Highlights: February 2004 Issue
Japan is the Key Source for 4Kids Entertainment
Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are two of thousands of children's characters developed and embellished by dozens if not hundreds of major Japanese manga publishing firms, television production companies and movie studios. And 4Kids Entertainment is gearing up its unique strategy to identify and introduce to the rest of the world some of the most compelling. Already the company is making money with Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Ultraman and Ultimate Muscle. Now it's developing Tama and Friends, Kirby, Sonic the Hedgehog, Shaman King and others, as well as working to co-develop characters of its own. In an exclusive profile, 4Kids' CEO Al Kahn details how his company works with the Japanese in its plan to become a global children's entertainment media giantA Specialist Offers Advice: "It's Time to Re-Energize Your Organization!"
One of the many challenges facing a non-Japanese company in Japan is whether and how to adapt strategies which have worked well in its home market. Will they also be right for Japan? This month, our specialist, a former senior international executive for cosmetics giant Revlon, writes of his own team's experience adapting a successful US training program for Japan. And the management lessons learned here are as applicable to marketing as they are to training.Cannibalizing the Weakness in the Market: The Masco Japan Story
US-based Masco Corporation is one of the world's largest companies that few have ever heard of. This large manufacturer of home improvement and building products, including cabinets and bathroom products, understands that Japan is more than just another market to exploit. It develops Japanese engineering for its products in line with its global needs, and it feeds on the failure of small local competitors to increase its market share while avoiding the likes of titans like Toto. Its full strategy for Japan and the world is spelled out in our pages.Japan Insight: Get the Scoop
Health services still difficult for foreign entrants, as Emeritus exits and Beverly shifts strategy; Readers of SSJ learned of the failings at DoCoMo AOL and the real story of Den Fujita well before company announcements late last year; Etc.
From the Editors
A Restructuring Economy is One that Spells Opportunity
Plus much more...
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