Highlights: February 2000 Issue
Coherent Medical Group: From Exports to Joint Venture to Owned Ops
Stryker. Welch Allyn. Kowa Company. Karl Stortz. MC Medical. Matsumoto Medical Instruments. Haemonetics. Nidek. Carl Zeiss. IHS Group. Ocular Instruments. They all figure in the story of Coherent Medical Group in Japan, the largest and most successful Japan unit of optical and laser equipment maker Coherent, Inc. A very interesting and informative story of how a foreign medical equipment company was forced to modify its Japan strategy several times out of necessity, with the result that Japan now represents one quarter of the company's total worldwide revenue.
Kohler Companies: "It Behooves Us to Figure It Out"
Despite $2.5 billion in sales, the 57th largest private company in the US (according to Forbes magazine) has never really done well in Japan. But it has learned some valuable lessons in the market for bathroom fixtures and fittings over the years, and now it's positioned for growth. The company's International Director describes the history, and lessons learned the hard way against dominant local firms Toto and Inax.
Japan Insight: Get the Scoop
AIG plans to launch a new glossy, consumer magazine for its policyholders in Japan. A large non-Japanese engines maker nears a large sale to Japan's military. Foreign beverage brands Budweiser, Royal Crown and Snapple try a variety of Japan marketing approaches. Winterthur's Japan acquisition of Nicos Life Insurance represents a comeback for Credit Suisse, although the country's second-largest credit card brand isn't part of the sale.
A Specialist Offers Advice: "Real and Virtual Retailing Show Signs of Convergence in Japan":
A Japan retail specialist offers his views on Japan's emerging e-commerce market, and how online strategies often complement brick-and-mortar retailing.
Exclusive Interview: Marubeni's Hideya Taida
Hideya Taida, 61, is Senior Vice President, a Director and one of the highest-ranking executives of Marubeni Corporation, one of Japan’s sogo shosha, or large general trading companies, with fiscal 1999 turnover of Y11.96 trillion ($98 billion) and a net loss of Y117 billion ($973 million). With 200 offices and 700 affiliated companies around the world, Marubeni has interests in machinery, telecom, construction, energy, textiles, agriculture, chemicals, retail and distribution. It also is tying up with foreign internet companies like E-Gain, AboveNet, Transaction Network Systems and MetalSite. He agreed to share his views on Marubeni, Japan, and Japan-US commercial relations, in an exclusive interview with Success Stories: Japan.Plus much more...
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