Osaka, Japan's second largest city, is undergoing a major transformation, revitalising its urban landscape and economy. Historically a prominent trading hub and industrial powerhouse, Osaka experienced a decline after Japan's economic bubble burst. However, recent developments like the Grand Green Osaka project, the upcoming 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, and a planned integrated resort are injecting new life into the city.  

A notable marketing divide separates Japan and the US. Japan heavily relies on human billboards and street promotions to attract customers, while the US excels in digital marketing, leveraging social media, e-commerce, and online strategies to reach a wider audience. Despite Japan's reputation for technological advancement, its marketing techniques seem to lag behind, prompting the question of why the country has been slow to embrace the digital marketing revolution observed in the US.

Sewer systems are vital yet often overlooked in cities worldwide, functioning like efficient subway networks. They hold untapped potential for energy conservation by utilizing retained heat from flowing water for sustainable purposes. The unique climate allows for road heating using sewer heat in regions like Niigata Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall.

It is no easy task to predict the fault of electricity-powered equipment. Until now, the human eyes have carried out routine inspections to avoid potential downtime. Panasonic’s AI monitoring system examines the wave pattern of harmonics to do the task. Users do not have to attach a physical device to the machine; the sensor device is on the electricity cable. The cloud-based system detects unusual wave patterns which have been classified as a sign of fault.

Freezing water pipes is a daily problem in the winter season in Northern Japan and in mountain regions. You may let the water flowing or turn an anti-freeze heater all the time; both solutions lead to the higher consumption of resources. Temco Corporation produces a sensor for freeze protection heater that effectively reduces electricity cost by 90%. The patented technology calculates the thermal equilibrium point to turn the device on in consideration of the heat of solidification.

Japanese fresh fruits are well-known for its exquisite quality. It is a sort of craft. Japan’s agricultural output is the world 9th largest, but the country’s export is ranked around 60th. There are problems in the sector. Productivity is low, each production unit small and the entry barrier to become a producer high.

Yet it has advantages in production control and R&D. Agriculture is a good place to observe how Japanese society shapes its business and to think how to locate hidden assets in Japan.

Distribution in Japan is said to be very complex. The proportion of small-scale retailers and manufacturers with less than 10 employees is very high. Wholesalers, or intermediaries, therefore play a major role in the distribution system.

Wholesalers are important not only for purchasing, storage and logistics, but it also serve as a hub of information. Knowledge to navigate your way through the complex layers of primary, secondary and tertiary wholesalers is the key to success.