175
implementing the concept of “The Platinum Society” we have put forth, a plethora
of opportunities for business will be created through pursuing efforts aimed at
improving the Quality of Life (QOL).
Yoshikawa If you ask me, I would say that it is innovation that will help solve the
problem of an aging population, environmental problems, etc. That is because the
solutions don’t lie in how many of an existing product is sold, but in creating new
products. The size of the Japanese market is ideal for conducting various experiments. To borrow your words, it is as you say that leading country in resolving societal problems has more opportunities for business commensurate with their status.
Komiyama The Japanese system and its mentality are impeding such pursuits. For
example, new business models such as ride sharing like Uber has a hard time becoming popular in Japan.
Yoshikawa This is a cliché, but don’t you think there is a lack of an enterprising
spirit? Going back to the story of disposable diapers, I happened to hear from the
person who developed this. This person told me that the proposal was finally accepted
on the third try. We can also add to that why the first robot vacuum cleaner was not
developed in Japan. Apparently, it had been developed, but there were negative opinions like “what were they going to do if the robot bumped in to the alter, knocking
over the candles, and starting a fire,” so they couldn’t launch it in the market.
The Government Should Play the Role of Coordinator
Konishi Earlier, we discussed the involvement of the national government in relation to some of these issues. It bears noting that during the period of the economic
boom, the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry played a proactive role,
setting targets and cultivating industries. However, we have reached a stage where it
is not even clear as to what extent the state should play. The national government
doesn’t even have a policy for tackling the problem of non-regular employees. What
type of relationship should there be between the state and the market in the future?
Yoshikawa I actually think that is not something we can discuss in general terms.
However, in the medical and caregiving fields, there are no market-making players
other than the government. More specifically, there are engineers here and there
developing caregiver robots. Even so, private organizations are not capable of having such robots introduced at care facilities for experimental uses and the like, or
having them incorporated into the caregiving insurance system so as to promote
their use.
Komiyama You are absolutely right. For example, in order to make use of abandoned arable land, Ito En is establishing tea farms, but this has only become possible now that businesses are allowed to enter in agricultural enterprises. It is the
national government that creates such systems. However, in the forestry industry,
Interview
implementing the concept of “The Platinum Society” we have put forth, a plethora
of opportunities for business will be created through pursuing efforts aimed at
improving the Quality of Life (QOL).
Yoshikawa If you ask me, I would say that it is innovation that will help solve the
problem of an aging population, environmental problems, etc. That is because the
solutions don’t lie in how many of an existing product is sold, but in creating new
products. The size of the Japanese market is ideal for conducting various experiments. To borrow your words, it is as you say that leading country in resolving societal problems has more opportunities for business commensurate with their status.
Komiyama The Japanese system and its mentality are impeding such pursuits. For
example, new business models such as ride sharing like Uber has a hard time becoming popular in Japan.
Yoshikawa This is a cliché, but don’t you think there is a lack of an enterprising
spirit? Going back to the story of disposable diapers, I happened to hear from the
person who developed this. This person told me that the proposal was finally accepted
on the third try. We can also add to that why the first robot vacuum cleaner was not
developed in Japan. Apparently, it had been developed, but there were negative opinions like “what were they going to do if the robot bumped in to the alter, knocking
over the candles, and starting a fire,” so they couldn’t launch it in the market.
The Government Should Play the Role of Coordinator
Konishi Earlier, we discussed the involvement of the national government in relation to some of these issues. It bears noting that during the period of the economic
boom, the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry played a proactive role,
setting targets and cultivating industries. However, we have reached a stage where it
is not even clear as to what extent the state should play. The national government
doesn’t even have a policy for tackling the problem of non-regular employees. What
type of relationship should there be between the state and the market in the future?
Yoshikawa I actually think that is not something we can discuss in general terms.
However, in the medical and caregiving fields, there are no market-making players
other than the government. More specifically, there are engineers here and there
developing caregiver robots. Even so, private organizations are not capable of having such robots introduced at care facilities for experimental uses and the like, or
having them incorporated into the caregiving insurance system so as to promote
their use.
Komiyama You are absolutely right. For example, in order to make use of abandoned arable land, Ito En is establishing tea farms, but this has only become possible now that businesses are allowed to enter in agricultural enterprises. It is the
national government that creates such systems. However, in the forestry industry,
Interview