200,000 in the early 21st century. To achieve the goal, the automaker needs to upgrade its sales outlets, the chairman said. "We haven't signed up with as many dealers as we wanted," Trotman said. "I still like to see us sign up with very high quality dealers."Ford currently has 307 outlets in Japan. Despite the opening of new outlets during the past two years, the total number has not changed due to restructuring, according to the company. Trotman, however, expressed a positive outlook that the Japanese market will evolve. "The Japanese market is slowly changing," he said. "I think it is taking longer than we expected. But I think the change will come."Turning to the exchange rate, the head of the second largest U.S. automaker said that the yen is too weak and that the appropriate rate would be between 100 yen to 110 yen to the dollar. He said that Japanese auto manufacturers have a tendency to increase exports as the yen's value decreases. But, he warned, if the U.S. trade deficit with Japan increases, "tension will grow."Regarding global warming and the Third Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Kyoto in December, Trotman said that a legally binding agreement that does not include all nations would not be sound. He said that only partial agreement would not result in a significant reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and that signatory nations would develop a severe economic dislocation."There are some calls from the U.S. (indicating) that developing countries will be involved in some way in an agreement in Kyoto," he said, commenting on the recent U.S. proposal. "We welcome that, because we believe that an agreement that involves only the developed countries and excludes a hundred-some developing countries would not be a smart policy."

JAPAN

Oct 20, 1997

Carmakers hope drivers rally to environment-friendly push

Staff writerAutomakers have long tried to impress customers with design and driving performance, but now they are paying homage to the latest in added values: environmentally friendly technology.Stranded by lackluster domestic demand, automakers are hoping to stimulate sales by displaying a number of environmentally friendly vehicles at this year's Tokyo Motor Show from Oct. 18 to Nov. 5 at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba Prefecture. Some analysts predict that vehicles with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions will not immediately impact sales, but say such technologies will, in the long run, fuel competition.Since the government raised the consumption tax from 3 percent to 5 percent in April, domestic auto sales have declined for six consecutive months. "We hope that the effects of the Tokyo Motor Show will raise October sales, but we are still uncertain about it," said Yoshifumi Tsuji, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.Tsuji's group has revised its sales estimate for the current business year downward from 7 million units to 6.65 million. According to JAMA officials, domestic auto sales in the first half of the 1997 business year, which ended in September, came up 300,000 units less than initial estimates earlier this year. Sales in the latter half of the year will also probably be tough, they said.To cover this year's sluggish sales, Japanese carmakers have turned to overseas markets, especially the United States and Europe, to maintain domestic vehicle production with increased exports. Japan's exports surged 41.6 percent in August from a year earlier, marking their 15th straight month of growth.The depreciation of the yen against the dollar also encouraged the tactic, and the major carmakers will probably stick with it until their overseas plants start operations in the second half of next year, according to analysts. "Despite expectations in the auto industry, no one seriously believes the motor show will lead to an increase in sales," said Tadao Takei, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co. Past shows have not necessarily resulted in a rise in auto sales, he said."People will buy cars if they really like them. So, if we can present them with unique and different models, they will sell well," Takei said. Analysts say customers are longing for cars different from previous models and from those of their rivals.Multipurpose vehicles have been enjoying brisk sales for the past few years and have expanded their share to almost 50 percent of the domestic market. But with the market approaching saturation, sales weren't as strong as they were last year and finally dropped 5.2 percent in August from the previous year to mark the first year-on-year drop since December 1993.Though automakers continue to look for clues to the next consumer trend, they all seem to agree that environmentally friendly technology will be the next must-have feature as consumer awareness of harmful exhaust gases and the Earth's limited resources climbs. "Whether we like it or not, the world will have to face the reality of environmental issues. We hope that our new technology will be accepted by consumers," said Satoru Toyama, managing director of Mitsubishi Motor Corp., who is in charge of passenger car development.Toyota Motor Corp. recently introduced the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid car. Prius employs both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, and also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by half compared with vehicles with regular gasoline engines.Mitsubishi has also announced it will equip its new models with the newly developed gasoline direct injection engine, which improves power and fuel efficiency while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent. The company aims to equip all of its models with GDI engines by 2010.Nissan Motor will introduce vehicles with a new direct fuel-injection engine called NEO Di this year, and Honda Motor Co. has announced a new system called integrated motor assist, whereby its new direct fuel-injection engine is assisted by an electric motor.Noriyuki Matsushima, senior analyst at Nikko Research Center, said individual consciousness about environmental issues is still weak, but environmentally friendly technology has the potential to become a major consideration for consumers in purchasing new cars. "Automakers had long considered that safety and environment would not lead to profits, but as far as safety is concerned, such a belief has now changed," he said.

JAPAN

Oct 1, 1997

Indonesia looks to exporters, reforms to bolster economy

Staff writerDespite the gloomy cloud hanging over Southeast Asian economies following the recent currency turmoil that began in Thailand, the Indonesian government is on the right track in implementing a wide range of measures to shore up its economy, according to Hartarto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for production and distribution.Although he admitted the devaluation of the Thai baht has affected his country's economy and the value of the rupiah, Hartarto said exporters are taking advantage of the situation. "You can directly see (the improvement) in the balance of our trade. Imports are diminishing and exports are increasing, and it's a good sign," he said in an interview with The Japan Times. Indonesia's exports in fiscal 1996 stood at $52.2 billion, while imports posted $50.8 billion, producing a trade surplus of $1.4 billion.Hartarto, who was visiting Japan for the Asia-Europe Meeting of economic ministers last weekend, said Indonesia's Ministry of Trade and Industry is considering new incentives to further encourage exporters. The minister, whose country boasts the world's fourth-largest population, also expressed confidence in its economic fundamentals, stressing that the country is making continuous efforts to implement deregulation.He said the government is currently in the process of privatizing state enterprises, and part of the revenues from this will be used to repay mounting foreign debts. Indonesia's foreign debts, a major factor threatening the country's economic growth, stood at around $110 billion last year. "In the long term, it will also increase more tax revenues," he said.In the belt-tightening effort to maintain a balanced budget, Jakarta has also announced delays in major government-related projects worth 39 trillion rupiah ($13.22 billion) and reviews of projects worth about 63 trillion rupiah ($21.33 billion) in September.However, Hartarto said that Indonesia's inflation rate, which has been declining in recent years, may turn around next year. The country's inflation rate declined to 6.5 percent in 1996 from 8.6 percent in 1995, and dropped to 5 percent in the first half of this year. "Inflation is currently under control, but it will probably go up next year," Hartarto said.He said that foreign investment has not been discouraged so far, but domestic investment is slowing down because of the country's relatively high interest rates. Hartarto also touched on the importance of developing supporting industries to ensure sustainable growth, adding that the country especially needs to strengthen its electronics industries.

JAPAN

Sep 25, 1997

Thai economic crisis puts a dent in carmakers

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.

The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Leading Japan’s sustainability from Tokyo

Leading Japan’s sustainability from Tokyo

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