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THE VIEW FROM EUROPE

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Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Sep 6, 2014

Automakers may miss boat on modularization

by Jochen Legewie

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. As we all know, ...

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE May 10, 2014

Industry 4.0: Germany rethinks manufacturing

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

Business / Economy | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Mar 15, 2014

Economy can do without structural reform

by Jochen Legewie

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. They concede that the first two "arrows" of Abe's economic program, monetary easing and fiscal stimulus, have achieved ...

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Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Feb 8, 2014

First cracks appear in Abe's PR campaign

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Dec 14, 2013

Leaders from outside box could ignite Japan

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Oct 13, 2013

Crumbling keiretsu networks good sign for foreign firms and Japan

by Jochen Legewie

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. These ...

Business / Corporate | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Aug 18, 2013

Japan must open up to foreign investment — especially from China

by Jochen Legewie

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. But was the drama in fact a reality ...

Commentary / Japan Jul 1, 2013

Constitutional revision debate could make or break 'Abenomics'

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

Polished PR, perception strategy fourth arrow in 'Abenomics' quiver

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Apr 22, 2013

Polished PR, perception strategy fourth arrow in 'Abenomics' quiver

by Jochen Legewie

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. "Abenomics" is the new buzzword in and outside of Japan as unprecedented optimism weakens ...

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Feb 25, 2013

Debate over weak yen, currency war misses point: demand is slack

by Jochen Legewie

Since mid-November, the yen has weakened substantially against the dollar, the euro and other currencies. The rapid decline was fueled by aggressive policy announcements by Shinzo Abe, before and after he became the prime minister in December, calling for more fiscal stimulus and for bold ...

The best-kept secret in Japanese politics is that policies don't matter

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Dec 3, 2012

The best-kept secret in Japanese politics is that policies don't matter

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Oct 1, 2012

Flip-flop on no-nuclear energy policy bodes ill for the future of Japan

by Jochen Legewie

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 ...

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