Research Professor, Graduate School, Japan University of Economics, Tokyo, Japan

Toshio Goto

Research Professor, Graduate School, Japan University of Economics, Tokyo, Japan

Toshio Goto is Research Professor at the Graduate School, Japan University of Economics, Tokyo, Japan, with an established background in both academia and business management in various capacities worldwide. He is concurrently Chairperson, Research Institute for the Centennial Management, & Executive Director, Japanese Civilization Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from Harvard University.

His background is in business strategies and his research focuses on strategies for sustainable growth, specializing in family businesses. His business background includes marketing, sales, corporate entrepreneurship, and strategic management in both Japan and the United States. His publications include the Family Business Yearbook (2015, 2018, 2022) which he edited and co-authored. His recent paper is Public-minded Ethical Life of Family Businesses in Japan as Key Factor of Resilience in Times of Crisis, In Carsten Herrmann-Pillath & Qian Zhao Eds) (2024) East Asian Ethical Life and Socio-Economic Transformation in the Twenty-First Century: The Ethical Sources of the Entrepreneurial Renewal of Companies and Communities. London; Routledge, among many others.

His major publications include, "Public-minded Ethical Life of Family Businesses in Japan as Key Factor of Resilience in Times of Crisis," "How can a family control its family business without ownership influence? A case study of Suzuki Corp," "Longevity and Disruption–Evidence from Japanese Family Businesses," in books published from Routledge, De Gruyter etc, and the Family Business Yearbook (2015, 2018, 2022) which he edited and co-authored.

Session

Ownership matters: tradition, innovation, longevity. The unique example of the Japanese family business ecosystem and some case studies

Workshop

Japan is known for its FB's outstanding longevity, but not many people are necessarily familiar with the factors that lead to their success. Starting with the overview of FB in Japan, this session mostly focuses on its longevity, introducing the six major key factors for longevity, as well as the philosophical and ethical elements that support them. To deepen this understanding, ｗe will also briefly touch on the social background factors and historical transitions.

Several cases are further introduced to illustrate the unique aspects of FBs in Japan, which are instrumental to its longevity, as follows;

・Some families manage the FB without ownership influence for generations.

・Two-thirds of CEOs are non-family members.

・Those who are talented are adopted and made CEO.

To enhance participants' understanding, the sessions will be interactive and questions and comments are encouraged.

Features of Japanese Family Business by Prof. Kenji Yokoyama

Family businesses exist in every country in the world and play an important role. However, when we look into the specifics, we find that each country, culture, and customs have their own characteristics. In this presentation, I will explain Japanese family businesses from the perspectives of family surnames, open innovation, family businesses consisting of multiple families, competition for mutual development, and family businesses and regional banks.